In This Post: Road trip stop number one was at the Linden Row Inn in Richmond, Virginia. Uniquely composed of seven mid-1800s built row homes, explore the elegance and antiquity of Linden Row Inn. (This post is in partnership with Linden Row Inn. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own)
**This post may contain affiliate links (which means I make a small commission when you shop from them) and gifted items because we all have to pay our bills, and I’d rather keep creating awesome content for you than get a real job. All opinions are my own.**
Outfit 1 Details: Blue Gal Meets Glam Aurora Dress | Report Shoes
Outfit 2 Details: Purple Gal Meets Glam Veronica Jumpsuit | Report Shoes
I have officially been home for one week since the end of my June road trip and now that I’m back to real life and my bland, undecorated house, I’m finding it hard to wrap my mind around all of the beautiful, characteristic places I have stayed at last month! I’m taking a moment to feel so so grateful because a few years ago, I could not have imagined having the means to depart on a 10-day road trip. Not only was the mission successful, but now I’m planning a move down South and it seems so surreal to have these things I’ve been longing for start to be playing out in real life.
I mentioned in my post on Exploring Richmond, Virginia that I needed to dedicate an entire post to the hotel we stayed at and this is it! One of my favorite things in life is staying at boutique hotels. I love traveling and it’s just the icing on the cake when I find a place to stay that has a story woven into it. Linden Row Inn is a historic boutique hotel in the heart of downtown Richmond that will take you back in time and impress you with its character throughout every corner. Seven Greek Revival row houses built in the mid-1800s compose the hotel and are even listed in the National Register of Historic Places!
We were lucky enough to stay in one of the Parlour Suites (the blue themed room pictured ab0ve). With spacious 12′ ceilings, dreamy floor to ceiling windows, and the most amazing couch I have ever seen in my life, each one is decorated with elegant historic decor that transports you back in time and makes you feel like royalty. Even though the homes have been beautifully renovated, you can tell how much effort and attention were put into preserving at much of the original atmosphere as possible. Connecting the homes in the back is a gorgeous veranda, one of my favorite spots that we photographed from, so that guests can easily access the various floors.
The convenient location is walking distance from a number of restaurants, shops, and historic sites. I’m normally one to take advantage of the fitness centers at hotels and even though I didn’t have time this trip, there’s a YMCA one block away that you get a pass to use when you stay at Linden Row Inn!
Aside from the Parlour Suites, the inn also offers slightly smaller jewel-toned styled Main House Rooms and cozy Garden Rooms, which once were carriage houses, that lead to the peaceful courtyard.
This is another one of the Parlour Suites:
This is one of the Garden Rooms:
It doesn’t matter how beautiful of a hotel your stay at, the staff and service are truly the key to an exceptional experience. I cannot say enough good things about the employees on hand at Linden Row Inn. Sarah, the inn’s Sales & Marketing Associate, was so kind to give as a tour of the property when we arrived and every time I walked by the front desk there was a smiling face who was more than willing to give me recommendations on the area and answer all my questions. The room was immaculately clean when we arrived and it’s easy to see that the grounds and courtyard of the property are well taken care of.
Speaking of the courtyard, even if you haven’t read any poems by Edgar Allan Poe since high school English class, you certainly know his name and how renown his work is. The owner of the home that Poe’s adoptive family lived in also owned a garden – part of which is now the very courtyard of Linden Row Inn. It is said Poe spent a lot of time here as a child and local legal holds that this is also the garden where Poe courted his life-long love. The site of Linden Row also housed two prestigious schools for girls, acted as a meeting place during the Civil War, was home to some of Richmond’s greatest historical businessmen, and had other famous residents throughout time like novelist Mary Johnston.
Originally made up of 10 homes, Mary Wingfield Scott, an architectural historian and a driving force behind preserving the history of many structures in Richmond, saved the remaining eight homes from being razed (one isn’t part of the Linden Row Inn property). Aside from her work as a preservationist, she’s also a notable resilient woman for her public relationship with Virginia Withers, they even adopted two children, in a time where same-sex partnerships were unheard of and socially prohibited. Additionally, she founded an organization called Historic Richmond, which continues on her work preserving and protecting the foundation of the city’s authenticity. Many of the furnishings and antiques responsible for the genuine feel of Linden Row Inn’s unique rooms are loaned by Historic Richmond.
It doesn’t seem right to only acknowledge the majesticness of a place like this without considering the gravity of the past. I can only imagine the stories that would come out if these walls could talk and it’s important to never forget that history. We still have a long way to go in making the world more open and equal, but it’s experiences like this that remind me to pause and reflect to make sure I am always leading with kindness, compassion, and acceptance while encouraging others to do the same.
If you’re planning a trip to Richmond, Virginia, I cannot recommend at stay at Linden Row Inn. Honestly, a trip just to enjoy the beauty, serenity, and history of Linden Row Inn would make a lovely weekend getaway even if you never left the property!
