Group Friendly Mountain Town Itinerary
Day 1: Explore the Blue Ridge Mountains and Beyond
More than 500 miles of trail and 75 scenic overlooks await you along the Skyline Drive in the Shenandoah National Park, a mere five miles from Downtown Waynesboro. Group photo destinations pair with family-size picnic areas, and in-park amenities provide the snacks, gear, and maps for all-day adventuring.
Head south along the Blue Ridge Parkway and take in Humpback Rocks at mile marker 5, offering an interpretive Visitors Center, historic mountain farm, and a one-mile hike featuring 800’ of elevation gain and breathtaking summit views across the Shenandoah Valley.
If you want to stick closer to Downtown but still want to take a hike, take your group to the newly opened Blue Ridge Tunnel Trail. After a short hike from the parking lot you will arrive at the entrance to the historic tunnel which spans 2.25 miles and stays a constant 50 degrees, perfect for a hike on the hottest or coldest of days.
Day 2: Drink In the Mountain Flavor
Follow-up on a day of adventuring with a brewery crawl along the Shenandoah Beerwerks Trail. Start at Basic City Brewery and Showroom where natural springs pump millions of gallons of artesian water to Basic City Beer Co’s award winning microbrews. Housed in a former brass foundry, they’re serving up live music, outdoor hammocks and made to order pizzas in the brewery as well as southern cuisine and unique cocktails at the Showroom. After you've visited other breweries in the area and completed your Beerwerks passport (pick one up at one of Waynesboro's two visitor centers or Basic City Brewery) mail it in for a free shirt to commemorate your time on the trail!
Day 3: Walk through History
A downtown stroll connects interactive museums, historic sites, and live theatre performances for a day of cultural exploration. Begin at the Heritage Museum for nine galleries depicting the story of Waynesboro, including the railroad, traditional industries, and regional crafts. Stop by the P. Buckley Moss Gallery for the most extensive collection of the artist’s work, which draws inspiration from Virginia’s scenery, cultures, and traditions. Tour the Plumb House which, built in 1804, features period furnishings, a summer kitchen, and still-visible bullet holes from the last Civil War battle held in the Shenandoah Valley. And finally, stop in the Russell Museum which displays multi media art work by Walter Russell as well as the history of the University of Science and Philosophy founded by Walter and Lao Russell.
Cruising for Cuisine?
These foodie destinations are perfect for groups on the move:
The River Burger Bar (small)
Farmhaus Coffee Co. (small)
Heritage on Main
Mister Jamisons
Silk Road
Region
Last Updated: 02/18/2021
