30 minutes from Charlottesville hotels | 45 minutes from venue Carter Mountain is perfect for those who love fall. Enjoy apple picking, fresh apple donuts, wine, Bold Rock cider, a gift shop, mountain views, and more. We recommend purchasing tickets ahead of time, as they reach full capacity some weekends.
1 hour from Charlottesville hotels | 1.5 hours from venue Saint Mary's Wilderness is a U.S. Wilderness Area in the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests. It is a fairly long hike that crosses through multiple bodies of water with a swimming hole and waterfall at the end. Bring a bathing suit, towel, snacks, bug spray, and bear spray! Hiking poles aren't necessarily needed for steepness but are helpful when walking through overgrown areas and crossing over rocks in the water.
1 hour from Charlottesville hotels | 1 hour & 20 minutes from venue Humpback Rock is a massive greenstone outcropping near the peak of Humpback Mountain in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Augusta County and Nelson County with a summit elevation of 3,080 feet. The hike is short but steep. It is very challenging with a beautiful view at the end. We recommend bringing hiking poles if you can (and maybe an inhaler). Since it is on the Blue Ridge Parkway, it is a nice place to hike if you’d like to go to Afton after. It is close to Veritas Winery, Valley Road Winery, Blue Mountain Brewery, and more.
15 minutes from Charlottesville hotels | 35 minutes from venue A trendy food hall with diverse offerings, from Thai (Tori's favorite), Ramen (Alex's favorite), to fresh pasta, pizza, ice cream, Latin American street food, coffee, unique cocktails, and more. Perfect when you can't decide what you're in the mood for. You will need to download the "ParkMobile" app on your phone to park.
30 minutes from Charlottesville hotels | 50 minutes from venue This medical-themed brewery is great for our many pharmacists, nurses, and healthcare professionals in attendance. Pro Re Nata offers indoor and outdoor spaces, including the Original Brewery Taproom, Main Taproom and Main Stage (the area's most unique outdoor bar and event space) plus a massive outdoor beer garden and patios -- all with those famous Blue Ridge Mountain views. They also have food and plenty of parking. Crozet is a great town to visit with plenty to offer, such as Chile's Peach Orchard, Starr Hill Brewery, Old Trail Golf Club, wineries, and more.
35 minutes from Charlottesville hotels | 1 hour from venue Timber-frame tasting room & patio space overlooking vineyards, with wines by the glass & bottle, owned by Dave Matthews.
30 minutes from Charlottesville hotels | 50 minutes from Venue Great for those looking for something quiet and low-key. This winery offers Dry European wines in a quaint, glass building surrounded by nature. It is close to many other Charlottesville wineries and attractions.
~30 minutes from Charlottesville hotels | ~1 hour from venue Nelson 151 is the destination for award-winning Virginia craft beverages, local food & artisans, unique lodging and amazing natural beauty. Virginia Route 151 is a state-designated scenic byway on the Sunrise Side of the Blue Ridge that is home to the Nelson 151 community. There are a ton of wineries, breweries, and cideries. Our favorites are Hazy Mountain, Veritas, Blue Mountain Brewery (get the pretzel), Devil's Backbone, Blue Toad Hard Cider, and Bold Rock Hard Cider.
1 hour 10 minutes from Charlottesville hotels | 1 hour from venue Closer to the Harrisonburg area, Luray Caverns is the largest caverns in the eastern United States and home to the largest musical instrument in the world, the Great Stalacpipe Organ.
~40 minutes from Charlottesville hotels | ~1 hour from venue Meandering 469 miles from Shenandoah National Park in the northern Shenandoah Valley of Virginia to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina, the Blue Ridge Parkway, also known as "America's Favorite Drive," follows the Appalachian Mountains and boasts some of the most spectacular scenery in the world. Off of exit 99 at the Rockfish Gap Entrance station, you can start at milepost one of the Blue Ridge Parkway. There are multiple scenic overlooks and hidden hiking spots. This entrance is also near Nelson 151.
~40 minutes from Charlottesville hotels | ~1 hour from venue The Skyline Drive runs 105 miles north and south along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Shenandoah National Park and is the only public road through the Park. It takes about three hours to travel the entire length of the Park on a clear day. Skyline Drive is generally open 24 hours a day / 7 days a week. If it's closed due to inclement weather, you may still enter the Park on foot at one of the entrance stations or from one of the boundary access points. Since it's close to our house, we typically use the Rockfish Gap Entrance Station (mile 104.6) by Rt. 64 and Rt. 250 (also the northern entrance to the Blue Ridge Parkway) but we recommend researching into what the best entrance option is based off of where you are staying.
35 minutes from Charlottesville hotels | 1 hour from venue Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Crozet, Virginia, Old Trail Golf Club has gorgeous mountain views and a restaurant called Restoration. We go to Old Trail in the warmer months, while Alex golfs and Tori drives the cart and snacks. :)