Exploring from Love, VA
Food scene
Perched in the mountains with stunning views, great for picnicking or enjoying wine on the terrace
24 locals recommend
12 Ridges Vineyard
24981 Blue Ridge PkwyPerched in the mountains with stunning views, great for picnicking or enjoying wine on the terrace
Popular brewery destination with plenty of menu options
326 locals recommend
Devils Backbone Basecamp Brewpub
200 Mosbys RunPopular brewery destination with plenty of menu options
Great Saturday farmers market with tasty treats from local farms and music
36 locals recommend
Nelson Farmers Market Cooperative
3079 Rockfish Valley HwyGreat Saturday farmers market with tasty treats from local farms and music
French food representing the slow food movement with locally sourced ingredients
103 locals recommend
Basic Necessities
2226 Rockfish Valley HwyFrench food representing the slow food movement with locally sourced ingredients
Blue Ridge Pig
2198 Rockfish Valley Hwylocal favorite for BBQ
Basic City Beer Co.
1010 E Main StGreat beer and low-key atmosphere in Waynesboro
The very best kombucha with creative flavors, brewed on site. Sometimes carry other local treats and host events.
12 locals recommend
Blue Ridge Bucha
1809 E Main StThe very best kombucha with creative flavors, brewed on site. Sometimes carry other local treats and host events.
Awesome seasonal fruit from the peaches of summer through the apples of fall. Yummy peach ice cream and outside area to eat it. Market with local food products.
38 locals recommend
Saunders Brothers Farm Market
2717 Tye Brook HwyAwesome seasonal fruit from the peaches of summer through the apples of fall. Yummy peach ice cream and outside area to eat it. Market with local food products.
Orchard nestled in the foothills on the eastern slope of the Priest offers pick your own apples in the fall and summer fruits for sale in their barn in the summer. Check their website for PYO and harvest schedule. https://www.dickiebrothers.com/
17 locals recommend
Dickie Brothers Orchard
2685 Dickie RdOrchard nestled in the foothills on the eastern slope of the Priest offers pick your own apples in the fall and summer fruits for sale in their barn in the summer. Check their website for PYO and harvest schedule. https://www.dickiebrothers.com/
Especially for kids
Rockfish Valley Natural History Center - Natural playground
Great playground with stream, natural play elements, trails and picnic tables, perfect for families with small kids
1368 Rockfish Valley Hwy
1368 Rockfish Valley HighwayRockfish Valley Natural History Center - Natural playground
Great playground with stream, natural play elements, trails and picnic tables, perfect for families with small kids
Outdoor Fun
Sherando Lake Recreation Area
96 Sherando Lake RdFabulous destination for swimming and hiking.
Launch point for great loop hike options. https://www.hikingupward.com/GWNF/TorryRidgeWhiteRockFalls/
13 locals recommend
White Rock Falls Trailhead
Blue Ridge ParkwayLaunch point for great loop hike options. https://www.hikingupward.com/GWNF/TorryRidgeWhiteRockFalls/
7-mile multi-use gravel Rail-to-trail along the Tye and Piney rivers offer easy biking for families, picnic spots, and a couple good places to wade in the water.
24 locals recommend
Virginia Blue Ridge Railway Trail Piney River Trail Head
3124 Patrick Henry Hwy7-mile multi-use gravel Rail-to-trail along the Tye and Piney rivers offer easy biking for families, picnic spots, and a couple good places to wade in the water.
Our favorite super-close go-to hiking spot offers a wide fire road for 1.5 miles that, after an initial steep section, is pretty smooth sailing for all ages and abilities. At the 1.5 mile point, you meet a juncture with the Mau-Har trail and the AT and have the option to continue on the AT for 2.5 miles or so to Hanging Rock, a rock outcropping with lovely views south and east, or to head down the rugged and rocky Mau-Har trail, traipsing along the creek and its series of pools and small falls, do a larger, serious combined loop of the two (13 miles or so and challenging trail), or have a snack and head back home.
Here is some more info about the loop hike (note, this instructs access from the AT crossing at Reid's gap, a couple miles north of us rather than the Love Gap fire road).
https://www.hikingupward.com/gwnf/threeridges/
7 locals recommend
Appalachian Trail Access/Parking at Love Gap
Our favorite super-close go-to hiking spot offers a wide fire road for 1.5 miles that, after an initial steep section, is pretty smooth sailing for all ages and abilities. At the 1.5 mile point, you meet a juncture with the Mau-Har trail and the AT and have the option to continue on the AT for 2.5 miles or so to Hanging Rock, a rock outcropping with lovely views south and east, or to head down the rugged and rocky Mau-Har trail, traipsing along the creek and its series of pools and small falls, do a larger, serious combined loop of the two (13 miles or so and challenging trail), or have a snack and head back home.
Here is some more info about the loop hike (note, this instructs access from the AT crossing at Reid's gap, a couple miles north of us rather than the Love Gap fire road).
https://www.hikingupward.com/gwnf/threeridges/
Park at Dripping Rock parking pull off and cross the street to catch the AT heading south. Cliffs after about a mile offer lovely views into the valley. Great for sunset picnic.
Dripping Rock
Park at Dripping Rock parking pull off and cross the street to catch the AT heading south. Cliffs after about a mile offer lovely views into the valley. Great for sunset picnic.
In the back of the loop around the picnic area, you'll find a trailhead that provides access to a spur trail leading to the AT. Heading north on the AT is a lovely hike following along the ridges with views west. Humpback Rocks parking area has become a zoo, and this offers an alternative, if longer way to get to the rocks (and several smaller viewpoint rocks along the way) from the south.
Humpback Rocks Picnic Area
Unnamed RoadIn the back of the loop around the picnic area, you'll find a trailhead that provides access to a spur trail leading to the AT. Heading north on the AT is a lovely hike following along the ridges with views west. Humpback Rocks parking area has become a zoo, and this offers an alternative, if longer way to get to the rocks (and several smaller viewpoint rocks along the way) from the south.
We haven't been to Monacan Lake in Wintergreen, but heard it is nice: https://www.wintergreenresort.com/lake-monocan/
54 locals recommend
Lake Monocan Park
110 Camping RidgeWe haven't been to Monacan Lake in Wintergreen, but heard it is nice: https://www.wintergreenresort.com/lake-monocan/
This is also a favorite of many (but we still haven't tried it!)
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/virginia/upper-shamokin-falls-and-morgans-loop
(can also be accessed from Dripping Rock parking area at the Blue Ridge Parkway)
23 locals recommend
Upper Shamokin Falls Trail
This is also a favorite of many (but we still haven't tried it!)
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/virginia/upper-shamokin-falls-and-morgans-loop
(can also be accessed from Dripping Rock parking area at the Blue Ridge Parkway)
Paul's Creek Trail is a short hike to a waterfall: https://www.twnf.org/pauls-creek-trail/
Could combine with visit to breweries or the Nelson County Farmer's Market in Nellysford which happens on Saturdays.
21 locals recommend
Pauls Creek Trail at the Nature Foundation at Wintergreen
Pauls Creek CourtPaul's Creek Trail is a short hike to a waterfall: https://www.twnf.org/pauls-creek-trail/
Could combine with visit to breweries or the Nelson County Farmer's Market in Nellysford which happens on Saturdays.