Hi Friends.
We are back in Virginia. It’s crazy to think how much we did since the last time we were here. It’s been almost 4 months since we were last here, with countless adventures in between. We came back to Virginia for a few reasons. First, we had some appointments to take care of in the northern Virginia area – dentists appointments for us and vet/grooming appointments for Pepper Jack. Additionally, Pepper Jack needed some medicine that we ordered to my parents house, so they were going to meet us in Virginia wine country for a few days to give us some mail and visit with us.
We drove from Cincinnati over to southwest Virginia in Abingdon, before traveling north to the Charlottesville area. The whole western side of Virginia is absolutely beautiful. The Appalachian mountains are incredible to look at and just makes you want to explore and go out into them. While we didn’t get to do any hiking this past week, we did get to go on a family bike ride. Bike riding is something that Travis and I both love, but we haven’t been able to go out together on the road because Pepper Jack hadn’t gotten used to his trailer. We struggled with him being scared of it and wanting to jump out, so we put it on the back burner. This week, we finally got him to tolerate it. After a few hours, we were able to ride a few miles down one of the bike trails. It wasn’t completely accident free, as PepperJack tried to jump out at least once. But, the progress was huge and he wasn’t panting or as scared as he was in prior outings. Being back on a bike felt so good and I’m hoping there are many more family bike rides in the future.
We then made our way over to Staunton, to meet my parents and exchange items. That’s when we made a game plan for what we wanted to do for the weekend. We knew we wanted to explore Charlottesville again, as they have a great downtown area that is closed off to cars, with plenty of restaurants and stores. It’s a lot of fun to walk up and down the street, spot cute dogs (some in costume), and listen to street performers. We love the Charlottesville area, but we also knew that we wanted to focus on enjoying some great food and wine.
All four of us really appreciate a good bottle of dry red and a farm-to-table dining experience. The kind with more simple ingredients, but flavors that are to die for. Here is a quick breakdown of some of the stops we made in Virginia. Either my parents or Travis and I have been to these places before, but we loved them so much, we wanted to show each other and go there again ourselves. These places are now mainstays, and will be visited anytime we are in Virginia.
Stop 1: Barboursville Vineyard
We love it here. They have an amazing space, with a restaurant and tasting room, as well as plenty of outdoor seating to enjoy. There are even ruins from James Barbour’s mansion (which was designed by Thomas Jefferson) on the property that you can check out. Barboursville has incredible wine that we liked so much, we bought several bottles to serve at our wedding. When you come here, you have to check out their restaurant Palladio. While my parents have done it before, it was the first time Travis and I got to eat there. It’s beyond delicious and I highly recommend.
Stop 2: Bluemont Vineyard
Bluemont Vineyard isn’t too far from where we used to live in Northern Virginia. It’s located on a mountain side and the steep driveway up to the vineyard is worth it for the view. Travis and I had gone here a few times by ourselves, and were always telling my parents that next time they were in Virginia we would take them. Both the view and the wines are incredible. We were there for hours enjoying wine and charcuterie – having a picnic between the vines. It definitely does get crowded here, so it’s smart to make a reservation if you want to be at a table and having a dining experience.
Stop 3: The Ashby Inn
The Ashby Inn holds a special place in our heart as it was the place where Travis and I had our wedding reception. The food and wine served here are absolutely delicious and the staff really makes you feel special. It’s a place where you feel so welcomed, and they do a great job of giving you what feels like a luxury experience without being pretentious. We love the sommelier and general manager here, who are amazing at their jobs, and always give you great recommendations. While none of us have stayed over at the inn, it’s definitely something on my list of thing to do one day.
It was such an amazing weekend getting to see my parents and just relax and enjoy in some familiar places. Being on the road is such an adventure, and Travis and I absolutely love it, but there is something nice and relaxing about being in familiar spots for a change.
Thanks for reading (and let me know if you try any of those places!)
Leece
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