We chose to park in the West Trailhead side and walked in from that direction of the tunnel. We…read morestarted out with our flashlights on but wanted to walk the tunnel without the flashlights. The Experience was fantastic. We did turn on our flashlights when we saw people approaching so we would not startle them. It is dark, damp, and cold in the tunnel. You hear the little water falling inside. We had pocket warmers and I think they were needed. We were both happy we had our pocket warmers. The hike to the tunnel has wonderful forest views and an excellently maintained trail. They also have some plaques with historical information on them. We really thought that was a nice additions to our hike. Both sides of the tunnel has picnic tables. The picnic tables are brand new this year. We stopped and had lunch. There are 2 parking areas. East Trailhead Blue Ridge Tunnel and West Trailhead Blue Ridge Tunnel. Both have a porta potty but no running water. So you will want to take some hand sanitizer. Easy hike, 4.6 miles. Out and back. 370ft elevation gain. The best maintained trail I have ever seen. Hiker friendly, kid friendly. Dogs on leash, Forest view, tucked away on the side of a mountain, Historical tunnel view. Some of the trail is paved, then gravel, and then dirt with gravel mix. Make sure you leave no trash behind

We had a group of eight for the hike. We started on the east side. The walk through the tunnel…read morewas great. I was thankful that started on the east side because it was a pretty steep and long climb after the tunnel. It was 4.5 miles total for the walk. To have the steepest part at the middle was perfect rather than having it at the end. Highly recommend. The tunnel is not claustrophobic at all as it is large inside and you can see the end the entire time. It was a perfect fall hike with the leaves changing. We stopped at Blue Mountain Brewery afterward (only 6 minutes away) for lunch.

The ruins are located on the grounds of the Barboursville Vineyard…read more They are all that remain of the grand brick mansion of James Barbour -- a Virginia governor, U.S. senator, Secretary of War under John Quincy Adams, and close friend of Thomas Jefferson. Built in 1822, the original house was designed by Thomas Jefferson in his neoclassical style, complete with a distinctive octagonal drawing room (note connection to the naming Barboursville Winnery award winning red!) On Christmas Day, 1884, the mansion burned in a devastating fire leaving only the brick walls, columns, and chimneys standing. Instead of rebuilding, the Barbour family moved to a nearby residence, and the ruins remain as a picturesque shell. A short walk from either the tasting room or cottages, this is a must stop for history buffs interested in civil war era and Thomas Jeffereson and photographers for the weathered remains with the vineyard and blue ridge foothills in the background Parking nearby if you choose to drive. Steep uneven climb from parking

This site is part of a winery complex which has a restaurant and an inn. The site is free to enter,…read morethough it is confusing as my map tried to bring me in on a dirt road that wasn't open rather than the actual entrance which is east of the site. I eventually wormed my way around to find the one-lane bridge to the site blocked by someone who bizarrely just seemed to want to sit there, so I parked at the winery/restaurant and walked over. It's a nice walk. The ruins are interesting to look at. There's not a lot to the site and you can't go past it as it becomes private space for guests of the site. It also closes at 5:30 and signs angrily warn that being there after 5:31 is trespassing, so you can't plan on catching a sunset there or anything. But if you looked this up and your goal is to see some cool ruins, you can, within limits.

What a great place!…read more April, who operates the mill, knows her craft and is happy to share it. Our tour of the mill was brief, but April was more than willing to answer our questions and go into any level of detail about the building, milling grain, etc. We purchased several items while there and would gladly go back.

I really love this spot. The grounds are beautiful and the mill is very charming. I've purchased…read moremany of their mixes and they are truly delicious! The owner kindly showed us around and her hospitality was appreciated.

What a gorgeous place! I went in the late winter/early early Spring and even though there were no…read moreleaves on the trees, it was still gorgeous. Monticello is the estate of Thomas Jefferson and there is so much history packed into the tour but the beauty is what captivates you. The woodwork, the flooring, the artwork...I could go on and on. The tour guides are excellent! Very knowledgeable, engaging, friendly and they keep history honest. I loved that they stuck to the facts and told the history as it should, the good, the bad and the ugly. The estate is still kept immaculate and holds so much history in every detail. The view alone overlooking the mountainside takes your breath away. It immediately sets your mind to wandering and fantasizing of a time long ago and how spectacular it must have been to live surrounded by such beauty. I highly recommend and would recommend going in late Spring or early Summer or Fall when the leaves have changed color.

Monticello is probably the most famous of all the President houses (Mt Vernon may have it beat)…read more As a self-proclaimed Presidential history nerd, I have been to several presidential homes, libraries, museums, gravesites, monuments, etc. Monticello's history is the most interesting because of many factors including Jefferson's architectural obsession, the atrocities with slavery that occurred with building and maintaining it, and the innovations and experimentation Jefferson used while living here. Monticello is a huge operation. You should definitely get a reservation. You park at the bottom of the hill (or maybe middle of it) then you go through metal detectors and are now in the cafe/gift shop/bathroom area. From there you can take the 1/2 mile walk up hill to the home or take the bus. Once you are up top, you will be put into different huddles depending on your tour time. Oh, there are several different style tours, we just did the general admission tour. Anyway, you can walk around the grounds while you wait. The whole thing is very well organized. Our tour guide took us through various rooms in the house, pointed out various artifacts from Jefferson's past, told stories and was very knowledgeable when asked questions. The group I was in was probably 20 people. The whole tour took 45 mins. Then we walked the grounds independent of the tour including looking at Jefferson's family cemetery plot. My only issue is that I went on July 1st, 2026, so the whole back (or front) had a huge tent set up for the America 250 celebration. Not a big deal just didn't get the complete feel or pics.

This is such a cute gift shop with lots of lovely items, jewelry, and patriotic merchandise to…read morecommemorate the nation's 250th birthday. They also have locally made food and wine products. Even you are not going to Michie Tavern to eat, this is a great stop on any Charlottesville trip.

Great gift shop/ general store. Just browsing merchandise is entertaining! There are two floors to…read moreshop: downstairs has specialty foods, old fashioned candy, cute & fun mugs, towels, souvenirs, bath & body & a wine & beer room in the back. Upstairs there is a Christmas section, colonial clothing, miniature soldiers & more. We managed to pick up a gift while there!

What a gorgeous national park. Skyline drive felt like every twist and turn was another postcard…read moreworthy spot. I love to hike and was excited to arrive at Big Meadows because I've read about it in books about thru hiking the Appalachian Trail. We actually saw some thru hikers while we were at the Visitor Center and that was special watching their journey in real life. I grabbed a t shirt, a baby book for our new granddaughter and of course had to get some stamps for my National Parks passport book. Then we decided to head over for an "easy hike" at Dark Hollow Falls Trail.

October, 2025. There are four entrances to Shenandoah National Park; the Swift Run Gap Entrance is…read moreat mile marker 65.5 on Skyline Drive (which runs the length of the park for 105.5 miles). Swift Run Gap is the most convenient entrance if you're coming on U.S. 33 from Harrisonburg or Massanutten from the west or Stanardsville from the east. The entrance is usually manned by a national park ranger, who collects entrance frees and gives you a map of the park. We most recently visited in mid-October (height of the leaf-peeping season), but also during a government shutdown. The ranger at the entrance station informed us that the park was "open" but with very limited staffing, and that they were not authorized to collect fees during the shutdown. We selfishly appreciated that the park was open, but were dismayed to think about the forgone revenue that the national park lost during the shutdown. As a result, we spent a lot of money in the bookstore, which is run by the nonprofit SNP Association, with proceeds used to support educational programming in the park (and some staffing during the shutdown). There were a lot of people in the park, but they were following good "carry in, carry out" principles.

I loved everything about this property. The host sent instructions the day before which were easy…read moreto understand and helped us once we got there to get the key and get everything situated. We stepped in the cabin and it is beautiful. The interior is rustic and it fits so well. The host left information about the area and pamphlets for things to do and see in the area which is a very nice touch too for someone who has never stayed in the area like myself. The kitchen is stocked with things you would need to cook, make tea and coffee which is very cool but bring things to cook (meats and such). There are restaurants about 20 minutes away but if you are looking for the retreat and just wanting to stay at the cabin there is also a firepit and grill out back available. It was awesome to sit in the fire pit area and just listen to the nature in the area.

I enjoyed learning the history of the bridge. The cave arches were breathtaking. I did not enjoy…read moreclimbing the stairs to return to the main building, but the experience was definitely a hike! I was excited to watch otters fish for food in the streams. The waterfall was not as grand as I expected it to be, but the natural scenery was worth viewing for $9. As a bonus, there is a trail to a cave.

This is a perfect place to take a road trip break! We did exactly that on a recent drive from…read moreAsheville to Richmond. The visitor center was easy to find and the building reminded me of those found at the University of Virginia, which was founded by Thomas Jefferson. Coincidentally, Thomas Jefferson also owned the land on which the Natural Bridge is located. After paying your admittance fee at the center, you head down several stairs and will pass a small waterfall. Very soon thereafter, you will see the Natural Arch. There is a flat path that leads you through the arch where you can continue your stroll along a steam for about 15 minutes to see a larger waterfall. "Saltpeter Cave" can also be found along the path. It was interesting to read that Mr. Jefferson leased out this shelter for the excavation of potassium nitrate which was eventually used to make gun powder. While I would not make the Natural Bridge a destination trip, it is definite worthwhile to explore if passing through the area.

Step back into time and visit a great revolutionary period tavern after touring Monticello. This…read morerestored building, a Virginia Historic Landmark, features tavern workers dressed in period dress. The period wood interior and the use of steel plates, cups, and plateware all add to the historic charm of this place. The tavern offers a buffet style experience where one can choose from coleslaw , black eye peas, mashed potatoes, turnips, Southern fried chicken, cornbread, buttermilk biscuits, hickory flavored pulled pork and soup. Soda and apple cider are available as well all for one fixed price ($28). The area waitress or waiter will come around and offer refills on both the food and drinks and deliver to your table. Service was friendly and quick. If one wants to indulge in traditional Southern cooking this is the place. The 1784 pub ( located in the oldest part of the tavern) offers wine, cider and local beers along with special events. There are several restored period buildings on the property one can visit including a gift shop housed in one of the old historic structures. Michael Tavern, relocated and restored by Josephine Henderson back in 1927 to the current location, is a wonderful period landmark to stop in and enjoy some delicious Southern fare while taking a step back in time.

The gift shop is so big. Lots to see. The store is nicely designed and clean…read more I was very happy to find a Fresh Cut Card. The lady was helpful in helping to pick the right one for a birthday card. The one I had was the smaller one but she went and got me a big one. For $5 more it was so much nicer. My friend loved it. If you are in the area, you should stop in. I am visiting from NC but plan to go back in Sept and try the restaurant.

Such a beautiful space with an amazing collection. You can really feel the love the moment you walk…read morein. Walter and Lao Russell left behind work that's truly inspiring and it stays with you even after you leave. Definitely a must see if you're in the area, especially with so much to explore nearby like Historic Main Street in Waynesboro and the Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline Drive just minutes away.

Waynesboro is worth visiting as a historic town with beautiful scenery. Do not miss The Russell…read moreMuseum on the Main Street! Walter Russell and his wife, Lao, were artists and creators. He was a scientist, a sculptor, a musician and a philosopher. You will be enthralled by this collection. We had a fabulous tour with the curator who is personally involved and made fascinating people more enthralling by sharing his personal experiences. Highly recommend!!!