Things to Do in the Shenandoah Valley & Beyond

Whatever your interest, there is something to do in this beautiful, scenic area of Virginia! Enjoy beer, wine, cider, or spirits? Antiques? Historic attractions? Fresh local meat and produce?

Live performances range from world-class Shakespeare performances to national touring groups to local musicians at the local brewery.

Of course, a major reason to come will be the great outdoors, whether you drive to see the scenic views or take a more active approach with hiking, biking, kayaking, fishing…

Empty street lined with tress with a large grey roadside sign about the area

Outdoors

This is a magnificent area, encompassing the Shenandoah Valley, the Blue Ridge Mountains, and, on the other side, the Piedmont area of Virginia. Plan to explore them all! Yes, fall foliage is stunning, but so are the spring and summer wildflowers, and winters are generally mild. Hiking, biking, fishing, kayaking, scenic views, waterfalls.

Skyline Drive and Shenandoah National Park: hiking, biking, scenic views, waterfalls. Tips for visiting.
Blue Ridge Parkway: hiking, biking, scenic views, waterfalls
Appalachian Trail
Sherando Lake Recreation Area
George Washington and Jefferson National Forests
Fly Fishing on the South River
Waynesboro Water Trail
Biking: mountain or road

Our local outfitters will be glad to set you up with the equipment or help you need:

South River Fly Shop: Fishing store and lead guided fly fishing trips
Rockfish Gap Outfitters: Gear for backpackers, bicyclists, campers, paddlers and hikers

Outdoor patio of a brewery with several patio tables with closed red umbrellas

Craft Beverages

Our favorite Virginia road trips include having tastings of all four of the major drink groups: beer, wine, cider, and spirits, a goal easily achieved in this area. And we can throw in Kombucha for the win!

Within Waynesboro we have three excellent breweries:

Seven Arrows: With food from Nobos Kitchen
Basic City Beer: With pizza and sandwiches in two spaces
Stable Craft Brewing: Farm fresh beer and food

And kombucha (naturally carbonated, fermented tea) at Blue Ridge Bucha, though the Tap Room is currently closed due to COVID-19.

Local wineries:

Barren Ridge Vineyards: Great wine and beautiful scenery 6 miles away
Ox-Eye Vineyards: Tasting room in downtown Staunton
Afton Mountain Vineyards: Just on the other side of the Blue Ridge, 13 miles away
Veritas Vineyards and Winery: 50 acres of grape vines; large indoor and outdoor facilities, practically next door to Afton Mountain Vineyards

Local cideries:

Albemarle Ciderworks: Just south of Charlottesville. A great entry into heritage cider.
Potter’s Craft Cider: In downtown Charlottesville
Bold Rock: In Nellysford, on the Nelson 151 Craft Beverage Trail. An opportunity to try their premium varieties hard to find in stores/bars.
Blue Toad Hard Cider: Roseland, VA
Bryant’s Cider: Roseland, VA

Nearby craft beverage trails:

Shenandoah Beerwerks Trail: Includes 18 breweries near I 81 from Glasgow to Harrisonburg
Nelson 151 Craft Beverage Trail: Starts 20 minutes away from Cider House in Afton and heads south for 20 miles that include six wineries, three breweries, two cideries, and a distillery. With a short detour you can add the Virginia Distillery Company off Rt 29 in Lovingston (when it reopens after corona virus)
Monticello Wine Trail: Another 30 wineries around Charlottesville, near the birthplace of American viniculture

Beige and blue corner store with sign for Antique Mall and two cars parked in front

Antiques

Do you enjoy antiquing? Here are some excellent local antique malls, where we acquired many of the furnishings of our bed and breakfast.

Factory Antique Mall: Largest antique mall in America; in Verona
Stuart’s Draft Antique Mall: 50 dealers, just west of Waynesboro
Staunton Antiques Center: Has local artists’ work for sale upstairs
Verona Antiques: A more intimate Verona antique mall
Rockfish Gap Country Store Gift Shop: Antiques and country interior design
Alpha and Omega Antique Mall: In downtown Waynesboro

Tall brown brick performing arts center with white doors and trim and tall arched windows

Live Performances

We have extraordinary access (in normal times) to good live performances for a rural area. Due to Covid-19 none of these are functioning normally, but some have virtual performances, and some activities have continued with precautions including severely reduced seating, and requiring reservations.

The Wayne Theater: A 1926 vaudeville/movie house in downtown Waynesboro, fully restored and reopened in 2016 as a vital multi-use theater that gets national tours of musical groups and comedians, as well as hosting an excellent local theater group, movies, and lectures. Occasional live performances with restricted seating during covid.

American Shakespeare Center: In Staunton. “Recovering the joy and accessibility of Elizabethan theatre at the Blackfriars Playhouse – the world’s only re-creation of Shakespeare’s indoor theatre.” An astonishing ensemble of actors, nationally recognized.

Heifetz International Music Institute: at Mary Baldwin University in Staunton. “Dedicated to the artistic growth and career development of some of the most talented and promising young musicians in the world.” Holds concerts.

Staunton Music Festival: Next planned August 14-23 2021. Twice-daily performances of classical music at various venues in Staunton.

ShenanArts: Staunton community theater

Barren Ridge Vineyards: Live @ Barren Ridge hosts local music groups in their Sunset Saturdays series. Still happening during covid with seating restrictions.

Apple orchard with trees full of red apples and a ladder standing against a tree next to two brown barrels

Orchards & Locally Sourced Foods

Shenandoah Valley was the breadbasket of the Confederacy, and this area, on both sides of the Blue Ridge, is still full of excellent local food, including pork, beef, dairy, fruit, vegetables, honey, and eggs.

We are proud members of the Shenandoah Valley Fields of Gold trail. Their website gives you a terrific list os central Shenandoah agricultural tourism options, from orchards to cheese producers to alpaca products to pick-your-own farms. And, post-covid, a calendar of agricultural events.

Orchards:

Chiles Peach Orchard and Farm Market: Crozet. Also have apples in season and excellent jams and syrups
Henley’s Orchard: Crozet. Apples and peaches, fresh and (soon) hard cider, and grass-fed beef
Drumheller’s Orchard: Lovingston. Apples, cider, pumpkins, honey, hams, molasses

Meat:

Sunrise Farms: Beef, pork, chicken, turkey, lamb, honey, and eggs, sold in display cases on the honor system, right on the farm in Stuarts Draft
Polyface Farm: If you’ve read Joel Salatin’s books on sustainable agriculture, a visit to his farm and the opportunity to purchase meat direct from the farm is worth the 35-minute drive to Swoope

Produce:

Stuarts Draft Farm Market: Vast selection of local food they source directly
Project Grows offers farmers’ markets in Waynesboro, Verona, and Staunton in summer

Downtown street corner with tall red brick buildings against a clear blue sky

Staunton

Visit Website

One of the oldest cities west of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Queen City is about 20 minutes from Cider House Bed and Breakfast, and is a charming, historic small city with a warm cultural vibe and excellent restaurants. Birthplace of Woodrow Wilson. Catch an amazing performance at the iconic American Shakespeare Center’s Blackfriars Playhouse. We are also fans of Sunspots Studios and Glassblowing.

Stately brick home with white column portico and green lawn with pond in front

Charlottesville

Visit Website

Home of the University of Virginia and Monticello, Charlottesville is an historic city with a lot to offer. Check out the large pedestrian shopping mall in the heart of the city. Home of Jefferson’s first grape-growing experiment in the New World, the area boasts some of the finest-and most beautiful-wineries in Virginia.

Brown brick building with black glass front windows and large white sign

Dining

You may to travel to Staunton or Charlottesville for “fine dining”, but you can stay right here in Waynesboro for excellent food. We have quite a variety of locally owned options. Be sure to check before you go, as Covid-19 policies are always in flux.

Looking for good take-out food to eat at Cider House, in your room or our dining room, on the patio, or on the deck? Check out our blog post for recommendations.

Heritage On Main: Sports bar area and dining area, with frequent live music
The River: Recently opened burger bar featuring locally sourced ingredients and vegetarian and vegan options
Scotto’s Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria: Fresh real Italian food
Stable Craft Brewing: Farm-fresh food and craft beer
Weasie’s Kitchen: Comfort food for every taste
Tailgate Grill: A local tradition for burgers, cheesesteaks, and American grub
The Fishin’ Pig: BBQ & Southern food with beer on tap. Indoor and outdoor seating. Tuesday is ribs night. Go early.
Stella Bella & Lucy’s: For an elegant light lunch in a tea room setting
El Puerto Mexican Grill & Cantina: Waynesboro has several Mexican restaurants, but we recommend this one.
Kline’s Dairy Bar: The world’s best ice cream. A local Shenandoah mini-chain. Get the chocolate/salted caramel shake.
Benny Stivale’s: 28″ pizzas. Get it by the slice unless there are four of you and you’re hungry!

Book Direct!Get the best rates and attention to your needs when you book directBook Now

Cider House Bed and Breakfast

949 Old White Bridge Rd Waynesboro, VA 22980
Phone: (540) 932-0370
https://www.ciderhousebedandbreakfast.com info@ciderhousebedandbreakfast.com
Latitude: 38.1074847 Longitude: -78.9117325