Lexington, Buena Vista & Rockbridge CountyLexington, Buena Vista & Rockbridge County
‹ Lexington, Buena Vista & Rockbridge County

A Day on the North Rockbridge Trail

Farm Visits, Historic Mills, Wine Tasting, and Great Food

🚶 Walk + drive18 stops · 3 parts
Start the guideTimes are approximate
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Morning

  1. 1
    Dottie's Country StoreDining · 5765 N Lee Hwy

    The bacon, egg, and cheese biscuit at Dottie’s Country Store in Fairfield gets the day started oh-so-right.

  2. 🚶 about 10 min walk
  3. 2
    Choose one

    After breakfast, browse antiques at 3 Seasons Antiques or pick up quilting fabrics and supplies at the Quiltery.

  4. 🚗 about 9 min drive
  5. 3
    Lavender fields @ Tantivy FarmShopping · 1350 Decatur Rd

    Can’t-miss stops after breakfast include the Lavender Fields at Tantivy Farm, which has a gift shop and hiking trails, and The Herbery, a family-owned greenhouse. Swing south to Rockbridge Baths for a walk across the swinging bridge beside Hwy 39.

  6. 🚗 about 17 min drive
  7. 4
    Choose one

    If it’s Saturday, and one of the twice monthly Bread Days at Seasons’ Yield Farms, park in the field then step inside the rustically chic barn, where fresh loaves, chocolate croissants, and coffee drinks await. From here, stop by Wade’s MiIl, an operational 18th-century grist mill, to purchase stone-ground grains. You can rent a historic 19th-century school teacher's cabin at Wade's Mill or sleep in a stylish modern apartment above the wood-fired bakery at Seasons’ Yield.

  8. 🚗 about 17 min drive
  9. 5
    The HerberyShopping · 1371 Decatur Rd
  10. 🚗 about 12 min drive
  11. 6
    Mountain View Farm GreenhousesShopping · 16 McCurdy Ln

    On the way to Mountain View Farm Greenhouses, geocachers should pull over for a clever cache along the Gems of Rockbridge Trail.

Noon

Next up? Farm-hopping.

  1. 🚗 about 16 min drive
  2. 7
    Brownsburg MuseumMuseum · 2716 Brownsburg Turnpike

    Before lunch, drive through historic Brownsburg. The rotating exhibits at the Brownsburg Museum spotlight interesting aspects of local history and small town life.

  3. 🚗 about 14 min drive
  4. 8
    Choose one

    Continue east through Raphine, stopping for a steakburger at Quaker Steak and Lube at White’s Travel Center or BBQ at Smiley’s.

  5. 🚗 about 7 min drive
  6. 9
    Gertie's Country StoreDining · 563 Tye River Turnpike
  7. 🚗 about 7 min drive
  8. 10
    McCormick FarmMuseum · 128 Cyrus McCormick Cir

    After lunch, geocachers can look for another two Gems of Rockbridge caches while history buffs can explore the grounds and historic grist mill of the Cyrus McCormick Farm, where the mechanical reaper was invented.

  9. 🚗 about 14 min drive
  10. 11
    Ridge Valley Alpacas, LLCShopping · 1458 Sterrett Rd

    The Allegheny Mountains and the Blue Ridge Mountains frame this bucolic scene, the southern gateway to the Shenandoah Valley. For local scenery, drive east toward the Blue Ridge and cozy Gertie’s – it’s the spot for lunch and local news in Vesuvius. Don’t miss the desserts! Alpaca products are sold at Maple Grove Alpaca Farm Store and Ridge Valley Alpacas. The farm stores at Verdant Acres and Mountain View sell fresh bounty from their fields and livestock. Stop by RedWing Farm Apples for apples.

  11. 🚗 about 4 min drive
  12. 12
    Mountain View Farm Products LlcShopping · 85 Marmac Ln

Evening

  1. 🚗 about 14 min drive
  2. 13
    Ecco Adesso VineyardsDining · 340 Ecco Adesso Ln

    Farmland and mountains are the backdrop at four North Rockbridge vineyards – Ecco Adesso, Jump Mountain, Lexington Valley, and Rockbridge Vineyard & Brewery – which are welcoming places to taste wine as the afternoon winds down. Rockbridge Vineyard also sells its own craft beer.

  3. 🚗 about 22 min drive
  4. 14
    Jump Mountain VineyardDining · 1493 Walkers Creek Rd
  5. 🚗 about 22 min drive
  6. 15
    Rockbridge Vineyard & BreweryDining · 35 Hillview Rd
  7. 🚗 about 13 min drive
  8. 16
    Choose one

    For dinner, settle in for fine dining at Osceola Mill in Vesuvius or dig into pizza at Frank’s in Fairfield. For overnight options in North Rockbridge, consider B&B rooms at Fox Hill or Osceola Mill or inn rooms at Steeles Tavern Manor or Sugar Tree Inn.

  9. 17
    Steeles Tavern ManorLodging · 8400 N Lee Hwy
  10. 18
    Sugar Tree InnLodging · 145 Lodge Trail