Deborah’s guidebook
Sightseeing
This hike is fun and challenging-just enough. It’s
located off route 56 near Massie’s Mill. These falls are the highest cascading falls east of the Mississippi River. There are upper falls as well as lower falls. The view
at the top is stunning and you have an area just off the trail where you can kick off your shoes and enjoy the cold mountain stream. There is a $3.00 parking charge through the National Forest, but it’s well worth it!! Allow at least 3 hours for a round trip hike to the top and back.
212 locals recommend
Crabtree Falls
This hike is fun and challenging-just enough. It’s
located off route 56 near Massie’s Mill. These falls are the highest cascading falls east of the Mississippi River. There are upper falls as well as lower falls. The view
at the top is stunning and you have an area just off the trail where you can kick off your shoes and enjoy the cold mountain stream. There is a $3.00 parking charge through the National Forest, but it’s well worth it!! Allow at least 3 hours for a round trip hike to the top and back.
Oh my goodness!! What an indescribable view on a clear day. Make plans to watch the sunset from this
vantage point. Be sure when it's open, to arrive early. It’s a memorable experience and there’s nothing like it.
We did this on a hazy day and still felt moved by the beautiful
surroundings/experience.
32 locals recommend
Ravens Roost Overlook
Blue Ridge ParkwayOh my goodness!! What an indescribable view on a clear day. Make plans to watch the sunset from this
vantage point. Be sure when it's open, to arrive early. It’s a memorable experience and there’s nothing like it.
We did this on a hazy day and still felt moved by the beautiful
surroundings/experience.
Whew! This one is a doozy! I’d classify this hike as strenuous-varying degrees of elevation over paved trails that turn
into rocks you have to climb over as well as fallen tree trunks. Your reward comes in making it to the top where you can relax on the large rock outcroppings with views as far as the eye can see.
203 locals recommend
Humpback Rocks
Blue Ridge ParkwayWhew! This one is a doozy! I’d classify this hike as strenuous-varying degrees of elevation over paved trails that turn
into rocks you have to climb over as well as fallen tree trunks. Your reward comes in making it to the top where you can relax on the large rock outcroppings with views as far as the eye can see.
Thomas Jefferson's home. It's house, grounds, and museum were SO interesting. Educational and fun!
635 locals recommend
Monticello
1050 Thomas Jefferson PkwyThomas Jefferson's home. It's house, grounds, and museum were SO interesting. Educational and fun!
Once in Nellysford, turn in to Stoney Creek (Wintergreen Resort). The lake is open to the public on certain days-be sure to call Wintergreen for details. There is a nominal fee. You’d need to bring your own chairs, towels, and likely snack/food. They have charcoal grills and picnic tables. There are also paved walking trails leading in the woods-very scenic and peaceful. Covid restricts them from renting paddle boards, kayaks, etc. but they allow guests to bring their own.
54 locals recommend
Lake Monocan Park
110 Camping RidgeOnce in Nellysford, turn in to Stoney Creek (Wintergreen Resort). The lake is open to the public on certain days-be sure to call Wintergreen for details. There is a nominal fee. You’d need to bring your own chairs, towels, and likely snack/food. They have charcoal grills and picnic tables. There are also paved walking trails leading in the woods-very scenic and peaceful. Covid restricts them from renting paddle boards, kayaks, etc. but they allow guests to bring their own.
This is a beautiful lake that’s also a campground. It’s located in the George Washington National Forest. There are trails along the lake and you can also picnic here for an entrance fee.
68 locals recommend
Sherando Lake Recreation Area
96 Sherando Lake RdThis is a beautiful lake that’s also a campground. It’s located in the George Washington National Forest. There are trails along the lake and you can also picnic here for an entrance fee.
Amazing!! Excellent, level trail for hiking that recently opened to the public. Historical old railroad line about 1 miles long and has two access points. Trail leads through an old railroad tunnel. It's awesome-just remember to dress warmly and bring a FLASHLIGHT! It's pitch black inside the tunnel-but lots of fun!!
57 locals recommend
Blue Ridge Tunnel Trail, East Trailhead
215 Afton Depot LnAmazing!! Excellent, level trail for hiking that recently opened to the public. Historical old railroad line about 1 miles long and has two access points. Trail leads through an old railroad tunnel. It's awesome-just remember to dress warmly and bring a FLASHLIGHT! It's pitch black inside the tunnel-but lots of fun!!
Phenomenal top of the mountain orchard with views of Charlottesville all around! Seasonal "pick you own fruits" make being outside an enjoyable family experience. They also have wine tasting, Bold Rock Cidery, a Gift shop, food for sale, and the best Apple Cider donuts you'd ever want to eat-especially when they're hot! Close to Monticello too.
214 locals recommend
Carter Mountain Orchard
1435 Carters Mountain TrailPhenomenal top of the mountain orchard with views of Charlottesville all around! Seasonal "pick you own fruits" make being outside an enjoyable family experience. They also have wine tasting, Bold Rock Cidery, a Gift shop, food for sale, and the best Apple Cider donuts you'd ever want to eat-especially when they're hot! Close to Monticello too.
Food scene
Multiple varieties of hard apple cider- my favorite
is the pineapple. You can grab a quick bite to eat here OR we’ve observed folks bringing in their own food to enjoy the surrounding views. You can sample a “flight” of 4 ciders or ... if you just want a sample of one or two just ask at the bar.
251 locals recommend
Bold Rock Hard Cider
1020 Rockfish Valley HwyMultiple varieties of hard apple cider- my favorite
is the pineapple. You can grab a quick bite to eat here OR we’ve observed folks bringing in their own food to enjoy the surrounding views. You can sample a “flight” of 4 ciders or ... if you just want a sample of one or two just ask at the bar.
Definitely OUR FAVORITE! Outdoor seating at different levels offers mountain views. Pizza is their specialty- we’ve
had the pork & peach, as well as the sausage (using locally sourced products). You can also enjoy the variety of beers they make on site.
358 locals recommend
Blue Mountain Brewery
9519 Critzer Shop RdDefinitely OUR FAVORITE! Outdoor seating at different levels offers mountain views. Pizza is their specialty- we’ve
had the pork & peach, as well as the sausage (using locally sourced products). You can also enjoy the variety of beers they make on site.
Good food-good beer-no complaints!
Their café does a phenomenal breakfast!
326 locals recommend
Devils Backbone Basecamp Brewpub
200 Mosbys RunGood food-good beer-no complaints!
Their café does a phenomenal breakfast!
Staunton's “drive-in” diner with excellent
hamburgers, hot dogs and the best milk shakes ever!
7 locals recommend
Wrights Dairy-Rite
346 Greenville AveStaunton's “drive-in” diner with excellent
hamburgers, hot dogs and the best milk shakes ever!
Great diner style place with outdoor picnic tables/eat in restaurant. Has basic fare, but it’s good-especially their ice cream/shakes, burgers & pizza. Clean and neat! Nice stop off if you’re doing the bike trail nearby.
The Amherst Corner Restaurant
1441 N Amherst HwyGreat diner style place with outdoor picnic tables/eat in restaurant. Has basic fare, but it’s good-especially their ice cream/shakes, burgers & pizza. Clean and neat! Nice stop off if you’re doing the bike trail nearby.
Family owned orchard with pick your own seasonal fruits or purchase already picked. Small gift shop with
various food items for sale. Peach ice cream is yummy in the summer!
91 locals recommend
Chiles Peach Orchard
1351 Greenwood RdFamily owned orchard with pick your own seasonal fruits or purchase already picked. Small gift shop with
various food items for sale. Peach ice cream is yummy in the summer!
Great outdoor location to enjoy some delicious cider. Picnic tables and seating beside a creek provide a nice place to kick back and enjoy the weather.
76 locals recommend
Blue Toad Hard Cider - Cidery & Farm
462 Winery LnGreat outdoor location to enjoy some delicious cider. Picnic tables and seating beside a creek provide a nice place to kick back and enjoy the weather.
Absolutely one of our FAVORITE places ever! Quaint "tea room" styled cafe for breakfast and lunch. It's always amazingly delicious and we look forward to going each time we're in the area. Excellent food & friendly service! Check times as they close in order to switch from breakfast to lunch.
14 locals recommend
Stella Bella & Lucy's
327 W Main StAbsolutely one of our FAVORITE places ever! Quaint "tea room" styled cafe for breakfast and lunch. It's always amazingly delicious and we look forward to going each time we're in the area. Excellent food & friendly service! Check times as they close in order to switch from breakfast to lunch.
The River
Excellent food in an eclectic space-great burgers, cheese curds, wraps, etc.
Day Trip Ideas
Beautiful, massive underground caverns with many
interesting geological formations. Bring a jacket as the cave temperatures are quite chilly.
432 locals recommend
Luray Caverns
101 Cave Hill RdBeautiful, massive underground caverns with many
interesting geological formations. Bring a jacket as the cave temperatures are quite chilly.
Definitely worth the drive!!! It’s an amazing bridge carved
through time by wind and water. There’s a super museum/gift shop and a flat, paved walking trail (about 2 miles) going to some pretty waterfalls at the end. There’s also an outdoor Indian village exhibit to visit and explore. This was incredibly impressive and educational- a wonderful experience/day trip.
110 locals recommend
Natural Bridge
Definitely worth the drive!!! It’s an amazing bridge carved
through time by wind and water. There’s a super museum/gift shop and a flat, paved walking trail (about 2 miles) going to some pretty waterfalls at the end. There’s also an outdoor Indian village exhibit to visit and explore. This was incredibly impressive and educational- a wonderful experience/day trip.
Verona, Va.: This is the largest antique mall in America-at
least that’s what they say about themselves! You’ll need a few hours to cover this place but it’s fun and very educational. Prices are reasonable and a good indoor activity.
Verona Antiques
307 Lee HwyVerona, Va.: This is the largest antique mall in America-at
least that’s what they say about themselves! You’ll need a few hours to cover this place but it’s fun and very educational. Prices are reasonable and a good indoor activity.
Amazing outdoor museum with early settler exhibits. It has villages set up from all the European countries that
colonized America. Self-paced with Docents to explain country customs.
113 locals recommend
Frontier Culture Museum
1290 Richmond AveAmazing outdoor museum with early settler exhibits. It has villages set up from all the European countries that
colonized America. Self-paced with Docents to explain country customs.
City/town information
Home of Liberty University and a larger city with attractions too numerous to list. Just google to see what you’d enjoy doing there. We like to visit consignment/thrift shops-and there are plenty! A really good one is called-On Second Thought Consignment.
38 locals recommend
Lynchburg
Home of Liberty University and a larger city with attractions too numerous to list. Just google to see what you’d enjoy doing there. We like to visit consignment/thrift shops-and there are plenty! A really good one is called-On Second Thought Consignment.
Home of both Washington and Lee and VMI-quaint little town with eclectic shops on Main Street.
Local cemetery holds Stonewall Jackson’s grave and family plot.
49 locals recommend
Lexington
Home of both Washington and Lee and VMI-quaint little town with eclectic shops on Main Street.
Local cemetery holds Stonewall Jackson’s grave and family plot.
Shopping Center: Kohls, Target, Bed, Bath & Beyond, Michael’s, Ross, Bath and Body, Discount Tires, Chick-Fil-A, Taco Bell, Walmart Home Depot/ Lowes, Big Lots, etc.
All the restaurants that we have at home and a Goodwill just to mention a few of the highlights...
23 locals recommend
Waynesboro
Shopping Center: Kohls, Target, Bed, Bath & Beyond, Michael’s, Ross, Bath and Body, Discount Tires, Chick-Fil-A, Taco Bell, Walmart Home Depot/ Lowes, Big Lots, etc.
All the restaurants that we have at home and a Goodwill just to mention a few of the highlights...
Shopping Opportunities
Healthy mix of restaurants, boutique shops and box retailers (Michaels, B & N, Old Navy, Rebecca’s health food
store, an excellent bakery, Talbots, Loft, Madewell, Athleta, Anthropologie, Banana Republic, Francesca’s, Game Stop,
Harris Teeter, J Jill, Kroger, plus a ton more....and lots of restaurants.
78 locals recommend
Barracks Road Shopping Center
1117 Emmet St NHealthy mix of restaurants, boutique shops and box retailers (Michaels, B & N, Old Navy, Rebecca’s health food
store, an excellent bakery, Talbots, Loft, Madewell, Athleta, Anthropologie, Banana Republic, Francesca’s, Game Stop,
Harris Teeter, J Jill, Kroger, plus a ton more....and lots of restaurants.
Newer shopping center just up from Barrack’s
Road-upper scale outdoor center with several sections to cover- they have a Duck Donuts shop there as well as a variety of restaurants. Check their website for specific shops which most are now open. They have places like Orvis, Costco, Kendra Scott, Lululemon, Pottery Barn,
L.L. Bean, Trader Joe’s, Untuckit, Williams Sonoma, etc.
25 locals recommend
The Shops at Stonefield
2100 Hydraulic RdNewer shopping center just up from Barrack’s
Road-upper scale outdoor center with several sections to cover- they have a Duck Donuts shop there as well as a variety of restaurants. Check their website for specific shops which most are now open. They have places like Orvis, Costco, Kendra Scott, Lululemon, Pottery Barn,
L.L. Bean, Trader Joe’s, Untuckit, Williams Sonoma, etc.
Large indoor market in Harrisonburg with multiple
shops under one roof. They have a food store with multiple bagged items for sale, a quilt/fabric shop, an antique mall, a
kitchen supply store, a large toy shop, a Civil War shop with souvenir items/books, a café (grilled cheese was very good) and a candy store.
29 locals recommend
Shenandoah Heritage Market
121 Carpenter LnLarge indoor market in Harrisonburg with multiple
shops under one roof. They have a food store with multiple bagged items for sale, a quilt/fabric shop, an antique mall, a
kitchen supply store, a large toy shop, a Civil War shop with souvenir items/books, a café (grilled cheese was very good) and a candy store.
Definitely something for everyone! This will take a
while to get through if you go down each aisle (consignment style).
6 locals recommend
Stuarts Draft Antique Mall
3304 Stuarts Draft HwyDefinitely something for everyone! This will take a
while to get through if you go down each aisle (consignment style).
Large 1800s original barn turned into a gift store (household items, furniture, gifts)
Country Connections
267 Cold Springs RdLarge 1800s original barn turned into a gift store (household items, furniture, gifts)
Excellent consignment style shop near Chiles
Peach Orchard. A great variety of gifts, unique arts & crafts, home furnishings-love this place!
19 locals recommend
Greenwood Antiques
7572 Greenwood Station RdExcellent consignment style shop near Chiles
Peach Orchard. A great variety of gifts, unique arts & crafts, home furnishings-love this place!
Everything under the sun! I can’t even begin to list everything they have here. Definitely worth stopping in for a look.
24 locals recommend
Rockfish Gap Country Store Inc
8860 Rockfish Gap TurnpikeEverything under the sun! I can’t even begin to list everything they have here. Definitely worth stopping in for a look.
Fun place to stop if you're into anything antique! If this place doesn't have it, then it doesn't exist. Multi-levels offer a trip back in time. Above the store is an open "attic" floor with hundreds of different furniture pieces.
29 locals recommend
Tuckahoe Antiques
4202 Rockfish Valley HwyFun place to stop if you're into anything antique! If this place doesn't have it, then it doesn't exist. Multi-levels offer a trip back in time. Above the store is an open "attic" floor with hundreds of different furniture pieces.
Milmont Greenhouses
48 Milmont DrExcellent plant nursery for gardens and gifts
Grocery/Supplies
One of the closest grocery stores to Wintergreen-selection is good and prices are reasonable. You’ll be able to find most food items here, along with a broad selection of beer/cider.
48 locals recommend
Blue Ridge Grocery IGA
2797 Rockfish Valley HwyOne of the closest grocery stores to Wintergreen-selection is good and prices are reasonable. You’ll be able to find most food items here, along with a broad selection of beer/cider.
An additional option in Nellysford- Check here for items you might need This store is new and well stocked. There's also a Redbox out front.
18 locals recommend
Dollar General
2985 Rockfish Valley HwyAn additional option in Nellysford- Check here for items you might need This store is new and well stocked. There's also a Redbox out front.
Top of the mountain “grocery” that carries limited grocery
items but provides convenience to guests. They also have pizza and sandwiches and gas pumps.
59 locals recommend
The Market at Wintergreen Resort
189 Mountain Inn LoopTop of the mountain “grocery” that carries limited grocery
items but provides convenience to guests. They also have pizza and sandwiches and gas pumps.
Country store with cheese, meat & deli counter and thousands of bagged foods, spices, candies for sale. On Tuesday-Sat. their sandwich shop is open, and they make yummy Boar's Head sandwiches. You won't want to miss this local favorite!
Cheese Shop
Country store with cheese, meat & deli counter and thousands of bagged foods, spices, candies for sale. On Tuesday-Sat. their sandwich shop is open, and they make yummy Boar's Head sandwiches. You won't want to miss this local favorite!
Mennonite run bake shop with “to die for” caramel
pecan rolls and many other baked goods. They are only open Thurs.-Sat. You don’t want to miss this stop! Trust me.......
Miller's Bake Shoppe
23 Wayne AveMennonite run bake shop with “to die for” caramel
pecan rolls and many other baked goods. They are only open Thurs.-Sat. You don’t want to miss this stop! Trust me.......
Good place to get your groceries as an alternative to IGA. It’s just a little closer than IGA, but you navigate through mts.
to get there.
Food Lion
20 Windmill SquareGood place to get your groceries as an alternative to IGA. It’s just a little closer than IGA, but you navigate through mts.
to get there.
Local Wineries
Afton Mountain Vineyards
234 Vineyard LnVeritas Vineyards and Winery
151 Veritas LnHill Top Berry Farm & Winery
2800 Berry Hill RdBeautiful vineyards in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mts. Views are stunning and there's a delightful restaurant available on site.
207 locals recommend
Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards
5022 Plank RdBeautiful vineyards in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mts. Views are stunning and there's a delightful restaurant available on site.