Top Virginia Dining Experiences

You've been to winery wine tasting, but, have you been to a chocolate factory wine tasting? Welcome to our craft chocolate factory to see how chocolate is made while sipping on perfectly paired wine.

Indulge your sweet tooth and enjoy a chocolate tasting and tour of the River-Sea Chocolates Factory in Chantilly. Enjoy a guided tasting of five pieces of different craft chocolate bars made at the factory. Afterwards, tour the production facilities and learn how chocolate is made, from the growing and harvesting of beans to making chocolate bars.

Relaxed, yet luxurious learning experience about Williamsburg before and after the restoration of Colonial Williamsburg in the late 1920s and early 1930s with photos and stories from either Williamsburg Before and After or Restoring Williamsburg. These photos help visualize and better understand the restoration of the world’s largest history museum. Most of the tour is seated during breakfast for those who enjoy the warmth (or air conditioning) indoors. This is an easily accessible tour, well suited for those who enjoy a creative culinary experience, breakfast on bad weather days or for any individuals with physical limitations. Our guide will offer an easy tour of some of the grounds including a look at the Golden Horseshoe Golf courses or admire some of the original décor of the hotel and grounds as well as a short walk to the Duke of Gloucester St., the most historic street in America. Note: Guests pay for their own breakfast including food, drinks and gratuities to hotel staff.

Combine Old Town Alexandria cuisine and history during this half-day walking city tour during which you’ll sample local dishes you might otherwise have overlooked, ideal for first-time visitors. Get a deeper insight into the city’s history than you would alone, thanks to your guide’s sometimes scandalous stories, and pass by off-the-beaten path landmarks many travelers miss.

Washington D.C. has no shortage of great sushi restaurants. This class is where you finally stop eating at them and start making it yourself, solo, on a date or with your favorite people in tow. Chef Bemnet keeps things fun, social and completely beginner-friendly as she walks you through two crowd-pleasing rolls from scratch. First a classic California roll with cucumber, avocado and surimi, then a fresh mango veggie roll that brings color, sweetness and a little something unexpected to the bamboo mat. You will learn how to season your rice properly, roll with confidence and cut clean pieces that look every bit as good as the ones you have been ordering for years. Then you sit down, eat everything and take full credit. A great date night activity, a fun solo adventure or the group outing everyone actually agrees on. D.C. is full of things to do. This one comes with dinner included.

Experience the ultimate Food & Wine education retreat in the gorgeous Blue Ridge Mountains about an hour west of Washington D.C. This 2-day Blue Ridge Wine Retreat delves into 6 wine and food experiential classes, an evening farm-to-table dinner filled with laughter, learning and fun. We finish with our famous Choco-Vino Challenge final exam.