Belle Grove Plantation

Belle Grove plantation bed & breakfast is a charming b&b and is the birthplace of James Madison.
We first came to attend a family wedding a couple of weeks ago and we could not believe how gorgeous the house and entire setting is!
From the moment you turn onto the driveway, you feel as though you have stepped back in time. Along the entrance is a lovely tree line with farm land on one side. On the back of the house, which is technically the front of the house, is the river, which provides beautiful sunsets.
The grounds also has 3 outbuildings. An icehouse, cookhouse and I believe an outdoor kitchen. These are hundreds of years old and the owners are wanting to have them refurbished.
Each room within the house is eloquently decorated and adorned with gorgeous antiques. From claw foot bathtubs, amazing bed frames, fireplaces, paintings, mirrors, rugs, dressers to armoires. Amazing!
The beds are extremely comfortable and the entire house is spotless.
The breakfast that the owner/​s, Michelle and Brett Darnell created is absolutely delicious! It was SO good. Now if they only had a wheel barrel to wheel me out because I could not stop eating. Also, they are more than willing to cater to those with dietary restrictions.
And if you are a history buff, this is the place for you! Brett and Michelle have a wealth of information, not only about James Madison, his family, and those that also lived in the house after the Madison’s but they have a wealth of information about the entire area. It’s extremely interesting and they are very informative. Also, there are many vineyards and historical sites within the area.
When you are outside walking around the grounds, you may spot a family of deer, bunnies and make sure to look up. There is also osprey’s that nest in top of one of the chimneys every year.
As for the wedding, it took place outside and looked over the river. It was beyond charming and I cannot wait to see the pictures!
There was a large tent to host the reception. The dinner was prepared by none other than, Top Chef contestant, Joy Crump! The meal was delicious! And thank you, Joy, for preparing 2 special pescatarian plates for myself and my husband.
Now, Tammy, the wedding coordinator. She kept the day as relaxing as possible and she made the whole day go off without a hitch! The handling of everything, from start to finish, was sublime. She was awesome!
So, if you love history, James Madison, antiques, wanting to escape from the hustle and bustle or are looking for the perfect venue for your wedding, look no further. This place is for you!
If you do not have time to stay for the weekend, they also give tours of the plantation.
Again, you feel as though you have stepped back in time. All you need is a glass of lemonade while you sit in one of the outdoor rocking chairs, enjoy the beautiful surroundings and state «well, I do declare, this is simply a beautiful day».