Category: Itineraries

Summer Events Close to Beerwerks Breweries and Where to Stay

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Summer is a great time to get away to the lovely Shenandoah Valley for the weekend, especially if a fun event is waiting to entertain the whole family. Here’s our guide to summer events, nearby Beerwerks breweries, and unique lodgings you’ll love to call home for the weekend.

Lexington’s Balloons Over Rockbridge Hot Air Balloon & Music Festival: July 6-7

Watch as 20 hot air balloons soar overhead and fill the sky with color at Balloons Over Rockbridge Hot Air Balloon & Music Festival. Visitors can sign up for piloted balloon flights or grab spots on tethered flights to see stunning Rockbridge County from above. You can also meet balloon pilots, learn about balloon mechanics, and watch the nightly “balloon glow” at sunset. The festival will have live music, food, beer, vendors, and activities for kids. 

After the balloon show, grab a craft beer and a meal on one of the decks at Devils Backbone Outpost Taproom & Kitchen. Looking for overnight accommodations? Try House Mountain Inn, a 15-room mountain getaway with private porches, fireplaces, and hot tubs. There’s an onsite gourmet restaurant, off-road vehicle tours, two stocked fishing ponds, an observation tower, and 15 miles of hiking trails.

Waynesboro’s Sunset Spectacular: July 13

Are you looking for even more fireworks fun after the 4th of July? Visit Constitution Park’s Sunset Spectacular for live music and community spirit. Jacob Paul Allen and The Flood and The SkillBillys will perform. Hungry? Get a meal or a treat from Holy Smokes BBQ, Sooners BBQ, Happy Sips Tea and Lemonade, Lucky Duck Kettlecorn, and Kona Ice, which will all have food trucks at the event. After the music ends, a fantastic fireworks display will light up the night from the top of Sunset Park. 

The Sunset Spectacular is a short distance from Basic City Beer Co., where you can get delicious craft beer in a cool historical/industrial setting. Overnight visitors should take a room at the nearby Grey Pine Lodge, a boutique motel with modern, well-appointed rooms, firepits, and access to hiking in Shenandoah National Park and along the Blue Ridge Tunnel Trail.

Augusta County’s Oak Grove Folk Music Festival: August 9-11

Find your community when fans of folk and acoustic music come together for the Annual Oak Grove Folk Music Festival. Spread your blankets and get ready for three days of great acts in beautiful, tree-shaded surroundings. You’ll enjoy live music by Lucy Kaplansky, Furnace Mountain, Robbie Fulks, David Wilcox, Robin & Linda Williams, and more. Bring your instrument, because the festival will open the stage for an open mic session, workshops, and a sing-along/jam-along session. There will be food and drink for sale, and tickets for kids under 12 are free. 

After the music, why not head to a nearby brewery like The Alpine Goat Brewing Company or Seven Arrows Brewing? If you’re visiting for the whole weekend, Stable Craft Brewing offers overnight stays in their comfortable and convenient suites. Amenities include dedicated sitting areas, private hot tubs, and beautiful views, all steps away from the taproom!

Staunton Music Festival: August 16 – 25

Musicians and music aficionados will love The Staunton Music Festival’s concerts that draw selections from over 600 years of classical composition. More than 80 musicians will perform in large and small ensembles in Staunton venues like Trinity Episcopal Church and Blackfriars Playhouse. Festival highlights include “Handel Extravaganza: Arcadia to the Academy,” which features Handel’s compositions ranging from chamber works to selections from Messiah, “Shakespearean Fantasies,” and “Early Keyboard Extravaganza.” While some events are ticketed, many are free. 

If you’re looking for a beer to enjoy between concerts, Redbeard Brewing Company is located centrally in Staunton’s Wharf Historic District and serves a variety of your favorite flavors. Overnight travelers will love the luxury and convenience of The Frederick House, a small inn with 20 private and unique rooms spread out in five historic downtown houses. Enjoy a hot, homemade breakfast in the morning!

Comedy Shows in Harrisonburg

Nothing feels better than laughing out loud, and Harrisonburg has several opportunities waiting for you this summer. The Friendly Fermenter starts things off with five comedians joking about what it means to live in America with the American Me Comedy Show on July 20. You don’t want to miss comedy, cave tours, axe throwing, games, themed beer, and more at the 3rd annual Cave Comedy Fest in Melrose Caverns on July 27. Finally, check out the Funny Womacks and Friends performing a “Back to School” comedy show at Court Square Theater on August 23. 

Visitors interested in downtown Harrisonburg lodgings will enjoy a stay at the sophisticated Hotel Madison, which offers an onsite restaurant, a bar featuring regular live music, a fitness center, and an indoor saltwater pool. Hotel Madison is centralized for downtown shopping, dining, entertainment, and more breweries like Pale Fire Brewing Company, Brothers Craft Brewing, Restless Moons Brewing, and Three Notchd Valley Collab House.

Rockingham County’s Fairs and Lawn Parties

Rockingham County has a wealth of small town lawn parties and county fairs, including the August 12-17 Rockingham County Fair. Your trip to the fair will include exhibits, rides, food, and live music from Twitty and Lynn, Jack and Davis Reid, Dylan Scott, and Mac Powell. Grandstand events on other nights include a tractor pull, a rodeo, and a demolition derby. 

Other Rockingham County festivals include the Massanutten Summer Jam (July 3),  Mt. Crawford Lawn Party (July 11-13), Bridgewater Fire Co., Lawn Party (July 17-20), FredFest Music Festival (July 19-21), Fulks Run Ruritan Lawn Party (July 25-27), McGaheysville Lawn Party (July 25-27), Grottoes Lawn Party (August 1-3), Bergton Fair (August 6-10),  Elkton Field Day (August 7-10), and the Tenth Legion/Mtn. Valley Ruritan Lawn party (August 23-24).

Finding all the local culture will take you all over the county, so you’ll have a chance to sample beer from different Beerwerks breweries like Elkton Brewing Company, BrewHaHa Brewing Co., Cave Hill Farms Brewery, and White Oak Lavender Farm and Purple WOLF Tasting Room. For out-of-town guests, we recommend a stay in the Silver Lake Bed and Breakfast in Dayton. Originally a log cabin built in the 1750s, the space has been coaxed into the 21st century and is now an updated structure with both modern amenities and a story. The included breakfast showcases local ingredients.

There’s no end to the fun you’ll have along the Beerwerks Trail this summer. Whether you’re looking for family-friendly festivals, live music, or comedy shows, you’ll find something to enjoy. And with so many great Beerwerks breweries located nearby, you can easily sample the local flavors while you’re at it. Start planning your summer getaway.

Water Fun Along the Beerwerks Trail

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Summer is here, and it’s time to get outside. Whether you’re mowing, barbequing, exploring, or having fun outside, you’ll work up a sweat. Here’s how to cool off with a visit to one of the Valley’s best water features for paddling, swimming, fishing, or hiking. Make sure you finish the day with an icy brew at a nearby Beerwerks brewery.

Paddling

The area’s rivers and lakes provide both calm water and rapids to explore!

The South River flows through Waynesboro, and the section from Ridgeview Park to Basic Park makes up the 4-mile Waynesboro Water Trail, which connects several parks with launch access for canoes, kayaks, and tubes. It’s also one of only two urban trout fisheries in the state, and anglers can take advantage of launches for small craft, a fishing platform, and habitats constructed for fish. Since the water trail runs through the city, visitors can beach their boats and easily access park and downtown amenities. Nearby Rockfish Gap Outfitters rents canoes and kayaks if you don’t have one of your own. 

The Upper James River Water Trail is one of only three east coast rivers named in Paddling Magazine’s “Best Places to Paddle in America.” Including parts of the James and Maury Rivers, the waterway offers 59 scenic miles with 12 public access points and extensive opportunities for canoeing, kayaking, and rafting adventures. The river trail includes smooth, family-friendly stretches and areas of whitewater for those seeking to practice technical skills. If you’re looking for an overnight adventure, hop out and camp at one of many riverside campgrounds. Several stocked trout streams feed into the UJRWT, providing some of Virginia’s best bass, catfish, and sunfish fishing. 

Swimming

Escape the heat and humidity with a plunge.

Sherando Lake Recreation Area beckons you for the day or weekend with an icy 25-acre spring-fed mountain lake. Not only is it incredibly beautiful, but it’s also a wonderful place to swim, paddle, fish, and play. Spread blankets in the shade as kids frolic on the big, sandy beach. A roped-off swimming area provides safety. The area also has a campground, bathrooms with showers, and miles of hiking and biking trails in the surrounding national forest. Anglers love fishing the lake from a bank, boat, or fishing pier. 

The Massanutten Water Park isn’t a natural body of water, but you’ll definitely have fun! Hit the slides and wave pools inside and out. The park, a top-ten favorite of Parents Magazine, Budget Travel Magazine, and USA Today, offers slides, pools, lazy rivers, and waterless arcade game fun. Rocket headfirst down the Rockingham Racer slide, avoid water cannons in the Massanutten Meltdown, or surf in a wave pool. New outdoor slides include the twisting double-tube Peak Plunge and the zero-gravity sensation, MASS Mayhem. 

Fishing

With its solitude, scenery, and numerous freshwater species, the Shenandoah Valley is an East Coast fishing hotspot. 

Stocked with brown trout, Mossy Creek makes a worthy destination for experienced fly fishermen. The creek flows through private property, but landowners along with The Virginia Department of Game & Inland Fisheries and Trout Unlimited have made a four-mile stretch open to the public to fish from the bank.

Located in George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, Braley Pond boasts a beautiful, forested setting that’s easy to access. The pond is stocked with rainbow trout, and fishermen can also catch largemouth bass, channel catfish, and bluegill. Nearby, 54-acre Elkhorn Lake supplies water to the city of Staunton and is managed for both warm and cold-water fishing of largemouth bass, bluegill, sunfish, and channel catfish. 

One of our favorite locations for introducing kids to the sport is Staunton’s Lake Tams. This stocked 2.5-acre pond is home to largemouth bass, bluegill, and channel catfish. This site boasts ample parking, clear and gently sloping banks, and room to set up lawn chairs. It’s also close to playgrounds if the kids need a break. Lake Tams Is home to annual fishing derbies for youth and seniors.  

Waterfall Hikes

Spend a hot spring or summer day hiking to a waterfall. The icy dip will feel incredible.

Many Shenandoah National Park hikes pay off with waterfalls and shaded trails. Located in the southern portion of the park, the Jones/Doyles Falls hike is a 6.6-mile loop with places to dip your feet and some gorgeous spots to photograph the falls. Nearby, the 9.5-mile Riprap Hollow Trail is considered one of the best in the area. Explore the mountain streams as you navigate crossings and photograph a 20-foot waterfall and smaller cascades. The star of the show, however, is an incredible 50-foot-wide swimming hole. 

If you’re visiting the central region of SNP, try the 4.8-mile South River Falls hike. It will take you past two old cemeteries to the base of a striking 83-foot cascade. The popular and moderately difficult hike will get you in the mood for a cold brew. 

1,200-ft high Crabtree Falls is one of the highest vertical-drop cascading waterfalls east of the Mississippi. The up-and-back 3.8-mile trail offers close-up vantages of five major cascades and a magnificent view of the Tye River Valley from the top. If you want to swim under a waterfall, set your sights on St. Mary’s Falls. The out-and-back hike totals 4 miles with multiple water crossings along the Saint Mary’s River. The exhilarating payoff is an icy mountain pool and scenic waterfall, so pack a picnic and swimsuit and stay awhile.

Lakes and rivers along the Beerwerks Trail are ideal destinations when the weather gets steamy. Spend a hot afternoon enjoying one of our water features and follow it up with a refreshing visit to a Beerwerks brewery.

Winter Sports and Activities Along the Beerwerks Trail

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Who says you have to huddle inside during the winter months? Venture out and enjoy bracing air, sunshine, and exercise with our favorite winter sports and activities along the Beerwerks Trail. Make sure you finish the adventure with a trip to a nearby brewery for some warm-up brews.

Skiing

The Beerwerks Trail runs through the Valley, but several ski resorts are an easy drive away. Stop at a brewery along the Trail to warm up after your day on the slopes!

  • Everybody, regardless of ability, will find their thrills on Massanutten Resort’s extensive network of ski trails. There are eight lifts, a freestyle area, and 16 lanes of snow tubing. If you want to warm up away from the slopes, check out Massanutten’s indoor waterpark. 

  • The Omni Homestead Resort is a winter paradise in the Alleghenies with downhill ski runs catering to various abilities. The resort has won awards for being beginner- and family-friendly, and skiers over the age of four can take lessons. The resort offers night skiing and lanes for tubing. 
  • Wintergreen Ski Resort has 26 runs served by high-speed chairlifts with options for all ability levels to ski, snowboard, and snow tube. Visitors can sign up for group or individual lessons, and there’s a Terrain Park with a dedicated lift for developing your skills or rail, spines, and 40+ features. 
  • Bryce Mountain Resort offers skiing, snowboarding, and lessons in the winter. 8 slopes can be accessed by ski lifts as well as a dedicated area for beginners with carpet lifts. Beginners ages 8 and up can book lessons with the Horst Locher Snowsports School. Three 800-foot snow tubing lanes and an ice skating rink round out the fun.

Skating

Adjust your sparkles and lace up your skates for some triple-axel fun at one of these well-maintained outdoor ice rinks along the Beerwerks Trail.

  • Generations Park in Bridgewater offers free skating to town residents! Non-residents can book rink tickets and skates online.
  • There’s room for both future Olympians and beginners to practice twirls and leaps on a 5,000-square-foot rink at Massanutten Resort.
  • If you want a break from the slopes, Bryce Resort has a skating rink in front of its restaurant.

Horseback Riding

Horseback riding can be lots of fun in the winter. Here’s where to get back in the saddle.

  • Enjoy a guided trail ride around the base of Massanutten Mountain with Woodstone Meadows Stable and Petting Farm. All riders – even beginners – 10 and up can enjoy this experience year-round, weather permitting.  
  • Get back to nature in the saddle of a gentle horse at Star B Stables. Riders six and up can enjoy an hour-long adventure on a gentle horse.
  • North Mountain Outfitter leads half and full-day rides through George Washington National Forest. You can also book all-inclusive getaway weekends, complete with lodging, rides, ranch-style meals, and entertainment.

Hiking

Winter trails are less crowded and sightlines are clearer when the leaves are off the trees. Plus, you’ll score an excellent workout and earn yourself a beer.

  • The universally accessible Augusta Springs Wetlands is a nice destination to look for birds and take a stroll with kids or dogs on a chilly day. The mile-long main trail is a loop that uses boardwalks to traverse marshy areas. You can add additional distance by taking the .7-mile Upland Trail spur. 
  • For an easy, mostly flat hike with the family, visit Natural Bridge State Park for a view of the bridge and a two-mile scenic hike along the Cedar Creek Trail to Lace Falls. A short spur trail leads to Saltpeter Cave, which was used to store ammunition during the Civil War. Check out the Rockbridge Outdoors website for more hikes throughout Lexington, Buena Vista, and Rockbridge County. 
  • Harrisonburg and Rockingham County hikers should download the Harrisonburg Trail Guide for information on a slew of nearby hikes like Hone Quarry and Furnace Mountain.
  • Several of our localities have in-town parks with strong trail systems. Plan to explore and stop off for food or beer afterward. Staunton’s Montgomery Hall Park and Harrisonburg’s Rocktown Trails trails at Hillandale Park have miles of looping hiking/mountain biking trails. The South River Greenway in Waynesboro and Lexington’s Chessie Trail are flat paths running along scenic waterways. Waynesboro’s Blue Ridge Tunnel Trail includes a dark journey under Afton Mountain. 

  • Don’t forget to take advantage of Shenandoah National Park in the colder months. Many views open up after the leaves fall, and water features sport cold-weather ice formations. The entire South River Falls Trail hike is a 10.6-mile loop, but you can cut it in half if you do an out-and-back to the 83’ falls, the third-largest in Shenandoah. Winter is also an ideal time to take the easy 2.5-mile Turk Mountain Hike. Expect some rocky areas near the summit and incredible views to the west. 
  • The 4-mile Trimble Mountain Hike has pretty winter-only views of Big Bald and Little Bald Mountains.

The winter is a wonderful time to have outdoor fun along the Beerwerks Trail! Plan your adventure today!