By Laura Drummond

If you happen to’re searching for the right vacation spot for a day journey along with your sweetheart or a weekend tour with the household, look no additional than Fluvanna County. 

Parks & Preserves, and Three Rivers Run By It

With three rivers flowing by means of it—the James, the Rivanna, and the {Hardware}—Fluvanna is a implausible spot for water recreation, from fishing and floating to canoeing and kayaking. Contemplate reserving a guided paddling tour with Rivanna River Firm. Accessible on Saturdays throughout the hotter months, the 6.5-mile-long Fluvanna Scenic Cruise is ideal for novices and presents a chance to absorb the sights and sounds of the river and its wildlife. Kayaks can be found to hire from Fluvanna County Parks and Recreation, whose kayak livery is on the Nice Grove Home.

Nice Grove Park boasts 21 miles of multi-use horse driving, mountain biking, and climbing trails. For a slower tempo, stroll alongside the scenic meadows and pack a picnic to take pleasure in on the web site’s shelters. Avid golfers will love the 18-hole PGA Championship Golf Course at Lake Monticello. Whereas the lake’s different facilities are reserved for owners and their company, the golf course is open to the general public. If biking is extra your pace, you possibly can take within the space’s scenic views whereas finishing a part of the TransAmerica path, which runs from Missouri to Yorktown. Mark off 22 of the 533 miles that make up Bicycle Route 76 with out leaving the county!

For birdwatchers, Fluvanna is dwelling to 2 must-visit spots—Fluvanna Ruritan Lake and Scheier Pure Space. Eager eyes are certain to spy a variety of totally different waterfowl on the lake, like nice blue herons, ospreys, northern shovelers, and extra. Only a brief drive away, the 100-acre wildlife protect is dwelling to Carolina chickadees, tufted titmice, and numerous extra avifauna.

Artwork Adventures

Mark your calendar for the annual Artwork Studio Tour occasion, which is held by ARTS of Fluvanna County each October. This 12 months, the occasion will probably be held on October 14 from 10 am to five pm, throughout which period you possibly can tour the non-public studios of over 30 creators, with alternatives to satisfy the artists, find out about their processes, and observe—with an opportunity to buy—their completed works.

Go to Candy Artwork Emporium, a present store showcasing domestically crafted gadgets and Virginia-made sweets, to buy the works of over 80 native artists and artisans. Candy Artwork Emporium additionally presents artwork workshops, seasonal markets and humanities festivals, and different occasions all year long. 

The Carysbrook Performing Arts Middle is dwelling to the Fluvanna County Arts Council, which hosts artwork, musical, movie, youth, and comedic performances all year long. Examine their calendar, buy a ticket, and put together to be wowed!

Meals & Drink, Alpacas to Meet

Discover the freshest meals if you go to certainly one of Fluvanna’s many farms, farm stands, or markets. For domestically grown produce, go to Fruit Hill Orchard and Crossing Brook Farmstand. For pasture-raised meats, native honey, and different meals merchandise, there are lots of farms within the space to go to, together with Salt and Pepper Farm, Modesto Farm, and Chevy Chase Farm.

The Fluvanna Farm Heritage Museum, positioned at Nice Grove Park, pays tribute to the significance of agriculture to Fluvanna’s livelihood, offering a have a look at the evolution of the realm’s agriculture from 1865 by means of 1965. The museum is full of vintage farming gear from native collectors.

The doorways are all the time open at two award-winning wineries within the county. A stunning gathering spot for associates or romantic rendezvous for 2, Cunningham Creek Vineyard creates small-batch French varietals and blends. The household owned and operated boutique vineyard is welcoming to households of all ages—and canines are inspired, as they’ve a canine park on premises. Cease by on Saturdays to take pleasure in reside music and examine their occasions calendar for enjoyable festivities all year long. 

You should definitely go to {Hardware} Hills Winery, the place you possibly can hearken to reside music, strive snacks from their gentle fare menu, and pattern from their in depth wine choice. Don’t overlook to strive the famend sangria, made contemporary on-premises from property grown grapes and various fruit juices. Really feel like you can chill out right here endlessly? No drawback—there’s an cute cottage on the property you possibly can reserve for an in a single day keep.

For a singular expertise, go to Sacred Acres Farm to commune with the pleasant alpacas who reside there. Hand-feed them—and even take an alpaca for a stroll! 

A Stroll By Time

With a heap of Virginia historical past and a facet of small city appeal, the Palmyra Self-Guided Strolling Tour options each unique and recreated buildings and landmarks. Highlights embrace the previous Fluvanna County Courthouse, Maggie’s Home, the Rail Path, and the Village Park.

Along with the strolling tour, guests also can tour the interiors of a number of the buildings maintained by the Fluvanna Historic Society, such because the Previous Stone Jail, which was in-built 1828 and operated for over 100 years. It now lives on as a museum, telling the tales of the county by means of artifacts and shows of historic curiosity. 

—–

Laura Drummond is knowledgeable journey and hospitality author primarily based in Charlottesville, Virginia. A local of the realm, she is an skilled in all of the issues to see and do, eat and drink, discover and study in Charlottesville and the encircling counties. Her work has appeared in Backyard & Gun, Virginia Residing, and Good Grit. www.bylauradrummond.com