We’ve planned your beercation, So you can focus on the fun.
Believe us, it’s perfectly instagrammable.
Thursday
STEP 1
Check Into Your Home Away From Home
Start your weekend getaway with the gals well-rested! Hear the spring-fed creek and view wildlife from the deck of Lexington, Virginia’s sensational Yurt at Stillhouse Farm.
If pampering yourself is on the to-do list, book a non-traditional bed and breakfast! Cozy up in a tastefully rustic log house or cabin at the Sugar Tree Inn, with breathtaking views of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
STEP 2
Get Hands-On With Nature & Animals
Ever experienced a drive-thru safari? Now is your chance! The Virginia Safari Park is a 180-acre zoo that allows you to feed wild animals and get up-close encounters with sloths, rhinos, and penguins.
Forget the noise of the outside world as you take a walk throughout the lavender fields at Tantivy Farm. Enjoy the calming sounds of their hidden waterfall, the soothing music of nature, and friendly farm animals.
STEP 3
Pick Up Your Beerwerks Passport
Toast your weekend with a cold craft beer from any of the Shenandoah Valley’s 19 breweries and earn a cool T-shirt while you’re doing it. After all, who doesn’t like free stuff? Grab your Beerwerks Passport at any of the Trail’s participating breweries like Devils Backbone Outpost Tap Room & Kitchen, Heliotrope Brewery, or the Lexington Visitor Center.
STEP 4
Celebrate Your Girls Trip with Good Grub
Treat yourself (and your tastebuds) to delicious dine-in, curbside, and outdoor dining in Lexington! Enjoy a locally sourced meal in a fun atmosphere at Pure Eats, where they’re sizzlin’ burgers and sprinklin’ house-made doughnuts seven days a week.
Ready to jazz things up a bit? A welcoming piano bar and patio in Lexington, Haywood’s Piano Bar and Grill provides lively entertainment and chef driven cuisine that featuring locally grown, seasonal ingredients — including grilled courses, oysters, scallops, and Seven Hills steaks.
Feeling like a fancy dinner with white tablecloths? The Southern Inn Restaurant has you covered. Dress in your best and indulge in specialty entrees including Jumbo Shrimp Cioppino, Grilled Salmon, and Roasted Duck Breast.
Friday
STEP 5
Take in the Great Outdoors
Kick off your Friday morning with a brisk walk or hike! Witness the Natural Bridge State Park firsthand, from the awe-inspiring 215-foot tall limestone arch carved out by Cedar Creek to the seven miles of hiking trails winding through beautiful forests and rolling meadows.
Hike the tranquil, seven-mile Chessie Nature Trail with your best friends. A rail-trail that parallels the Maury River, the Chessie’s path is comprised of a portion of the old Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad bed as well as canal towpaths.
STEP 6
Hit the Shops in Lexington
Art lover? Shop around for one-of-a-kind pieces at Artists in Cahoots — a cooperative of local artists and craftspeople with expertise in areas including: painting, printmaking, silver and gold jewelry, ceramic jewelry, pottery, ironwork, woodworking, photography, sculpture, fabric arts, and much more. Pick up a new pot at Earth, Fire, and Spirit Pottery! Browse through functional and decorative ceramics created by Amber Poole and her brother-in-law, Daniel Caruthers — continuing the legacy of master potter Don Poole.
Life’s too short for bad yarn! Find your happy place at House Mountain Yarn — a collaborative shop that sells fine yarn kits, fun accessories, and hosts educational classes and events. Locally known as “the cutest darn store ever,” Pumpkinseeds is a boutique that has fanciful finds for the body, home, and garden — including April Cornell clothing and Red Fish bags.
STEP 7
Enjoy Some Brew or Live Music
Get into the groove with live music, wonderful wines, and cold craft beer! Swing by the 27-acre Great Valley Farm Brewery & Winery and grab a glass of your favorite beverage to wind down after your big day.
Collect another stamp by moving the party to Rockbridge Vineyard & Brewery, which has live music most Sunday afternoons, and often a local food truck.
Saturday
STEP 8
Treat Your Sweet Tooth
Before you say “happy trails,” make sure you stop to get a sweet treat for the ride back home — whether a caffeine boost or a sugar rush. Grab brewed-to-order coffees, locally made bagels, and other simple bites at Lexington Coffee Roasters & Espresso Bar.
STEP 9
Head north to Waynesboro along the Blue Ridge Parkway
Hop on the iconic Blue Ridge Parkway at milepost 27.2 in Vesuvius and head north to milepost 0 in Waynesboro for a relaxing stay at Cider House Bed & Breakfast — an apple orchard farm, complete with alpacas, donkeys, and the neighbors’ horses and cows.
STEP 10
Grab Some Lunch
Searching for a spot with gluten-free dining options? The River is your go-to! This burger bar has a variety of delicious dishes for vegetarians, vegans, and others who are following strict diets. Not to mention, they’re very conscious of food allergies and don’t use peanut oils or nuts in their recipes.
STEP 11
Fill Your Saturday With Fun
Experience an art exhibit with your ladies at the Shenandoah Valley Art Center! As the only full-time dedicated exhibition gallery in Waynesboro, they have multiple exhibits and host a variety of adult classes and workshops each year. Their center has seven studios with nine artists in residence, as well as a pottery studio, printmaking equipment, and a fully equipped framing studio.
Craving handcrafted kombucha? Look no further! Blue Ridge Bucha sells certified organic kombucha that’s produced in Virginia from pure Blue Ridge Mountain water. It’s infused with the finest organic and fair trade ingredients to create refreshing and unique flavors. Every part of their process—from brewing to bottling to flavoring—is done completely by hand.
Head north a bit to pick small, beautiful bouquet wildflowers at Pebble Hall Wildflowers & Herbs! Be sure you check out their Monthly Blooms before you make your trip, that way you can see what’s blossoming.
STEP 12
Grab Dinner and Collect Passport Stamps
Tap into fun at Stable Craft Brewing, a farm, agri-pub style brewery with a great selection of beer, cider, and vegan/gluten-free food options. Basic City Beer Company and Seven Arrows Brewing are also must-try spots with relaxed environments that the locals love. All of these breweries are known for having live music on Saturday nights, especially when the weather is nice!
Sunday
STEP 13
Finish your Trip with a Bang
Be sure to grab coffee and sustenance before hitting the road. Farmhaus Coffee Company is always a good choice, with their creative drink options, breakfast sandwiches, and avocado toast.
If you’re not completely worn out, check out the Blue Ridge Tunnel trail on your way out of town. This abandoned railroad tunnel turned 4.5-mile out-and-back hiking trail is filled with history and provides a solid workout.
Start Your Adventure!
20 GREAT breweries to enjoy
Yup, you read that correctly. 20 breweries all located within an easy hour’s drive from one another, with so many things to do in between.
Trailblazers Unite
Trailblazers love exploring and trying new things. They embrace the experiences and beauty nature throws at them. They take advantage of local food and products. They revel in all the things that make an area special and unique.
Not sure what kind of trailblazer you are? Check out each persona below to learn more.