Great place with great views!…read more Pop "Woodstock Tower" into Google Maps, and it will take you to the right spot (Apple Maps only took me to the trailhead a distance away). This will put you near a little overlook off the dirt road or if you keep going, a small gravel parking lot. Be prepared to drive on dirt and gravel roads for over a mile to get here; you are going the right way! This end of the trail has a clearly marked sign saying it is the Woodstock Tower. From either of those parking lots it's only about ¼ mile walk to get to the tower. The path varies from rocky to flat dirt. Loads of hickory nuts line the path. You could also come from the other end of the trail, which is over a mile away in the other direction. The climb up is steep but manageable (I'd recommend being more careful descending!) with metal steps. Considering she's still standing 90 years after her construction, I'd say the tower is stable. Hats off to the Civilian Conservation Corps for building this lasting landmark! The views from the top are great and worth the short walk and short climb. I met a local man at the top who shoots a lot of videos from up there. He did warn that sometimes there are black bears in the area; I never saw one my whole time, but just keep alert. It was a little cold on the mid-October day we were there and the top of the mountain did mean lots of cross wind, so dress appropriately. Unless you're weird about heights (apologies to my wife; thanks for walking out to it with us, Baby), this is a worthwhile visit. Definitely recommend!

What a pleasant surprise! We drove up the mountain on Christmas Eve and simply enjoyed the views…read more Our goal of finding the tower wasn't easy being that my bf hadn't been up there since he was a kid. Nevertheless we found it :-) I was a bit apprehensive of climbing it at first but took baby steps lol. What a beautiful scenery once you reach the top. Great experience!

Took a ride out to this historical mill today, it was built in 1782-1785 and is still in operation…read more What a great history lesson, and the view is amazing! The mill has people dressed in period clothes, and they can tell you how it actually works. Really enjoyed this unique day trip into history.

I arrived as they were opening after a rainy night. The…read moresetting was actually pretty beautiful. The water flowing through/under the mill house and the small falls off to the side were very picturesque this day. The bridges and creek way with the willow tree was a great scene. I enjoyed walking around outside. They have about 10 picnic tables available as well. I did not like going inside the mill. I felt uncomfortable. I did smile and say hello to the gentlemen inside. They had just opened up but they really didn't acknowledge me. I guess they were getting their gear ready for a day of grinding. So yes, the mill is still somewhat in use today and is producing and selling. The history online is at burwellmorganmill.org . A great read of history there. It looks like they have events here too but I didn't really see much info about anything while I was there except a plaque on the wall. After I left I went online to read about it. Because of that website, I owe 5 stars here and the scenery was very pleasant, but the building inside was a turnoff and the smell by the restrooms/parking lot turned me off. I also wish there was more reading of the History available on site. It does deserve a visit. Come check this out.

An excellent outdoor experience to enjoy when visiting Luray!…read more The maze is a perfect blend of challenging and achievable for kids and adults alike. There are some checkpoints to find along the way. While it would be nice to have a stamp like some mazes have, no such luck, so definitely take photos along the way. There are several elaborate dead-ends, so make sure you and your companions remember which ways split off. There is a tall watch tower in the middle with a full map in there. It's great to get your bearings. You can get a nice view of the whole maze. There's also a lovely fountain area with seats to take a break. Overall, it's a nice outdoor activity for a decent price. Someone very lucky, fast, and committed could finish the whole maze in abotu 30 minutes, but most should expect and hour and maybe budget in a little buffer time just in case you get lost. Have fun in the maze!

As a lover of The Shining, when I discovered there was a hedgemaze in VA, Luray skyrocketed to the…read moretop of my local bucketlist. I also decided that all my friends needed to experience it with me, so I invited all of them. Only a few could come, but we had the most fun. It was perfect. It was also boiling hot, so I was massively grateful for all the misting sprays in the maze. Our group immediately split into two at the very first left or right decision. I was in the group who took almost every wrong turn, even after we recognized that the pink ribbons seemed to mark the correct path. It was hilarious when we made it to the tower and the other half of our group was like, "I see you!!" We met up by the fountain in the middle and tried our best not to jump into the refreshing and cool looking water. We were more than ready to exit the maze at that point. They really should sell cold beverages in the center of the maze. They'd make so much money. We laughed and shouted the rest of the way to the exit, especially when the maze signs seemed to be mocking us. We figured out the secret message and received our prize. We're home now but can't stop telling everyone how much fun we had, doing something we never imagined we would do in life. Go have an adventure! Would recommend

This is a little hidden box of treasures in town. It has art work, small crafts, local…read moreteas/honey/brews, and interesting trinkets. My family and I enjoy walking through the shop and checking everything out.

Main store in town and worth the stop. Large selection of a variety of items. Including coffee/bake…read moregoods. In addition they have a large selection of wines and beers/ciders, many local. Additionally lots of random items one did not know they may need lol Parking is very accesible, dog friendly and friendly staff. Worth it if in the area!

Very much worth checking out! Great alternative to the Haymarket farmers market if you're looking…read morefor more actual farmers than food/retail vendors. The variety of produce at this market is amazing.

I've seen this place a couple of times driving by - it's only open in the warmer months on Sundays…read more It's easy to get to - it's right off of Interstate 66 on Old Tavern Road in between I-66 and the town of The Plains. I've always been intrigued by the idea of Farmer's Markets - but I've never taken the time to visit one - which is strange given my interest in cooking. Well I had decided earlier this week that this Sunday was going to be a gorgeous day out - and that I would trek out west to check it out (The Plains is not that far from Haymarket). I pulled in and there were lots of folks checking out and buying the fresh farm produced produce - lots of vegetables and fruits. Most were under small tent or canopies - I was just about to leave when I noticed there was more to see! A whole inside area with vendors of all sorts! So I wandered through - there were all sorts of delicious organic and homemade goods to be had - salsa, guacamole, baked goods, jellies, jams, honey, maple syrup, arts and crafts - I was very impressed! I tasted a Virginia made Beef Pepper snack, beef jerky, pickles, salsa, and guacamole. I ended up buying a couple of the Beef Pepper sticks - 2 for $3.00. I also bought two tomatoes and a small container of fresh jalapeno peppers. I was sorely tempted to buy several pints of the fresh black raspberries - but that can wait until next time!

We were visiting from outside of town. Immediately when we entered the restaurant we received…read morecondescending looks from the guests and wait staff because we were not dressed up, but there was no dress code posted at the restaurant. There was no warm welcome and we wait several minutes to even be serviced. Overall the food for the price we paid was abysmal. The lasagna looked grotesque with pasta slices slapped with ground beef and crushed tomatoes from a can with no salt, no garlic and no taste. The pizza I had ordered the crust wasnt even cooked all the way through. I ordered the beet salad and it was pathetic looking for $12. Our waitress seemed preoccupied with other tables and it seemed we were given poor service because we weren't locals or werent dressed in our Sunday best.. I would not recommend this place due to poor service and low quality food.

Delightful dinner tonight! One that took us back to Italy!…read more We drive down this way often, and lately pit of the corner of my eye, I've seen couples sharing meals in a nice hole in the wall restaurant. Today, I finally decided we had to try it out. So so glad we did because we were really impressed. The price is right, the portions are plentiful, and the quality was great. We started with some wine and Italian beer! We had the exact same brand in Venice. We ordered the mussel appetizer and it paired delightfully with my Sauvignon blanc. Our entrees were perfect. The vodka pasta was gone almost as fast as it hit the table and my husband loved his pizza. He asked for the burrata on top, just like we had it in Rome. The dessert was delish and the affogato was splendid! I cannot wait to return!

We took our family there recently for dinner and the out of town guests couldn't say enough good…read moreabout it. One of them who we know to be very critical of just about any restaurant pointing out any little issue couldn't wait to go back. He told us the next time they came down he wanted to be sure we took them there. Everyone had a great meal, apps were excellent and the service was punctual and accurate. The picky one (my 80 yr old/ old dad) absolutely loved the mushroom ravioli which is a favorite of mine as well. Locals know this as a staple of the area, so if traveling through make it a point to stop. BTW, Roma on the Go in Winchester is another excellent option which we frequent quite often for their pizza and pasta dishes.

A cozy little family style Italian spot. Walked in the door to many warm welcomes from the staff…read morethat instantly made us feel right at home. The service was just top-notch. My appetizer was delicious and I opted for the Friday special (Crab Ravioli) which was extremely well-prepared. If in need or craving some good comfort food, Roma is a great choice.

Okay, bestie. If you're even thinking about going here, make that reservation yesterday. It's tiny,…read moreexclusive, and books out months in advance. Totally worth the hype. This isn't your casual night out. It's a full-on food adventure. You walk in and the vibe is already cozy and storybook-like. It's in this adorable little town near Old Rag Mountain (hello, perfect weekend getaway), and the restaurant used to be an actual blacksmith shop. They lean into the theme: your table has your name on it with a tiny anvil, there's a semi-open kitchen and wood-burning hearth, and the whole space feels warm and personal. The stars here are Sarah and Jake, the owners and chefs. They greet you themselves, chat with you like old friends, and then basically feed you a love letter disguised as a tasting menu. The food changes, but here's the vibe: * Little bites to kick things off (think three creative amuses that set the tone). * Dishes that pull from everywhere. One course might be an Asian-inspired dumpling in coconut broth, the next a perfectly refined European ravioli stuffed with fried chicken and veggies. * Wagyu beef cheeks that cook for 18 hours until they practically melt. * Bread service so good you'll be praying they bring more (they do). Every dish is beautifully plated and nothing is heavy or overdone. Everything just hits. Now, the wine pairing. They offer a regular and a reserve tier, and you can do half pours, which I highly recommend if you're driving back (we came from Arlington, about 1.5 hours). The wines themselves are incredible, from European classics to a killer ice wine from Washington State, and they match the food perfectly. A few heads-ups: * There's one seating per night. Everyone dines together, which makes it feel special and communal. * The cost is no joke. For two people with the reserve half pairings and one espresso, we spent around $300 per person. * They charge your card for the reservation ahead of time, then again for the meal and any drinks separately. * Service charge (22%) is already included, and they send you home with a cookie instead of a check (which, honestly, is iconic). We've been wanting to visit for about seven years but always hesitated because of the long drive. This year, we decided to go for it and booked a reservation in March for an October dinner, just to put the demand into perspective. By the end, we were full but not stuffed, a little buzzed, and very, very happy. It's the kind of meal that makes you want to slow down and savor life. Bonus tip: plan a hike or hit a winery while you're out there. Sperryville and the surrounding area are gorgeous. Five stars, no question. If you're celebrating something special or just want to treat yourself to an unforgettable meal, this is the place.

I was lucky enough to return to Three Blacksmiths this year (2025) and am happy to say this…read moreexperience was just as memorable (and delicious!) as our previous visit in February 2024. Everything about this restaurant is so welcoming, from the beautiful dining room to being warmly greeted at the door the moment you walk in. The five courses on the menu are inevitably delicious, even if something doesn't necessarily sound like you would enjoy it on paper, and everything goes together so perfectly. The sunchoke soup was almost everyone's favorite course- the creamy, rich soup went so perfectly with the crisp diced Granny smith apples and the grated black truffle- but there wasn't a bad thing. I highly recommend trying the NA mocktail pairing for one of the most interesting and unique beverage experiences I've had in the DMV. I drink alcohol but have still chosen this both times because it is so much fun and so interesting to see what the kitchen comes up with. Every single mocktail was so creative. If you do opt for wine, I really appreciate that you can get a "short pour" of about half the normal pour- typically wine pairings end up being too much alcohol for me, and this is a great alternative that still lets you enjoy the pairings. It is well worth the extra bit of money to opt for the reserve pairings. We were celebrating two milestone birthdays, and the entire Three Blacksmiths team really made it feel like the special occasion it was. At the end of the meal, both of our guests were presented with a signed menu that came with a personalized handwritten note. I have seen signed menus before but never with such a special and personal touch. Genuinely one of my favorite restaurants anywhere and so worth the six month wait from when you book your table!

The drive over the mini bridge was so scenic at sunset and super fun! There is plenty of seating…read moreand the views are awesome! There is a dog that roams around and she is very sweet if you encounter her! All of the food was good and fresh. The wine flight was presented very nicely too. Prices are worth it compared to other wineries in the DMV. Service was quick and friendly. Definitely worth a visit if you're visiting the Shenandoah/Luray areas!

The Ambiance and tasting is great! The drive into the winery is a little tricky as it's a small…read moredirt road. But the view from the winery and the upper deck is very nice.