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WINTER GETAWAY SPOUSES RECONNECT Birds of a feather flock to Staunton

Staunton entertains in the offseason

Date published: 2/17/2007

BY JENNIFER STROBEL

We had survived Christmas, which, for all its professed delights, seemed like a logistical marathon to me.

"Hey, husband," I said one night in January 2006. "How about we take off for a bed-and-breakfast, just us two?" Maybe those weren't my exact words, but they're close enough to the message I was sure would please him.

I thought he'd see that I viewed him as something more than an errand machine. I thought he'd catch the romance in my tone. I thought he'd be pleased.

But as the book claims, "Women are from Venus and men are from Mars."

"Too expensive," he said.

End of discussion.

My Venus mind filed the little exchange in the over-active "hurt feelings" segment of my brain. His Mars mind forgot about it.

During the course of the year, it surfaced in little ways: a bit of whining, an occasional you-don't-care Venus flare-up.

Mostly, though, our budget, my laziness about traveling and my husband's radio announcer schedule superceded such frivolity. He's allowed only a narrow window of vacation--spring, fall and Christmas are out.

Who wants to go in midwinter? Turns out, we do.

Nearly a year after the first conversation, Brian-from-Mars became Brian-online-planning-a-little-trip.

I'm ordinarily our family's one-person entertainment committee, but I decided to take a break and let him handle everything.

I envisioned a quick over-night, somewhere close enough to get home fast if our sons needed us. They're 20 and 13, competent and trustworthy, but still

We didn't actually discuss all that, however, and, with no input from me, Brian booked two nights at Shenandoah Valley Inn in downtown Staunton, a compact city of about 23,000.

Not the woodsy country retreat I'd envisioned. And farther away. Two hours. And two nights.

"You don't seem excited," he told me.

"Oh. Sure. I'm excited," I said noncommittally as I plowed through yet another year's Christmas logistics.

Then came New Year's, a Monday. We'd managed another holiday season. The coast was clear for our getaway. That night, when I went online for a map to Staunton, I refrained from checking out the inn. I wanted to be surprised.

"Queen City of the Shenandoah Valley," Staunton offers various possibilities for lodging, dining and sightseeing. For information, call the Staunton Visitor Center, 800/342-7982, or check the city Web site, staunton.va.us. An inn and two restaurants are newly opened: Shenandoah Valley Inn, 402 E. Beverley St., Staunton, Va. 24401, in a quiet residential neighborhood two blocks from town. 540/885-1733, toll free 866/466-1733, or Web site brguest@shenandoahvalley inn.com. Rates are $150 to $200, including gourmet breakfast. An additional spa package is available. Zynodoa (named for the American Indian term for "Shenandoah" and serving "eclectic new American fare"), 115 E. Beverley St., 540/885-7775. The Grocery Store (restaurant serving "contemporary Virginia cuisine," featuring raw, natural foods, many locally grown), 105 W. Beverley St., 540/886-6880.

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Date published: 2/17/2007