Get the heck out of town! While Charlottesville is AMAZING, our lovely little area has so very much to offer outside of town. We have compiled what we think is our local area’s best…check it out and PLEASE let us know of anything that may have missed the AMAZING list (we will try it and add it to our next Out of Town Suggestion Post).
North Garden:
Dr. Ho’s Humble Pie - I said it once, I’ll say it again…incredible pizza and excellent atmosphere (checkout our review).
Afton:
Blue Mountain Brewery - obviously we all know (from comments on the site and personal experience) this place is terrific (yes, I am bringing terrific back-use it at your leisure). Get the sampler - it is yummy and will help you figure out just what one of their brews makes you swoon. Also, excellent view and satisfying pretzel.
Afton Mountain Vineyards - This place has location, location, location. It is a beautiful place with some good local wine. Mmmmm…wine. Two French guys that make the wine their were at the cvillain pub crawl, they were pretty cool and knew their stuff when it came to wine.
Waynesboro:
The Purple Foot - Yes, you should eat at a place with FOOT in the name. This place 
makes potato salad that will knock your socks off (your feet!). Stop by and grab some sandwiches and potato salad for a picnic. This place is only open until 2pm–sorry no dinner for you. Waynesboro has a great park called Ridgeview Park, perfect for a quite picnic.
Ridgeview Park - This park is great for a mellow afternoon or a warm evening. While, this is no Gypsy Hill Park (more to come on GH Park), it is green and relaxing. The park offers “Movies in the Park” during the summers months as well as an Annual Summer Extravaganza – July 12 & 13, 2008. I have been to this park for an afternoon picnic and let me tell you, it screams romantic.
Ridgeview Movie Schedule:
September 26- Meet the Robinson’s
Artisans Center of Virgina - This is VA at it’s finest. They have beautiful art from all over the state displayed and for sale. Everything in site is gorgeous. Great place to get some relief from the summer heat or the winter chill.
Staunton:
Byers Street Bistro - Not quite your white table cloth dining, but still good. They have some killer french fries here. They also offer great live music on Friday and Saturday nights. The place is hoppin with 20/30 somethings on the weekends.
Blackfriars Playhouse - This is the world’s only replica of Shakespeare’s indoor theatre. I have seen some pretty great shows here. They involve the audience and have great actors. They also offer a “pay what you will” night. You watch, then pay whatever you want when the show is over. They have a full calendar for the next few months…great for an evening out.
Shenandoah Pizza - This is no Dr. Ho’s, but is excellent pizza. I would give it VA’s 2nd best pizza. You name it - they will make it and their staff is very friendly. This is the perfect stop before a show at the playhouse. They also offer live music several nights a week.
Gypsy Hill Park - This place has it ALL. This is one of the best parks I have been to…ever (and I have been to A LOT of parks). They have train rides for the kids on the weekends, playground equipment, ducks, fish, ball fields, tennis courts, a golf course and so much more. You can also catch a summer evening flick here. If the sun is shining this is the place to be. It does get quite packed on a sunny day, but if you have kids–all the better for you.
Queen City Brewing - Make some beer! Thanks to a few of our villians we found this little gem. Tuesday recommended I go to one of their musical beer tastings on Thursdays and echo told her to go there to make beer! I went to the musical tasting, and while I had a blast - the beer needs work - it’s a little weak. I recommend you try a hand at making your own. They do suggest you call and make an appointment to make beer (and then bottle it as well).
Shakin at the Station - SEASONAL! This is a FREE (well, almost, a $2.00 donation is suggested) party in downtown Staunton every Thursday in the summer! Head to the Warf (near the Byer’s Street Bistro) and follow your ears. Beer is sold and music is loud. Have fun on a Thursday evening in Staunton.
Harrisonburg:
Clementine Cafe - Step out of the ordinary and into the unknown. Clementine Cafe is unlike any place I have been this side of the Rockies. There is a giant movie screen, couches everywhere, and basement that has live music. The food is good, the people are nice, and everything is relaxed - from the people to the dress. It is fairly new to town and is still getting comfortable - give it time and I am certain it will get even better.
Dave’s Downtown Taverna - Want live music, cold beer, and a rowdy crowd? This is your spot. Dave’s has some awesome Greek food and delicious french fries. Check Dave’s out around 9:00 p.m. to get the full experience. They also offer the best beer specials money can buy (as long as you aren’t particular about what it is you are chugging).
Cally’s Restaurant & Pub - Again, I have Tuesday and her friends to thank for this one. She says the roof top dining and beer are worth the drive and provide a great break from the Cville night life. The beer is awesome and the stars with your dinner are unlike anything Cville can offer.
Artful Dodger - Salsa dancing at its finest on Thursday evenings. I can’t lie some of you men may not LOVE this place…my advice? Take a female friend or hold a girlfriend close if getting free drinks from the same sex freaks you out. If it doesn’t? Get your grove on! This place is fun and high energy. They also have a great bar with every mixed drink you can imagine.
Richmond:
Sticky Rice - Get tater tots in a bucket and sushi on some wood. This place is eclectic and funky. The tater tots are wonderful and we recommend having some PBR with them. Order anything on the sushi menu and be pleasantly surprised. Take our word for it - this place rocks. (Girls beware the bathroom door sticks).
Science Museum of VA - Let the kid in you come out and play. This is for the old and young alike. If you can’t have fun here - just stay home - from now on! The museum is loaded with educational and fun things to keep you busy for hours. Oh and if you have kids, they will probably like it too. If you hit the museum at the right time you can catch a fun movie and several educational ones as well. The best part about this place? It is hands on. Learn and play the fun way.
Cafe Gutenberg - This is located on the “fan”, in the same area as Sticky Rice. This cute little area of town is great to just wonder around on a nice day. It has shops and restaurants galore. I highly recommend Cafe Gutenberg for a cup of coffee and a bottle of wine! It has an adorable, quaint atmosphere with couches and reading material. Who can beat wine and coffee?!
Capital Ale House - Several of our villains have made the trek to this beer haven. The food is decent and the beer menu will kill any beer lover. They literally have a book of beer to offer. There is also a game room and outdoor seating. If you can drink over six beers at this place I commend you. They offer beer from our home and the rest of the world. Try some brew from Germany and next one from Oregon State. There is just no limit. Plus, if you sit at the bar the strip of ice running along it, keeps whatever you may be enjoying ice cold.
Lexington:
Hull’s Drive-In - One of the last few existing drive-ins. Arrive early and have some fun on their green grass, then settle in 
for a double feature. See their web site for a movie schedule. Take some little ones or a honey, either way the evening promises to be unique and fun.
The Natural Bridge Safari Park - Have kids? This is for you. Don’t have kids? It is also for you (the kid in you of course). The place is more fun than a barrel of monkeys. Okay, maybe not, but you get a bucket of food and some moneys! Beware of the Zebras - they are mean. There is a cover at the gate. You can drive through the park with your car or catch a ride with a park ranger and 10 other people. Bring your camera they have giraffes, goat, peacocks, llamas, turtles, and more!
Tagged as: Afton, Explore, Harrisonburg, Lexington, North Garden, Richmond, Staunton, Visit, waynesboro
Lu Sid, this article is amazing!
What which Thor is this. Is it Lu Sid giving themselves a big well done?
/congrats on getting out this today, really. One can actually plan their weekend ahead of time.
I’ll second the Safari Park. We took the extended family. The nieces (ages 3 & 4) had a great time, but so did their mother, their grandmother, and great-grandmother as well. Going on a group ride for us was better than taking our car, but if you don’t want the extra cost, people in their cars seemed to be having almost as good a time!
for a closer drive-in experience, the Fork Union Drive In is tough to beat. otherwise, great list Lu!
also, for more outdoorsy types, the Maury River runs through Lexington and Goshen and is a great place for trout fishing or river walking/light bouldering if you’re into that kind of thing.
Safari Park is a yuck-a-minute fun time. However, i got a finger gnawed to bleeding by an emu, and a wildebeast or something chewed on my external rearview mirror–not to mention a considerable amount of yak-drool on my door panels and seats. may want to borrow your roommate’s car for this trip.
not out-of-town, but anyone know if The Garage has a website, or know what’s going on there this Friday–i’m hooked.
Abingdon is a pretty amazing little town, with whatever that theater that is there, and Damascus is a gorgeous destination–tiny town with outdoorsy stores and coffeehouses every ten feet (also near Boone, similarly hippie), and lots of hiker-dudes in spandex and walking-poles for our lurid fem-posters to drool at.
I also like the little town just outside Luray Caverns–i guess Luray—on or along Shenandoah (gorgeous) river, lots of little shops and cafes.
This is a great piece.
picky, picky, but I’ll channel Stanley for a moment and say that w/r/t Richmond, it’s “in the Fan,” not “on the fan.” Sticky Rice is great, and they do two different “sushi happy hours” with half-price sushi. Mondays late-ish and Fridays early. Infamous karaoke Tuesdays. The owners run their own version of the Cannonball Run, too.
Thanks, Lu Sid. Would love to see more stuff like this.
Sticky Rice is great if you wanna pick up heavily tattooed chicks & dudes.
5: http://thegarage-cville.com/
also, this post rocks. I wanna take a road trip so bad.
thanks mc.
i’m with you on road-trip; cville is bunk right now.
Also, the Cafe Gutenberg I know isn’t in the Fan, it’s Downtown in Shockoe Bottom, close to where the Farmer’s Market is held. Did they open up a new one?
Dude, I think you left out a city called Lynchburg. Specifically a place called Starlight that serves Blue Mountain Beer.
/okay, it was a shameless plug, but still you can’t leave out L’burg.
@12: I just visited L-burg for the first time. That giant hill that you see as you cross the river*, man, I totally had the urge to bomb that hill on a skateboard. Luckily, I don’t know what “bomb that hill on a skateboard” actually means, so I’m still alive.
*Okay. L-burg’s cool; but what’s with that fountain as you cross the river. It’s like, just a stream of water? Up in the air? I don’t get it
i like roanoke—NAWAB is indian-food and restaurant-service from heaven
Stanley, it is just a steam of water shooting up into the air. Some guy donated the $$ in the 80’s for it, I think. Some people love it, other locals hate it. The view of downtown L’burg crossing that bridge you’re talking about is really beautiful. Next time you skateboard to town, come find me and let’s drink some BMbeers!
/please bring floozy.
Thanks guys.
I will work on Lynchburg caroline, we just haven’t made it there yet. More to come I promise.
Thanks Lu Sid. I’m actually between Lexington and Buena Vista at the moment and will check out the Chinese restaurant in Buena Vista. My reviews will be back soon…
It’s so quiet out here though, and a beautiful drive on Rt39. There’s a lot to see in VA.
Speaking of Abington and Damascus, the VA creeper trail is a good way to spend a fall day.
http://www.vacreepertrail.com/
Great little gringo-Mexican place in one of those towns, too. A bit far to make it a day trip from C-ville, though.
thanks Lu Sid!
i heard there was an amazing jazz club in lycnhburg,
and an amazing live-music irish bar in roanoke. any details?
is there a decent hotel in downtown lynchburg by the water?
In the summer time, the best place to see a baseball game is in the Valley.
It’s cheap $5 per person (free tickets if you go to sponsors place of business) and you get to see kids from all around the country.
This past year, Luray and Waynesboro finished in 3rd and 16th respectively in the country, out of 32 teams in the wooden bat league.
Waynesboro even had a couple of UVA boys on the team.
http://valleyleaguebaseball.com/
Come out next year and have a great FAMILY time in a great FAMILY atmosphere.
caroline: thanks for the L-burg clarifications; further: when I was there, it was a Sunday after 8pm and a gas station had signs up: “No beer after 8pm”. Is this a city-wide thing?
The Chinese in Buena Vista (Canton) is OK.
/There it is, my first restaurant review.
@21 no way!! Probably just that gas station, depending on the location. We serve beer on Sundays and after 8pm. We are rebels!! It really is hard to find a place that’s open here on Sundays, so naturally it’s our busiest day.
October 18th in Norfolk is the 21st Annual Town Pointe Wine Festival. Everyone should go, its amazing and right on the water. I went last year and it was the perfect drunken day.
this weekend is the virginia wine festival in manassas. http://www.virginiawinefestival.org/
Yours Tuffly will be slinging grape juice at Veritas on Sunday this weekend. Come say hi.
wow! I am impressed the Purple Foot made cvillain! Its a regular stop when I head over to Target.
Or stay in town and take a nice walk or run in Belmont Saturday morning to benefit Clark Elementary School. The Clark 5K starts @ 8am. Registration forms here:
http://ceof.org/images/pdfs/Clark%205K%202008%20registration.pdf
Queens City Brewing has a local connection as I’m pretty sure that they are using at least some equipment and recipes from Cville’s late and lamented brewpub, Monticello Brewing Company.
anyone know a decent old-world hotel in lynchburg w/in walking distance of the jazz club, the cvillain coffeejoint, and the sprays-straight-up water thing?
Caroline should be able to answer this one Otter…. however she may not be very interested in your priapism.
@32: Forget the hotel. Menage a trois at Caroline’s.
Schaweet! Only make it a foursome and bring the Floozster
LOL…. I think 4 makes it an orgy doesn’t it?
Bow chicka wah wha!
i think caroline sat innocently or accidentally in my lap for about two and a half minutes quite several years ago, and never repeated the performance. delighted to join the merry band of you, but i may have ‘accessories’ that wouldn’t necessarily benefit the….. ummmmm….. festivities-as-planned.
i’ll take it that Lynchburg though in many ways lovely and fine by the pretty river, has not yet ‘evolved’ to the point of having an hotel, B&B or inn where i might repose my Gladstone bags and furry backside for an evening? Is there a stable or manger somewhere, fer fuck’s sake?
/thinking of driving down tomorrow or saturday to piss away a pending dead-dull weekend.
evening, folks. Yes, I know it’s early (ooh, or maybe it’s late, depending on your… depends…
this weekend is not totally dead, we got high school football on friday (brrrr), and foxfield on sunday. I don’t know and don’t care what happens on saturday as i will spend the entire day in the car and drown my sorrows in some cheap ass wine when I finally haul my petrified ass out of said car.
will check with even-more-elderly relatives in L-burg regarding quaint accommodations availability at a much more blue-plate-special-friendly hour and get back to you
thank you, backup!!
the Lynchburg Welcome-Waggoneers seem short on 411.
kinda broke anyhow so not crucial if it’s trouble to check–they have gutters and nespapers there.
i forgot that the Vegetarian Festival is this weekend–odd no Post about it here–not that i’ll be attending, but at least they’ll all be in one place and i can enjoy a nice juicy burger in peace elsewhere.
who knew parlie smoked? i thought all cvillains hung out at the gymnas together admiring one another’s spandex and passing around energy-bars and Fiji-water?
ew -public flailing about in the name of “exercise”. Don’t see the attraction.
My new favorite Lynchburg hangout is Funquest (www.funquestsk8.com)! The roller skating/laser tag spot on the southwest side of town is part of our new Sunday plan - since Cville is lacking a spot to skate and I am trying to learn (it’s old hat for the hubby). We hit Sweet Briar College for the Sunday brunch (http://www.dining.sbc.edu/p_menu.html - really good and really cheap!) and then take the new ring road down around (through?) Liberty for an afternoon of roller fun. Highly recommended to others who might be so inclined!
PS - Sweet Briar also has a nice, small inn - maybe too far out from Lynchvegas to count as city accomodations, but at any rate - http://www.elstoninn.com/accommodations.html