As I drive to my first Love sign destination, the scenery reminds me a little of where I grew up on the Eastern Shore. The two lane road curves with the land, the trees stand tall on either side, and the houses are spread out on what likely used to be farmland.
Montpelier is a small town located about 35 minutes north-west(ish) of Richmond. And although I’ve driven through it many times, I had no idea they had a Love sign , much less other hidden places to visit.
The Love sign (featured picture above) is located outside of the Montpelier Center for Arts and Education. The center is housed in a one-hundred-year-old brick school building that includes a small art gallery, a charming library and a variety of programs, events and classes. Their mission is to engage and enrich the community through a variety of cultural and educational experiences.
While a spin through the building takes less than 15 minutes, you would be impressed by the local artwork and intrigued by the events/ classes they offer. Some of which include “Music Under the Stars” summer concert series, a farmers market, and art, music and dance classes that would appeal to all different ages. Now that I know what is there, this will be a place I keep an eye on for future good times.
After leaving the center, just two-minutes down the road you would find a cute antique shop called Plum Pickings. It has a little bit of everything you would expect to find in a vintage place and has a warm and cozy feel. You might be welcomed by the owner’s niece, Abby, who was super helpful and friendly. There were a few pieces of furniture that looked interesting so I took some measurements for potential purchases (don’t tell my husband Brett :).
At this point you may be getting hungry. A place you can stop and eat is Dave and Phriends Grill, a super chill breakfast and sandwich spot with a love for Jam Bands like Phish and my favorite, Widespread Panic. You get an immediate sense that anything you get is going to be good because it’s made when you order it. And if you love people, you will love Zoe who took my order, and Dave, the owner, who made a point to introduce himself when I shared my similar passion for music. This was my first visit and they already have a new customer for life (I recommend the BLT :).
Since I was in the area, I made a quick stop at the Freckled Flower Farm, “a thriving, sustainable flower garden, used in floral design, for educational workshops, and to inspire creativity through the joy of flowers”. While the best way to engage with them is through their website and classes/ workshops, I took a chance to visit the working farm since I had met the owners briefly before (Sara and Kelly). Sara graciously took time to show me the farm and “The Cooler” – once her grandfather’s smokehouse, is now a repurposed refrigerated space where customers can pick up flower arrangements they’ve ordered. If you love flowers, I highly recommend this local business if you’re in the area. The owners are amazing.
Finally, if you love history, you might be surprised to learn that just outside of Montpelier is Scotchtown, the only original standing home of Patrick Henry. While interior tours are available March – December, I drove out there anyway to see what I could see. Even from the road you can identify the structure. It is amazing to think that this historical figure, who is best known for his “Give me liberty or give me death!” speech, resided in those walls. I plan to go back when tours are available to experience this local historic treasure. Picture of the home was pulled from the Scotchtown website, I do not take credit for this image.
Montpelier is a place to love…
Although Montpelier may not be a well-known area, it is a classic Virginia small town that has some charming places to visit and experience. Every person I met was friendly and happy that I was there. If you are ever near the Richmond area, their LOVE sign and local area is a nice way to escape and get off the beaten path. #LoveVA
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Other points of interest in Montpelier:
- Portofino Ristorante Italiano
- Raven’s Cache antique shop
- Sycamore Tavern (c.1732)
- Cavalier Sporting Clays
Is this your first Leah LOVES Virginia blog post read? Thank you for taking the time to visit. If you’re wondering how this adventure got started, check-out my first blog post and my about page. Want to stay connected? It’s super easy and you’ll only hear from me when a new blog gets posted. You can also follow along on Facebook.
Important note: I always do my best to ensure anything I include in my blogs is factual and that I also give credit and use quotations when pulling information from sources. If you believe there is something included here that needs to be addressed, please email me directly as I want to be sure it is fixed. Thank you and happy LOVE sign hunting.
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