By Meg Mullery

The Plains is not a “sneeze and you’ll miss it” kind of place. Quite the contrary.

Albeit tiny, 0.3 square miles with a population of 266, The Plains surprises like the iconic clown car. Except when the doors open an array of eateries, galleries, antique and furniture stores, and a Gothic church burst upon this picturesque village. And The Plains is not without a sense of whimsy.

One needs to travel 7,603 miles from The Plains to arrive in Nairobi; 7,396 miles to Shanghai; and 3,912 miles to Chantilly, France. This information appears on a directional sign post situated in the heart of the village that seems to have no relevance other than make you chuckle.

The Plains dates to the 18th century when the Colony of Virginia expanded and allowed Europeans to construct settlements in the area. Before and during the Civil War, the area was called “White Plains.” At some point, White Plains christened a new Post Office but named it simply “The Plains.” It stuck.

Located in the green and rolling countryside of northern Fauquier County, The Plains is surrounded by horse farms. It is steeped in equestrian tradition, as evidenced by the visit of Queen Camilla during her and King Charles’s recent visit to the United States. The Queen toured Smitten Farm, a well-known horse breeding and racing operation, to learn about the work of the American horse racing industry.

An amazing number of dining options exist. The Rail Stop and Bistro@The Porch serve American cuisine. Both focus on fresh, local farm-to-table ingredients, offer daily specials, and indoor and outdoor dining are available.

The Rail Stop is in a charming, converted railroad station. All breads, pastas and desserts are made on site. The homemade raviolis do not disappoint.

Bistro@Porch takes some liberties with classic dishes by adding creative twists. The Bistro’s friendly staff and welcoming atmosphere bring in many repeat customers. Choice of seating includes inside, on the front porch, or in the back garden.

Doppio Bunny serves locally roasted coffee, homemade baked goods, and more. It’s a neighborhood hang-out with a spacious, shabby chic kind of feel that invites meet-ups, a comfortable place for a caffeine fix and work, and a place to play chess.

Crest Hill Tea Room is an English style tea room that looks like it could have played a bit part in the Downton Abby series. It offers more than 70 blends of teas and beverages, lunch sandwiches, and scones. Reservations can be made for groups who want to celebrate by experiencing a proper English tea time with the appropriate china, cutlery, and sweets’ tray.

2Kyles offerings include paninis, flatbreads, pizzas, salads and sandwiches for eat-in or take-out. But 2Kyles is not your typical sandwich shop, evidenced by the mini beef wellington with horseradish dipping sauce available as an appetizer. There’s also a pop-up shop for purchase of favorite spice mixes and locally made products.

Girasole Restaurant, a perennial local favorite, serves authentic regional Italian cuisine coupled with an extensive selection of wines from Italy. Open for dinner only

Difficult to miss Zigzag Gallery, located on the main drag. It presents exhibitions of local, regional and international contemporary artists and carries a large variety of jewelry and crafts.

Upscale antiques, period furniture and home furnishings, including lighting, rugs, textiles, gifts and more, are housed and staged in Bailey Wyck Antiques’s converted firehouse encompassing 7000 square feet. Other merchandise includes a selection of sought-after equestrian-themed art.

Grace Episcopal Church is an excellent example of 13^th century rural English Gothic architecture. Consecrated in 1918, the church and parish hall were built of local stone given as free-will offerings and hauled from neighboring farms. The original Grace Episcopal, founded in 1855, was a white frame structure that did not survive the Civil War.

All of these restaurants, shops, galleries are situated on a two-block area. Maybe because of its size, The Plains is hiding in plain sight. Make plans to find it and all it has to offer.

About the Author: Meg Mullery is a contributing writer and Blue Ridge distribution “assistant” to the OTC and just a great all-around person. She knows her way around weaving a story.