The Shenandoah Valley is tucked between miles and miles of the Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountains. It’s known for its beauty and proximity to Shenandoah National Park as well as its historical legacy. Today, towns in the Valley offer incredible scenery and access to a wealth of outdoor activities. They’re also rich with dining, shopping, lodging, culture, and craft beer. Here’s a guide to some of the best mountain towns near the Shenandoah Beerwerks Trail. 

Rockbridge County

Lexington

Lexington is a beautiful, historic town packed with cultural experiences. You’ll find locally owned shops and boutiques, an active summer music scene, historic sites, and museums. Take your nature-loving family to Boxerwood Gardens for an afternoon of adventure followed by an evening of fun at Hull’s Drive-In. Lexington is home to two colleges with busy event calendars and exciting restaurants like Haywood’s Piano Bar and Grill, Devils Backbone Outpost Taproom & Kitchen, and Heliotrope Brewery.

Buena Vista

Buena Vista nestles against the foot of the mountains and provides nearby access to the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Appalachian Trail, and the Maury River. Camp, kayak, or listen to live music at Glen Maury Park. History lovers will enjoy looking at Victorian architecture built during the industrial boom. Explore the 7-mile (one-way) Chessie Nature Trail that follows a railroad bed along the Maury River and connects the towns of Buena Vista and Lexington. Finally, enjoy beer or wine at nearby Rockbridge Vineyard & Brewery.

Natural Bridge

Visitors come to the area around Natural Bridge to explore Natural Bridge State Park—an International Dark Sky Park. Here they’ll find a 215-foot limestone arch, miles of hiking trails, and dark sky programs. The bridge isn’t the only thing that makes this mountain town shine. Nearby hiking opportunities, such as Devil’s Marbleyard and James River Gorge, abound. Feed the animals at the Virginia Safari Park, a zoo with drive-through and walk-through areas that allow you to get up close and personal. Stop for a beer and view at Great Valley Farm Brewery before a meal or stay at the historic Natural Bridge Hotel. 

Augusta County

Waynesboro

Known for its Waynesboro Water Trail, Blue Ridge Tunnel Trail, and its proximity to the Shenandoah National Park and the Appalachian Trail, Waynesboro is a popular spot for paddlers, anglers, hikers, and other outdoor enthusiasts. Waynesboro also has a friendly and walkable downtown full of independent shops, a summer music series, a historic live performance theater, and large-scale murals along the Waynesboro Street Arts Trail. Sit down for beers at Basic City Beer Co. or Seven Arrows Brewing then dine at one of Waynesboro’s tasty restaurants like Patina, River Burger Bar, or The Fishin’ Pig.

Stuarts Draft

Known for the competing aromas coming from Hershey’s Chocolate and McKee Foods, the makers of Little Debbie products, Stuarts Draft will whet your appetite! Shop fresh fruits and veggies at Troyer’s Fruit and Produce Farm or Stuarts Draft Farm Market. The Cheese Shop Country Market and Deli has a wonderful selection of bulk cheeses, meats, spices, treats, and baked goods. Stuarts Draft is a short drive from the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway as well as Sherando Lake Recreation Area where you can camp, swim, hike, and bike in a serene mountain setting. 

Weyers Cave

Weyers Cave is a small community framed by farmland and distant mountains. It’s a perfect place to start your exploration of the surrounding area. Tour Harmony Harvest Farm, which grows almost 400 types of flowers, or Grand Caverns, the oldest commercial “show cave” in the country. Launch your canoe or kayak from Mountain View Park and enjoy a leisurely float down the South River. For more laid-back country fun, have a beer, meal, and book a stay at Stable Craft Brewing. Finally, head to Valley Pike Farm Market to shop a wide variety of Virginia-made goods, wares, foods, and more than 300 different wines and craft beers. 

Staunton

Once a bustling railroad town, Staunton has several historic districts and many fine examples of Victorian architecture. It’s known for the Blackfriars Playhouse, the only recreation of Shakespeare’s indoor theater. It’s also known for its beauty, walkable downtown, and foodie culture, including a Saturday Farmers’ Market. The Virginia Scenic Railway departs from Staunton’s photogenic train station, and visitors flock to the annual Queen City Mischief and Magic Festival. Learn about how the earliest settlers of the area lived and worked their homesteads at the Frontier Culture Museum. Make sure to sample the beers at Redbeard Brewing or Queen City Brewing.

Rockingham County

Harrisonburg

Harrisonburg is an adventure town with outfitters for cycling, hiking, and fishing and Virginia’s First Culinary District. The Friendly City is host to a growing number of cycling and running events each year. Harrisonburg is a bike-friendly, bronze-level ride center, boasting bike lanes, trails in Hillandale Park, and easy access to some of the best mountain biking in the Valley. Harrisonburg is home to James Madison University’s peaceful Edith J. Carrier Arboretum. Sample some of the Valley’s tastiest food with a view at the Ridge Room, Jimmy Madison’s Southern Kitchen and Whiskey Bar rooftop, or another fine restaurant. Have a beer or enjoy an event at Brothers Craft Brewing, Pale Fire Brewing Co., Three Notch’d Valley Collab House, The Friendly Fermenter, or Restless Moons Brewing.

Bridgewater

Tucked along a bend of the North River, Bridgewater is a town of 13 parks and pocket parks, including an arboretum, golf course, mini golf course, and an ice skating rink. More than 20 locally-owned shops specializing in homemade, hand-made, and antique goods are housed in the Shenandoah Heritage Market. A goldmine for book lovers, the Green Valley Book Fair stocks over 30,000 new books at discount prices. Head to The Cracked Pillar Pub for dinner, followed by farm-fresh ice cream at Smiley’s Ice Cream. If you’re looking for a new perspective of the Valley, book a sunrise or sunset hot air balloon ride with Star Ballooning.

Elkton

Elkton has a small but charming downtown with stores like McGuire’s Country Store, which carries household items, antiques, home decor, and primitives. Play all year long at nearby Massanutten Resort, paddle or fish on the South Fork of the Shenandoah River, or explore Shenandoah National Park. Refresh with a flight or pint at Elkton Brewing Co., Cave Hill Farms Brewery, or BrewHaHa Brewing Co.

Following the Shenandoah Beerwerks Trail is a good way to explore much of what the Valley has to offer. Have a blast discovering the wonders of nature as well as the charm of our mountain towns!

What are your favorite summertime mood boosters? Do you love spending time outside, listening to music, and drinking craft beer? If so, you’re in luck! The Beerwerks Trail can provide all three, usually together! Most of our breweries boast outdoor spaces to sip your suds, and many offer chances to listen to live music. All of them, of course, stand out in the beer department. Don’t waste this perfect weather. Here’s a guide to patios, decks, beer gardens, and picnic spaces as well as breweries hosting live music this summer along the Beerwerks Trail!

Zone A

Zone A is located at the northern end of the Beerwerks Trail and includes the breweries in Harrisonburg and Rockingham County. 

• Elkton Brewing Co has a nice porch and a patio space with a pavilion for shade. Each weekend, they host live music and a food truck on Friday and Saturday nights. Elkton Brewing won the 2023 Best of the Valley awards for Best Brewery and Best Live Music Venue.

• Cave Hill Farms Brewery’s outside seating area has tables with umbrellas and views of the farm and mountains. The Feedlot serves tasty bar food and has a kids’ menu. Catch live music on Fridays, Saturdays, and occasional Sundays.
• Pale Fire Brewing Co’s. 2000-square-foot industrial-style taproom opens onto a spacious patio. Come for live music each Saturday night, and music bingo on Thursdays. Pale Fire serves Za Spot Detroit-style pizza and welcomes outside food.
• Brothers Craft Brewing’s family-friendly covered patio is hung with string lights and served by regular local food trucks. Check the schedule for a wide variety of events including weekly live Bluegrass Sunday Jams.

• Restless Moons Brewing Company features big garage doors that open wide on warm days. There’s also a big beer garden with tables and string lights. There’s an onsite food truck, and guests may bring their own food. Check the schedule for live music.

• Three Notch’d Valley Collab House has an outside patio where you can sit to enjoy your beer, including each week’s new, small-batch brew. They also host live music – see social media for the schedule.

Zone B

Zone B is located at the center of the Beerwerks Trail and includes the breweries in Staunton, Waynesboro, and Augusta County. 

• Queen City Brewing’s large patio is a laid-back space that’s convenient to  Gypsy Hill Park and downtown Staunton. Acoustic open mic events happen on Wednesdays. Check the schedule for other live music. If you’re hungry, the brewery has bottomless popcorn, regular food trucks, and the option to order food to be delivered to the brewery. 
• Redbeard Brewing Company has a beer garden behind the newly renovated taproom. This is the location of the Summer Concert Series, which brings area favorite bands to the stage along with food trucks every other weekend. Redbeard also hosts regular live Music in the Taproom sessions as well as Monday Music Bingo.

• Basic City Beer Co. has an extensive kid and pet-friendly outdoor seating area with picnic tables, umbrellas, and a grid of sparkling string lights. Order some pints and a Billy Pie brick-oven pizza and stay awhile. This space schedules live bands on Saturday nights. The new Foundry music venue brings monthly big-name concerts to Basic City.

• Seven Arrows Brewing’s outdoor seating ranges from open and shaded tables on the deck to seats around a fire pit and picnic tables in the graveled beer garden. Seven Arrows hosts live music each Saturday night in the taproom. If you have the urge to sing, stop by on a Tuesday night for the open mic session. Onsite Nobos Kitchen serves up lunch, dinner, and late-night fare emphasizing locally sourced ingredients. 

• Stable Craft Brewing’s extensive outdoor space includes a shaded patio, picnic tables, and Adirondack chairs surrounding fire pits. Play lawn games, volleyball, and cornhole golf, or stroll the property for views of the mountains. Stable Craft’s Friday Night Love series combines live music and cider releases. Regular Saturday music events include live music and salsa dancing on the patio. Stable Craft also dishes up a chef-inspired menu with appetizers, sandwiches, salads, and entrees. 

Zone C

Zone C is located at the southern end of the Beerwerks Trail and includes the breweries in Lexington and Rockbridge County. 

• Rockbridge Vineyard & Brewery offers plenty of outdoor space with excellent views. Take a seat at one of the picnic tables or spread out your blankets and chairs. Enjoy live “Uncorked” music on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, and grab a snack of local cheeses from the tasting room or from a scheduled food truck. 

• Devils Backbone Outpost Tap Room & Kitchen sits high on a hill, and you can’t beat the mountain views from the enormous deck. There’s even more outdoor space in the separate beer garden with picnic tables and umbrellas. The exceptional menu includes appetizers, salads, delicious burgers, sandwiches, and entrees as well as a menu for kids. Check the schedule for opportunities to catch live music!

• Great Valley Farm Brewery and Winery boasts incredible mountain views and lots of room for kids to run and have fun. Plan a picnic, or grab something from a Saturday food truck. Check the schedule for live music events.

• Heliotrope Brewery’s patio overlooks Lexington’s bustling Main Street. A second outdoor space includes picnic tables, string lights, and shade created by brick-walled buildings. This space hosts July’s weekly disc golf putting league. Heliotrope’s kitchen creates traditional and specialty pizzas, salads, and antipasto.