As I drive along Garth Rd, I am surrounded by beautiful rolling farmland and huge trees that are heavy with leaves, signaling the warm days of May have arrived. Their long branches create a luscious tunnel over the road which brings me a sense of peace and wonder. Like the foothills in the distance, it feels like a loved one has placed a blanket of green over my shoulders, making me feel like a welcomed visitor on my travels.
Crozet is a place located over an hour north-west of Richmond, and they have two official LOVE signs – One at Montfair Resort Farm, and one at Claudius Crozet Park. They also have an ‘unofficial’ LOVE sign at Pro Re Nata Brewery (I’m still trying to learn what makes a VA LOVE sign official/ unofficial – I’ll put my sleuthing skills to work to try and figure it out :).
While I’ve been to Crozet for a baseball tournament (go Rockville!) I didn’t have the chance to take a real look around. So this time, I made sure I could make a day of it, and I had a dear friend join me for part of it.
Montfair Resort Farm is a stunning family-owned secluded place that offers lakeside cottages and event space in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. You’ll immediately be impressed by the scenic views and the relaxed setting that makes up this destination place – Not to mention the short drives to multiple vineyards, hiking trails and historical places. I can imagine this is a spot where anyone can come together to enjoy the area and create lasting memories. This is definitely a resort I will want to bring friends and family to in the near future.
For those that read my about page, you’ll know that I’m terrible with directions and easily get lost. So it’s important to remember that sometimes in the mountains, you will lose phone reception – which happened to me as I was leaving the resort. While your phone will come back online within a mile or two of leaving, pay attention ‘from whence you came’ so you know the way out 😉
Once I got my directional bearings back (you all would be proud of me – I kept my cool), I took a 20 minute drive to Chiles Family Orchards, where “five generations of the Chiles Family have been growing fruit in Albemarle County”. Here, family and friends can come and pick their own fruit – Which depending on the time of year may include strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, flowers, peaches, apples and pumpkins. Make sure to visit their website on what fruits are available when.
While here, you should also visit their farm market and bakery, and enjoy a beverage from their wine shop. If you haven’t been, this is certainly a stop you should consider while visiting the town.
Before stopping for lunch, I made my way to Claudius Crozet Park, a community-owned and operated park, to capture my first vertical LOVE sign. I was also joined by one of my oldest friends here who lives close by. The park offers the community a place to enjoy various recreational activities, some to include basketball, tennis, walking trails and a dog park. A swimming pool is also available where people can pay to become members to enjoy. The park also hosts a number of events to include the bi-annual Crozet Arts & Crafts Festivals and the Crozet Winter Brews Festival. It felt like a welcoming place where neighbors could come together and enjoy being outdoors – always an important place to have in any town.
By now I’ve got an impressive appetite, so I stopped at the Restoration Restaurant, located in the Clubs at Old Trail. You have an option for indoor and outdoor seating, with views of the privately owned, public golf course and the Blue Ridge mountains. I ordered the pan-seared chicken with extra veggies and sipped on their Elderflower French 75 cocktail – both of which were scrumptious. I felt like I was receiving a fine-dining experience with a “come-as-you are” atmosphere, which felt special and comfortable at the same time. I would certainly recommend this place for any type of occasion whether it’s for dinner, cocktails or weekend brunch – I know I’ll be back again for sure.
For those that know me well, know I have a soft spot for art, so I couldn’t miss visiting the Crozet Artisan Depot, which is housed in the town’s historic train depot. Don’t let the size of the building fool you, they host over 80 artists with various items to purchase to include paintings, pottery, jewelry and so much more. I ended up walking around the store multiple times for fear of missing a new treasure that I could add to my home. I left the store with a smile on my face, and a new pair of locally made earrings and a beautiful polka-dotted pink and turquoise pottery cup. If you love art and you’re in the area, this is a spot you can not miss.
Speaking of things I love, King Family Vineyards was just a short drive away so I made my way there to enjoy a flight of their red wine. Just like most of the other places here, the views at King Family are some of the best, and they offer ample indoor and outdoor seating so you can simply sit, sip and enjoy the day. And you will love the various white, rose’ and red wines they offer – simply delicious. King Family Vineyards also recently placed third in Virginia Living’s Best of Virginia 2024 – so your palette will thank you for making the stop here (mine certainly did).
Crozet is a place to love…
Crozet is one of those places that provides visitors a sense of both escape and excitement, with beautiful views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Even the roads that you travel on will create a sense of wonder that will have you excited about what new thing you’ll find around the corner. Whether you are with family, friends, or in need of peaceful solitude, Crozet and its people have so much to offer any wayward traveler. If you find yourself on the foothills of the Blue Ridge, make sure you pay a visit to this lovely and quaint Virginia town.
*Thank you Jenny for meeting me for part of this LOVE sign adventure. It was wonderful to be together – I so appreciate our friendship 💕.
| VA ♥️ Signs Now Visited | Official VA ♥️ Signs |
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Other points of interest in Barboursville
- Starr Hill Brewery
- Mint Springs Valley Park (walking trails)
- Fardowners Restaurant
- Bar Botanical Restaurant
- Pro Re Nata Brewery
- Grace Estate Winery
- Stinson’s Vineyard
- White Hall Vineyards
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 by friending me on my Leah LOVES Virginia Facebook page.
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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