Best Places to Read This Summer

All this beautiful, warm summer weather has got me thinking about vacation. Vacation is still a ways off but that then got me thinking about where the most amazing places to read a book would be. The beach is obviously high up on that list (at least for me), but where else do people love to read? Here are my favorites!

The Beach

This is a snapshot of my husband reading on the beach in the Dominican Republic - pure paradise!

My Backyard

I love sitting out in my backyard with a book and a cup of coffee (or wine!). We have these bright blue Adirondack chairs that are perfect for relaxing.

Under a Willow Tree

There is something so romantic and peaceful about a willow tree. It's been my dream to have one in my backyard so I could read under it!

Shakespeare and Company

This place is definitely on my list when we get to Paris in a couple of years. How amazing does this place look!?

Hearst Castle Gothic Study

If this place doesn't scream literature, I don't know what does. I would love to curl up in one of those chairs for a few hours and be transported away to another land!

I think Mark Twain said it best when he said:

“In a good bookroom you feel in some mysterious way that you are absorbing the wisdom contained in all the books through your skin, without even opening them.”

Wine & Sliders at Pippin Hill

We've been doing a ton of renovations to our house this year, so my husband and I decided that there wouldn't be a big vacation trip anywhere. Instead, I'm going to make the most of my PTO days and make day trips out to wineries. I got an awesome deal on this thing called the Virginia Wine Pass. Basically, it's a membership card good for one calendar year that gets you a ton of awesome deals (like free tastings) at wineries around Virginia. Um, yes please!

The first day trip we made was to my favorite place (of course) - Pippin Hill. We decided to bring my Mother-in-law and her best friend with us. I was so excited to share this place with them and it did not disappoint!

We started off with a wine tasting at the bar inside then planted ourselves on their amazing patio for lunch. It was super hot the day we went so we got a bottle of their Red Pump to drink with our lunch. It's one of those great red wines that tastes good chilled and it really hit the spot!

For an appetizer, we started off with their cheese plate. It was so delicious and I was so hungry that I forgot to snap a pic BEFORE we at all of it. The thing I love about Pippin's Hill menu is that it always changes with the seasons. So, there are always different cheeses and jams to try. This one had a blue cheese, a cheddar and a type of goat cheese, dried fruits, jam, crostini and candied walnuts. Yummy!

Every time we go to Pippin Hill for lunch, I pretty much can never say no to their sliders. These babies are local grass-fed beef with mcclure cheese, caramelized shallots and grapevine smoked ketchup served with amazing parmigiano frites. You cannot go wrong here people!

If you haven't been out to visit this place yet - put it on your summer to-do list. You won't regret it. Beautiful views, delicious food and amazing wine makes for the perfect afternoon!