For those of you looking to get away for a weekend, The Wildset’s an amazing option. St. Michael’s is so charming, and it’s only about 1.5-2 hours away from DC proper.
My beautiful friend Melanie Yu @labellemel31 joined me for this trip, and we spent the night catching up while splurging at Ruse and making s’mores by the fire. More on that later though.
To start, let’s take a look at their property. Located on North Talbot Street, The Wildset’s composed of four different 19th-century buildings. And in case you’re wondering, parking’s free and plentiful.
I stayed in their main building for this trip, and it was apparently a schoolhouse back in 1871. They kept the original structure of the Victorian porch but upgraded rooms to have gas fireplaces, the onsite restaurant along with their Sundry and Coffee shop.
There are 34 rooms total, and each space has its own unique touches. Mel and I split a double queen for the occasion, and it was glorious!
How gorgeous is the interior though? The beds were so, SO comfortable, and everything about the experience oozed luxury. The room also had a private bath, fireplace and mini fridge.
Upon check-in, there were snacks and complimentary water waiting for us. We munched happily while unpacking our things and explored a bit before heading to dinner.
Also, if you’re a furparent like me, The Wildset’s pet-friendly so you’re welcome to bring your floof! Daisy had gifts waiting for her as well, and she especially loved the branded ball and organic treat!
Note: pets must be monitored at all times so you’ll need someone to stay with them in your room or they’ll need to accompany you on your adventures!
I wanted to take pictures of the food without blinding everyone so we went early and sat outside. They had heaters available, and the space was dog-friendly so Daisy got to join us as well which was a plus.
Here’s an interior shot of Ruse! Beautiful layout, great ambiance, fantastic service, and of course, amazing food. We kicked our meal off with several apps. We got their roasted oysters to start, and they were phenomenal.
Then came New Zealand clams, lobster & kuri squash soup, and Maryland crab gratin. Both the clams and crab dip came with giant baguettes, so suffice it to say, Mel and I ate our weight in bread. And we have no regrets in case you were wondering.
Everything was delicious and flavorful, and I don’t usually like to pick favorites, but I guess if I had to, I’d go with the clams and soup, for this round. The former came in this highly addictive sauce made with leeks, meyer lemon and red chili flakes, and I couldn’t stop dipping my bread into it.
The soup came with a generous amount of butter poached lobster, and each chunk was tender as can be. It was served tableside and topped with charred lemon oil along with a bit of creme fraiche. Simply exquisite. What a beautiful way to warm up on a cold winter night. I couldn’t recommend it enough!
Then came entrees! Mel’s pescatarian so we got their pan roasted skrei cod and pappardelle (fantastic vegetarian option) to share. The fish was cooked to perfection and served with northern white bean ragout, fried baby artichokes and salsa verde.
Although I enjoyed the cod, I liked the pasta dish a slight bit more! What can I say? I’m a sucker for carbs so I will always be biased. Made with hen of the woods mushrooms, toasted pine nuts, bloomsdale spinach, castelmagno espuma and toasted breadcrumbs, this entree was hearty and comforting.
After dinner, we went back to our room and relaxed a bit before heading outside to make s’mores. They have a cozy set up with an impressive fire pit so save room for dessert!
After a good night’s rest, we woke up and started the day off with scrumptious eats. Your resort fee includes a delicious breakfast featuring local pastries and Ceremony Coffee so definitely make sure to take advantage.
We started our morning off with yogurt, house-made granola, and spinach + feta scones, and it was absolute perfection.
Before checking out, I spent some time browsing their Sundry and Coffee shop and fell in love with pretty much everything there. It’s highly curated so expect to see the best of DMV artisans and brands. Whether that be Appointed notebooks or organic sheet masks or truffle flavored potato chips, there’s something for everyone so treat yourself or spoil a loved one with a gift or two before you go.
Alright friends, I hope you enjoyed reading my latest travel recap. Click here to see more from my adventures tab! I have more exciting content coming your way soon so make sure you check back. I update every Monday, Thursday and Saturday so there’s always something new to read. Until next time, friends!