It is hard to describe a place that would be perfect for a large family reunion and also a great place for a couple to go for a honeymoon night but the Stillhouse Manor is just that.   The Stillhouse Manor in Dugspur, VA was where we spent our first night on the road and it was the perfect place to relax and mentally prepare for the trip ahead.  Many places can boast that they can sleep 18 but that usually means several people on pull out sofas and a place that feels more like an Army barracks than a vacation home.  Not so with the Stillhouse Manor. 

You might assume the place felt cavernous with just the two of us there but that is absolutely not the case because of the way the house is laid out.  There is a huge kitchen...more on that later...and a large family room that act as the main areas of the house but beyond that, the house is laid out in a way that everybody can have their own area.  The upstairs bedroom suite was breathtaking with a super comfortable king sized bed and memory foam mattress.  Most impressive however was the view from the master bedroom.  The bathroom, which is bigger than my bedroom at home, boasts a cathedral ceiling and large windows above a bath that is truly built for two and a large walk in shower. A private sitting area with it's own fireplace adds to the cozy feel of the upstairs suite.

If you are coming with group or family, be prepared for a fight of who is going to get the master suite but don't worry, all the rooms are spacious and comfortable.  More importantly than where everyone is going to sleep is what will you do with all those people if you fill the house up.  The Stillhouse has the answer to this as well.  Not only is the house big enough to SLEEP 18, it is also big enough to entertain 18 people.  The large living room has a wet bar with a cooler perfect for storing adult beverages or sodas.  The den off the living room has a wood burning stove and was a perfect spot for me to crochet and read a book while I warmed up from the snow outside. 

The kitchen is equipped with every item you could possibly need to feed a large group.  Two large dining tables, two separate cooking areas, every utensil and appliance you could need.  The separate cooking areas offer two large refrigerators, two ovens, two microwaves, an industrial sink for dishwashing...basically enough that dueling matriarchs could be at home. 

The stables and Stable Cottage offer room for another large group of people and horses.  The woods behind the house have trails and areas to hike and ride and the stables are fully equipped and ready to make your horses feel as at home as you will in the house and cottage.

If you are looking for solitude and beauty in Southern Virginia, the Stillhouse Manor is the place to go.