TL;DR: Exceeded expectations by a huge margin. Delightful, unexpected, and amazing.
I went looking for a wellness retreat (spa, whatever) with just a few requirements. First, it had to support a vegan diet (which I wound up upgrading to vegetarian after I made the reservations -- go figure) and second, it needed to be within driving distance. A third, albeit minor, desire was that it not be a 'factory' spa, where clients are pushed through the treatments like autos on an assembly line.
My search was primarily on google maps, since that gave me the ability to see the distance and click directly on the links to see what the property was like. I quickly zeroed in on Eupepsia as a viable candidate. The website is gorgeous, the amenities appealing. So I made the reservation, thinking "it's only for 4 nights -- even if it's not quite what I'm looking for, I'll be fine."
About 2 seconds after I pushed the "reserve" button, I got a call! From Eupepsia! Wanting to know what I was looking for and to make sure that it was a good fit. Wow. That has never happened before. And the woman I was talking to sounded so very, very nice. I was to discover that she is, indeed, very very nice.
In fact, everyone at Eupepsia is very, very nice. They are gentle people who work hard to make your stay refreshing, healing, and delightful.
The Eupepsia property includes a working farm, with A2A2 cows, greenhouses, a milpita, a creamery where the best cheese is made, a chocolate factory for small batch amazing chocolate, a bakery, and many other authentic elements that makes the promise of Farm to Table completely real. Well, I must add: somethings cannot easily be grown in Virginia, so those things are brought in but only from the best suppliers. For example, the wheat for their bread is imported from France.
The dining is family style, which adds to the charm. More food than you could possibly eat is served at each meal, and if you happen to arrive late, a fresh serving of the hot dishes is brought to you. The chef is amazing. He really understands food and every meal is cooked that day, from scratch. For special occassions, he has been known to make a cake. While I was there, a vegan guest with a ton of food allergies had a birthday -- he made a cake that was possibly the best I have ever eaten that met all of the requirements of that guest.
It is a small resort -- only 20 or so people at a time are guests. You are known, your needs are known, and you are catered to. It is not crowded and you can mingle, or not, as you like. The rooms are expansive and elegant in their simplicity. The sports facilities are awesome. The spa facilities are really great -- I particularly liked the water bicycle. If you are into hiking, the surrounding mountains are gorgeous and the air is fresh.
The menu of treatments available is extensive, but I would encourage you to talk with the staff and explain any issues you are having, healthwise. I had suffered a series of falls in March that left me with whip lash like symptoms in my lower back that I was simply not able to conquer (and my doctor had no suggestions, except "maybe try a massage"). I explained all this stuff to the staff and they consulted with experts and presented me with a treatment that I did not at all understand. BUT while the treatment was in progress, I felt the pain starting to ebb. By the time the treatment was over, my lower back was fine -- I could stand up easily for the first time in months. Later, I discovered I could roll over in bed without being in agony. The next day, I discovered I could exercise without pain. And days later, I'm still pain free.
So. If you are looking for a small, intimate retreat where you will be treated with respect, fed with the best food ever, and given the opportunity to heal or just relax in a gorgeous setting amongst genuinely kind, caring people, give Eupepsia a try. You will be happy. read more