Wine and beer

The Brew Ridge Trail runs essentially past the door. Blue Mountain Brewery is the closest stop and the easiest lunch. Afton Mountain Vineyards and Veritas are both a few minutes further, and Veritas in particular is worth booking ahead on a summer weekend. Further down the valley, Flying Fox and Cardinal Point are quieter, Hazy Mountain is the newest of the group, and Devils Backbone in Roseland is the big one — a proper brewpub with a lot of room outside.

Hiking and the parks

Humpback Rocks is the classic short hike here: steep, about a mile up, and the payoff is the view back across the valley you'll have been looking at from the house. The Appalachian Trail crosses at Rockfish Gap. Shenandoah National Park's southern entrance is about fifteen minutes up the mountain, and the Blue Ridge Parkway starts at the same junction and runs south past overlooks the whole way. Crabtree Falls, the tallest cascading waterfall east of the Mississippi, is around thirty-five minutes down Route 56.

Wintergreen, in summer and winter

Wintergreen Resort is just under half an hour up the mountain — skiing and snow tubing in winter, golf, hiking and the mountain-top pool in summer. It works well as a day out without committing to staying up there.

Where to eat

Beltie's in Nellysford is the local recommendation for breakfast, and comes up in guest reviews often enough that it's worth repeating. Basic Necessities in Nellysford is good for provisions and wine. For a proper dinner out, Charlottesville is a little over half an hour and has more range than anywhere closer.

Getting here

Charlottesville is a little over half an hour east, and Charlottesville–Albemarle Airport around forty-five minutes. Washington, D.C. is just under three hours north; Richmond about an hour and a half east. The last stretch is rural but paved, and directions are sent ahead of arrival.