Things To Do
Museum of the Shenandoah Valley
A "must do" according to locals. The number one attraction in Winchester. Gardens are beautiful as well as the galleries. Gardens are free and worth a walk on one of the many trails. We explored by car with the AC on full-blast. Ahhhh....gotta love nature.
Patsy Cline Historic House
This is the house where she lived since she was 16 years old. It shows how she started and promoted herself - just imagine if social media existed back then! She slept in a room with her mom, sister and her brother where they used a curtain to have some privacy. The tour guide was charming and it costs only $10 which helps to keep the house up to code. Tours last around half an hour, and you might have to wait outside if there is a tour in session. Make sure you listen to her music to and from the house. You'd be Crazy not to,
Bonnie Blue Southern Market & Bakery
I know it shouldn't be this way but the first thing we wanted to do when we arrived was to eat. After reading some reviews (yes, Mike is a Yelper), we decided to give a try to Bonnie Blue Southern Market and Bakery. They have a nice outdoor patio, the servers were funny and helpful and the food was great. We tried the brisket, the ribs and the pulled pork which was enough to feed a team of soldiers. It was so good we brought some of the barbecue on our clothes as a souvenir. We totally recommend it! Leave some room for soft serve ice cream. They have a small stand just around the corner! They're mostly open until 4PM - check their website for any changes. https://winchestersbestbbq.com
Wilkins' ShoeCenter Inc.
On the walking mall of Old Town Winchester sits this shoe store, very quiet but with that je ne sais quoi that makes you wonder what's inside. While strolling the store, sales representatives help you with question without overwhelming you. They have all the brands you like including sneakers and boots. You feel so good and relaxed that you walk away with one pair of shoes...or 2.
Murphy Beverage Company
Also located in the walking mall of Old Town Winchester, Murphy's immediately attracts you with a "Free Wine Tasting" sign. How can you possible pass that up? We tasted the rosés at the entrance and we tasted the rosés inside the store, and yes, they were free with no pressure to buy anything. However, its hard to pass up on a bottle (or 3) of their moderately priced selection.
Gringo Gordo Empanada Shop
dConsidering that many of our guests are from South America, we keep our eyes open for good Latin restaurants. Celeste was surprised to find an Argentinian cafe in the walking mall of Old Town Winchester. We didn't have a chance to try the empanadas so we can't personally recommend but it gets 4.7 stars on Yelp so Mike's intrigued. Speaking of hidden gems, the Peruvian restaurant Inka Grill in Lynchburg is excellent.
Village Square Restaurant
Recommended by locals (definitely not Yelp, with a 3.7 rating). It has good food and outside area in a prime location on the mall. We may have to check it out in a future visit to figure out who has better culinary tastes, the locals or Yelp. Mike is pulling hard for the locals.
Vibrissa Beer
Also recommended by locals, legend says they serve food that goes very well with their brewed beer. In general, the beer scene is vibrant and the wineries are lacking. So, our recommendation is to stick with Jack Daniels. If you're of age and enjoy adult beverages (all eyes on you Angie!)
John Handley High School
Recommended by a local who told us it was one of the 10 most beautiful high schools in the country. We couldn't confirm it on the web, but we drove around and it is beautiful with an amazing sports field. Mike ran a lap. Celeste waited in the car in the AC. Mike was so fast that it couldn't be captured on film.
Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races
Let's start by saying this is probably the reason why we didn't have enough time to go to the recommended places. Besides the slot machines, they have horse racing for those who enjoy, others may enjoy the vegan and non vegan options at 9 dragons, their fried rice is to die for and the mooshu pork is really tasty. Portions are big and servers are delightful. The ambience is charming.