As I get closer to my next LOVE sign stop, the roads I find myself on reminds me of a Robert Frost poem, with the specific line “and I – I took the one less traveled”. They wind through fields and trees with some houses scattered throughout. And when I look to the left of me, I’m reminded that the Blue Ridge Mountains are not far away. It is peaceful, and it is beautiful.
Barboursville is a community located about 1.5 hours north west of Richmond, and their Love sign stands outside of the local Stony Point Market. It has been many years since I’ve visited this area so I was looking forward to what may be new and exciting to experience.
The Stony Point Market provides locals (and visitors alike) an array of food, beer, wine, and is particularly known for their burgers and hosting bluegrass bands every Friday night. They also have a nice selection of locally made goods that includes jewelry, art, and other handmade items.
One of the staff (Victoria) shared that parts of the store have been there since the 1930s – pretty cool! And when you walk in, you will feel like this is a place where neighbors gather, and they still welcome travelers with a smile and a good meal. I can’t wait to catch one of their bluegrass bands soon. A true gem in the area.
Not a far drive is Nichols Gallery & Studio, where you might have the absolute pleasure of meeting the artist himself, Fred, and his lovely wife Beth of over 50 years. Fred has been painting for over 40 years and his sizable landscape scenes are gorgeous. The way he uses a vast array of colors to create a scenery on canvas is impressive. Oh what I would give to have one hanging over my mantle! You will also likely find yourself wanting to talk with Fred and Beth for hours because they were so welcoming (I sure wanted too). If you want to meet happy people who love what they do, this is one of those places.
Across the street from the gallery is the Exchange Cafe, a restaurant that provides “a sampling of the bounty of the Virginia Foothills region.” Just entering the place will have you excited about what you might eat for lunch. As always, I had a hard time deciding so I ordered the soup of the day (tomato and roasted red pepper), the artisan cheese platter and their drink special – blood orange margarita. Everything was delicious. One of the owners, Craig, shared a wealth of knowledge about the area and other places to visit, which was nice to hear from a local. This is a place I look forward to coming back to again for sure.
Right next door, you’ll find a brand new distillery called Virginia Foothills. Any bourbon/ whiskey enthusiast would appreciate spending time here. And if this type of spirit isn’t your thing, the atmosphere and cozy seating next to the fire will have you wanting to stay and relax anyway. Christen, one of the owners, shared one of their goals is to locally source as much of the ingredients that it takes to make their bourbon – which is awesome by itself. I can imagine this place will become a new destination for many to come (it will be for my husband, who is a bourbon lover)
What this town may be most famous for is the Barboursville Vineyards and Ruins. To be fair, you could write an entire blog (or book) about this place to do it full justice. The location of the vineyard alone is beautiful, not to mention the winery itself which is spacious and comfortable. While here, you have an option to do a traditional tasting, or participate in their Library 1821 experience, which is a “seated food and wine experience of their current and older vintages”. Looking for more? Their Palladio restaurant offers a delectable array of Italian-inspired cuisines that will not disappoint.
While at the vineyard, you can walk to the Barboursville Historic Ruins, “the only building in Orange County known to have been designed by Thomas Jefferson”. While the structure is destroyed, being able to see this historical building is impressive. Need a place to stay? You also have an option to stay onsite in one of their cottages. While there, I learned their 18th Century Vineyard Cottage “is one of the oldest dwellings in continuous occupancy at Barboursville”. I can’t say enough about the quality of the wine, their desire for overall sustainability, and their atmosphere of history and hospitality. If you haven’t been here, this should be on your list to visit soon.
Barboursville is a place to love…
Barboursville is a place that gets you away from the hustle and bustle, while still providing you with wonderful places to go and experience. You could spend a day here, or a full weekend and still have things to discover in a future trip. You’ll also love the kindness and neighborly feel you get when talking with the residents – I literally felt like part of their town. If you’re looking for your next escape, Barboursville is a place that can help you get there.
| VA ♥️ Signs Now Visited | Official VA ♥️ Signs |
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Other points of interest in Barboursville
- Reynard Florence Vineyard
- Four County Players (community theater)
- Chestnut Oak Vineyards
- Barboursville Gift gallery
- The Barn at 678 Vineyard
- Barboursville Fine Arts
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.
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