“50 Best Travel Destinations” I asked great friends to share their favorite travel spots around the globe, both close to home and far, far off the beaten path. Herein are their responses.

NAME: Chris Schumacher
OCCUPATION: Director of Investment Research, Papamarkou Wellner Asset Management, Inc.
TRAVEL DESTINATION: Middleburg, VA. Where serious, understated luxury is nestled in the seat of beautiful horse country.
HOTEL: Private residence; otherwise The Welbourne Inn, www.welbourneinn.com. This B&B (pronounced with a drawl as Wel-buhn) is the residence of Nat and Sherry Morison, eighth-generation owners. The original house was built in 1770 with over 500 acres of land and it will submerse you into another era of old-world Virginia.
RESTAURANT: Hunter’s Head Tavern, Upperville, VA (few miles west of Middleburg on Rt. 50) www.huntersheadtavern.com
BEST TIME OF YEAR TO VISIT: Anytime during hunt season. Fall and Spring for steeplechase races.
SADDLE UP: Catch one of the fall fox hunts – you don’t have to be a rider, you can follow the hunt on foot for a nice hike.
SHOPPING: Middleburg Tack Exchange for the best finds on saddles, tack, and to learn more about hunt appointments. English Country Classics for amazing men’s clothing at Virginia prices.

The Welbourne Inn

The Snickersville Hunt. Photo Sean Schumacher.

Middleburg is seated in lush horse country. Photo Robert Merhaut.