antrim 1844 for a DC-area girlfriend getaway

On Saturday, I  set out  for a night away with girlfriends at Antrim 1844, a bed & breakfast in central Maryland, to celebrate my friend Mary's upcoming birthday. 

Entry into the mansion at Antrim 1844

"You're going to be very close to the Mason-Dixon line," Dan told me, jokingly, "so be very careful!"


An hour later, I checked into a room named after a Union spy.


Antrim is elegant and cozy, and the trees that shield it from a highway enclave guests into a garden that keeps old Civil War secrets....

The gardens at Antrim

...and modern day wedding vows. A couple got married while we were there, and we watched from our rooms.

It is no wonder couples choose to wed at Antrim; it is terribly romantic. Lucky guests get to snuggle into soft robes....

and fall into fluffy feather beds.  I want to come back with Dan in the winter to enjoy the fireplaces....

Besides, what's not to love about an inn that offers Nora Roberts on the bedside table?


Not just for lovebirds, Antrim proved a great (and inexpensive - we took advantage of the 1776 package good now through mid-July) girlfriend getaway. I can't recommend it more if you live in or around Baltimore and Washington. An easy drive beyond the Beltway and you're taking afternoon tea in a country smokehouse! That's what we did, as its offered daily to overnight guests. 

Don't fill up on the sweets and savories, however. Though the treats are delish, you'll want to save plenty of room for dinner at the award-winning Smokehouse Restaurant (more on that tomorrow!) where the food and service is fantastic! Dinner for the pre fixe menu is not included in the room price, but the experience is worth the splurge!

After six courses and three hours of  leisurely dining, we slid back into some comfy clothes and headed out for a round of marathon girl talk in the garden....

Before we knew it the clock ticked 2:00am - we'd outlasted even the wedding goers! Up by 9 then next day, there was breakfast (included daily for overnight guests from 8:30am-10:00am) to be had...

The rest of the day we lounged by the pool (which we had ALL to ourselves!)...

til it was time to drive back to real life. 


Do you have a favorite place for a quick girls' weekend?