February is well known for Valentine’s Day and romance, but along the Beerwerks Trail, we also love spending time with our families, the great outdoors, the arts, and especially craft beer! Celebrate that love by hiking in a historic park, watching actors tackle family dynamics, enjoying fresh food from our farms and producers, and even catching our kids’ contagious energy as they laugh and play. Here are 9 places you’ll love along the Beerwerks Trail.
Natural Bridge State Park
9 minutes from Great Valley Farm Brewery and Winery
Beloved by history lovers, nature lovers, and families, Natural Bridge State Park’s 215-foot-high Natural Bridge rises over a gorge carved in the limestone by Cedar Creek. Take an easy hike along the creek for a view of the bridge, Lace Falls, and Saltpeter Cave, once used as a storage place for ammunition during the Civil War. Kids will love the Kids in Park TRACK Trail and Thistle Ridge Disc Golf Trail, and stargazers can take advantage of the park’s Dark Sky Park status to catch night-sky programming. After your visit, capture a selfie with the LOVEworks sign, which depicts the bridge, falls, and more. Nearby, view and feed animals from around the world at the Virginia Safari Park, a 180-acre drive-thru zoo.
Lexington Carriage Company
3 minutes from Heliotrope Brewery
Since 1985, the Lexington Carriage Company has transported visitors to bygone eras and added another layer of historic charm to downtown Lexington. Reserve your spot and take in the scenery as the matched team pulling your carriage slowly clip-clops past some of the town’s significant historic sites. You’ll see Washington & Lee University, Virginia Military Institute, and residential neighborhoods with historic homes dating back to the 1820s. Knowledgeable guides will narrate your tour, pause for photos, and answer questions about history and your team of gentle horses.
American Shakespeare Center
5 minutes from Redbeard Brewing Co.
A trip to the American Shakespeare Center is an intimate and immersive experience that closely resembles the experiences of 17th-century theater goers! You’ll see lively performances in a space that is a modern copy of Shakespeare’s indoor theater. If you visit this February, you can see family dynamics explored onstage in both Shakespeare’s gripping family tragedy, King Lear as well as in a production of Alcott’s Little Women “where family, love, and dreams are tested in the backdrop of Civil War-era America.” After the show, bond with your own family at Split Banana. Pick from two dozen flavors of fresh gelato.
Iris Inn
6 minutes from Basic City Beer Co.
Celebrate togetherness with a getaway at the Iris Inn. This luxurious and modern retreat boasts incredible views of the Shenandoah Valley from above. The onsite restaurant focuses on serving delicious dishes created with seasonal ingredients, as well as signature cocktails and local wines and beers. Make sure to enjoy a massage or body treatment in the spa. You might also want to toast your toes at the firepit and watch the sunset over the Valley. It’s an easy drive to the historically interesting Blue Ridge Tunnel hike, which follows an old railway bed under Afton Mountain.
The Local Chop House & Grill
1 minute from m Restless Moons Brewing
The Local Chop House & Grill is renowned for presenting an upscale atmosphere and mouth watering cuisine in downtown Harrisonburg. Dedicated to supporting local family farms and vendors, the restaurant provides creative meals with hand-selected local products. The bar features a curated selection of wines, beers, and handcrafted cocktails. This Valentine’s Day, couples can indulge in a delectable menu featuring locally-sourced steaks, fresh seafood, and artisanal sides and desserts. With its warm lighting and rustic decor, The Local Chop House & Grill is the perfect setting for a memorable and romantic evening.
The Factory Antique Mall
13 minutes from Stable Craft Brewing & Cidery
If you love getting lost in nostalgia and wonder about the past, a trip to the Factory Antique Mall is just what the doctor ordered! This place is enormous, and you can happily browse for hours looking for gifts and additions to your home, or just connection to memories from your childhood. The antique mall sells jewelry, housewares, collectibles, and many other items that will bring lots of smiles to lots of faces.
Sweet Joy’s Cakes and Desserts (Harrisonburg)
6 minutes from Three Notch’d Brewing Company Valley Collab House
Surprise a loved one or appease your sweet tooth with something that’s beautiful and delicious from Sweet Joy’s Cakes and Desserts. Family-owned Sweet Joy’s is widely praised for its custom cakes. Celebrate Valentine’s day with a heart-shaped cake or a bouquet of chocolate and candy-coated strawberries.
Virginia Quilt Museum
21 minutes from The Alpine Goat Brewery
Quilts are symbols of warmth and protection, and handmade ones can preserve memories and express love. If you’re looking for something new to do, spend an afternoon at Dayton’s Virginia Quilt Museum. The museum’s two floors of gallery space house over 300 quilts dating back to the 18th century. The museum features traditional and contemporary quilting arts, and visitors can learn about the Valley’s cultural history as well as various quilting styles and techniques. Next, stop at the nearby Dayton Market for handmade treats, crafts, and gifts!
Valley Jump Park
10 minutes from Cave Hill Farms Brewery
If you have kids and they’re sick of being stuck indoors, take them for a bounce at Valley Jump Park. They’ll burn off all their energy in the trampoline park’s range of springy stations, which include spaces to bounce and flip, play dodgeball, tackle obstacles, and challenge each other to duels and feats of strength and agility. And if, by chance, they still have energy, there’s a nearby playground, and right down the road is Massanutten Indoor & Outdoor Waterpark.
These destinations provide a range of experiences to love, and they’re all just minutes away from Beerwerks breweries!