Braehead Farm is a great place to go as a family. There is an amazingly large area for kids to play…read morea variety of games. There are many animals to see and goats to feed. My Grandchildren loved every minute we were there. They have multiple gardens to pick your own vegetables, fruit, and fresh flowers. We had so much fun we went back two day later and we will go many more times to come. The service is beyond excellent. The person who greeted us and waited on us as we paid for items available on the farm was very friendly and a wealth of information regarding the farm.

A great farm for fruits, veggies, pumpkins, flowers, and more! We loved being able to picnic with…read moreour own sandwiches and also got some sides from the lunch counter and of course cider doughnuts. It was a great way to spend a few hours before heading further north.

Awesome business for locally grown plants. Tons of vegetables, herbs and flowers. Probably some of…read morethe most beautiful flower baskets I have seen in a long time for unbelievable prices. All the plants were extremely healthy too! We spoke with several employees and they were helpful and professional! I highly recommend Crowder Farms!

I went to buy some plants yesterday and I found myself in the little shop looking at the turtle…read morefigure plant pot hangers (Pigs, Turtles, Bears). I thought it was adorable and purchased it with excitement. I got home, put it on my planter I just purchased from them and it fell and broke into pieces (Highly Fragile). I took it back the next day with the receipt and the customer service representative said when it left their place, it was in good condition and would not even listen to me. For Christians and as a customer service representative, this is not the way to handle things. I am a local and have been to Crowders several times and I've never had this experience with them before. Buy your pot hangers off Amazon. It is safer.

Mineral, VA. July, 2025. Hidden Pond Farm is a hidden gem in a rural area near Lake Anna. This…read moreVeteran-owned flower farm is dedicated to increasing awareness and raising funds for farmed animal sanctuaries. Growing over 70 varieties of beautiful, seasonal flowers nestled in 3 acres (and growing) of gardens to explore, the farm welcomes guests to pick their own flowers, attend flower-inspired events and workshops, learn how to create their own cut-flower garden, or just enjoy the gardens (and pond!). They also have a pop-up flower truck available to rent for your special event. We recently hosted a group (from California, West Virginia, North Carolina, and Nepal) in our Louisa County home to celebrate my husband's birthday. Our daughter called the farm to ensure that they were open for visitors and off we went. Our visit to Hidden Pond Farm was a double-win -- allowing a fun, pick-your-own flowers family activity AND providing beautiful floral decorations for the party. We came back with five bouquets (@ $10 each), a real bargain for the beautiful flowers and the fun activity. Even a 2-year old enjoyed running on the paths next to the flower gardens. We also enjoyed talking with the friendly owner. A few notes -- (1) the farm is open April-October; (2) open dates and times are subject to change based on weather, field conditions, and bloom availability. We recommend calling ahead before venturing out. (3) no pets allowed. (4) professional photography prohibited (unless prior permission is granted). (5) no smoking. (6) restrooms are NOT AVAILABLE. (6) this is a working farm -- so there will be dirt, mud, uneven ground, bugs, and occasionally poo. (7) dress appropriately. Wear closed-toe, comfortable shoes and sunscreen (the gardens are in full sun).

From the owner: We are a pick your own flower farm located near Lake Anna,Virginia. We created the flower farm to…read morehelp increase awareness and raise funding for farmed animal sanctuaries - especially those that provide a safe haven for pigs.

Everything thing! Food, the place and most of all the service. So professional and friendly!read more

I recently visited Dover Hall for the first time for a company party and I was blown away both by…read morethe opulence of the interior and the professionalism of the staff. For a 32,000+ square foot mansion (that was originally built as a single family private home) the space is immaculately and meticulously clean and maintained to the highest standard. I did not see a single speck of dust, no cobwebs on the soaring ceilings, or stain on any upholstery. The mansion also did not feel austere or cavernous despite its size; on the contrary, it is absolutely bursting with some of the most beautiful, unique, and at times strange but wonderful decor. For example, the game room has both billiards as well as an extensive and exotic big game taxidermy collection, whereas the adjacent two-story library boasts a hand carved fireplace and a spiral wrought iron staircase. I spent most of my evening exploring every room and trying to take in as much as possible. The multitude of staff who serviced our event were both warm in their interactions as well as discreet when necessary. The in-house catering was also very good. We had a tortellini station, a raw bar, breads and spreads, as well as passed hors d'oeuvres and a dessert station, and I enjoyed everything I tried. My only regret is that Dover Hall doesn't seem to do open house hours or guided tours, because I would love to be able to return and see more of this remarkable building.

What a wonderful event it was last night! The wedding was beautifully designed, with incredible…read moreattention to every detail. Everything was elegantly appointed, tasteful, warm, and inviting. The floral arrangements and candlelight were absolutely gorgeous and created such a beautiful atmosphere. The food was on point from beginning to end--from the cocktails and freshly made, perfectly portioned appetizers to the beautifully presented dinner. The meat was cooked perfectly, the vegetables were al dente, and every plate was impeccably presented. The service was fast, attentive, and professional throughout the evening, and the musicians did a wonderful job creating the perfect ambiance. It was a fantastic wedding all around. No detail was overlooked, and it was clear how much thought and care went into creating such a memorable experience. As a designer myself, I especially appreciated the attention to detail, aesthetics, and overall execution. I highly recommend this venue. Congratulations to the entire team on a job exceptionally well done!

11.24.24 Came here…read morefor a celebration of life. The last time I was here the event space was still under construction and has since been completed. The loft now has a vanity room and bathroom for a bridal party to get ready. There is also a man shed for the groom and groomsmen. They had a catering service that provided refreshments and also beverages at the bar and came around to refill anyone drinking wine. The venue space is equipped with internet connectivity and has a display screen if you want to share photos or have a presentation. It also has great acoustics if you need to play music or use a microphone. The electric fireplace is the perfect touch for frigid, bone-chilling winter days. The only critique I have is that the restroom wood barn sliding door could be easier to handle. It didn't shut tightly and the latch was challenging to maneuver and lock. I gave up trying to lock the latch and prayed that no one walked in on me while speeches were being made. The venue is perfect for an intimate size party.

5.10.25. This was the first Renaissance Faire that my husband and I ever attended and, to be…read morehonest, we weren't sure what to expect. Given that it was only about twenty minutes from home, we decided to give it a try. We reviewed their website, and purchased our tickets on line -- $18 for me (adult) and $12 for my husband (Senior, 65+). We arrived around 10:15 am to a long line of cars at the entrance, but didn't have any problems with parking. At the entrance, there was an ID check for participants who wanted to purchase beer, wine, or mead inside (wristband given), and a second faster line for the actual entrance. We were given a schedule that highlighted the day's shows and activities. (This was also posted online though only the 2024 list of restaurants was posted). As the day evolved, we walked around the tented grounds a number of times, watched a number of performers, browsed some of the tented shops, watched a cooking demonstration, got a beer and a mead at one of the concessioners, and grabbed a quick lunch. (Note that most are cash only; there's an ATM on site). There was also a unique assortment of pay-for activities, such as skill games (archery, axe throwing, knife throwing), hair braiding, and fortune tellers. What we enjoyed most, however, was admiring the many costumed performers and attendees. Many of the costumes were quite elaborate though many were probably not authentic to Tudor England. We stayed for about three hours, leaving when it started to get quite warm. Overall, we enjoyed the faire, but probably not enough to go on an annual basis. The main issue was that it got crowded, and it was difficult for me (a shorter person) to see some of the demonstrations that I was more interested in -- such as the sword fighting or the queen's joust. Also, the lines were quite long for food and drinks, and insufficient tables to enjoy them. And, despite having the schedule, we never seemed to be in the right place and time, but that's on us! Lake Anna Winery is a beautiful site, and the Faire was spread out well. There were at least two First Aid stations, and sufficient port-a-potties at multiple locations on the grounds.

I've been to the PA, MD, and NY Renaissance Faires and decided I needed to give this one a try…read more Spoiler alert: I shouldn't have, as it's a very distant fourth. Day started with an absolute jerk parking cars in a lot so hilly I was not sure I was going to get my car out if it rained. That set the tone for the day. Basically, the people who were willingly volunteering their time (i.e. the Queen and her court) were amazing. Some of the best costumes I've ever seen and a real effort at historical accuracy while still being entertaining. Anyone who was actually being paid for their time less so and parking lot jerk was not my only negative interaction. Food was mediocre at best and in the case of the warm chocolate covered cheesecake (gross) possibly not safe. Venue was PACKED, lacking in any sort of charm as almost all "structures" were tents and the joust area was a sad little paddock, and vendors were aggressive. After buying two tiny bags of tea for $30 I can only assume that was to recoup their costs...but for what I'm not sure. Apparently in previous years they allowed other local vendors of mead but stopped that this year because of concerns of overserving. Um what? This is the only Renn Faire I've ever been to where people were single fisting out of actual whole wine bottles as they walked around. Apparently it's fine as long as the bottles are from the host winery? Right. I bought tickets for Saturday and Sunday and didn't even bother to go back Sunday. It's a real shame as the volunteers clearly put in a lot of effort to make this a good experience and it's ruined by the poor quality of the venue and its workers.

Safe to say, this may be the location of my new favorite stout! Met some friends on a Friday night,…read moreafter not having been here in probably 5 years. They've definitely expanded in that time, and had live music until 9. I tried their lager, their nuclear IPA, the Berliner weisse and two of their stouts - our table ended up swapping so it was nice to get a good sense of their flavor profiles. They have five 11.3% beers on the menu- I feel like those could sneak up on ya quick! The setting is beautiful and I'm excited to see how they continue to grow.

Lickinghole provided us a pretty good, memorable beer experience. We had their rich, German…read moreChocolate Cake lager. Everything you expect to see in the dessert shows up in this very beer! I like the beer versions of desserts but definitely need to be in the mood for it. For this beer the features I liked best was the chocolate (of course), hazelnut and vanilla flavor highlights. The German Chocolate Cake also comes in a bourbon version which I'm sure is great too!