Mr Jefferson’s Land – Keswick Hall ResortRead Jetsetters Magazine at www.jetsettersmagazine.com
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Stand on
front lawn of Monticello on a misty autumn morning and it’s not hard to see why Thomas Jefferson was so drawn to this beautiful corner of Virginia at foot of Blue Ridge Mountains.
I’ve visited Charlottesville, home of our third president, several times over years and never tire of countryside that seems untouched by passage of time. But I also enjoy sophistication that accompanies a university town (Charlottesville is home to University of Virginia), with its restaurants, boutiques, bookstores, and increasingly, a number of well-regarded wineries.
There are any number of choices for lodging in Charlottesville, from bed and breakfasts to modern motels and hotels. On my last visit, however, I decided to spend a few days being pampered at beautiful Keswick Hall, close to downtown Charlottesville and just a few minutes’ drive from Monticello.
Originally built as a private home in 1912 and known as Villa Crawford, Keswick Hall is a beautiful example of Italianate architecture, and you could just as easily think you were in Italy as in Virginia. The hotel is situated on 600 acres, and has an 18-hole golf course, three pools — including a spectacular infinity pool that looks over grounds of estate — five tennis courts, a fitness center with spa, and various dining options, including recently opened restaurant, Fossett’s. There are plenty of cozy spots throughout Keswick to sit back and enjoy wood-burning fireplaces, order lunch in one of public rooms, or take afternoon tea, served every day from 3 to 5 p.m. (and well worth extra calories). I especially enjoyed library, which is housed on main floor of hotel, and contains a collection of more than 400 books by Virginians or about Virginia, covering a wide range of topics from history to memoirs, photography, cookbooks, nature, and fiction. Authors John Grisham and Rita Mae Brown, who live nearby, are represented in library. You can enjoy any of books in library or take them back to your room.
Every room in hotel is decorated individually with a mix of antiques and furniture and decorative objects that reflect life of Virginia countryside. My room was on first floor, just steps off reception area (which was more like a very comfortable living room than a hotel lobby). The room was beautifully furnished, with a four-poster bed, antique armoire for my clothes, a small writing desk with books on a shelf above, and a large bathroom with all modern amenities. French doors led to a terrace that overlooked rolling hills of estate.
