Explore Shenandoah County Virginia- Relax and Reset

Shenandoah County is only 90 minutes from the hustle and bustle of Washington D.C but it feels a million miles away. Tucked between the Blue Ridge and Appalachian Mountains, this peaceful area is quaint and charming. If you are looking for the perfect getaway, this is where you want to be.

Shenanadoah County- Relax and Reset 

As travel beings to reopen I find myself ready to pack my bag and explore. With that said, travel has changed a bit as of late and you need to plan ahead and know any restrictions, warnings and guidelines.

Offering six quaint historic towns to explore, tons of fresh open space and fabulous dining take a look with me at all you can do in a weekend away.

Where To Stay

Have you ever wanted to stay in a Civil War era home? You can in the stunning Air BnB Stickley Hall. Built in 1868 by Col Ezra Stickley who, after losing his arm in the Civil War, became a renowned attorney and accomplished piano player (exhibit at Antietam National Battlefield).This beautifully restored home sits in the town of Woodstock on a charming corner lot. I fell in love with this house the moment I walked in, I felt as though we had stepped back into history, but with modern amenities.

This home is perfect for multiple families or friends traveling together, as it is arranged in a way that breaks the home up for privacy. I especially loved that there was only one television in the house, this allowed for a lot of good conversation among us.

Offering three bedrooms you will find a queen bedroom on the first floor with adjoining full bath, a king bedroom on the upper level with full bath and a double bedroom on the upper level as well with full bath, each bedroom also has a large parlor area as well.

The owner, Erin, has thought of everything to make this a memorable stay from hand sanitizer in every room, to little snacks and goodies in the kitchen. I would absolutely stay again, as two nights was not nearly enough!

Where To Dine 

This area has no shortage of farms, and that makes for a lot of farm to table and fresh dining available. We had a few fantastic meals while we were in the area. Everywhere we dined was putting safety first, from tables six feet apart, to masks required when not dining, and paper menus. I tell ya, it's nice to be able to eat out again when I travel!

Springhouse Tavern- Located just a short walk from Stickley Hall is this quaint tavern serving American fare. Currently they are operating Wednesday-Sunday from 4 pm- 9 pm. Hopefully once restaurants can have larger capacity they will be able to open fully. I loved the crab dip and the baby back ribs.

Woodstock Garden Cafe - Have you ever dined in the middle of a full service nursery? If not, you can here! The cafe is open daily for lunch and offers sandwiches, salads, and tasty deserts. Oh and when they say they support local, they mean it. The owners pride themselves in the use of farm fresh, local products and even include products from their very own Cafe Garden. You will also find beer and wine from local Virginia establishments on the menu. The Chicken Florentine on Rosemary Bread was my choice, and it was amazing! The portions are large, so you can certainly share among friends.

Woodstock Cafe - If you are looking for a fantastic meal, this is the place! It's completely upscale without the pretentious environment. Owned by a husband and wife team, they have knocked it out of the park. I honestly wanted to try everything on the menu. We began our meal with the Housemade Parker House Rolls and OH MY LORD, ya'll I could have made a meal out of these with the fresh butter. I chose the Sweet Corn Agnolotti as I never met a filled pasta I didn't like, and a side of charred brussels sprouts.

You can also find bottles of wine and fun gifts in their unique store in the back of the restaurant. It's really a one stop shop!

Woodstock Brewhouse- Looking for craft beers and pub grub? You have come to the right place. Like so many other places in this area, the brew house was transformed, as it was the original home to the Casey Jones clothes factory. They worked hard to keep the structure as authentic as possible. I have dined her before and enjoyed it, so, I took my friends and they loved it. I was driving home so no beers for me, but they loved the craft beers. The Signal Knob Burger with the bacon jam was delicious.

Wine Down 

Did you know that Virginia is known for it's wine production? It's pretty much the Napa of the East Coast, with over 200 wineries. The Shenandoah Valley Wine Trail offers 23 distinct wineries and seven are located in Shenandoah County! If you want to visit all of the area wineries you can certainly spread it out over a weekend. We chose two wineries for our visit, and they did not disappoint.

Third Hill Winery at DeMello Vineyards- This husband and wife team retired in California and relocated to Quicksburg, VA. Little did they know that they would be running a full blown winery just a few short years later. Their passion and perfection has produced some amazing flavors. I loved the Chardonel, it is made with a white hybrid grape and has a crisp dry finish. If you prefer reds the Chambourcin is a smooth finish, and perfect for summer. They also have a White Port Wine-- I never heard of white port before this visit, it would be absolutely amazing with your favorite pies and ice creams as it has a very smooth finish.

The grounds are beautiful here, the buildings have been hand crafted by Ed, as he has a keen sense of style and design.  Currently you can only enjoy the winery outside.  There is plenty of beautiful open space by the creek for social distancing, or on the porch. So stop by and enjoy a wine flight, while you embrace the gorgeous countryside.

Muse Vineyards- This vineyard offers panoramic views, a self-guided nature trail, tranquil grounds of a European-style vineyard, and a first-class wine tasting room. It is in Woodstock, along the North Fork of the Shenandoah River and among the beautiful mountains. Every wine they produce is made exclusively from grapes grown on their 50 acres. I love their Rose' personally, and it comes in cute cans now! If you love red wine, their Clio is the clear winner, and I don't even drink reds! This was my second visit to Muse, and it didn't disappoint.

Shopping and More 

Each of the towns that make up Shenandoah County have fantastic small, local shopping venues. You can find anything from artisan crafts, to vintage treasures, antiques and fresh produce.

If shopping isn't your idea of fun Suzanne’s Studio in Woodstock is the perfect place for a DIY afternoon with friends. This locally owned art studio offers paint-your-own pottery, hand-built clay, wood signs, canvas and more. Suzanne offers all the help you need to create something authentic.

This is by far one of my favorite areas in the Mid-Atlantic as the people are always friendly and kind, they truly love where they live. I felt completely safe visiting, as everyone followed mask requirements and we found hand sanitizer and social distance signs everywhere we went. This area is home to many air bnb and cabin rental options, if you aren't ready for a hotel stay, this is a great option