Lexington Foodie Finds & More

As your taste buds will discover, "farm-to-table" is more than a culinary buzzword in Lexington. Dozens of small farms dot the surrounding countryside, along with wineries and micro-breweries. Micro-seasons keep the local produce selection fresh and diverse year-round. Enjoy your Foodie Tour of Lexington, Virginia.

Day 1

Start your day at the Fields of Gold Farm Trail and Rockbridge Winery. Rockbridge County is an agritourism destination where visitors will discover the homegrown side of the Shenandoah Valley. On the Fields of Gold Farm Trail, you can pick your own fruit in one of the orchards, stroll through a farmers’ market, savor a wine tasting, tour a working farm, celebrate at a farm festival, or feast on a locally-grown meal at one of our farm-to-table restaurants.

Or, if there's a history buff in your car, beeline to McCormick's Farm. Inside the farm's blacksmith shop, Cyrus McCormick invented the mechanical reaper, which could harvest grain more quickly and efficiently than a team of farmers. His invention, patented in 1834, revolutionized farming and kick-started the industrial age.

As you sip your cab franc and gaze at the pastures and silos that frame Rockbridge Vineyard, it's easy to feel like a character in a grand painting, endlessly enjoying the good life. Sitting on a bend in the road in Raphine, this welcoming vineyard and tasting room is open daily.

Tucked into the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley lies Steeles Tavern Manor Bed & Breakfast. Check in to enjoy 50 picturesque acres in a peaceful country setting with a spring-fed pond, walking grounds, babbling creek and mountain views.

Time for dinner at The Red Hen. Founded in 2008, The Red Hen is Lexington’s first farm-to-table restaurant, featuring the bounty of the Shenandoah Valley. Each day the restaurant creates a new menu based on the freshest and tastiest produce and meat, whether it is a ribeye steak from cattle raised by the Potter family, who have been farming in nearby Collierstown for seven generations, or a beet risotto using vegetables from Rancho Calixto, a family farm founded by immigrants from Mexico.

Day 2

Breakfast this morning is at Sweet Treats Bakery. They offer up a hearty, home-cooked breakfast. Choose from a variety of dishes, including omelets, French toast, pancakes, waffles, and more.

Time to shop! Lined with historic buildings, bright galleries and inviting boutiques, downtown Lexington is easy to love. You won't find any national chains here, so every purchase is a refreshing new find.

Enjoy a quaint introduction to Lexington with a tour of downtown by the Lexington Carriage Company. Discover Lexington with the relaxing rhythm of hoof beats – learn about our unique history and lore via horse-drawn carriage! This 45 minute narrated tour takes passengers through the historic downtown.

Enjoy dessert before dinner. Come taste why Virginia Living magazine readers voted Sweet Things Ice Cream one of the best ice cream parlors in the Shenandoah Valley! Don’t forget to stop by Cocoa Mill Chocolate Company for premium chocolate confections. The Wall Street Journal chose Cocoa Mill's edible chocolate Valentine Truffle heart box as "best overall" above the likes of Godiva, Sees, Harry and David, and others.

Creative food pairings drive the menus at Haywood’s and Taps, both found in The Georges Hotel. At Taps, the Buffalo Creek burger with pimiento cheese is plate-licking good. Both locations also offer well-crafted cocktails. At either bar you can raise a glass to heroes and legends from Washington & Lee University and Virginia Military Institute with a college-themed cocktail. House made bitters are a highlight. If you want to party like it's 1799, order one of the Colonial-era shrubs, infused with local fruit.

Day 3