When you venture into Nellysford & Nelson...
Micro-Brewers, Wineries, and Cider
Where to eat & drink
Cider tastings and tours in a large wood-framed space. Very popular. Adjacent tasting barn with unusual flavors open on weekends. Walk there on the lovely Rockfish Valley Loop Trail-- it's a little like walking through the British countryside to a pub, albeit a very large pub that only serves cider and is full of Americans.
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Bold Rock Hard Cider
1020 Rockfish Valley HwyCider tastings and tours in a large wood-framed space. Very popular. Adjacent tasting barn with unusual flavors open on weekends. Walk there on the lovely Rockfish Valley Loop Trail-- it's a little like walking through the British countryside to a pub, albeit a very large pub that only serves cider and is full of Americans.
Terri and Dan run a brewery unlike any other in the county— it’s in a fabulous small barn behind their farmhouse (which rents to parties of 12) and they brew terrific beer— usually at least 8-10 kinds are on tap. The atmosphere cannot be beat— small, friendly, and real! There is plenty of seating outside and upstairs, and the vibe is perfectly Not Corporate. Highly recommended! Open Wednesday-Saturday, Closes at Sunset.
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WildManDan Brewery
279 Avon RdTerri and Dan run a brewery unlike any other in the county— it’s in a fabulous small barn behind their farmhouse (which rents to parties of 12) and they brew terrific beer— usually at least 8-10 kinds are on tap. The atmosphere cannot be beat— small, friendly, and real! There is plenty of seating outside and upstairs, and the vibe is perfectly Not Corporate. Highly recommended! Open Wednesday-Saturday, Closes at Sunset.
Local meadery and berry wines. Great setting. Check website for events.
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Hill Top Berry Farm & Winery
2800 Berry Hill RdLocal meadery and berry wines. Great setting. Check website for events.
A short walk from the cottage, with excellent beer and pub food. Have breakfast at The Summit, an old train station DBB moved from the other side of the county. Beer is great, but it’s crowded on weekends— you might want to pick up a growler & cook at home, like the locals do!
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Devils Backbone Basecamp Brewpub
200 Mosbys RunA short walk from the cottage, with excellent beer and pub food. Have breakfast at The Summit, an old train station DBB moved from the other side of the county. Beer is great, but it’s crowded on weekends— you might want to pick up a growler & cook at home, like the locals do!
The best food of the Charlottesville area vineyards. Superb view. Rumored that Jennifer Aniston married here.
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Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards
5022 Plank RdThe best food of the Charlottesville area vineyards. Superb view. Rumored that Jennifer Aniston married here.
The vermouth!! Stop by for a vermouth tasting and to buy the prettiest bottles in Nelson. These vermouths are my go-to gifts!
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Flying Fox Vineyard
10368 Critzer Shop RdThe vermouth!! Stop by for a vermouth tasting and to buy the prettiest bottles in Nelson. These vermouths are my go-to gifts!
Cardinal Point Winery
9423 Batesville RdLovely setting for wine tasting.
Probably the tastiest wine in the neighborhood, probably Nelson’s poshest. The white wines are excellent! Great place to do a tasting and then get a glass to have on the porch or by the fire. Check their summer schedule for events.
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Veritas Vineyards and Winery
151 Veritas LnProbably the tastiest wine in the neighborhood, probably Nelson’s poshest. The white wines are excellent! Great place to do a tasting and then get a glass to have on the porch or by the fire. Check their summer schedule for events.
New whiskey distillery from Blue Mountain Brewery.
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Blue Mountain Barrel House
495 Cooperative WayNew whiskey distillery from Blue Mountain Brewery.
Lovely 6 mile hiking trail around the vineyard. Lovely setting. The Chardonnay is especially nice.
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Delfosse Vineyards & Winery
500 DelFosse Winery LnLovely 6 mile hiking trail around the vineyard. Lovely setting. The Chardonnay is especially nice.
Guests love the location, on the banks of the Rockfish River. Try a variety of local beers, and enjoy the food trucks.
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Brewing Tree Beer Co.
9278 Rockfish Valley HwyGuests love the location, on the banks of the Rockfish River. Try a variety of local beers, and enjoy the food trucks.
Stop here for a feel of the beginning of Nelson’s brew scene— it’s still small, rustic, and high quality, and hasn’t been bought by a major beer maker!
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Bryant's Cider
3224 E Branch LoopStop here for a feel of the beginning of Nelson’s brew scene— it’s still small, rustic, and high quality, and hasn’t been bought by a major beer maker!
Blue Toad Hard Cider - Cidery & Farm
462 Winery LnMore cider, close by.
Another beloved local vineyard, cozy with excellent views! Close to Veritas.
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Afton Mountain Vineyards
234 Vineyard LnAnother beloved local vineyard, cozy with excellent views! Close to Veritas.
Delfosse Vineyards & Winery
500 DelFosse Winery LnBlue Toad Hard Cider - Cidery & Farm
462 Winery LnNice setting in an old schoolhouse. Typical
Brew house food, but the beer is an improvement from Wild Wolf, which previously was in this spot. Pet friendly!
Three Notch'd Brewery, Distillery & Craft Kitchen - Nelson County
Nice setting in an old schoolhouse. Typical
Brew house food, but the beer is an improvement from Wild Wolf, which previously was in this spot. Pet friendly!
Outdoors Fun
Nationally known plant nursery full of unusual food plants from all over the world. Visitors come from all over for their festivals, but they're always open, and very helpful.
Edible Landscaping
361 Spirit Ridge LnNationally known plant nursery full of unusual food plants from all over the world. Visitors come from all over for their festivals, but they're always open, and very helpful.
Wintergreen Resort
39 Mountain Inn LoopSkiing, hiking, and dining, minutes from the cottage.
Charming WPA lake with a great swimming area and easy trails. Swim out to a little island, ringed by blue mountains. We like to think of it as our country club.
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Sherando Lake Recreation Area
96 Sherando Lake RdCharming WPA lake with a great swimming area and easy trails. Swim out to a little island, ringed by blue mountains. We like to think of it as our country club.
Stoney Creek hosts our excellent Saturday's farmer's market in the warm months, country-club food, and an 18 hole golf course. Paved public walking trails are also available.
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Stoney Creek Golf Course
1354 Stoney Creek WStoney Creek hosts our excellent Saturday's farmer's market in the warm months, country-club food, and an 18 hole golf course. Paved public walking trails are also available.
The RVF Natural History Center is a small, sweet museum, but the real star is the playground and park behind it.
It’s a “natural” playground with a wonderful mud-kitchen, treehouse, playhouses, see-saw, creek access and much more. They’re even Bocce for the adults. And you can park here and walk onto the 5 miles of trails. (Also, I designed and spearheaded the playground build— I got sick of driving my kids to fantastic play spaces so we made one here!)
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Rockfish Valley Foundation Natural History Center
1368 Rockfish Valley HwyThe RVF Natural History Center is a small, sweet museum, but the real star is the playground and park behind it.
It’s a “natural” playground with a wonderful mud-kitchen, treehouse, playhouses, see-saw, creek access and much more. They’re even Bocce for the adults. And you can park here and walk onto the 5 miles of trails. (Also, I designed and spearheaded the playground build— I got sick of driving my kids to fantastic play spaces so we made one here!)
Part of the Rockfish Valley Trail System takes you down Glenthorne Loop, the road our dirt road runs off.
It’s a sleepy, gorgeous road and good for pushing a jogging stroller & leisurely biking.
Glenthorne Loop, Nellysford, VA 22958, USA
Part of the Rockfish Valley Trail System takes you down Glenthorne Loop, the road our dirt road runs off.
It’s a sleepy, gorgeous road and good for pushing a jogging stroller & leisurely biking.
Minutes from the cottage, The Blue Ridge Parkway has hundreds of hikes that start high and dramatically. And with plenty of pull-off picnic spots, it’s also one of the best places to eat dinner and watch the sunset!
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Blue Ridge Parkway
Minutes from the cottage, The Blue Ridge Parkway has hundreds of hikes that start high and dramatically. And with plenty of pull-off picnic spots, it’s also one of the best places to eat dinner and watch the sunset!
Arts & Culture
Text Elise to drop by her studio and shop unique, handmade ceramics, some from clay dug on her farm. Oil paintings, prints, homemade jams & elixirs. It’s an experience!
Spindle Hill Farm & Studio
Text Elise to drop by her studio and shop unique, handmade ceramics, some from clay dug on her farm. Oil paintings, prints, homemade jams & elixirs. It’s an experience!
You’ll need to contact Anne’s granddaughter Shawn to set up a tour, but it’s well worth it— an amazing artists’s home full of Harlem Renaissance treasures.
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The Anne Spencer House & Garden Museum
1313 Pierce StYou’ll need to contact Anne’s granddaughter Shawn to set up a tour, but it’s well worth it— an amazing artists’s home full of Harlem Renaissance treasures.
Local history museum features deep displays about Hurricane Camille’s impact on the county.
Nelson County Historical Society and Oakland Museum
5365 Thomas Nelson HwyLocal history museum features deep displays about Hurricane Camille’s impact on the county.
The Walton Hamner House
128 Tree Top LoopI haven’t been, but fans of The Waltons make pilgrimages here.
Food Scene
Blue Ridge Pig
2198 Rockfish Valley HwyAcclaimed by the Washington Post as "divine BBQ"
Bistro meals (soup is great!) (and dessert!) and they sell a wonderful curated wine selection, artisan bread, cheese, pastries, and chocolate for your picnic. Also some European beers. This is a daily stop for many locals!
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Basic Necessities
2226 Rockfish Valley HwyBistro meals (soup is great!) (and dessert!) and they sell a wonderful curated wine selection, artisan bread, cheese, pastries, and chocolate for your picnic. Also some European beers. This is a daily stop for many locals!
Small local bakery with good desserts. It’s hidden behind Chirios Pizza next to the IGA Grocery in Nellysford.
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Sweet Bliss Bakery
2789 Rockfish Valley HwySmall local bakery with good desserts. It’s hidden behind Chirios Pizza next to the IGA Grocery in Nellysford.
Nina makes delicious food to take away, and they seek a deep variety of local foods, including Polyface Farm chickens, and $16 ice-cream, if you recently won the lottery! Great stop to good the lily if you’re coming from DC or RIC when you exit I64 at exit 107. Thursday evenings they hold a farm market with great dinner deals.
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Greenwood Gourmet Grocery
6701 Rockfish Gap TurnpikeNina makes delicious food to take away, and they seek a deep variety of local foods, including Polyface Farm chickens, and $16 ice-cream, if you recently won the lottery! Great stop to good the lily if you’re coming from DC or RIC when you exit I64 at exit 107. Thursday evenings they hold a farm market with great dinner deals.
Award-winning Kombucha. Food trucks often are parked here in Saturday.
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Blue Ridge Bucha
1809 E Main StAward-winning Kombucha. Food trucks often are parked here in Saturday.
Shopping
Our excellent local antique mall. Big turnover, and Ken Farmer from Antiques Roadshow has a booth here. Be sure to go downstairs, and don’t miss the attic, where All The Chairs are.
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Tuckahoe Antiques
4202 Rockfish Valley HwyOur excellent local antique mall. Big turnover, and Ken Farmer from Antiques Roadshow has a booth here. Be sure to go downstairs, and don’t miss the attic, where All The Chairs are.
Specializing in 18th & 19th-C American furniture. Often rebuilt, mishmashes, and often repainted, but the prices are low and there are some fun vendors and some nice primitives come in, esp. chests.
Covesville Store Antiques
5930 Covesville Store RdSpecializing in 18th & 19th-C American furniture. Often rebuilt, mishmashes, and often repainted, but the prices are low and there are some fun vendors and some nice primitives come in, esp. chests.
If you’re a serious buyer, this MCM dealer is worth a drive. He mainly sells online, but the showroom is so much fun— he has gorgeous pieces!
Galaxie Modern
109 N Bridge StIf you’re a serious buyer, this MCM dealer is worth a drive. He mainly sells online, but the showroom is so much fun— he has gorgeous pieces!
Entertainment & Activities
The old Rockfish elementary now holds cafes, artisans and studios in its classrooms, and hosts the farmer's market in the winter. Excellent thrift store open Tuesday- Sunday. Small playground, basketball court, and skate park. Indian food take-away open weekdays at lunch. Elise shares a pottery studio in the old concession stand. Check their concert schedule for music on the weekends.
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Rockfish Valley Community Center
190 Rockfish School LnThe old Rockfish elementary now holds cafes, artisans and studios in its classrooms, and hosts the farmer's market in the winter. Excellent thrift store open Tuesday- Sunday. Small playground, basketball court, and skate park. Indian food take-away open weekdays at lunch. Elise shares a pottery studio in the old concession stand. Check their concert schedule for music on the weekends.
Our local natural history center, affiliated with the Virginia State Museum of Natural History, is completely free and tons of fun for kids. Although inside is only open Saturday and Sunday, the park behind it is the real draw— (and I designed it!!) It’s a “natural” playground on a Creek with a kid kitchen, structures built of local materials, hobbit houses, etc. the local walking trails also intersect it.
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Rockfish Valley Foundation Natural History Center
1368 Rockfish Valley HwyOur local natural history center, affiliated with the Virginia State Museum of Natural History, is completely free and tons of fun for kids. Although inside is only open Saturday and Sunday, the park behind it is the real draw— (and I designed it!!) It’s a “natural” playground on a Creek with a kid kitchen, structures built of local materials, hobbit houses, etc. the local walking trails also intersect it.
In Augusta County, over the mountains, but a wonderful day trip for families. This is a one-of-a-kind living history museum devoted to the architecture of the people who settled in the Shenandoah Valley— Native, European, and African.
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Frontier Culture Museum
1290 Richmond AveIn Augusta County, over the mountains, but a wonderful day trip for families. This is a one-of-a-kind living history museum devoted to the architecture of the people who settled in the Shenandoah Valley— Native, European, and African.
Farm Stores
Shop at the source
Vintage Virginia Apples
2545 Rural Ridge LnFarm/Nursery featuring rare heirloom apples & cider.
Our favorite source for local apples, peaches, and Asian pears, grass-fed beef, pork, local ice cream & groceries, and high-quality nursery plants. Also the site of the largest boxwood nursery in the country.
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Saunders Brothers Farm Market
2717 Tye Brook HwyOur favorite source for local apples, peaches, and Asian pears, grass-fed beef, pork, local ice cream & groceries, and high-quality nursery plants. Also the site of the largest boxwood nursery in the country.
Critzer Family Farm
9388 Critzer Shop RdPick your own berries offered seasonally.
This isn’t my first choice for peaches— I prefer Saunders’, but it’s more centrally located for visitors, especially as a stop on your way back to DC or RIC. It’s more of a production than the Nelson locations, but people still really enjoy it! They offer Pick Your Own strawberries seasonally, too.
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Chiles Peach Orchard
1351 Greenwood RdThis isn’t my first choice for peaches— I prefer Saunders’, but it’s more centrally located for visitors, especially as a stop on your way back to DC or RIC. It’s more of a production than the Nelson locations, but people still really enjoy it! They offer Pick Your Own strawberries seasonally, too.
I think this is the most beautiful local setting for pick your own apples, nestled into a plateau that feels like a secret. I stop here for Indian corn too, for crafts. It’s on the way to Crabtree Falls.
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Dickie Brothers Orchard
2685 Dickie RdI think this is the most beautiful local setting for pick your own apples, nestled into a plateau that feels like a secret. I stop here for Indian corn too, for crafts. It’s on the way to Crabtree Falls.
Farm store on the way to Crabtree Falls with local apples and cider.
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Silver Creek & Seamans' Orchards, Inc
5529 Crabtree Falls HwyFarm store on the way to Crabtree Falls with local apples and cider.