Jon and I have found a great rental "cabin" about 1.5 hours outside of DC (not giving our secret away!). We go there about once or twice a year to unplug and relax. We invariably have a great time.

Each time we go, we plan a menu and bring everything we need to execute it. To help with future planning, here are menu options and shopping lists.

Summer Option

Lunch D1 (optional): Stop at Ashby Inn, Goodstone Inn, or Trummer's On Main.

Dinner D1: Grilled fish with grilled sides and salad

Breakfast D2: Baguette, butter, cheeses, spreads, jams, chunteys, honey, etc.

Activity D2: Kayaking (we've enjoyed Downriver Canoe Company's Seekford's Landing trip (12 miles/4 hours, Class II rapids in one spot))

Lunch D2: Packed sandwiches (tuna, egg salad, chicken, etc.) that are easy to eat on a kayak

Dinner D2: Steak with grilled sides and salad

Breakfast D3: Eggs with bacon and toast

Activity D3: Wine tasting and farm market hopping

Lunch D3: Baguette, charcuterie, cheeses, spreads, jams, chunteys, etc. (picnic at the wineries)

Dinner D3: Choripan or burgers or pollo asado or hot dogs with grilled sides and salad

Breakfast D4: French toast (with leftover baguette) or eggs with bacon

Shopping/Ingredient List
Steak
Fish for grilling or smoked salmon
Burgers/hot dogs/choripan/pollo asado
4 slices bacon
6 eggs (some will be leftover, but just in case)
1-2 baguettes, depending on what you choose for Dinner 3
2-4 buns (for kayak sandwiches and burgers, if you choose for Dinner 3)
Can tuna + Mayonnaise (if doing tuna sandwiches)
1 onion
2-3 tomatoes
1/4 lb greens
Vegetables/sides for grilling (squash, potatoes, corn, etc.)
Mixed seasonal fruit for breakfast and lunches
Mixed cheeses for picnicing (cheddarish, goudaish, chevreish, brieish, spreadish)
Mixed jams/chutney/honey from house
Charcuterie (not too much) for picnic
Chimmichurri (for Audrey and steak)
Something desserty (chocolates, dried fruit, etc.)
Butter (both to eat and to cook with)
Cream cheese
Maple syrup if doing french toast
Oil (for cooking and salad) + vinegar (for salad + tuna making)
Spices - salt + pepper, lemon pepper, grill mix, fresh/dried herbs, garlic, lemons
Chai fixins + press
Ground coffee + press
3 bottles of wine and/or beer

Winter Option

Lunch D1 (optional): Stop at Ashby Inn, Goodstone Inn, or Trummer's On Main.

Dinner D1: Something easily made with items on hand at home (such as a composed salad, eggplant parmesan, White Bean Ragout, pre-made Arancini, a pre-made Lasagna, yellow or green curry, Mole or Chicken Enchiladas, or pre-made Empanadas)

Breakfast D2: Yogurt, pastries, granola, etc.

Activity D2: A hike or a drive in the nearby Blue Ridge mountains; wine tasting day #1; or hanging around the house and reading, relaxing, and hot-tubbing!

Lunch D2: If hiking or hanging around the house, sandwiches with fruit and chips; if wine tasting, go out for lunch (see suggestions under D3)

Dinner D2: Out to a fancy place like The Inn at Little Washington, somewhere new like Apartment 2g (Saturday or Thursday only), or make something challenging but not new (such as Jose's Tuna Stew, Fennel and Wheat Berry Salad, Posole (pre-cook pork), Lamb Chops, or Lemon Skate with Fresh Pasta)

Breakfast D3: Eggs with bacon and toast

Activity D3: Wine tasting and farm market hopping

Lunch D3: Lunch in wine country, east of the Massanutten Mountains in places such as Stonyman Gourmet Farmer, Thornton River Grill (and country store!), Flint Hill Public House, or Griffin Tavern; west of the Massanutten Mountains in places such as Woodstock Garden Cafe, Shaffer's BBQ, Spring House Tavern, Woodstock Cafe (and Shoppes!), Caramelized, or the greasy spoon Southern Kitchen.

Dinner D3: Smoked salmon with cheeses, veggies, mixed pickles, and baguette (New Year's or Christmas Eve)

Breakfast D4: Bagels with cream cheese and leftover smoked salmon

Shopping/Ingredient List (based on specific dinner selections)

D1 (eggplant parmesan):
Fried eggplant
Marinara sauce
Mozzarella
Parmesan
Greens, etc. (for salad)
1/4 baguette

B2 (Pastries or yogurt/granola/baguette/spreads):
2 pastries (from PNC day before)
OR
Yogurt, granola
Butter, cream cheese, jams, etc.
1/2 baguette

L2 (Egg salad sammies):
3 eggs
4 slices bread/2 rolls
mayo
lettuce
tomato
pickles
small bag chips
apples (good luck finding another seasonal fruit)

D2 (Jose's Tuna Stew):
Recipe printed out!!
1 pound yellowfin tuna
2 green bell peppers
2 slices bread
1 lb tomatoes (5-6 plum tomatoes or 2-3 medium tomatoes)
2 large onions
1 pound russet potatoes
Garlic (few cloves)
Dried hot chili pepper
Smoked paprika
White Wine
Olive oil (the good stuff)
Greens, etc. (for salad)
1/4 baguette

B3 (Eggs and Bacon):
2 eggs
2 slices bacon
2 slices bread/rolls
butter
cream cheese
jam

L3 (Out; alternative - leftover stew)

D3 (Smoked salmon):
Salmon
1/2 baguette + crackers
selected cheeses for smoked salmon
cream cheese
tomato
cucumber
onion
red pepper
mixed pickles
Greens, etc. (for salad)

B4 ("Lox" and Bagel):
2 bagels
cream cheese
tomato
cucumber
onion
red pepper

Staples:
Something desserty (chocolates, dried fruit, etc.)
Olive oil (for cooking and salad) + balsamic vinegar (for salad)
Salt + pepper grinder
Chai fixins + press
Ground coffee + press
3 bottles of wine and/or champagne

Miscellaneous Items
- Paperwork from Luray homes
- Good cutting board and knife
- BBQ tools are not needed, but charcoal, the chimney, woodchips, planks for fish, tinfoil, a lighter, and newspaper must be brought from home
- Bring tupperware if you're making anything that will have leftovers to bring home
- Cigars (and whiskey?) for hot tubbing
- iPod dock/speakers.
- Binoculars
- Camera and the good tripod
- Donate some hangers to the cabin.
- For wintertime: warm clothes/house slippers
- Cystine for heavy drinking
- Hiking clothes, if applicable
- For kayaking: water shoes, bathing suits, towels, goggles, nalgenes, camera/phone waterpoof bags, large ziploc baggies, hats/sunglasses we don't mind losing, a drybag that can be carabinered onto the kayak, carabiners, do-rags, sunscreen
- For wine tasting/picnicing: cold bag and small ice pack, small cutting board and knife (replace with better knife), wine key, napkins/plates, nalgene, our google map for wineries and other activities in the area
- Water shoes are a must to go wading in the river and kayaking. Jon wants to bring his machete to clean up the marshy banks.