There are places you go because you need something, and there are places you go because life is…read morejust better when you do. Messick's falls into that second category. You start out thinking it's just a farm market but inside, the place has all the usual farm market suspects--fresh produce, baked goods, meats--but then you notice the food counter. That's where things go sideways in the best possible way. The sandwiches are flat-out good, not "good for a farm store," but actually good. And the breakfast burritos are not normal human-sized food. They're the kind of burritos that make you reconsider your life choices halfway through eating one, in a positive way. Outside is where Messick's really shows off. Kids running everywhere, farm people doing what farm people do, and enough seasonal activities to keep families occupied until everyone forgets what time it is. It's the kind of place where parents sit down "for just a minute" and then suddenly it's an hour later and nobody is in a hurry to leave. If you're rolling in with a camper, it also works as a Harvest Hosts stop, which is a polite way of saying you can legally fall asleep there without anyone bothering you. Parking is easy in a grass-and-gravel area that's simple to level into, and once the day crowd clears out it gets quiet in that good country way. Verizon signal holds up well too, which is either a blessing or a curse depending on how hard you were trying to escape emails. What makes Messick's dangerous is that it's not trying to be anything other than what it is--but it ends up being more anyway. You go for a quick stop and leave feeling like you accidentally spent the afternoon at somebody's family reunion, except nobody made you help clean up afterward. In a world full of overcomplicated stops and underwhelming food, Messick's is refreshingly simple: good food, good people, and just enough chaos to make it interesting.

If I could give this place 10 stars I would…read more I am obsessed with this place. Their fall farmers market and activities are just amazing. It's 15 dollars to get in and there is so much for the kids to do. Even my teenagers had fun just picking berries and going in the maze. The people working there were so freaking sweet I just am in love. They had a "limited menu" of food but it ranged from chicken salad sandwiches to mozzarella sticks or a hot dog, fries were super crispy and fresh, and it was more than enough to eat and enjoy the scenery. You could pick your own flowers, pick berries, zip line, petting zoo, it was just awesome . So fun.

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.

My family and I came from NJ to visit our friends who live in VA…read more Plenty of parking upon arrival. The little shop was very cute and they sold many goodies. I love how you can get the echo friendly glass gallons that they sell lemonade and milk in. We bought the lemonade. The ice cream was also AMAZING!! It was so creamy and rich. Prices are so reasonable. You pay everything up at the counter before going into the animal farm area. They also have feed to give to the goats and llamas by the stalls. They have a great area with a sprinkler to cool off and many places to even sit and have have a picnic. Loved this place and we had a great time with our dogs as well

Goat Milk Soap - Cold Process in Small Batch - I LOVE IT, especially "orange blossom". The bars are…read moreoversized and can easily be cut in 1/3 and used in multiple showers on next to sinks. I loved it so much I went back to get more. Sometimes something small can make a big difference in this is one of those.

Stopped by on a Sunday afternoon to find the farm was closed, but we were still able to purchase…read moreeggs and ground beef. The eggs were about $8.50 per dozen, and the ground beef cost a little over $12 per pound. While the eggs were great, the ground beef had a very strong, gamey flavor and smell that we didn't enjoy--disappointing, especially given the price.

Just picked up a glass bottle coke, some hot sauce, and this amazing beef jerky! A definitively…read moresmall town, quaint shop, bursting with variety and true knowledge of "Home Grown."

This is a fantastic one-stop-shop for fresh (locally grown) produce, milk, bread, pastas, eggs…read more. etc. It's conveniently located on Rt 340 and how better to spend a few bucks than supporting a small, local business. The owners are super friendly and very knowledgeable. Definitely pick up some Chocolate Milk, Tortilla Chips, Steaks and Chicken. For a small shop, it has so much to offer!

I don't buy a lot of meat but when I do I buy it from Jesse. Best local meat around a really nice…read morefamily farm run by nice people.

Stopped in one day to see what food items Whiffletree Farm had to offer. Walked out with a couple…read moreof T-bone steaks, some bacon, and some ground Chorizo. The ground Chorizo was really good! Will have to pick up some more in the near future. #WhiffletreeFarm

Bees and Trees is simply wonderful! My partner and I stayed a few nights in The Garden View Suite,…read moreand we're already planning many return visits. The owners, Teresa and Jeff, are so kind and accommodating, and a joy to talk to. The room was blissfully cozy and welcoming, and I wanted to buy everything at the store, it was all so good. (I may have actually gotten close, to be honest, beyond worth it). We loved getting to meet the animals, too! It was an incredible experience, definitely stop by.

For those of you who are looking to find a beautiful tree and cut it down yourself (or have someone…read morecut it for you) for the Holidays- than you should know...we highly recommend the family owned farm: 'Bees & Trees,' in Elkwood. The Gregson family has such a wonderful set up of fields to pick from, pony's and goats for the kids and a country farm store with hot homemade apple cider to sip on. Plus they shake the tree on a machine for you, wrap it up and help you tether it to the car for the ride home. Such a fun time and wonderful memory!!

We came out for the annual tulip festival and had such a fantastic time. We tried visiting last…read moreyear, but an unexpected heat wave ended up killing all of the tulips on site. There is so much more than just tulip picking. My kids had such a blast enjoying the tulip-themed playground on site and the food trucks. There is also drink stands set up including non-alcoholic beverages along with beer and a cocktail tent. The service is efficient. They've clearly done this before and it's mostly staffed by friendly high school students. We were allowed to pick 5 tulips each, so for the four of us, we had 20 tulips. Upon leaving, staff will wrap up the tulips to ensure you picked the right amount. You can pick more but pay per stem. The young woman who helped wrap our flowers was very kind to our kids. She even helped them count all the flowers and papers, which was very sweet. It was a really fun day out. It sells out quickly, so advanced tickets are necessary.

I visited Burnside Farms for their Spring Festival, which seems to draw a pretty big crowd every…read moreyear. Unfortunately, the experience didn't quite live up to the hype for me. Admission for adults is $21, and what that gets you is essentially a tractor ride and the chance to pick five tulips. Beyond that, almost everything on the property is geared toward kids. Calling it a "spring festival" feels like a stretch -- there are no vendor tents, no adult-focused activities, and the only shopping option is their small farm store. They did have a few food trucks, but that was about it. For an event marketed as a festival, I expected more variety and more value for the price. Honestly, with how much of the experience is designed for children, I strongly feel kids' tickets should cost more than adult tickets, not the other way around. If Burnside Farms added vendor booths, adult-friendly activities, or anything else to make the experience feel more like a true festival, the $21 entry fee might make more sense. As it stands, this was a one-and-done visit for me. Great photo opps.

We have not yet been on site to the farm itself, but have been getting their products for years,…read moremostly at the Leesburg Farmers Market. High quality meats, eggs, and produce. We sourced a rib roast from them for Christmas that was amazing. Chicken and eggs are their top sellers. Their whole birds are great for roasting and then soup later. You can make orders online to pick up at various farmers markets https://www.honeybrookfarms.com/products/ The family that owns the farm are super nice. We love doing business with them.

Joshua and the rest of Honey Brook Farms has blown away my (already high due to raving reviews)…read moreexpectations of their products and customer service. The friendliness of the people, the quality of the goods, and the feeling of being a part of a community that places high value on real food that puts the plasticky, industrialized goods you can purchase at a large grocery store chain to shame - all have led me here to say give them a try! Perhaps the best local business I've had the pleasure of connecting with.

Such a beautiful place and by far one of my favorite places. They have pick your own sunflowers and…read moretulips depending on the season. You can buy by the stem and even pick the bulbs! When you walk in you can pick a basket and are handed scissors to easily cut your flowers. After strolling down the endless rows of flowers they have a clean up station where you can trim your stems, buy vases and other little things such as jams, honey, etc. I love that they allow you to take photographs here and bring outside food to have a little picnic. There are benches and plenty of open areas to lay out a blanket and relax. Pro tip: Tulip season is quickly approaching. They are set to open the first few weeks of April. Tickets sell out quick and will be going on sale soon.

Well, we arrived for a Christmas tree. They wanted $400+ for their trees. So we ended up not…read moregetting our trees from this farm. Fresh cut trees typically run us around $125-200 depending on the size. So I was not going to pay double for a tree.

The Gainesville Farmers Market - run by Community Foodworks - is located in the satellite parking…read morelot of Gainesville United Methodist Church, Gainesville, VA - and is open every Sunday - from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm EDT. The Gainesville Farmers Market runs from April 28 through November 24. You'll find a wide array of locally grown fruits and vegetables, meats, eggs, goodies for pets, and more. Often times there will be a food truck on hand, and a range of other interesting vendors. I frequently stop in here for fresh veggies and fruits - awesome quality! Check them out! #GainesvilleFarmersMarket #CommunityFoodworks