Virginia is for Lovers

  • Welcome

    Welcome

    • About Virginia
    • Welcome Centers
    • VISITOR INFORMATION CENTERS
    • Accessible Travel
    • International Visitors
    • Weather
    • Transportation
    • Related Links
    • Weddings In Virginia
    • LGBT Travel
    • Virginia Green Travel
    • VIRGINIA IS FOR LOVERS SHOP

    Follow Us

    Virginia Travel Guide and State Map

    Virginia Travel Guide Covers
    Order Now
  • Things To Do

    Things To Do

    • Family Fun
    • Historic Sites
    • Eat & Drink
    • Outdoors
    • THEME PARKS & WATERPARKS
    • Zoos & Aquariums
    • Music
    • BEACHES
    • State Parks
    • National Parks
    • CAVERNS
    • Golf
    • SPAS
    • SHOPPING
    • MUSEUMS
    • Arts & Culture
    • LOVEworks
    • Filmed in Virginia

    Follow Us

    Virginia Travel Guide and State Map

    Virginia Travel Guide Covers
    Order Now
  • Events

    Events

    • ARTS & CRAFTS
    • CIVIL WAR
    • CULINARY
    • FAMILY FUN
    • FESTIVALS
    • HISTORY & HERITAGE
    • MUSIC FESTIVALS
    • PERFORMANCES
    • SPORTING
    • WINE FESTIVALS

    Follow Us

    Virginia Travel Guide and State Map

    Virginia Travel Guide Covers
    Order Now
  • Places To Stay

    Places To Stay

    • BED & BREAKFAST
    • COTTAGES & CABINS
    • INNS
    • RESORTS
    • PET FRIENDLY
    • CAMPING
    • HOTELS & MOTELS
    • LODGES & GUEST RANCHES
    • Vacation Homes & Rentals
    • VIRGINIA GREEN

    Follow Us

    Virginia Travel Guide and State Map

    Virginia Travel Guide Covers
    Order Now
  • Deals

    Deals

    • DEALS & DISCOUNTS
    • FALL PACKAGES
    • FAMILY FUN PACKAGES
    • FOOD AND WINE PACKAGES
    • HISTORY DEALS
    • SPRING PACKAGES
    • MILITARY DISCOUNTS
    • ROMANCE PACKAGES
    • TRAVEL PACKAGES

    Follow Us

    Virginia Travel Guide and State Map

    Virginia Travel Guide Covers
    Order Now
  • Store
  • Maps

    Maps

    • Virginia
    • Southwest Virginia - Blue Ridge Highlands
    • Central Virginia
    • Chesapeake Bay
    • Coastal Virginia - Eastern Shore
    • Coastal Virginia - Hampton Roads
    • Southwest Virginia - Heart of Appalachia
    • Northern Virginia
    • Shenandoah Valley
    • Southern Virginia
    • Virginia Mountains

    Follow Us

    Virginia Travel Guide and State Map

    Virginia Travel Guide Covers
    Order Now
  • Accessible Travel

Find Your Passion Along the Blue Ridge Mountains

Hub-and-spoke from Staunton to enjoy the famed Blue Ridge Parkway.

Day 1:

As you make your way through the Shenandoah Valley, make your first stop at Barren Ridge Vineyards. Located on the outskirts of the beautiful town of Staunton – an art and culinary destination with small town charm. This converted apple orchard is now home to the state-of-the-art winery and tasting room. Imagine yourself on their sun-drenched patio with a glass of wine enjoying the breathtaking views after a tour and a tasting. If available on tap, be sure and try their sparkling white wine. And if you’ve packed a growler get it filled with this bubbly concoction—perfect for an evening toast back at your hotel!

Continue to Staunton’s historic downtown and take a stroll (or hop on the downtown trolley) and drop into one of the art galleries. Don’t miss the live glass blowing at Sunspots Studio. Dining in Staunton is an unforgettable experience totally unexpected in a small town. Zynodoa is new American cuisine at its best in an inviting urban-casual atmosphere. Emilio's offers great Italian dining with dark wood and white tablecloths. Choose one of Staunton’s romantic Bed & Breakfast inns for overnight or stay at the 1929 Stonewall Jackson Hotel.

Day 2:

Crabtree Falls

Crabtree Falls

Rise and shine for breakfast before heading out for a day along the Blue Ridge Mountains. Drive I-64 east and pick up the Blue Ridge Parkway at Exit 99. The Blue Ridge Parkway turns 80 years old in 2015 and remains one of America’s favorite scenic roads. Drive south, stopping where you wish for scenic overlooks and quick woodland hikes. Near Milepost 27 exit the Parkway and drive east on Rt. 56 to Crabtree Falls, the highest vertical-drop cascading waterfall east of the Mississippi River. This is one of Virginia’s most beautiful places and you can enjoy it with an invigorating hike along a well-used switchback trail to the top. People of all ages and abilities can find their way to one of the falls five major cascades.

If you make it to the top of the trail you will have worked up an appetite so resume your drive eastward on Rt. 26 and northward on Rt. 151 to Wintergreen for lunch at Devil’s Backbone Brewing Company. This brewery of fine beers and ales is as serious about food as it is its suds. When the weather is right you can eat on the outdoor terrace and enjoy one of their handcrafted beers made with locally grown hops.

Return to Staunton and unwind with a winetasting at Ox-Eye Vineyard’s Tasting Room. Have a farm to table meal downtown and then take in a classic play at the American Shakespeare Center where you can enjoy the best of the Bard at the Blackfriars Playhouse, the world’s only re-creation of Shakespeare’s indoor theatre. After the show cap off your visit to Staunton with refreshments on the roof at the Pompei Lounge.

Day 3:

Blue Ridge Parkway

Drive homeward along the Blue Ridge Parkway, Skyline Drive or any of Virginia’s scenic backroads – taking in the pure freshness of Virginia’s outdoors. Stop at an outfitter and gear up for your next trip to Virginia.

Contact Information

Staunton Convention & Visitors Bureau
1-800-342-7982
www.VisitStaunton.com

  • Virginia Wine Travel
  • Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library and Museum
SV16021603V_008.JPG

Winter in Virginia

  • Mountain Resorts

    Cabin Rentals

    Skiing

    Ice Skating

    Whale Watching

    Winter Hikes

    Luxury Retreats
Virginia is for Lovers Trucker Hat

Shop with us for merchandise and gifts

Shop Virginia

We Need Your Feedback

Take our Survey

Travel Updates

Success! Get ready to start receiving Virginia.org travel updates.

Find out why Virginia is for Lovers. You’ll get monthly travel inspiration, insider tips, and itineraries to help you plan your best Virginia vacation yet. Plus exclusive offers, deals, packages and more! Sign up for Virginia is for Lovers Emails now!

There’s always more to LOVE in Virginia. Please select any topic that interests you!

About Va
  • Virginia Travel Blog
  • Welcome Centers
  • Cities & Localities
  • Transportation
  • Virginia Is For Lovers
Contact Us
  • Media/Press Room
  • Send Feedback
  • Privacy Policy
  • Travel Industry
  • Travel Guide Order
Travel
  • Group Planners
  • Sports Marketers
  • Meetings Professionals
  • Virginia Green Travel
  • Accessible Travel
Additional Links
  • Virginia Is For Lovers Store
  • Add/Update Your Listings
  • Website Survey
  • Site Map
  • Virginia is for Lovers
  • DiscoverAmerica.com
  • Brazil
  • Canada
  • France
  • Germany
  • England
  • Korea
  • China
  • Japan

Official Tourism Website of the Commonwealth of Virginia ● © 2021 Virginia Tourism Corporation, 901 E. Cary St., Suite 900, Richmond, VA 23219
For Virginia citizen and business services visit www.Virginia.gov. ● Virginia Economic Development Partnership visit www.VEDP.org.