Father’s Day is only a few short weeks away, and with unpredictable shipping delays occurring due to COVID-19, you may want to go ahead and start thinking about what to get Dad sooner rather than later! Use our Made in Virginia gift guide to pick out the perfect gift for your father this year. 

Virginia Distillery Company’s Courage & Conviction Whisky 

 

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If your Dad is a whiskey drinker, get him a bottle of Virginia Distillery Company’s newest release, Courage & Conviction Whisky. Inspired by the founder’s principles to “have the courage of your convictions”, this American Single Malt barley whisky has been aged a minimum of three years in sherry, bourbon, and cuvée wine casks. 

Add a little something extra to your gift with a cocktail kit from Pratt Standard Cocktail Co., which are paired with a bottle of Virginia Distillery Company whisky and can be shipped directly to Virginia consumers. Flavor options include Rosemary Grapefruit simple syrup with a Chardonnay cask-finished Virginia-Highland Whisky or a kit with simple syrup, orange bitters, and a Brewers Batch Virginia-Highland Whisky.

Awl Snap Leather Wallets

 

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Awl Snap hand stitches leather wallets, bags, and accessories, including leather coasters, koozies, and keychains. Get Dad a new wallet from Awl Snap for Father’s Day, featuring four card slots and a center pocket for cash. These wallets are made with vegetable-tanned leather sourced from world-renowned tanneries located  in the U.S. that follow ethically and environmentally responsible practices to ensure the best quality in the resulting products. 

Seigler Fishing Reels

 

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A fishing reel manufacturer based in Virginia Beach, Siegler Fishing Reels are a great gift for the father who spends a lot of time out on the water. These award-winning, top-quality reels come in a range of styles and price points, from fly fishing reels to lever drag reels. You can also get him a matching t-shirt or hat to wear during his next fishing trip.

BS Grillin’ Company

 

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Does Dad spend a good number of evenings grilling out? If so, he’ll probably appreciate some nice sauces and condiments to pair with his grilled meals. BS Grillin’ Company, based out of Lynchburg, makes a wide variety of sauces, such as Kickin’ Pineapple BBQ, Smokin’ Chipotle BBQ, and as well as relishes like their Blazin’ Pepper Relish and Sweet Zucchini Relish. These can also be used in lieu of your average sauces and seasonings in dips, sandwich spreads, marinades, and more. 

Green Cove Collective Socks

 

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Many Dads are big on the Great Outdoors, and if yours happens to like exploring Virginia’s untouched wilderness and conquering the most strenuous trails, socks from Green Cove Collective are a perfect gift. The company resides in the mountains of Southwest Virginia, so they have plenty of places to test out their latest socks for quality and endurance. Plus, every time you purchase a product from Green Cove Collective, they provide a meal to a person in need, supporting their community while also crafting excellent hiking accessories. 

A Mixed Basket of Virginia Craft Beer 

Photo Credit: Shannon Terry

If your Dad is a craft brew lover, take a DIY approach and build a basket of your favorite Virginia craft beers. Sharing a love of brews is a great way to bond, and he will appreciate the careful selection you’ve taken the time to put together! Not sure where to start? For a great selection of award-winning IPAs, consider ordering from The Veil Brewing Company, or if he’s more of a light beer guy, pick up some beers from New Realm Brewing Company, who won the 2019 Virginia Craft Beer Cup for their Euphoria Pilsner. 

Verus Kayaks 

 

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For Dads that seek adventure on white waters, consider splurging on a Verus kayak, made in Roanoke, Virginia. Their carbon/Kevlar abrasion-resistant freestyle kayaks are created by layering composites with bonding agents that are then covered by a specialty outer coating. While this is a more pricey gift, it’s a great one to go in with siblings or Mom on and surprise Dad in a big way! Pre-order the Verus 2020, the newest kayak with a re-designed, more aggressive stern that improves both comfort and safety.

Autumn Olive Farm Meats, Waynesboro

 

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We mentioned grilling before, but starting with a nice cut of meat will help those spices taste even better. Gift Dad some meats from Autumn Olive Farm, such as gorgeous steak cuts like filet mignon, New York Strip, and Top Sirloin, pork products like ribs, bacon, and pork chops, or processed meat products like ground beef or a wide variety of housemade sausages. All meats are raised on the environmentally-friendly farm in the Shenandoah Valley, which is owned and operated by local families. Current pickup locations for their products include Waynesboro, Crozet, Harrisonburg, Keswick, and Richmond. 

Wolfgang Beard Company Beard Care & Shaving Products

 

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A Richmond-based operation, Wolfgang Beard Company beard oils, balms, and butters, shaving creams, colognes, and hair pomades are great for the Dads that like to look (and smell!) their best. Whether Dad needs a little help tidying up a quarantine-inspired beard, shaving it off afterwards, or just looking for a new signature scent, the products at Wolfgang Beard Company are ideal for the Dads that appreciate a groomed look.

Lineage Candles

 

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Candles aren’t just for Moms! With smells like Appalachian Woodsmoke, Boot Jack, Bourbon & Ginger, Cinnamon & Cedar, Pine Camp, and Mill Lodge, Dad will enjoy the candles from Harrisonburg-based workshop Lineage, too. In addition to candles, you’ll find other great gifts for dad at Lineage, including leather coasters embossed with the state of Virginia, toiletry bags, cook & bar ware, and grooming products. 

Framed Letterpress Virginia Outdoors Prints from Wild Wander Co.

 

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Outdoorsy dads will appreciate the framed letterpress prints created by Wild Wander Co., available for sale on Etsy. Featuring designs like the Flora & Fauna of Virginia, a Field Guide to the Appalachian Trail, a charming Atlantic Oyster print, and a Field Guide to Shenandoah National Park, these prints will be hung proudly on the wall of Dad’s office or “man cave”. If he’s more into wearing his hobby, the designer also makes a selection of screen printed tees featuring a few Virginia-themed designs. 

Moore & Giles Leather Wrapped Flask

 

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Since 1933, Lynchburg’s Moore & Giles has been turning natural leathers into both commercial goods in the automotive and aviation industries and gorgeous high-end products for consumers. If your Dad is a spirits enthusiast, order him their Leather Wrapped Flask (available in forest green, burgundy, and rich brown colors), a stainless steel flask wrapped in vegetable-tanned Italian leather. Other leather products include luxurious leather coasters, games, and office accessories, so peruse their online shop for further Father’s Day inspiration.

Intro to Knifemaking Class at Join or Die Knives, Richmond

 

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The custom knives from Join or Die are handmade in Richmond, but if you’re not located near Virginia’s Capital city, you can order the blades online and have them shipped to you. Depending on Dad’s hobbies, there are several knives he may appreciate as a Father’s Day gift; the oyster knives are great for those that enjoy a backyard grill including Virginia’s well-known bivalves, the field mate knives are best for the Dads that spend their weekends hunting, and the kitchen knives are for the Dads that love to cook. However, if your Dad is a more hands-on guy, he may appreciate Join or Die’s Introduction to Knifemaking Class, where he’ll learn how to make his own blade. 

Grill Out With Virginia-Grown Oysters

Photo Credit: Sam Dean

Grown in the famed Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries, Virginia’s oysters are a gift not only made in Virginia, but made from Virginia’s waters. Get Dad a bushel of oysters for Father’s Day and host a cookout in the backyard where he can show his skills at the grill. With eight distinct oyster regions in the waters of the Bay, there are many different flavor profiles to Virginia oysters, whether Dad prefers the brinier bivalves of the Atlantic shores or the buttery taste of the oysters grown in the Rappahannock River. And many of these companies are currently offering curbside pickup or even home delivery, allowing you to easily get your gift for Dad. 

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three ships coffee

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For Dads that start each day with several cups of gourmet coffee, get a few bags of single-origin or blended beans from Three Ships Coffee,or step up your gift game and order a monthly coffee subscription from the Virginia Beach beanery. For $34 a month, your Dad will receive two unique bags of coffee with detailed information about the coffee’s origins, as well as membership to the Coffee Club newsletter and monthly coupons in case he runs out and needs to restock.  

Take Dad on a Short Road Trip Around Virginia

Photo Credit: Robert Harris IG account: @robertharris

Spend some quality time with Dad this Father’s Day with a quick day trip in Virginia! Jump in the car and set out on a road trip along a scenic route to share the day and discover the beauty of the Commonwealth. Be sure to snap a picture at one of the 200+ LOVEworks along the way to commemorate the trip. 

If you want more Made in Virginia products, check out our 2020 Gift Guide for tons of thoughtful gifts!

The post Made in Virginia: The Father’s Day Gift Guide appeared first on Virginia’s Travel Blog.

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One incredible thing that we’ve seen while living through the time of COVID-19 is just how well the community can rally and put together resources that can be accessed virtually. Many favorite local spots known for their history, art and learning experiences have made tours available that you can take from the comfort of your home. Here are a few you can enjoy and get excited about visiting in the future!

 

SeaQuest

SeaQuest is one of Lynchburg’s latest business additions, and it’s already a popular destination. So during this time of social distancing, get to know the SeaQuest critters on their website! Virtual video tours are available so you can venture into the wild through these exhibits from your computer. These tours include videos of rainforest animals, the Mayan Jungle aviary, Egyptian desert creatures and several assorted underwater environments with sharks, bioluminescent fish, snails, crabs and starfish.
 
 

Academy Center of the Arts

The Academy Center of the Arts has no shortage of virtual activities to choose from. You can tour their artist galleries on their website and get to know the work of their talented artists. They are also hosting a virtual First Fridays Art Exhibition with judging and prizes, and live-streaming performances and educational videos for your viewing pleasure. There was even a National Poetry Month celebration on Friday, April 10, in collaboration with The Listening, which brought powerful spoken words of poets such as Jaylin Randolph, Madalyn Sullivan and Nick George.

 

RiverViews Artspace

RiverViews Artspace is a multipurpose art hub, with exhibits and supplies for creators and art appreciators alike to peruse and enjoy. Many of their exhibits have been put into video format, such as “To Scale: A Small Works Group Show”, Emerging Artist Twon Smith’s “Drawing Distinctions” and “The Women Portrait Project: Coincidental Feminists”. So hop on their website for an experience with local artists and makers who remind us of what is possible and meaningful.
 

Amazement Square

Even Amazement Square, a hands-on children’s museum well-known for its interactivity and playful learning experiences, has created virtual experiences for the whole family to enjoy! Their exhibits are themed by day, and kids can have the opportunity to watch and create along with videos, make art, solve puzzles, listen to stories and participate in family games of strategy and chance. As a bonus, you can take pictures or videos of your kids’ great work and submit them to the website!

 

Lynchburg Museum

While the Lynchburg Museum is closed, they’ve put their exhibits online so you can still see and learn about them. From gallery to gallery, this virtual tour tells the history of Lynchburg and Virginia from the time of the state’s settlement in 1607 up to modern day. It also gives special attention to exhibits about Virginia military history, local government and a “Life in Lynchburg” gallery about local arts, education, sports and entertainment. This would also be a great opportunity to let the kids in on the fun!

 

D-Day Memorial

Memorial Day and Armed Forces Day are coming up in May, so what better time to familiarize yourself with the stories told by the National D-Day Memorial? This place of commemoration remembers the sacrifices of brave American soldiers during World War II, and it’s offering educational resources, Facebook Live events and virtual tours for you to feel a part of this important place. Some of these programs and events include lesson plans and worksheets, video lectures and presentations and even a virtual Armed Forces Day 5K!

Even if we don’t leave our homes, there is still a lot to do in Lynchburg, and we hope you have the opportunity to enjoy the virtual experiences that our community has to offer, then get out and see these places when this crisis lifts. We hope you stay safe and well!

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The effects of Coronavirus have been disheartening, from businesses shutting down to the utter boredom that comes from staying at home for weeks on end. But there are silver linings to the situation that allow us to see the LOVE in every corner of Virginia. Sharing these “good news” stories help us get through this troubling time and appreciate the integrity and kindness found in communities all around the Commonwealth. 

Photo Credit: Emma Rebein Andrews

One such story is happening at Blenheim Vineyards, the winery owned by native Virginian Dave Matthews. They will be releasing 350 cases of a new red wine blend (followed by a white wine blend) named “On the Line” that recognizes the heroic efforts of frontline workers during this trying time. The proceeds from the wine sales will benefit Charlottesville’s Frontline Foods and World Central Kitchen, programs that use donations to partner with local restaurants and provide food to the area’s essential workers. 

In conjunction with the wine release, Blenheim Vineyards has also created a limited release of merchandise with the logo designed by Dave Matthews, including stickers, posters, and t-shirts, of which the proceeds will also benefit Frontline Foods Charlottesville and the World Central Kitchen. 

We virtually “sat down” with Blenheim Vineyards general manager and winemaker, Kirsty Harmon, who has been producing exceptional wines at the vineyard since 2008, to ask her about the “On the Line” blend. 

How did you come up with the “On the Line” special release?

An old friend of mine, John Kluge Jr., reached out to me several weeks ago about a potential collaboration. He had and continues to work with Frontline Foods in Charlottesville.  He was looking for a way to increase interest and donations to feeding front line workers in Charlottesville, and thought that a wine specific to the cause might make a lot of sense. My husband, sister and niece, are all front line workers, so the idea immediately resonated with me.

Can you explain the winemaking process and bottling process?

The wine for this blend is a combination of wines from both 2018 and 2019. The goal was to make a fruit forward, approachable wine that pairs widely with a range of food and occasions. 

What kind of impact do you think the “On the Line” wine is having on the community in Charlottesville and in Virginia as a whole?

I hope that the wine is a way to bring focus to the community of workers on the Front Lines – from health care to grocery store. It is hopefully a way for those folks living in Charlottesville, Virginia and beyond to be able to support those workers from afar. 

As we look to reopening the state, what will Blenheim Vineyards be doing to welcome visitors again?

We are excited to welcome guests back to Blenheim at some point, but feel that we are best serving our guests by remaining closed at this time. We are offering home delivery, free shipping and local and Richmond pick ups of our wines. 

Looking for more good news during COVID-19? Stay tuned for more Sharing the LOVE stories that highlight the best of Virginia’s businesses and citizens! 

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Memorial Day weekend is usually the start of music festival season in Virginia. Unfortunately, due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) situation, many festivals have postponed to later dates or have canceled entirely.

While travelers won’t be able to attend most music festivals right now, we encourage everyone to dream about going to your favorite one next year, find a new one to add to the list, or listen to playlists of what would have been some incredible shows.

FloydFest

New Dates: Rescheduled for July 21-25, 2021
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A 4-day celebration of music and art nestled in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of Southwest Virginia.

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One of Virginia’s biggest and best music festivals, FloydFest is a five-day festival in the mountains of Floyd. Attendees can camp in the trees of the Blue Ridge Mountains during the festival and take in live music with more than 100 artists on eight stages, outdoor adventure, local vendors offering everything from artisan-made goods, workshops, healing arts seminars, and children’s activities.

Red Wing Roots Music Festival

New Dates: Rescheduled for July 9-11, 2021

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Redwing Roots Music Festival

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The Red Wing Roots Music Festival is held over three days at the scenic Natural Chimneys Park in Mt. Solon, is a family-friendly event that blends bluegrass and folk music. Multiple stages allow a wide array of regional and national bands to continuously play various genres during the festival, and there are tons of organized outdoor events as well such as bike rides, hiking, fun runs and interactive kids activities.

Rooster Walk

New Dates: Rescheduled for May 27-30, 2021

The Rooster Walk Music and Arts Festival features musical performances across several different genres, including bluegrass, rock, reggae, jazz, country and Americana – all in a family friendly environment. In addition to music, explore several vendor booths to partake in arts and crafts.

Virginia Arts Festival

New Dates: Rescheduled for various dates on 2021. Virginia International Tattoo rescheduled for April 15-18, 2021.

<img data-attachment-id="47436" data-permalink="https://blog.virginia.org/2017/01/cant-miss-festivals-part-1/virginia-international-tattoo/" data-orig-file="https://d2y0su6ixv655t.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/16114646/HR16042609V_046-e1550852833854.jpg" data-orig-size="750,350" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"Sarah Hauser, Virginia Tourism C","camera":"","caption":"Presented annually in Norfolk, Virginia, the Virginia International Tattoo is an exhibition of military bands, massed pipes and drums, military drill teams, gymnasts, Scottish dancers, and choirs. It is the largest show of its kind in the US, involving casts of over 800 artists from many different countries.rrVirginia Tourism Corporation, www.Virginia.org","created_timestamp":"1461369600","copyright":"u00a9Virginia Tourism Corporation","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"Virginia International Tattoo","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="Virginia International Tattoo" data-image-description="

Presented annually in Norfolk, Virginia, the Virginia International Tattoo is an exhibition of military bands, massed pipes and drums, military drill teams, gymnasts, Scottish dancers, and choirs. It is the largest show of its kind in the US, involving casts of over 800 artists from many different countries.

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Every year, the Virginia Arts Festival, brings the world’s great artists to performance venues throughout the Hampton Roads area. The big event is the Virginia International Tattoo, which pays tribute to the United States Military. Presented in the grand tradition of the world’s oldest tattoos, this Tattoo is an all-American show of patriotism and pride – one international sensation.

Patriotic Festival

New Dates: Rescheduled for June 4-6, 2021

On the last weekend of May, Virginia Beach hosts the Patriotic Festival, an annual event that honors our armed forces personnel and their families. The Patriotic Festival is a three-day-long event featuring concerts from country music stars, military expos, and displays.

Shenandoah Valley Music Festival

New Dates: Concerts pushed to Aug. and Sept. 2020

Held over summer weekends at the beautiful historic retreat and conference center of Shrine Mont, the Shenandoah Valley Music Festival has brought countless talented musicians to the region, with past artists including LeAnn Rimes, Bruce Hornsby and The Temptations.

Hampton Jazz Festival

New Dates: Postponed to June 2021

The annual Hampton Jazz Festival attracts the nation’s top blues, soul, pop and jazz performers. Each June, tens of thousands of loyal fans from all over the nation converge in Hampton to be a part of this three-day celebration.

HoustonFest

New Dates: Canceled for 2020, New dates TBD

Held annually in memory of young local musician Houston Caldwell, HoustonFest is a two-day festival in Southwest Virginia that features more than 30 bands, with musical genres ranging from Bluegrass to Gospel. Along with the music, skilled artisans and local vendors have workshops and sell homemade goods.

Galax Fiddlers Convention

New Dates: Rescheduled for Aug. 9-14, 2021

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During the 2nd week of August of each year the City of Galax has the world tapping its feet as the Old Fiddlers Convention takes place in Felts Park. Musicians and fans from around the world travel to Galax to perform and hear the music that defines the sound of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Galax has been designated the Worlds Capital of Oldtime Mountain Music and is proud to be identified as hosting the worlds oldest and largest fiddlers convention which has taken place consistently since 1935.

Virginia Tourism Corporation, www.Virginia.org

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The oldest and largest fiddlers’ festival in the world, the Galax Old Fiddlers’ Convention pays tribute to the region’s rich culture and mountain music roots. Since 1935, this festival has brought musicians and bluegrass fans from around the world to discover the sound that defines the Blue Ridge Mountains. After 80+ years, the festival is still one of the most affordable, fun events anywhere on the east coast, providing a family-friendly vacation option for those looking to learn more about Southwest Virginia’s extensive musical background.

Something in the Water

New Dates: Rescheduled for April 23-25, 2021

Virginia Beach native Pharrell Williams’ music and culture festival, Something in the Water, takes place on the Virginia Beach Oceanfront and features a huge amount of national touring artists and plenty of homegrown talent in different genres including hip hop, R&B, rock and many others.

Blue Ridge Music Center Summer Concert Series

New Dates: The 2020 Summer Concert Season tentatively begins on June 27. (Subject to change)

The Blue Ridge Music Center in Galax features a state-of-the-art amphitheater on the Blue Ridge Parkway and hosts concerts each weekend June through September.

Lockn’ Festival

New Dates: Postponed to Oct. 2-4, 2020

The Lockn’ Festival is a four-day music festival taking place at Infinity Downs Farm with an emphasis on music from jam bands, camping, outdoor activities, regional food, beverages and artisans. Lockn’ is one of Virginia’s largest music festivals and many of the artists perform over multiple days and be featured in unique and exciting artist pairings.

Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion

New Dates: Still scheduled for Sept. 11-13, 2020

A three-day festival along Downtown Bristol’s State Street, Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion celebrates Bristol’s heritage as the Birthplace of Country Music, where some of the most noteworthy and influential musical recordings ever created. Catch more than a hundred bands playing on 19 stages during the festival, filling the streets of Bristol with Americana, country, bluegrass, rock, blues, and several other genres that trace their roots to the Bristol Sessions.

The post Canceled By COVID: Enjoy Virginia Music Festivals from Home appeared first on Virginia’s Travel Blog.

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Most Wednesdays, the weekend still feels far away. The commute to the office seems longer than ever, two nights of homework has made the kids irritable, and the week’s challenges are already wearing you thin. However, there’s a new opportunity for Wednesdays. It turns out that Wednesday is the perfect time to wind down, rest, and prepare for the final push that gets you through the rest of the week. Instead of letting Wednesday get you down, treat it like a holiday! Use this infamous day of the week to “wine down” with some great wines, good food, and music in Nelson County, Virginia.

Celebrate Holidays with Virginia Wine

Along with its four Wine Down Wednesdays, the month of May is home to National Wine Day, celebrated on May 25^th. The best way to enjoy this day is to spend time with family and friends over wine and a tasty meal. Of course, our unprecedented times have altered the way a celebration looks. However, there is still plenty of opportunity to observe National Wine Day and Wine Down Wednesdays, Nelson-style.

The Impressive Skills of Nelson County Winemakers

Concerning the wines themselves, Nelson County winemakers produce despite unpredictable weather. A day in Virginia can represent all four seasons topped off with a thunderstorm on Thanksgiving and a morning frost on the last day of May. Because the climate takes away from overall production, more attention can be given to the fruit and the wine-making. Viognier grapes grow well in Nelson, along with the thick-skinned Petit Manseng. These grapes, along with other varieties, and the soil they are planted in lend something to the crisp, flavorful wines that Nelson has to offer.

One benefit of Nelson’s rocky soil is that it doesn’t allow grapevines to dig deep into the ground. The vines then focus more energy onto the fruit rather than other parts of the plant. This is why Nelson wines taste so unique. It’s telling that Nelson County is located directly between Europe and California, since Nelson County Wines embody both new-world charm and modern taste, with a little southern determination thrown in. It could be said that Nelson County Winemakers are some of the last true pioneers of the industry.

The county is a peaceful, verdant beauty located next to the Blue Ridge Mountains. Its immense skies and sun-dappled forests serve as the perfect backdrop to its fascinating wineries. Those visiting the county will find themselves in the very heart of Virginia Wine Country, and conveniently located directly between the cities of Charlottesville and Lynchburg. A wide variety of locally produced wines is another part of the landscape, and award-winning red and white wines, meads, and fruit wines abound. Nelson offers a variety of experiences, from farm wineries, Virginia’s oldest winery, traditional, terraced vineyards, and tasting rooms that are functional works of art.

Nelson County’s Craft Beverage Trails

Nelson is well-known for its craft beverage production; two of its three craft beverage trails boast several wineries. The famous Nelson 151 is affectionately known as “Virginia’s Weekend Address.” It runs near the northern edge of the county, where you’ll find farms, art galleries, cozy bed & breakfasts, and of course- wineries. Veritas Vineyard & Winery, Cardinal Point Winery, Afton Mountain Vineyards, Flying Fox Vineyard, Valley Road Vineyards, and Hill Top Berry Farm & Winery are part of Nelson 151. 12 Ridges Vineyard & Winery, a cool-climate wine producer, can be found nearby- high atop the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Photo Credit: Justin Eubanks

Nelson 29, the county’s newest craft beverage trail, boasts wineries as well: Mountain Cove Winery, Delfosse Vineyards & Winery, Lovingston Winery, and Brent Manor Vineyards. All the wineries included in Nelson 29 have easy access to the Route 29 corridor, which makes these producers perfect for the traveling wine enthusiast. There are plenty of unique shopping opportunities near Route 29. Drumheller’s Orchard and Saunders Brothers Farm Market are nearby, too, if picking your own fresh fruit or choosing country market staples adds a little something to your winery day!

Delfosse Vineyards & Winery, Photo Credit: Steven Morris

The wineries themselves are so unique that no two are alike. Mountain Cove Vineyards, Virginia’s oldest winery, is nestled in a beautiful cove. Afton Mountain Vineyards has a beautiful veranda with views of the Blue Ridge. At Delfosse Vineyards and Winery, the owners know there’s nothing more refreshing on a cool summer’s day than a soothing picnic with delicious wine. Lovingston Winery grows their grapes in a way that increases both the quality and the beauty of the fruit, since the winery itself is built into a hillside and utilizes a gravity-flow production method.

For those more artistically-inclined, Flying Fox Vineyard & Winery offers more than good vermouth. Art is everywhere. Industrial furniture makes the tasting room one-of-a-kind, and huge murals adorn the building. Even the wallpaper is unique! If you aren’t stunned enough by the artistry at Flying Fox, you’ll be mesmerized at Hill Top Berry Farm & Winery’s indoor beehive, where you can watch busy bees enter and exit the building while you build up a little buzz of your own.

More Than Just Vino: Special Events at Nelson’s Wineries

Usually, many of Nelson’s Wineries host special events on weekends. Music and food are part of the celebrations as well. Tours are offered along with wine tasting, and gifts are often available in on-site shops. Many Nelson County wineries are available for booking; weddings and other special events are welcomed.

Hill Top Berry Farm & Winery holds the annual Hill Top Berry Festival in August. The festival takes place on the first Saturday in August, and customers-turned-blackberry-pickers can purchase bottles of true-to-fruit wines, honey meads, or two different types of Sangria.

Another great Nelson celebration takes place on the second Saturday of every month during the warm-weather season. Veritas Vineyards & Winery offers an outdoor concert series, where you can relax under the stars, then taste the wines made on-site.

Adjusting to COVID-19 When You Visit The Wineries

Of course, during these unique times, changes have needed to be made in the short-term. For those who are at home to help slow the spread of COVID-19, wineries in Nelson County have adapted. Delfosse Vineyards & Winery offer Facebook Live Wine Chats. Over the next few Wine Down Wednesdays, Brent Manor Vineyards will be offering virtual tastings in the evenings. Wine enthusiasts can order the newly-released wines from Brent Manor Vineyards and follow along online. Afton Mountain Vineyards and Valley Road Vineyards are also rising Internet stars with their virtual tasting opportunities. There are still special occasion offerings at Nelson wineries as well. For Mother’s Day, Veritas Vineyards & Winery sold special “Mother’s Day in a Box” brunches for pickup.

You can enjoy Nelson County wines at home, too. Most Nelson wineries, including Hill Top Berry Farm & Winery, offer curbside to go for wine orders. Afton Mountain Vineyards and Cardinal Point Winery offer online orders and pickup as well. Many of the wineries, including Lovingston Winery, are offering free shipping and local delivery.

Wineries Give Back to the Community

Of course, it’s hard to be surrounded by beautiful landscapes and beautiful wines without having a beautiful heart as well. Nelson wineries have found ways to give back to their customers and their community during these difficult times. For example, Veritas Vineyards & Winery has partnered with top wedding vineyards to give away a dream wedding valued at over $50,000. The wedding site, coordinating, flowers, gifts, stationery, cake, makeup, and gifts will be available to one lucky couple whose wedding was cancelled due to these difficult times.

Photo Credit: Tom Daly

There’s more to wine in Nelson County than a day of the week or a certain month of the year, though Wine Down Wednesdays and National Wine Month remind us that there’s a lot of fun and adventure to be had, even though the times have a’changed somewhat right now. Whether you travel to the heart of Virginia’s wine country or celebrate on the front porch at home, Nelson County Wineries have something to offer. For more information about how YOU can start celebrating Wine Down Wednesdays and National Wine Month, visit the Nelson County website or call the Nelson Visitors Center at 434-263-7015.

The post Cheers To Wine-Down Wednesdays in Nelson County! appeared first on Virginia’s Travel Blog.

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As the home of the first English settlement in the New World, Virginia has an extensive history with countless contributions to America’s political, cultural, and culinary foundations. Virginia originally encompassed all of the lands in the New World, eight U.S. Presidents called Virginia “home”, and the first official Thanksgiving was held in Virginia. But while you may learn these iconic history facts about Virginia in school, there is so much more to the Commonwealth; read on to discover more notable facts about Virginia! 

1. HAMPTON’S STORIED HISTORY

Originally settled by colonists in 1610, Hampton is the oldest continuously-inhabited English settlement in North America. When visiting Hampton, you can learn all about the city’s more than four centuries of notable history at the Hampton Museum. 

Photo Credit: Big Orange Frame

2. THE COMMONWEALTH’S JUDICIAL SYSTEM BECOMES A NATIONWIDE BENCHMARK

Virginia’s early judicial system influenced the Supreme Court. The Commonwealth created a system of superior courts in 1779, including the Supreme Court of Appeals, which became a model for the emerging U.S. Supreme Court, whose structure and influence were not described in detail in the Constitution (the creation of which was also spearheaded by Virginians!)

3. VIRGINIA IS A LEADER IN THE ECO-FRIENDLY MOVEMENT

Virginia has been on the forefront of eco-friendly travel for decades, influencing the movement hugely with the establishment of Earth Day, which happened at Northern Virginia’s Airlie Resort. But Virginia is “green” in more ways than one; the Virginia Department of Forestry reports that 62 percent of the Commonwealth is forested. Explore these pristine woods with a hike on a scenic trail or a cycling adventure in Virginia’s Blue Ridge, America’s East Coast Mountain Biking Capital.

 Photo Credit: Sam Dean, IG account: @sdeanphotos

4. POCAHONTAS ISLAND’S IMPORTANT TO BLACK HISTORY

Petersburg’s Pocahontas Island is the oldest free black community in the nation, and is listed on the National Historic Register of Historic Places. 

5. MAGGIE LENA WALKER BREAKS BARRIERS

America’s first woman-run bank was established in Richmond, Virginia’s capital city. Not only was it the first bank set up by a woman, but even more impressively, by a black woman in the era of the South’s Jim Crow Laws; Maggie Lena Walker chartered St. Luke Penny Savings Bank in 1903, breaking incredible barriers and inspiring Richmond’s black community as a successful businesswoman. In addition to founding the bank, Walker became the bank’s first president and later chairman of the board of directors, creating a safe space for black bank patrons to do business. 

Visit the Maggie Lena Walker National Historic Site in Richmond’s Jackson-Ward neighborhood to learn more about this incredible leader from Virginia. 

 Photo Credit: Bill Crabtree Jr.

6. A DISTINCT ENGLISH ACCENT FOUND ON A SINGLE VIRGINIA ISLAND 

If you’ve visited Virginia, you’ll know that the range of accents can vary widely from the Virginia Beach coastal region to the remote mountain towns of Southwest Virginia. However, Tangier Island, located in Virginia’s Chesapeake Bay, has a distinct English dialect not found anywhere else in the world. Tangier Island was originally settled by early British Colonists in the 1680s, and most of the current residents are their ancestors, speaking in a very peculiar and unique dialect due to the tiny island’s isolation. Their accent sounds closer to the British accent than the American accent, with phrases and speech patterns that can be traced back to early colonial English.

Take a ferry out to the remote island to hear this unique dialect in person, and sample some Tangier Island Oysters to get a taste of the region’s merroir (the flavor infused into the oysters due to the water in the region). While on the island, tour the Tangier History Museum for a thorough dive into the community’s one-of-a-kind history. 

7. THE CHESAPEAKE BAY’S ABUNDANT AQUATIC WILDLIFE

Because of the Chesapeake Bay’s diverse ecosystem, Virginia is the largest seafood producer on the East Coast and the third largest in the country. A large part of that industry is Virginia oysters, with eight distinct oyster regions in the Chesapeake Bay. 

Photo Credit: Tony Hall

8. A SILK EMPIRE THAT NEVER WAS

For centuries, Virginia was known for its lucrative tobacco industry, but the original settlers actually planned for the land to be a silk colony. After a fungus killed the trees that the silkworms fed on, they decided to plant tobacco instead. 

9. BOURBON’S VIRGINIA ROOTS

Bourbon, also known as American Whiskey, is often considered a Kentucky drink, but bourbon’s roots are actually Virginian; Fayette County was in Southwest Virginia, but in 1792, county lines were redrawn and the area became part of the new state of Kentucky. 

Photo Credit: Brian Camp, IG account: @brian_k_camp

10. HALLOWED GROUNDS IN EVERY CORNER OF THE COMMONWEALTH

Almost half of all Civil War battles were fought on Virginia soil. Today, visitors can learn about these pivotal moments in American history with a visit to one of Virginia’s Civil War National Battlefields or historic sites.

11. WARS END ON VIRGINIA SOIL

Both wars fought on American soil, the American Revolution and the Civil War, ended in Virginia; the Civil War at Appomattox Courthouse National Historic Park, where Generals Grant and Lee would meet to sign the surrender, and the American Revolution in Yorktown, where the combined forces of the French and American armies would defeat General Cornwallis for a final victory in the war. 

12. VIRGINIA: HOME TO THE LARGEST NAVAL BASE 

Naval Station Norfolk is the world’s largest naval base, with more than 78 ships from the Atlantic fleet using the station as a home port. 

13. EXPLORING THE MOST MILES OF APPALACHIAN TRAIL 

Virginia contains 544 miles of the Appalachian Trail, more than any other state. Virginia also boasts the most photographed spot on the AT, the picturesque view from McAfee Knob. 

14. ONE POPULAR SODA WAS  CREATED IN THE VIRGINIA MOUNTAINS

One of the most popular sodas in the United States, Mountain Dew, was formulated in the mountains of Southwest Virginia.

15. A TENNIS LEGEND CALLED RICHMOND “HOME” 

Tennis great Arthur Ashe was born in Richmond, Virginia. He became the first black man to win both the U.S. Open and Wimbledon tennis championships, and was also the first African-American man to be ranked as the number one tennis player in the world.

Photo Credit: John Henley

16. RUNNING INTO TROUBLE

Founded in 1693, The College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia is the second oldest college in the nation. Virginia’s collegiate history has a less prestigious “first”: George William Crump, a student at what is now Washington & Lee College in Lexington, became the first college student to be arrested for streaking across a college campus in 1804. Crump would later win seats in the Virginia House of Delegates and the 19th United States Congress. 

Want to learn more about Virginia’s unique history? Check out these other But Did You Know… stories! 

• But Did You Know…Airlie & The Origins of Earth Day
• But Did You Know…The Cavalier, Virginia Beach’s Opulent Seaside Escape
• But Did You Know…Prohibition & Franklin County, The Moonshine Capital Of The World

The post But Did You Know…16 Fun Facts About Virginia appeared first on Virginia’s Travel Blog.

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The first half 2020 has been a year of connecting and supporting each other in so many ways, and our LGBTQ+ families, friends and Allies are as strong, passionate and resilient as ever. Virginia’s Queer communities are making plans to celebrate PRIDE together in 2020.

Virginia is also celebrating our Queer TheirStory, HerStory and History as the first southern state to sign into law the Virginia Values Act, extending state non-discrimination protections to Virginians on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity – a new level of Welcome and safety for LGBTQ+ visitors. Virginia’s LGBTQ+ people are finding and sharing more of our Queer history, statewide. This includes people, stories and timelines found at the Virginia Museum of History & Culture’s Story of Virginia exhibit, and online at Virginia Historic Resources’ LGBTQ Heritage in Virginia website.

While event dates are predicated on the health and safety of all, we are sharing what’s planned and will be updating our calendar accordingly.

No matter which PRIDE events and festivals you attend, there are plenty of self-designated LGBT-friendly hotels, B&Bs, cabins and campsites available to stay at with family and friends. There are also so many things to do and discover, such as shops, restaurants, distilleries, meaderies, cideries, craft breweries, wineries, outdoor adventures, and much more.

Interested in attending a Virginia PRIDE festival this year? Here is your guide to each event throughout PRIDE season.

Share what you LOVE @visitgayva ( Instagram)  & @VisitGayVA  (Twitter)

<img data-attachment-id="55569" data-permalink="https://blog.virginia.org/2019/05/june-2019-events/va-pridefest-2/" data-orig-file="https://d2y0su6ixv655t.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/14152136/CN17101009V_039.jpg" data-orig-size="1316,877" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"Joey Wharton, Virginia Tourism C","camera":"","caption":"Virginia PrideFest is the largest annual celebration of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community in the Commonwealth. The event is put on by Virginia Pride and is held in downtown Richmond on Brown's Island.rrVirginia Tourism Corporation, www.Virginia.org","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"u00a9Joey Wharton","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"VA PrideFest","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="VA PrideFest" data-image-description="

Virginia PrideFest is the largest annual celebration of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community in the Commonwealth. The event is put on by Virginia Pride and is held in downtown Richmond on Brown’s Island.

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PRIDE Season Festivals and Events: At a Glance

June

• June 12: ALX Pride—Alexandria
• June 20: Danville Pride—Danville 

July

• July 16-19: Black Pride RVA—Richmond
• July 24-26: Staunton Pride—Staunton

September

• September 5 – 6: Roanoke Pride—Roanoke
• September 19: Shenandoah Valley Pride—Harrisonburg
• September 25-29: Floyd Pride—Floyd
• September 26: VA Pridefest 2020—Richmond

October

• October 11: Reston Pride—Reston
• October 24: Winchester Pride—Winchester

The post Your 2020 Guide To Virginia’s PRIDE Festivals & Events appeared first on Virginia’s Travel Blog.

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Many people know a little bit about the era of Prohibition in America or have at least watched films about moonshiners, such as the 2012 Hollywood drama “Lawless” starring Shia LaBeouf and Tom Hardy, which followed the Bondurant brothers and their bootlegging enterprise in Virginia’s mountains. But did you know that Franklin County, located in the mountains of Virginia, came to be known as the “Moonshine Capital of the World” due to the region’s heavy involvement in the illegal moonshine industry that occurred during Prohibition? 

Jamestown: America’s Moonshine Roots

In 1620, just 13 years after the Jamestown settlement was established, Virginia colonists were using corn to distill spirits along the James River. This was the first time moonshine was made by colonists in America, although the indigenous peoples had been producing their own alcoholic beverages from corn and other native plants prior to the arrival of colonists. 

Fast forward to the 1700s, when the English, Germans, and Scots-Irish began immigrating to America and settling into western Virginia’s backcountry, where they would bring their own traditions for making homemade spirits, using fruits to make brandy and grains to produce whiskey. <img data-attachment-id="58895" data-permalink="https://blog.virginia.org/2020/05/franklin-moonshine-history/moonshiners/" data-orig-file="https://d2y0su6ixv655t.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/01124431/moonshiners.jpg" data-orig-size="813,559" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="moonshiners" data-image-description="

moonshiners

” data-medium-file=”https://d2y0su6ixv655t.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/01124431/moonshiners-300×206.jpg” data-large-file=”https://d2y0su6ixv655t.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/01124431/moonshiners.jpg” class=”alignright size-full wp-image-58895″ src=”https://d2y0su6ixv655t.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/01124431/moonshiners.jpg” alt=”moonshiners” width=”100%” height=”100%” />

Image Courtesy of The Library of Virginia

From the earliest colonial settlement into the industrial era of the 1800s, producing spirits became a part of life for the small rural communities of Southwestern Virginia. The agricultural aspects of the communities and a lack of roads to transport produce grown on the lands to other parts of the state resulted in an abundance of fruits and grains to use in the distilling process. Instead of wasting the fruits and grains that they were unable to sell, the farmers used a homemade copper still and wooden barrels to mix the mash and store resulting spirits for years to come. A farmer could make enough liquor to cover his own family’s needs and then sell or trade the rest with other members of the community, allowing them to utilize produce that would have otherwise spoiled and been thrown away. Plus, the spent grains left over from the distilling process could be fed to cows, pigs, and other livestock. In a way, early Virginia moonshiners were some of the first eco-friendly farmers in America!

Illegal vs. Legal Liquors

Many of the Scots-Irish, German, and English citizens that immigrated to American were in part fleeing from what they viewed as unfair taxes imposed upon them by their former countries, and one such tax was on distilling whiskey. When they came to America, they believed that they would be free of these fees and could resume producing their own distilled beverages without infringement from the still-forming U.S. government. 

But the Revolutionary War was at hand and the country needed money to pay for the care and supplies for American troops, so the government imposed a tax on alcohol. In response, lots of citizens chose not to license their distilleries or pay taxes on the resulting liquors. These were the first “moonshiners” in America, with many residing in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western Virginia where a smaller, less dense population and large tracts of land allowed them to hide their operations with relative ease. But crafting spirits was not only a pastime for poor rural farmers; middle and upper class Americans on the eastern seaboard were known to build large dedicated stillhouses; George Washington even made his own liquor commercially at Mount Vernon, and you can still visit this distillery today!

Spirits would be taxed by the American government on and off for about 40 years after the Revolutionary War, followed by a 45-year untaxed period; however, with the start of the Civil War, Congress would again pass a whiskey tax. Each gallon of whiskey would be taxed two dollars, an astounding average of twelve times the cost of making these spirits. Not surprisingly, some distillers preferred to run their operations illegally rather than pay these high taxes. These rogue distillers would operate as illegal moonshiners, competing with the 77 legal distilleries that would open in Franklin County by 1894. 

Prohibition & The Rise of Moonshine Running

With the close of the 1800s, America’s stance against alcohol was gaining support. Laws were passed during this time to make rural distilleries illegal, and in the following years, Virginia counties one by one banned both the production and sale of spirits. By 1914, Virginia voted to ban alcohol completely and the Commonwealth was completely dry of legal liquor. Moonshiners would ignore these laws and continue delivering their products in motor vehicles to industrial towns like Danville, Lynchburg, and Roanoke. The United States introduced Prohibition nationwide in 1920, and as a result, the moonshine industry that had been steadily growing in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains would explode overnight. 

Moonshiners & Police: A (Lucrative) Game of Cat & Mouse

The image of a moonshiner in the Blue Ridge Mountains tends to bring to mind an impoverished backwoods farmer, but in reality, some moonshiners would turn an incredible profit, especially during Prohibition. In Virginia’s mountains, a few bootleggers were quite wealthy, earning tens of thousands of dollars in cash while the Great Depression was in full swing. One such moonshiner in Franklin County bought an airplane so that his son could fly over their land and make sure their stills weren’t visible from above. 

As Prohibition ended in 1933, moonshining had become a huge economic force in the mountains of Virginia, and although alcohol was once again legal, the profits from illegal moonshining in the region remained high, encouraging the bootleggers to continue their shady enterprises.

<img data-attachment-id="58894" data-permalink="https://blog.virginia.org/2020/05/franklin-moonshine-history/moonshine-stills/" data-orig-file="https://d2y0su6ixv655t.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/01124319/moonshine-stills.jpg" data-orig-size="1164,768" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="moonshine stills" data-image-description="

moonshine stills, image courtesy of the Library of Virginia

” data-medium-file=”https://d2y0su6ixv655t.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/01124319/moonshine-stills-300×198.jpg” data-large-file=”https://d2y0su6ixv655t.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/01124319/moonshine-stills-1024×676.jpg” class=”alignright size-full wp-image-58894″ src=”https://d2y0su6ixv655t.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/01124319/moonshine-stills.jpg” alt=”moonshine stills” width=”100%” height=”100%” />

Image Courtesy of The Library of Virginia

Police officers and tax enforcement officials hunted down moonshiners throughout the United States with the help of local informants (which could sometimes be the bootlegger’s own competition). After receiving this inside information, the agents would monitor the moonshiners and their property with the hopes of raiding the still sites when the moonshiners returned to distill. The stills found during a raid would then be destroyed using axes or sticks of dynamite. If a moonshiner ran, the agents would chase them down, but most of the time, the men caught red-handed would give up without a fight; violence was a rare result for moonshine raids at the time. 

Instead, moonshiners would adapt their distilling techniques to avoid capture, running thin pieces of thread across pathways to detect if their sites had been visited without them knowing or building underground stills that weren’t easily discovered. A famous example of this occurred in the late 1970s in Franklin County, where a moonshiner bulldozed a massive hole into a field, built an underground room with a sod-covered roof, placed cinder block “headstones” on top, and created a fake cemetery that they regularly mowed and placed flowers throughout. The still was discovered in 1979, by which time revenue agents estimated that it had run for several years before being discovered.

Running From the Law: Moonshiners & NASCAR

Some revenue agents opted to chase down moonshiners during transport rather than stake out their still locations. Most moonshine journeys from still to buyer would go smoothly, but occasionally, if agents were tipped off to the trip, they might set up roadblocks or wait along the planned route for the moonshine runner to pass by. Two-way radios had not yet been invented, so evading capture was still possible for moonshiners with fast vehicles who knew the winding country roads along their route. Skilled bootleg drivers were known to use a “bootleg turn”, where they would spin the car into a 180-degree skid to shake pursuers. 

Popular culture has long associated moonshine running with NASCAR auto racing, but in reality, very few moonshine drivers from the Blue Ridge were involved with organized racing. Instead, the connection lay in the local garages, where mechanics used their skills to modify engines to increase speeds and suspensions to ensure better handling on the roads. These skills translated easily to the world of NASCAR, where speed and balance were two of the most important factors of racing.

NASCAR might not have acquired many drivers from Virginia’s illegal moonshine trade, but one such driver who did come from this background was Wendell Oliver Scott, an African-American racer from Danville’s “Crooktown” section. Scott began his driving career as a taxi driver, but would also use his skills as a fearless driver and a knowledgeable mechanic to haul illegal whiskey, which would help him become the first and only black driver to win a major-league NASCAR race. The Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia, located in Richmond, has a hands-on exhibit for all ages that tells the story of Wendell Oliver Scott and his significant contributions to NASCAR. 

National Headlines: Franklin County’s Conspiracy Trial of 1935

Illegal moonshine was made in secret stills throughout the United States, but the mountain towns of southern Virginia were thrust into the national spotlight with the Great Moonshine Conspiracy Trial of 1935. Although Prohibition was no longer in effect, illegal moonshine was still a thriving industry, as moonshiners went to great lengths to avoid paying taxes on their products. Some government officials in Franklin County accepted bribes to look the other way and protect bootleggers from other lawmen and moonshine distillers; even the Sheriff of Franklin was in on the racket, overseeing a complex bribery system for the biggest moonshine producers in the region. 

Using the tax rate instituted in 1920, moonshiners in Franklin County would have generated $5.5 million in taxes between 1930-1935 if they had legally sold their products. During this same time period, more than 1 million five-gallon cans (used for storing whiskey) were purchased in the county and 37 tons of yeast were ordered (nine times that of the capital city of Richmond). These details and the lack of tax revenue caught the attention of lawmen on a national level, and a federal investigation began.

The trial would pitch Franklin County into complete chaos, with threats, jury tampering, and the murder of a key witness, along with a uninvolved bystander, happening during the proceedings. Two men connected to the illegal liquor trade in West Virginia would be charged and convicted of the murders, but another witness perished under suspicious medical causes during the trial, casting doubt on whether the trial could possibly end with a successful outcome. 

The tense trial was the longest in Virginia’s history, and the dramatics of the case consistently kept it on the front page of newspapers, not only in Virginia but in papers around the country. Local moonshining legends kept the attention of readers, who loved tales of individuals like Mrs. Willie Carter Sharpe, who was known as the “queen of Roanoke rum runners.”

Eventually, 34 people would be indicted in the case, including 19 bootleggers, one corporation, and nine government employees, but when the trial finally drew to a close, the resulting convictions and punishments were surprisingly light for the crimes; jail sentences were two years or less, fines were shockingly low, and thirteen of the 34 would only receive probation. Almost 85 years later, many people in Franklin County still have strong opinions on the case and the men who were charged. And an air of mystery continues to surround the case, as part of the trial records “disappeared” from the Franklin County Courthouse files.

Moonshine in Virginia Today

Virginia’s moonshine history runs deep, so it’s no surprise that the mountain region of Virginia still has plenty to offer when it comes to distilled spirits. Head to the Blue Ridge Institute & Museum in Franklin County to learn more about moonshine heritage and the distilling practices passed down over multiple generations. 

Musicians within the region write songs about homemade “hooch”, stills have been repurposed into art exhibits, and you’ll find merchandise emblazoned with the “Moonshine Capital of the World” logo in stores throughout Virginia’s Mountain region. Franklin County hosts an annual Moonshine Festival to commemorate the history and cultural aspects of moonshine. 

If you want to sample authentic Virginia moonshine in its legal form, visit Franklin County Distilleries, the first legal distillery founded in Franklin County. The distillery is in the small town of Boones Mill, famous for being home to the Bondurant brother’s store during Prohibition, where the bootlegging brothers and their associates would transfer moonshine for national distribution. Another moonshine distillery in the area is Twin Creeks Distillery, where you can sample moonshine, fruit brandies, and “White Whiskey”, the distillery’s pure, unaged corn liquors available in 90- and 100-proof.Finally, if you’re visiting Southern Virginia, plan a stop at Bondurant Brothers Distillery in Mecklenburg County, run by one of the grandsons of the legendary Bondurant brothers. The cold mash moonshine produced at this distillery is a neutral spirit that makes for a perfectly balanced cocktail. 

Looking to sample moonshine in other parts of Virginia? There are distilleries in almost every region of the Commonwealth making legal moonshine, allowing you to get an authentic taste of Virginia’s moonshine history during your visit!

Want to know more about Virginia’s lesser-known history? Check out our articles about Virginia Beach & the Historic Cavalier Hotel or Airlie & the Origins of Earth Day, and stay tuned for more But Did You Know… history articles to learn about some of Virginia’s most amazing untold stories

The post But Did You Know…Prohibition & Franklin County, The Moonshine Capital of the World appeared first on Virginia’s Travel Blog.

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With its proximity to Washington DC and including a large number of bases and government installations, Virginia is the perfect destination for your military reunion or military themed tour – no matter your branch of service.  One-of-a-kind attractions such as the National Museum of the Marine Corps, the Naval Station Norfolk, the Battleship Wisconsin, the National D-Day Memorial, the Airforce Memorial and the National Museum of the U. S. Army will set the stage for your group with unforgettable tours, events and programs.  Almost every part of Virginia has a military story to tell.  Plan now for a future trip and customize your itinerary with these memorable attractions.

The National Museum of the Marine Corps in Prince William County tells a chronological story from the founding of the Marine Corps in Colonial America all the way to 911 and present-day conflicts.  New galleries opening soon as a part of the museum’s Final Phase will focus on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Admission to the museum and parking is FREE. The Medal of Honor Theater provides an extra option for groups showing their signature film We. The Marines.  In addition to the Marine Corps Museum groups with military affiliation can also request a tour of the base itself including Marine Squadron One and the FBI Academy.

Naval Station Norfolk, Nauticus Museum and the Battleship Wisconsin in the Coastal Region highlight a proud Navy Heritage in the Commonwealth.  In Norfolk your group can tour the world’s largest Naval Complex and get an up-close and person look at the Atlantic Fleet.  If your visit to the region is during the Spring you may time it right to catch the Virginia International Tattoo – a 120 minute performance representing eight to ten different countries and all five branches of the United States Military.

The National D-Day Memorial in Bedford is a moving tribute to the over 4,400 soldiers who sacrificed their lives during the famous Allied invasion of 1944.   During your guided walking tour your group will learn about the Bedford Boys and other Military contributions and strategy employed during D-Day.  This site is ranked as TripAdvisor’s #1 Attraction in Virginia!

In Northern Virginia, close to Washington DC a NEW military attraction is set to open in 2020.  The National Museum of the U. S. Army is coming soon to Fort Belvoir in Fairfax County.  It is the first and only museum to tell the 244 year old history of the U.S. Army.  Also in Northern Virginia are the Iwo Jima Memorial and the Air Force Memorial, both with great views of our Nation’s Capital and in close proximity to Arlington National Cemetery.

Other attractions for Military Groups:

• MacArthur Memorial 
• Virginia War Museum 
• Mariners Museum
• The Quartermaster and Women in Military Museum
• George C. Marshalls Dodona Manor
• Virginia Military Institute
• Military Aviation Museum

Explore more group tour itinerary themes

The post Patriotic Places for your Next Military Tour or Reunion appeared first on Virginia’s Travel Blog.

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Photo Credit: Jordan Rodericks

While you may not currently be able to enjoy Virginia’s oysters at a nearby restaurant, you can still host an oyster roast right in your own backyard by ordering a bushel or two to be shipped directly to your home! Whether you like the brinier bivalves raised along the Atlantic shores or the buttery, creamy taste of the Rappahannock River oysters, these Virginia oyster companies will bring your favorites to your front door, allowing you to feast on some of the Commonwealth’s most delectable seafood. 

*If oysters are refrigerated immediately, they can stay fresh for up to ten days, so be sure to order 1-2 days before your planned event to ensure they arrive in time. 

Rappahannock Oyster Company, Topping

Online ordering & delivery. Shipments will be sent out Monday-Thursday each week. Sold in quantities of 25, 50, 75, & 100 oysters. Rappahannock Oyster Company oysters are also available through curbside pickup at Cardinal Point Winery on Saturdays 11am-5:30pm.

Oysters Available:

• Rappahannock River Oysters (Sweet)
• Rochambeau Oysters (Mild)
• Olde Salt Oysters (Briny)

Deltaville Oyster Company, Deltaville

Email to place an order, or call 804-357-1931. Pickup also available in Deltaville and Richmond during select days. 

Oysters Available:

• Deltaville Oyster Company Oysters (Sweet and buttery with medium saltiness and a rich, clean finish)

Chesapeake Bay Oyster Company, Wake

Online ordering for pickup or delivery in Middlesex and Lancaster Counties only. Sold in quantities of 25, 50, 100, & 200 oysters.

Oysters Available:

• Parrot Island Oysters (Mildly salty, slightly sweet)

White Stone Oyster Company, White Stone

Overnight delivery available nationwide; also offer raw bar kits with hot sauce. Sold in quantities of 25, 50, 100, 150, & 200 oysters.

Oysters Available:

• White Stone Oysters (Slightly sweet/mild salt finish)

Cherrystone Aqua Farms, Cape Charles

Online orders with overnight delivery Monday-Thursday. Sold in quantities of 25, 50, or 100 oysters.

Oysters Available:

• Chunus (Briny, slightly sweet finish)
• Watch House Points (Briny)
• Misty Points (Briny, slightly sweet finish)
• Chincoteague Salts (Very briny)
• Little Bitches (Medium salinity)

Chessie Seafood & Aquafarms, Wicomico

Email or call 804-815-7982 to place an order.

Oysters Available:

• York River Oysters (Moderately salty with a sweet finish)

Photo Credit: Brian Camp

Lambert Shellfish, Machipongo

Online ordering for quantities of 100+ oysters. Curbside pickup, shipped, or local delivery for Virginia Beach, Norfolk, & Virginia’s Eastern Shore. 

Oysters Available:

• Loving Cups (Medium salinity, buttery finish)

Little Wicomico Oyster Company, Heathsville

Pickup and shipping available, express shipping to North Carolina, New York, & New Jersey. Sold in quantities of 50.

Oysters Available:

• Blackberry Oysters (Sweet with mid-range salinity)
• Peachtree Oysters (Clean, sweet profile with mid-range salinity)
• Rock Hole Oysters (Clean, sweet profile with mid-range salinity)
• Smith Point Oysters (High salinity)
• Wicomico Select Oysters (Meaty oyster with slight hint of saltiness)
• Wicomico’s Finest Oysters (Meaty oyster with slight hint of saltiness)

Chapel Creek Oyster Company, Cobbs Creek

Available to purchase as part of the takeout menu at the Boathouse Restaurant locations in quantities of 25 oysters. Also deliver to Richmond and Chesterfield County on Thursdays; call or text 804-815-6132 or email trey@shuckum.com to place an order.

Oysters Available:

• Chapel Creek Oyster (Mid-salinity oyster with a great balance of salt and buttery taste)
• Boathouse West Oysters (Light salt, distinguished cream with a defined minerality)

Rogue Oysters, Lancaster

Pickup at Lancaster oyster farm or pop-up store locations in Virginia Beach and Northern Virginia on May 2; available to purchase by the dozen or by the 100-count. 

Oysters Available:

• Roaster Oysters (Buttery with a hint of salt, approximately 4” oysters)
• Shucker Oysters(Buttery with a hint of salt, approximately 3” oysters)

Photo Credit: Ali Rae Haney

Tangier Island Oyster Company, Tangier

Purchase at Wegman’s grocery stores throughout Virginia. Can also order by filling out the online form for a quote or contacting Tim Hickey at 312-399-7999 to place an order.

Oysters Available:

• Tangiers (Balance of salt and sweet, with a savory butter/cream finish)

Tom’s Cove Aquafarms, Chincoteague Island

Orders available to ship; call 757-336-1945 to place an order.

Oysters Available

• Chincoteague “Salt” Oysters (Very briny)

Big Island Aquaculture, Hayes

Pre-order pickup and delivery available to select Virginia regions, including Richmond, Williamsburg, Newport News, Hampton, and Virginia Beach, text 757-344-8554, order through the Facebook page, or email bigislandaquaculture@gmail.com to place your order. You can also find information on delivery locations and times on the Facebook page. 

Oysters Available:

• Big Island Pearl Oysters (Balance of briny and buttery, leading to a sweet finish)
• Pocahontas Secret (Balance of briny and buttery, leading to a sweet finish)
• Powhatans Power (Balance of briny and buttery, leading to a sweet finish)

Anderson’s Neck Oyster Company, Shacklefords

Shipping available of oysters, raw seafood buffet kits, shucker gift packs, and discounted bundles; bundled purchases cost less for shipping. Purchase by the dozen, or get discounted large bags of 50 and bulk orders of 100s up to 1,000 oysters.  

Oysters Available:

• Eagle Flats (Buttery balance between savory and sweet)

Lynnhaven River Oyster Company, Virginia Beach

Place orders by texting 757-406-0606, pickup or delivery available to select areas; shipping available throughout Virginia and to select states. 

Oysters Available:

• Lynnhaven Selects (Very salty with a melon finish)

Shooting Point Oyster Company, Nassawaddox

Call 757-693-1303 in advance to place an order; oysters will available for pickup at the packing facility. 

Oysters Available:

• Shooting Point Salts (Briny, slightly sweet plump oysters)
• Bullseye Oysters (Balanced sweet flavor with a semi-firm, plump texture and clean finish)
• Arrowhead Petite Oysters (Smaller oyster, balance of briny and buttery)
• Church Creek Corks (Less briny, hint of seagrass in the finish)

Sapidus Farms Oysters, Wicomico Church

Local pickup and delivery available to select parts of Northern Virginia; sold in 25, 50, 75, 100, and 125-count bags.

Oysters Available:

• Happy Oysters (Mildly briny with rich cream/butter flavors)

Ready to get shucking? Learn more about Virginia oysters and which wines to pair them with! 

The post Supporting Virginia’s Watermen: Order Virginia Oysters for Delivery & Pickup appeared first on Virginia’s Travel Blog.

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Eleanor D. Wilson Museum at Hollins University | Roanoke

Franklin County Moonshine Heritage

Numerous April events had been originally scheduled as part of Franklin County’s celebration of Moonshine Heritage Month. As an alternative, the Franklin County Moonshine Heritage Facebook page is offering virtual experiences by sharing stories of how it became known as “The Wettest County in the World.”
Franklin County Moonshine Heritage Facebook Page >

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If you’re like us, you probably look forward to spring and the reopening of Virginia farmers markets where you can peruse fresh produce, flowers, and locally-made wares. But with social distancing rules in place due to COVID-19, farmers markets have had to adjust to follow the current guidelines. However, you can still support your local Virginia farmers markets during this time, as many have shifted to online sales, curbside pick-up, and even delivery services. Shop at these farmers markets and regional farm stores to support small businesses and help Virginia’s farmers make it through this difficult time.

—NORTHERN VIRGINIA—

Arlington Farmers Market, Arlington

Hours: Pickup and delivery options vary by vendor

Check the website for more details on individual vendors. 

Pike Park Farmers Market, Arlington

Hours: Order Online Wednesday-Friday, pick-up Sundays, 9-11am

Pre-order your favorite market products online for quick pick-up.

Westover Farmers Market, Arlington

Hours: Sundays April 19 & 26, 9am-1pm; market hours change beginning May 3 to 8am-12pm

Pre-order your favorite market products online for quick pick-up.

Oakton Farmers Market, Oakton

Hours: Saturdays 9am-1pm

Pre-order through vendors on the website; some offer delivery in addition to pick-up.

Mosaic Market, Fairfax

Hours: Sundays 9am-2pm

Pre-order through vendors on the website; some offer delivery in addition to pick-up.

Old Town Farmers’ Market, Alexandria

Hours: Saturdays 7am-12pm

Open for pre-order pick-up; find a list of participating vendors offering pick-up and their instructions on the website. Some non-food vendors offer delivery instead of curbside pick-up. 

Del Ray Farmers’ Market, Alexandria

Hours: Saturdays 8am-12pm

Open for pre-order pick-up; find a list of participating vendors offering pick-up and their instructions on the website.

Old Town North Farmers’ Market, Alexandria

Hours: Thursdays 3-7pm

Open for pre-order pick-up; find a list of participating vendors offering pick-up and their instructions on the website.

Four Mile Run Farmers’ & Artisans Market, Alexandria

Hours: Sundays 9am-1pm 

Open for pre-order pick-up; find a list of participating vendors offering pick-up and their instructions on the website.

Spotsylvania Farmers Market, Spotsylvania

Hours: Saturdays 8am-1pm

Vendors are encouraging pre-ordering products whenever possible; find more information on the farmers market restrictions on the website.

Long Sunday Market, Stafford  

Hours: Sundays 9am-12pm

Drive-thru pickup of pre-ordered products; find a list of current vendors on the website.

Hurkamp Park Farmers Market, Fredericksburg

Hours: Saturdays & Sundays 7am-3pm

Pre-ordering products through vendors is encouraged; for the full list of vendors, visit the Facebook page.

Bowling Green Farmers Market, Bowling Green

Hours: Saturdays 9am-1pm

Open for pre-orders, pick-up, online orders, and curbside delivery; no vendor browsing at the farmers market, check the Facebook page for a current list of vendors.

Route 639 Farmers Market, Ruther Glen 

Hours: Beginning May 7, Thursdays 4-6pm

Pre-orders, on-site orders, and limited pick-up available; no vendor browsing at the farmers market, check Facebook for a list of current vendors. 

Mount Olympus Berry Farm, Ruther Glen

Hours: Daily 9am-6pm

Pre-order, curbside pick-up, and pick-your-own available. Shopping in the Harvest Market store is allowed but social distancing rules in place.

Buster’s Market Stand, Ladysmith

Hours: Thursdays & Saturdays, select hours

Open with social distancing restrictions in place; check Facebook for a current list of products and daily hours.

Charity Hills Farms & Beef, Ruther Glen

Hours: Contact for hours

Pre-order curbside pick-up available for locally raised beef; contact via Facebook or call 540-848-5456 to order.

M.S. Terrell & Sons Grain & Beef, Ruther Glen

Hours: Contact for hours

Pre-ordered pick-up available for grain and beef; check the Facebook page for a current list of products.

Swallow Hill Farm, Woodford

Hours: Monday-Friday 10am-6pm and weekends 11am-5pm

Order online for curbside pick-up or shop at the farm store with social distancing restrictions in place; offering grass-fed beef, lamb, pork, free-range chicken, and honey.

Warrenton Farmers Market, Warrenton

Hours: Beginning April 18, Saturdays 8am-12pm

Drive-thru market in the parking lots of Old Town Warrenton. Pre-orders are strongly encouraged, which can be made by contacting one of the vendors.

—COASTAL VIRGINIA—

Photo Credit: Bill Crabtree, Jr.

Old Beach Farmers Market, Virginia Beach

Hours: Saturdays 9am-12pm

Drive-thru pick-up for pre-orders, but also offer home delivery for Virginia Beach; located behind Croc’s 19th Street Bistro at the Oceanfront, check Facebook for a current list of vendors.

King’s Grant Farmers Market, Virginia Beach

Hours: Beginning May 7, Thursdays 4-7pm

Drive-thru pick-up for pre-orders; check Facebook for a list of current vendors. 

Farmer John’s Market, Virginia Beach

Hours: Friday-Sunday during select hours

Farm and retail store offering locally grown produce, seeds, bedding plants, and more.  Online ordering with curbside pickup as well as delivery.

Williamsburg Farmers Market, Williamsburg

Hours: Orders placed between Friday, April 10 – Tuesday, April 14 will be delivered Friday, April 17

Order online with free delivery to City of Williamsburg/James City County residents and pickup for those who are not residents. The market has 28 different vendors with products available to purchase including meat, cheese, dairy, honey, produce, prepared food, and more.

Smithfield Farmers Market, Smithfield

Hours: Pick-up and delivery available, hours vary depending on vendor

Check the current Facebook event page for a list of current vendors participating in online orders.

Carrollton Farmers Market, Carrollton

Hours: Pick-up and delivery available, hours vary depending on vendor

Check the website for a list of current vendors participating in online orders.

The Harvest Market at O’Connor Brewing Company, Norfolk

Hours: Sundays 12-2pm until further notice

Drive-thru pickup of pre-ordered products. Find a current list of vendors offering pre-order pickup on the website.

East Beach Farmers Market, Norfolk

Hours: Sundays 9-11am until further notice

Drive-thru pickup of pre-ordered products. Find a current list of vendors offering pre-order pickup on the website.

Westside Produce and Provisions, Norfolk

Hours: Tuesdays-Saturdays 10am-5pm, Sundays 12-5pm

Call ahead or email orders for curbside pick-up. Find a list of products and current vendors on the website.

Yorktown Market Days, Yorktown

Hours: Saturdays 8-11am

Drive-thru market held at the McReynolds Athletic Complex, offering fresh produce, grass-fed and pasture-raised meats, fresh seafood, soaps and hand sanitizers, baked goods, and more. A list of current vendors will be posted the Monday before each market on the Facebook page; all products, pricing, and payments are coordinated by individual vendors through their websites, social media accounts, emails, and phone calls/texts. The market is cashless, for pickups only, and customers are reminded to please stay in their vehicles.

Colonial Beach Farmers Market, Colonial Beach

Hours: Thursdays 9:30-11am

Drive-thru ordering and pick-up is located in the parking lot of Rankin’s Hardware Colonial Beach. Offering fresh local produce currently in season from Reyes Farm and Leslie’s Garden, including eggs, asparagus, kale, spinach, radishes, arugula, and plants and flowers. Additional produce and vendors added as the season progresses. Pick-up boxes available starting in May. 

Whiteravens Nest, Chincoteague Island

Hours: 10am-5pm daily

Offer pick-up of fresh local produce, meats, baked goods, and dairy products, as well as delivery within Chincoteague Island and at the Wallops Royal Farms every evening at 5:30pm.

Onancock Market, Onancock

Hours: Saturdays 9am-12pm

Curbside pickup of pre-ordered products; find a list of current vendors offering pre-order pickup on the website.

Perennial Roots: Biodynamic Farm & Garden, Accomac

Hours: Contact for delivery and pickup hours

Pre-order pick-up and delivery available for grass fed lamb, vegetables, and more through a weekly subscription; call 757-709-8761 or check the website for further information.

Copper Cricket Farm, Machipongo

Hours: Contact for delivery and pickup hours

Offering vegetables, poultry, and eggs that are raised entirely pesticide and herbicide free.  Delivery for CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) subscribers May through November. Pick up available daily.

Seafield Farm, Cape Charles

Hours: Saturdays 9-11am, delivery Saturdays 9am-12pm

Offering a variety of fresh vegetables for pick-up or delivery; check the website for a list of current products. 

Shine and Rise, Painter

Hours: Saturdays and Sundays, select hours

Pick-up available of eggs, seedlings, vegetables, and more; check the Facebook page for more information.

Shockley Farms, Cape Charles

Hours: Daily from 9am-8pm

Pre-order pick-up, order by calling 757-331-1487 or email tpatseaview@aol.com. 

Whiteravens Nest, Chincoteague Island

Hours: Open daily, hours vary

Offering pick-up of fresh local eggs, pork, beef, chicken, seafood, organic fair-trade coffee, loose teas, and more. 

Shore Breeze, Cheriton

Hours: Monday-Friday 9am-5pm

Offering a variety of lettuces and herbs grown hydroponically for pick-up; call 757-350-9270 to order.

Picketts Harbor, Cape Charles

Hours: Monday-Saturday 10am-5pm

Pick-up available for a variety of locally grown, fresh fruits and vegetables.

Mattawoman Creek Farms Organic, Eastville

Hours: Contact for daily hours

Offering online ordering and pick-up daily for a wide variety of fresh organic produce; check website for current produce and call for current hours. CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) subscription only. 

—CENTRAL VIRGINIA—

Photo Credit: Bill Crabtree, Jr.

RVAg Farmers Markets

RVAg has six farmers markets in Central Virginia. Through the online marketplace, customers can order from dozens of local vendors, pay online, and then have pre-paid, pre-packaged products delivered to the market each week for a drive thru pick-up. 

Manakin Market, Goochland

Hours: Beginning May 2, Saturdays 9am-1pm

Goochland Farmers Market, Goochland

Hours: Beginning May 5, Tuesdays 3:30-7pm

Farmers Market at Urban Farmhouse, Midlothian

Hours: Beginning May 20, Wednesdays 3:30-7 pm

OnTheSquareVA Farmers Market, Richmond

Hours: Beginning May 1, Fridays 11am-1pm

Powhatan Village Farmers Market, Powhatan

Hours: Beginning May 7, Thursdays 3:30-7pm

Cartersville Farm & Art Market, Cumberland

Hours: Beginning May 2, Saturdays 9am-12pm

St. Stephen’s Farmers Market, Richmond

Hours: Saturdays 9am-12pm

Pre-order pick-up available, check the Facebook page for a list of current vendors. 

Lakeside Farmer’s Market, Richmond

Hours: Wednesdays 9am-12pm and Saturdays 9am-12pm

Pre-order pick-up available; check the Facebook page for a current list of vendors.

Ashland Farmers Market, Ashland 

Hours: Saturdays 9am-12pm

Drive-thru pickup of pre-ordered products; check the Facebook page for updates on current vendors.

Farm to Family Bus, Richmond

Hours: Hours vary

Home delivery available during select hours; check Facebook page for a list of products and current weekly hours. is doing home delivery

Charlottesville City Market To-Go, Charlottesville

Hours: Saturdays 8am-12pm

Drive-thru pick-up for products pre-ordered, purchase between Mondays 12am and Thursdays 10am; must select a 30-minute time slot for pick-up, find a list of current vendors on the website.

Farmers Market at IX Art Park, Charlottesville

Hours: Saturdays

Order fresh produce, plants for spring gardens, and prepared foods for takeaway on the website; many vendors are also offering online ordering. 

Mineral Farmer’s Market, Mineral

Hours: Beginning May 2, Saturdays 8am-1pm

Following Virginia government guidelines for social distancing and only allowing a select number of visitors into the farmers market at a time. Check website for current offerings. 

Nourish Louisa, Louisa

Hours: Order Monday 6:30pm-Wednesday 3pm for pickup Fridays 11am-5pm & Saturdays 10am-12pm

Online pre-order; onsite requests accommodated during pick-up times as inventory is available. Customers can find a list of currently available local meats, produce, baked goods, and more on the website.

Madison County Farmers’ Market, Madison

Hours: Saturdays 8am-12pm

Offers curbside pick-up, place your order with vendors by Thursday at 12pm.

Darnell’s Garden Patch, Orange

Hours: Open select hours daily

Local Farm Market offering seasonal produce, canned goods, vegetable and flowering plants. Curbside service and Drive-thru service available; check the Facebook Page for latest updates and products.

Southard’s Seafood, Orange

Hours: Fridays 12-5:30pm

Mobile fresh and frozen fish and seafood market that offers pre-ordered curbside pick-up off Route 20; check the Facebook page for a full menu and details for pick-up location. 

Carrington Farm, Orange

Hours: Fridays 12-5:30pm

Mobile Beef and Pork Market that offers pre-ordered pick-up at the same location as Southard’s Seafood; order via email from website or curbside service from Graze Steakhouse Restaurant, check Facebook for latest available products.

Colonial Heights Farmers Market, Colonial Heights

Hours: Saturdays 9am-12pm

Open for pick-up of pre-ordered products. Check the Facebook page for a list of current vendors.

River Street Market, Petersburg

Hours: Saturdays from 9-11am for pre-ordered pick-up

Pick-up available during regular farmers market hours, pre-order Sunday-Thursdays; check website for a list of available vendors.  

—SHENANDOAH VALLEY/BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS—

Photo Credit: Bill Crabtree, Jr.

Harrisonburg Farmers Market, Harrisonburg

Hours: Tuesdays and Saturdays, 8am-1pm

Offers pre-ordering through the website and no-contact pick up in the market parking lot. There are at least 24 vendors which participate and which offer customers on-line ordering to be picked up on Market Day.

Dayton Market, Dayton

Hours: Tuesdays & Wednesdays 10am-5pm, Thursdays-Saturdays 9am-6pm

Curbside pickup available for select vendors, Call 540-879-3801 or visit the website for a list of participating vendors. 

Woods Edge Farm, Harrisonburg

Hours: Mondays-Fridays 10am-5pm & Saturdays 10am-3pm

Pickup available, call (540) 466-3622 or visit the Facebook page to order. 

Seasons Bounty Farm, Harrisonburg

Hours: By appointment only

Call 540-908-5399, email seasonsbountycsa@gmail.com, or visit the website to place an order for pickup.

Overlook Farm and Produce, Mt. Crawford

Hours: Mondays, Tuesdays, & Saturdays 9am-5pm, Wednesdays-Fridays 9am-6pm

Offers curbside service for a wide variety of local produce. To order curbside call 540-421-6913 or visit the Facebook page. 

South Street Barn Market, Woodstock

Hours: Pick-up on Saturdays 8am-1pm; Delivery on Fridays

Drive-thru only, no walk-up pickup. However, you can purchase at the farmers market by filling out and submitting the form on-site, and vendors will deliver to your car. Product lists released on Wednesdays; now offering local delivery on Fridays.

Waynesboro Farmer’s Market, Waynesboro

Hours: Scheduled to open on May 16; check individual vendor websites for pickup hours and details

Online ordering; Pick-up at the pavilion at Constitution Park in downtown Waynesboro. Check the website for updates and a list of producers currently selling in the area.

Salem Farmers Market, Salem

Hours: Pick-up scheduled directly through the vendor

Pre-order with pick-up directly from vendors. Check the website for a list of participating vendors.

Forest Farmer’s Market, Forest

Hours: Saturdays 9-11am

Drive-thru pick-up of pre-ordered products; find a list of current vendors offering pre-order pickup on the website.

Nelson Farmers Market Cooperative, Nellysford

Hours: Starting May 2, Saturdays 9-11am

Pre-order directly through vendors for drive-thru pick-up; stay tuned to the Facebook page for a current list of participating vendors.

Farmers Market Now, Lexington

Hours: Order online 24/7, pick-up by appointment only

Check the website for a list of participating vendors, more added daily.

Rocky Mount Farmers Market, Rocky Mount

Hours: Pick-up available, hours vary depending on vendor

Pre-order and pick-up only; arranged directly through the vendors, which are listed on the website. 

Staunton Farmers’ Market, Staunton

Hours: Beginning April 18, Saturdays 8am-10am

Open for pre-order and pick-up directly through the vendors. Check the website for a weekly updated list of participating vendors.

Local Food Drive-Thru, Staunton

Hours: Pick-up at Newtown Baking Wednesdays and Fridays 4-6pm

Place orders online for nine local vendors, including Polyface Farms and Ballerino Creamery, Saturday mornings through Monday evenings.

Willow Grove Farm Market, Luray

Hours: Wednesdays-Saturdays 10am-5pm

Message their Facebook page to place your order, open for curbside pickup only. Check for a list of available vendors, orders take about a day to fill.

Lynchburg Community Market, Lynchburg

Hours: Pick-up Saturdays 7am-2pm

Pre-order through individual vendors, listed on the market’s website; contact vendors directly to inquire about potential delivery options. Restaurants within the market are open for takeout only, Tuesday-Saturday 7am-1pm, call ahead to place orders. 

—SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA—

Independence Farmers Market, Independence 

Hours: Pick-up Fridays from 2-6pm

Order online between Friday 8pm-Wednesday 8pm and curbside pick-up the following Friday. 

Wytheville Farmers Market, Wytheville

Hours: Beginning May 2, Saturdays 8am-12pm

Offering drive-thru pickup of pre-ordered products as well as offering walk-up ordering with contactless pick-up. Visit the Facebook page for weekly updates on vendor offerings and pre-order forms.

Floyd Farmers Market, Floyd

Hours: Beginning May 2, Saturdays 9am-1pm

Purchase online and pick-up curbside at the market. Check their Facebook page for a list of vendors and online purchasing options, or contact the market manager at marketmanager@sustainfloyd.org.

Abingdon Farmers Market, Abingdon 

Hours: Saturdays 10am-12pm

Offering pre-orders through their Facebook page. Communicate directly with vendors, reserve your products, then pick-up at Berry Home Center in Abingdon. Some vendors are also offering delivery, with arrangement through the Facebook page.

Marion Curbside Farmers Market, Marion

Hours: Every Other Saturday 9am-12pm

Until regulations are lifted, customers are encouraged to place pre-orders with the individual vendors or with Market Manager Leslie Vanover at lvanover@marionva.org. Visit the Facebook page for more details.

—SOUTHERN VIRGINIA—

Martinsville Uptown Farmers’ Market, Martinsville

Hours: Saturdays 8am-12pm, and beginning in June, Wednesdays & Saturdays 8am-12pm

Pre-sale only, order through vendors (list available on the farmers market Facebook page) and contact upon arrival at the market; products will be delivered to your vehicle.

Halifax Farmers Market, Halifax

Hours: Beginning April 25, Saturdays 8am-12pm

Drive-thru pickup available for participating vendors, which can be found on their Facebook page.

Downtown South Boston Farmers Market, South Boston

Hours: Saturdays 8am-12pm

Drive-thru pickup of pre-ordered products; a list of current vendors available on the Facebook page. 

All Good Things Farm Market, North Dinwiddie

Hours: Thursdays & Fridays 12-6pm, Saturday 10am-6pm, & Sundays 12-5pm

Open but abiding by social distancing rules, including limiting the number of people shopping at a time. Offers baked goods, jams & jellies, bedding plants, and fresh produce, including vegetables, berries, and fruit. 

Richlands Dairy & Creamery, Blackstone

Hours: Tuesdays-Sundays 11am-7pm

Curbside pick-up of ice cream, fresh eggs, and lunch and dinner entrees. Customers may call (434) 294-8259 to pre-order or place an order from your car upon arrival. Find the menu and a price list on the Facebook page. 

The post Virginia’s Farmers Markets: How to Get Fresh Produce, Meats, & More While Social Distancing appeared first on Virginia’s Travel Blog.

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Your mom deserves a thoughtful, unique gift for Mother’s Day, and we’ve compiled a few of our favorite made in Virginia products that she is sure to LOVE! Shop this gift guide to find things for every mom, from the outdoor lover to the “foodie” mom.

Flying Fox Vineyards Seasonal Vermouths

Virginia has over 300 wineries spread from the coast to the mountains, so if your mom is a wine drinker, you can always pick up a few bottles of Virginia wine for Mother’s Day. But for a distinctive and delicious gift, check out the seasonal Vermouths at Flying Fox Vineyards. Each vermouth reflects seasonal flavors; for instance, the spring blend is made with locally-grown rhubarb, seasonal botanicals, wormwood, and fresh lime peel, while the summer version has grapefruit, peaches, fresh floral notes, and Angelica root. These interesting vermouths can be blended into a cocktail or enjoyed mixed with sparkling water, and once opened, they will last for months in the fridge, allowing Mom to sip and savor these distilled flavors of Virginia at her own pace!

Le Papier Studio Silhouette Necklaces

Get Mom a gift that she’ll cherish forever when you order a custom-made Silhouette Necklace from Le Papier Studio. These delicate laser cut charms let moms wear their loved ones close to their heart and are simple enough to go with any outfit, allowing for everyday wear. 

Mountain Laurel Designs Totes & Camping Packs

For those moms who love the outdoor life, pick up a camping pack or bag from Mountain Laurel Designs, an outdoors outfitter based out of Roanoke. These ultralight bags are waterproof and made in all shapes and sizes, giving you plenty of options. Pair these packs with a camping trip for just the two of you and Mom will be thrilled! 

Wild Wander Co. Art Prints

The Art Prints from Wild Wander Co. are perfect for the Mom who is both artsy and outdoorsy, featuring animals, plants, and scenes from some of Virginia’s most iconic outdoor destinations, including Shenandoah National Park and the Appalachian Trail. For a more coastal vibe, consider the Blue Crab or Atlantic Oyster prints. 

Eastern Shore Coastal Roasting Co. Vintage Oyster Can Coffee 

If your mom happens to live for caffeine, order a few bags of Joe from the Eastern Shore Coastal Roasting Company. Better yet, get the authentic Eastern Shore experience with their Vintage Oyster Can Coffee 2-Pack. Once she finishes the coffee inside, she can repurpose these nostalgic oyster cans and remember your thoughtful gift every time she looks at them! 

Swallowtail Teas

Many moms opt for tea over coffee, and we’ve got something for them, as well. Order one of the tea blends from Swallowtail Tea, located in the mountain town of Floyd. We recommend the Masala Chai or the Appalachian Sunrise Herbal, which will make her feel like she’s relaxing on a quiet morning in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia with every sip.

Naked Goat Soap Co. Candles

In addition to goat’s milk soaps, essential oils, and other all-natural body products, The Naked Goat Soap Co. crafts soy candles with cotton wicks that are both paraben-free and phthalate-free. The candles are housed in concrete vessels handmade by the owner’s husband and have light, refreshing scents such as Gather, a fir balsam blend, and Thicket, infused with lavadin (a lavender hybrid), sage, and citrus. Like the coffee oyster cans, the concrete vessels can be repurposed after the candle is finished and used as a planter, giving moms a second gift that can be treasured for years to come.

Saint Virginia Organic Cotton Botanical-Dyed Scarves

Saint Virginia’s hand-dyed scarves are a fantastic gift for the fashion-forward yet eco-friendly mom. Each scarf is one-of-a-kind, dyed using flowers, plants, roots, leaves, and even bugs! The owner even grows most of the flowers she uses and forages locally for the rest. The scarves are made from the softest organic, American-made cotton and natural plant dyes, so while supporting local, you’re also supporting sustainably-crafted goods when you purchase one of these scarves for Mom. 

Bright Body Skincare Products

Give your mom a pampering present with a few of the skincare products from Bright Body, like the Illuminating Tonic, an exfoliating glow serum designed to plump fine lines and boost skin radiance, or the Ayurvedic Facial Oils, a line that is customized for individual skin concerns such as dryness, puffiness, or redness and irritation. Additionally, Bright Body also carries cleansers, conditioners, and other hair products as well as bath and body care products like deodorants, soaps, exfoliants, and more. 

Earth, Fire, & Spirit Pottery

Earth, Fire, & Spirit Pottery handcrafts plates, coffee cups, vases, and ornaments that make for great gifts for Mother’s Day. A three-generation business, the owners use glaze recipes that have been passed down through their family, resulting in beautifully unique stoneware that Mom is sure to adore. 

Huger Memories Pillows

Most moms have a favorite family photo that they keep framed in their homes, allowing them to reminisce on an especially happy time that they shared with their loved ones. Turn that beautiful memory into a stunning keepsake with a custom pillow from Huger Memories. These hand-stitched pillows are crafted after one-on-one consultations with the owner, ensuring that your precious family photo comes to life and creates a new memory that Mom will always remember. 

La Vache Microcreamery Caramels

Gift Mom something sweet and locally made with a box of La Vache Microcreamery Caramels, handcrafted using traditional French techniques. These smooth caramels incorporate local and responsibly-sourced ingredients, and are all made without corn syrup or preservatives, ensuring quality and freshness in each artisanal treat. 

Cricket Cove Soap Co. Body & Lip Butters

Cricket Cove Soap Co.’s Handcrafted Body and Lip Butters come in soothing fragrances like lavender, rosemary eucalyptus, and peppermint cocoa, all wrapped in sustainable packaging. These eco-friendly products are available in pre-wrapped gift sets, so all you have to do is add a thoughtful note and you’ve got your Mother’s Day present ready to go.

Mother Shrub Drinking Vinegars

With summer on the horizon, light and easy-to-drink cocktails are an ideal match for cookouts and late evening sunsets on the back porch. If your mom is all about mixing an unbeatable drink, get her a few bottles of Mother Shrub Drinking Vinegars. The tart yet sweet blends come in flavors like carrot thyme, grapefruit, lime, and salted honey, and can be mixed with Mom’s favorite spirits or blended with sparkling water for a teetotaler treat. 

If you want more Made in Virginia products, check out our 2020 Gift Guide for tons of thoughtful gifts!

The post Made in Virginia: The Mother’s Day Gift Guide appeared first on Virginia’s Travel Blog.

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It’s the time of year when the natural world in Virginia is full of new life, with baby animals being born in our zoos and aquariums and public gardens showing off their beauty in full bloom. Even though we can’t experience these things in person right now, it doesn’t mean we can’t experience them at all. We’ve got plenty of ways to satisfy your curiosity about wildlife, nature and the wonder of the world around us from home.

Bring a smile to your face by watching daily videos of “animal ambassadors,” from parrots to ferrets (warning: cuteness overload), take live virtual tours of zoos and aquariums, explore the wonder of Luray Caverns through VR, and nurture your curiosity about space by chatting with experts from the Udvar-Hazy Air and Space Center, for starters.    

Wildlife, Natural Wonders and Gardens 

• Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden offers virtual visits and audio tours, online learning and activities for kids, recipes from the Garden Cafe and resources for families to learn about gardening at home. 
• The Virginia Zoo’s Augmented Reality Tour gives curious animal lovers the inside scoop with a virtual tour featuring 12 stops around the Zoo. The tour educates virtual visitors about the Zoo’s animal residents, conservation efforts for the species, provides behind-the-scenes videos and more! There are also downloadable, animal-related activity sheets. 
• The Virginia Living Museum offers Natural Education Virtual Learning, with a full lineup of new content daily on their blogs and social media channels from morning until night. Topics range from live Q&A chats with staff zookeepers and aquarists to strange animal facts and lessons on Virginia Skies – the possibilities are endless! 
• The Wildlife Center of Virginia offers a variety of online experiences that both educate and entertain. They have “Critter Cams” with moderated discussions, “Backyard Bingo” sheets and coloring pages, Facebook Live videos with trivia games, virtual tours and more. 
• The Mill Mountain Zoo posts weekly videos featuring their Education Ambassador Animals – you’ll get lost in dozens of adorable animal videos. 
• Virginia Aquarium provides virtual tours of the aquarium and a comprehensive list of age-specific lesson plans, projects, videos and more for grades Pk-12.

The Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center hosts over 800,000 gallons of aquariums and live animal habitats focusing on Virginia’s diverse and unique marine environment.

• Discover a subterranean world of wonder and experience Luray Caverns in 360 video. Use your headphones for the guided audio tour and if you have a virtual reality headset, take the tour via VR on YouTube. 

Virtual Science 

• Air and Space Anywhere provides videos and interactive activities for distance engagement with the Museum for virtual visitors of all ages, including the AirSpace podcast, virtual tours of the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, activities and games, 3D exploration of artifacts, pioneer stories and more. They also offer Facebook Live chats with a variety of experts from the Museum, each with a different theme and an online learning page that features videos and activities for K-12 learning.
• Science Museum of Virginia offers videos that teach about science words, the recipe for planetary habitability and more. Their “Experimental Musings” blog covers multiple STEM topics from the Keto diet to seasonal allergies for pets.

The post Discovering Wildlife and Wonders From Home appeared first on Virginia’s Travel Blog.

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While children are staying at home, Virginia museums and historical sites are providing online educational opportunities to keep everyone learning. From interactive classes and online courses to puzzles and games, here are some fun ways to virtually educate and entertain kids while social distancing.

Virginia residents and history lovers can access 400 years of Virginia history through the Virginia History Trails mobile app. Curated by the Library of Virginia and Virginia Humanities, the app contains more than 400 stories and more than 200 historic places. Users can immerse themselves in a themed trail that winds across the Commonwealth or employ the app’s GPS feature to find nearby historical sites and immediately transform their surroundings into a live history experience.

Colonial Williamsburg offers learners and other enthusiasts a new way to experience America’s shared story at home with the introduction of the Colonial Williamsburg streaming channel. The debut of the new channel, free on enabled devices through Amazon Fire TV or Roku TV accounts, can be found in the “Educational” category on Amazon Fire TV and Roku TV, offering a growing library of curated video content from the past and present in one easy-to-view location. Colonial Williamsburg’s Explore From Home series includes downloadable activity sheets, DIY Colonial crafts, online Historic Foodways Colonial recipes, a new interactive timeline and more.

Monticello will be presenting a special livestream with Thomas Jefferson on Monday, April 13, at 10:30 a.m., on its Facebook page. Mr. Jefferson, interpreted by Bill Barker, will be discussing his birthday, life in public service, and taking questions from viewers. Viewers can submit questions for Mr. Jefferson in the comments of our announcement on Facebook.

As part of its Black History at Home program, the Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia is encouraging people to experience Black history and engage with family and share their stories the museum’s social channels.

The Virginia Museum of History and Culture is offering Virginia History at Home, including webinars, lectures, student learning resources and podcasts.

The National D-Day Memorial is offering online education, including lesson plans and activities, virtual programs, online lunchbox lectures and virtual tours of the Memorial.

James Madison’s Montpelier has publicly accessible blog posts, websites, podcasts, online courses on subjects including “The Mere Distinction of Colour,” exhibit, the enslaved community, the Constitution, archaeology, or James Madison himself.

The George Washington Foundation’s online educational offerings has plenty of educational resources to keep children entertained, including puzzles, games and coloring pages.

The Louisa County Historical Society has converted spring family programs to at home lesson plans with historical education and fun, hands-on crafts and activities with basic supplies families will have at home. Lesson plans and activities include a module on Virginia women’s history and a module of fun crafts to alleviate boredom.

History In Our Back Yard is a living and growing series of articles written by Friends of the Wilderness Battlefield and designed to share the history of the Wilderness with the residents who live in and around this hallowed ground. These brief glimpses into the Wilderness’ history are intended to encourage residents of all ages living in and around Spotsylvania and Orange Counties to learn and appreciate the significant impact that this area has had on our local and national history.

The Waynesboro Heritage Foundation preserves and houses a collection of thousands of artifacts including textiles, photographs, books, maps, historical documents, industrial artifacts, railroad artifacts, furniture, and more.

The Salem Museum & Historical Society presents “Visits by Video,” two new series by the Museum’s assistant director, Alex Burke. White Glove Wednesday tells stories behind objects in the Museum’s collections. Around Town goes outside for a look at Salem landmarks as well as unexpected spots “around town” that hold more history than one might expect.

The Loudoun Heritage Farm Museum is offering online, farm-related activities including facts about farm life, games, puzzles and other children’s activities.

The Clarke County Historical Association has a wealth of online content for people of all ages to enjoy including history challenges, behind the scenes video tours, puzzles, oral histories, archivist’s blog, online tutorials and more.

The American Civil War Museum’s new HomefrontEd website is full of virtual Civil War education including book readings, daily activities and educator resources for students at home.

The Wytheville Museum is offering video versions of many of its school programs including the Learning Polio Tour, Egg Dyeing, Heath Cooking, Paper Marbling and more. New videos are added every Tuesday and Friday.

The National Museum of the Marine Corps’ online distance learning include a plethora of virtual learning experiences and subject matter for people to learn important and interesting topics related to the Marine Corps.

Every weekday at noon, George Washington’s Mount Vernon is going live on Facebook and YouTube for Mansion Mondays, Teaching Tuesdays, Washington Wednesdays, Tranquil Thursdays and Casual Fridays, in addition to the Washington Library’s digital resources for students and teachers including lesson plans and coloring sheets.

Alexandria’s Carlyle House hosts “Discovery Through Trash” videos on its social media channels. Each video will reveal fragments of a centuries-old artifact found in the house’s trash pit. Viewers can try to guess the whole artifact, then be surprised as a box is lifted to reveal the object in its entirety.

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The Jamestown Settlement and the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown is enhancing revolutionary history with interactive digital learning experiences like the Legacy Wall and the “How Revolutionary Are You?” quiz.

The Office of Historic Alexandria’s #HistoricALX2U series shares daily historic activities for learners of all ages, like ship biscuit-making, recipes and coloring sheets.

The Woodrow Wilson Birthplace is doing weekly online chats with their curator or educator about different history topics. The Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library is offering free online tours where users can ask the guide questions via a chat room, which will be answered in real-time, making for an interactive and unique experience.

Looking for more virtual activities? We’ve got some ideas for creative learning activities for kids, exploring wildlife from home, live entertainment and education options and virtual tours at some of Virginia’s best attractions.

The post Virginia History at Home: Educational Resources from Museums and Historic Sites appeared first on Virginia’s Travel Blog.

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A post shared by Airlie (@airlieva) on Mar 13, 2020 at 9:40am PDT

Each year, Earth Day is celebrated with tree plantings, environmentally-friendly events, and activities in the Great Outdoors. But did you know that Earth Day actually began in Virginia at Airlie, an idyllic retreat in Northern Virginia? 

An Outdoor Paradise Imagined

Airlie was originally dreamed up by Harry Connelly Groome, a wealthy gentleman from Philadelphia who purchased the land in 1899 and began constructing his “Airlie House”, which was named for a castle in Scotland. A three-story grand Georgian Revival structure, the stunning home was surrounded by formal gardens and pastures with purebred livestock. 

Unfortunately, a catastrophic fire consumed Airlie House in 1924, but Groome persevered with his dreams of a country estate, rebuilding the home as a two-story manor house which stands virtually unchanged to this day. The gardens have also been maintained during the previous century, with the boxwood-edged formal gardens nearly identical to the plans and plotting done almost 100 years ago. 

Airlie & Civil Rights in America

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A post shared by Airlie (@airlieva) on Oct 10, 2019 at 6:03pm PDT

In 1956, Dr. Murdock Head purchased Airlie House and renamed it Airlie Center, repurposing the 300-acre estate into an eco-centric conference center that would officially open in 1961. Only a year after the opening, LIFE Magazine would hail Airlie Center as an “Island of Thought”, recognizing the retreat’s extensive facilities and its ability to attract progressive educators, public health officials, environmental researchers, and social progress organizers. 

The field of social progress was especially noteworthy when it came to Airlie; numerous local and national civil rights activists, including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., would gather at Airlie over the 1960’s to work towards equality and battle the outdated laws of segregation. In 1988, Airlie hosted over 150 gay and lesbian leaders that came together for The War Conference to advance the rights of all humanity. During the same time, the Airlie Productions film company was established and would go on to produce over 250 documentaries urging positive change throughout the world. 

The Founding of Earth Day

While Earth Day was not formally suggested until 1969, Airlie Center had been leading the way in eco-friendly, sustainable practices since it was founded in 1961. The conference retreat practiced recycling and compost programs long before these actions were popular or widespread. But visitors to the center took note of the environmental practices happening at Airlie and began considering how these ideas could be widely adopted to create a better planet. 

In 1969, Senator Gaylord Nelson presented his idea for an official Earth Day to a group of medical and law students gathering at Airlie, and by 1970, April 22 was designated as Earth Day, with over 20 million people participating. This singular event would even contribute to widespread government reforms, with the U.S. government creating the Environmental Protection Agency by the end of 1970. 

Sustainable Practices at Airlie Today

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A post shared by Airlie (@airlieva) on Mar 27, 2020 at 4:27pm PDT

Airlie has continued to strive for ecological excellence, utilizing fuel-efficient vehicles and energy-saving light bulbs throughout the property, practicing responsible land conservation, and protecting the natural habitats of the wildlife native to the region. 

The country estate also features a 20-acre farm that allows the center to grow over 20,000 pounds of produce each year, which is used in the kitchen to craft hyperlocal cuisine for visitors and also donated to local food banks. They raise Berkshire pigs and Angus cattle on 75 acres, producing 12,000 pounds of beef and pork to be used in the kitchens, with the remaining meats available for purchase. 

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A post shared by Airlie (@airlieva) on Aug 6, 2019 at 6:37am PDT

Airlie’s state-of-the-art conference facilities blend seamlessly with the surrounding environment, welcoming visitors to relax and enjoy the stunning scenery and pristine views. The estate offers a unique mix of historic charm, impeccable hospitality, luxurious accommodations, and ecologically-responsible practices.

Airlie Today: Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day

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A post shared by Airlie (@airlieva) on Jan 23, 2020 at 5:43pm PST

In 2020, Earth Day officially turns 50 years old, celebrating an incredible milestone in both Virginia history and eco-friendly practices. With the foundation of the world’s largest environmental movement, Airlie and the Commonwealth of Virginia put itself on the map as an ecologically-responsible destination. Today, Airlie acts as a picturesque meeting space, a stunning wedding venue, and a quiet retreat destination for visitors looking for a nature-filled getaway in Northern Virginia, and Earth Day has grown into an incredible annual event with over 1 billion people participating in over 190 countries.

Want to know more about Virginia’s lesser-known history? Check out our article about Virginia Beach & the Historic Cavalier Hotel, and stay tuned for more But Did You Know… history articles to learn about some of Virginia’s most amazing untold stories! 

The post But Did You Know…Airlie & The Origins of Earth Day appeared first on Virginia’s Travel Blog.

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You may already be supporting Virginia’s restaurants and craft breweries with takeout, curbside pickup, and delivery orders, but if you’re more into ciders and spirits, use this guide to find out where to get your favorite Virginia products during the COVID-19 shutdown.

—CIDERIES—

Albemarle Cider Works, North Garden—Curbside pickup available Wednesday-Sunday 11am-5pm and free shipping on orders of six bottles or more

Back Bay’s Farmhouse Brewing Co., Virginia Beach—Curbside pickup daily from 3-8pm and delivery within the 23464 zip code every Thursday-Sunday 4-8pm; $2 flat fee but no minimum delivery amount for orders of cider/beer and food, minimum of $30 order for only cider and/or beer

Big Fish Cider Co., Monterey—Curbside pickup available Friday 4-7pm and Saturday 2-7pm

Blue Bee Cider, Richmond—Drive-thru pickup and home delivery available daily 12-6pm

Blue Toad Hard Cider, Roseland—Pickup available during select hours; shipping available weekdays

Bold Rock Hard Cider, Nellysford, Charlottesville, & Crozet—Tasting room is closed but cider is carried at grocery stores and markets throughout Virginia

Bryant’s Cider, Roseland & Richmond—Curbside pickup available Friday-Sunday 2-5pm or by appointment

Buskey Cider, Richmond & Cape Charles—Pickup available Monday-Friday 3-7pm and Saturday-Sunday 12-7pm; delivery available in Richmond everyday, Williamsburg, Newport News, & Hampton on Thursday, and Norfolk & Virginia Beach on Fridays

Castle Hill Cider, Keswick—Porch pickup available Thursday-Monday 11am-5pm; Free shipping on orders $100 & up

Cobbler Mountain Cellars, Delaplane—Available for pickup and delivery by appointment

Corcoran Vineyards & Cidery, Waterford—Drive-thru pickup of cider/wines daily by appointment

Courthouse Creek Cider, Maidens & Richmond—Pickup & delivery available during select hours

Coyote Hole Ciderworks, Lake Anna—Pickup available during select hours

Ditchley Cider Works, Kilmarnock—Pickup available during select hours; local delivery on orders $75 & up

Fabbioli Cellars, Leesburg—Curbside pickup available during select hours; limited delivery available, call for more information

Garden Grove Brewing, Richmond—Pickup & delivery offered Monday-Friday 12-8pm and Saturday-Sunday 12-9pm

Halcyon Days Cider Co., Natural Bridge—Closed until further notice

Hinson Ford Cider & Mead, Amissville—Closed until further notice

Lost Boy Cider, Alexandria—Contact-free pickup available daily from 11am-3pm; shipping throughout Virginia and to select states available online

Mt. Defiance Cidery & Distillery, Middleburg—Bottle pickup available during select hours; each pickup order qualifies for a free bottle of hand sanitizer made at the distillery

Old Hill Cider, Timberville—Curbside pickup & local deliveries available within a 25-mile radius with a three bottle minimum Thursday-Monday 11am-6pm

Potter’s Craft Cider, Charlottesville—Delivery available Monday-Friday within a 12-mile radius; no fee for orders $40 & up, otherwise a $10 fee

Sage Bird Cider Works, Harrisonburg—Grand opening delayed until further notice

Sly Clyde Ciderworks, Hampton—Curbside pickup available during select hours

Sugar Hill Cidery, Norton—Pickup for food and cider available during select hours

The Winery at Kindred Pointe, Mount Jackson—Closed until further notice

Wild Hare Cider, Leesburg, Warrenton, & Middleburg—All three locations open for pickup Wednesday-Thursday 3-7pm, Friday-Saturday 12-7pm, & Sunday 12-6pm

Winchester Ciderworks, Winchester—Prepaid pickup available Wednesday-Thursday & Sunday 3-6pm, Friday-Saturday 3-7pm

—DISTILLERIES—

Many of these Virginia spirits are also available through your local ABC store; call ahead to check!

8 Shires Coloniale Distillery, Williamsburg—Pickup available for hand sanitizer Tuesday-Friday 1-7pm

Photo Credit: The Tides Inn

A. Smith Bowman Distillery, Fredericksburg—Closed until further notice, but planning to produce & donate hand sanitizer to first responders and health care employees

Belle Isle Craft Spirits, Richmond—Offering canned cocktails through Virginia ABC with online order, delivery available Tuesday-Saturday 12-7pm

Belmont Farm Distillery, Culpeper—Curbside pickup on Tuesday-Saturday 11am-5pm beginning April 4

Blue Sky Distillery, Smithfield—Curbside pickup Friday-Saturday 12-4pm; creating hand sanitizer for first responders

Bondurant Brothers Distillery, Chase City—Pickup of spirits available during select hours; making hand sanitizer for first responders with a secondary batch for the general public; call ahead to reserve your sanitizer

Caiseal Beer & Spirits Co., Hampton—Food, beer, & spirits available for curbside pickup Monday,Thursday, & Sunday 12-8pm; Limited batches of hand sanitizer available for purchase

Cape Charles Distillery, Cape Charles—Pickup available during regular business hours

Catoctin Creek, Purcellville—Curbside pickup available during select hours; currently making hand sanitizer available to first responders in the first batch, followed by a second batch produced for the general public

Chesapeake Bay Distillery, Virginia Beach—Spirits available for pickup Monday-Saturday 12-5pm; producing limited runs of hand sanitizer, contact for availability

Cirrus Vodka, Richmond—Delivery available daily from 10am-7pm

Copper Fox Distillery, Sperryville & Williamsburg—Curbside pickup and to-go available for bottle sales during regular hours; will be offering delivery in the future

Davis Valley Distillery, Rural Retreat—Closed until further notice; check your local ABC store

Devils Backbone Distillery, Roseland & Lexington—Spirits unavailable until further notice; check your local ABC store

Dida’s Distillery, Rappahannock Co.—Curbside pickup available; producing hand sanitizer for emergency medical and first responder organizations

Dome & Spear Distillery, Evington—Available for purchase through Virginia ABC

Dry Fork Fruit Distillery, Danville—Curbside pickup available during regular business hours; currently beginning production on hand sanitizer, contact for date of availability

Falls Church Distillers, Falls Church—Contracted delivery or scheduled pickup by appointment only for spirits and hand sanitizer, when available

Filibuster Distillery, Maurertown—Call ahead for spirits pickup; producing hand sanitizer for local emergency response organizations; will open up general public sales in the future

Five Mile Mountain Distillery, Floyd—Parking lot pickup available Friday-Saturday 2-6pm; offering bottle sales and mojito kits

Franklin County Distilleries, Boones Mill—Curbside pickup & delivery available during select hours; hand sanitizer available for purchase

Ironclad Distillery, Newport News—Spirits available for pickup and delivery during select hours; hand sanitizer available for in-store pickup in limited quantities, call ahead to verify

James River Distillery, Richmond—Curbside pickup available Monday-Friday 12-5pm and Saturday 1-4pm

KO Distilling, Manassas—Closed until further notice; check your local ABC store

Mount Vernon Distillery, Mount Vernon—Closed until further notice; check your local ABC store

Photo Credit: Eric Weiss

Mt. Defiance Cidery & Distillery, Middleburg—Spirits available for pickup from their barn location during select hours on Saturday & Sunday only, distillery open daily during regular hours; free bottle of hand sanitizer with purchase (while supplies last, first priority is supplying local emergency responders)

MurLarkey Distilled Spirits, Bristow—Pickup for spirits available during select hours; producing hand sanitizer for local emergency responders

Old House Vineyards, Culpeper—Curbside pickup available Monday-Thursday 12-5pm and Friday-Sunday 12-6pm; currently producing hand sanitizer for first responders and to the general public, when available 

Ragged Branch Distillery, Charlottesville—Spirits & hand sanitizer available for pickup Thursday-Sunday 12-6pm; delivery available within a 20-mile radius and to Richmond during select days

Photo Credit: Chad Williams

Reservoir Distillery, Richmond—Open during regular business hours for spirits and hand sanitizer sales

Reverend Spirits, Norfolk—Spirits & hand sanitizer available for pickup during select hours

River Hill Distillery, Luray—Food & spirits available for curbside pickup Friday-Sunday 11am-5pm

Silverback Distillery, Afton—Spirits available for pickup and delivery during select hours. Delivery schedule: Charlottesville, Crozet, & Ivy on Monday, Harrisonburg, Grottoes, & Mount Crawford on Tuesday, Afton, Nellysford, Arrington, & Greenwood on Wednesday, Lynchburg & Roanoke on Thursday, Waynesboro, Stuarts Draft, Fishersville, & Staunton on Friday, and Richmond & Henrico on Saturday; producing hand sanitizer for first responders & emergency response organizations 

Sleepy Fox Distillery, Ashland—Closed until further notice

Spirit Lab Distilling, Charlottesville—Offering pickup and local delivery during select hours; producing hand sanitizer for healthcare workers & other essential businesses

Springfield Distillery, Halifax—Curbside pickup available during select hours; delivery coming soon; producing hand sanitizer, call for availability

Tarnished Truth Distilling Company, Virginia Beach—Curbside pickup and delivery within a 10-mile radius available Monday-Saturday 11am-8pm; producing hand sanitizer for emergency response organizations

Three Brothers Distillery, Disputanta—Curbside pickup during select hours; limited run of hand sanitizer, contact for availability

Three Crosses Distilling, Powhatan—Pickup available Tuesday-Saturday 10am-6pm; producing hand sanitizer for emergency response organizations

Trial & Error Distilling, Richmond—Pickup available during select hours

Twin Creeks Distillery, Rocky Mount—Curbside pickup of spirits and hand sanitizer available Thursday-Saturday 1-7pm

Virago Spirits, Richmond—Curbside pickup of spirits, cocktail kits, and snacks available Wednesday-Friday 2-6pm and Saturday-Sunday 12-6pm; delivery for Richmond, Henrico County, & Chesterfield County available for a $5 fee

Virginia Distillery Company, Lovingston—Closed until further notice; check with your local ABC store to find Virginia Distillery Company products near you; delivery available through their website. The distillery has just released their American Single Malt Whisky from the “Courage & Conviction” product lineup; buy 2 or more bottles and get $1 shipping

Vitae Spirits Distillery, Charlottesville—Closed until at least April 10; stay tuned to their Facebook page for details

Did we miss any Virginia cideries or distilleries? Let us know in the comments below!

The post The Complete Lists of Virginia’s Cideries & Distilleries Open for Pickup & Delivery appeared first on Virginia’s Travel Blog.

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