October 2014 … 20 things to do in and around Staunton, Va.

Historic Wharf District in downtown Staunton.

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Voted as one of America’s Top 20 Main Streets by Travel and Leisure magazine, the central Shenandoah Valley city of Staunton was also recently named one of the 20 Best Small Towns in America by Smithsonian magazine as well as Virginia Living magazine’s Best of 2012. Known as the Queen City, Staunton was founded in 1747 and was named for Lady Rebecca Staunton, wife of Virginia’s Governor William Gooch.

With views east toward the Blue Ridge Mountains and west toward the Appalachians, Staunton is an historic slice of Virginia that offers restored Victorian homes, cozy downtown shops, and small-town atmosphere. Patriotic holidays find her streets lined with American flags, and the always-popular Christmas parade takes place each year on Beverley Street, the main thoroughfare that is lined with restaurants, store fronts, the Dixie Theater, the city courthouse, and old-fashioned lamp posts.

There are many things to do during the leaf season that peaks in October so here are some places and events you may find interesting. Check back often … this list will be updated throughout the month. It’s autumn in western Virginia.

1. Trolleys
A great way to get around downtown, Staunton’s two trolleys are inexpensive, and pick up and discharge passengers at stops located throughout the city. More information can be found at the Staunton Visitors Center on New Street.

Autumn afternoon road trip to apple country

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Apple Country was calling this afternoon so after whittling away the morning, we decided to hit the road to Paugh’s Orchard in Shenandoah County. I’m not even sure how long it takes … maybe an hour? … but it was a sparkling sunny drive. We left Staunton and headed north on I-81, then off at the Mauzy exit and up Rt. 11 through New Market to our turn toward Forestville where we picked up Rt. 42 for another 2.5 miles to the fruit stand. Along the way, autumn was on display including this show-off maple along Rt. 11 on the outskirts of New Market.

Carter Mountain Orchard offers Virginia apples, pumpkins, and views

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Last night’s low temperature west of Staunton was 39 degrees so today seemed perfect to visit Carter Mountain outside Charlottesville. The mountaintop orchard offers not only apples, pumpkins, gourds, and country store goods but it also provides one of the most outstanding long-range views in central Virginia — east toward Richmond and west toward the Blue Ridge Mountains. Below is the city of Charlottesville and the University of Virginia. A cool breeze blew as SWAC Husband and my Richmond sister and I drove up the long, winding road for the latest chapter of our autumn adventures.

Pumpkins! Carter’s Mountain had plenty of these bright orange signs of fall available in all sizes from tiny decorative to pie size to jack-o-lantern size.

It’s apple season in Virginia

By Lynn R. Mitchell

I never want to live where apple trees won’t grow. There is something soothing about the seasons and fall brings an abundance of apples that are now being harvested from Virginia orchards. Fall! That time when the hot, searing temps of summer fade and the cool, crisp temps of fall slip in along with colorful fall leaves and lots of apples and pumpkins.

Virginia apples

By Lynn R. Mitchell

September … apple season in Virginia.

Photo by Lynn R. Mitchell
September 8, 2014

Foggy Ridge Cider in southwestern Virginia

By Lynn R. Mitchell
Originally published in September 2013

“It is indeed bad to eat apples. It is better to make them all into cider .”
—Benjamin Franklin

The back roads of Virginia never disappoint, and this adventure was no exception.  Foggy Ridge Cider … what a delightful discovery on the back roads of Virginia as we explored communities near the Blue Ridge Parkway! You’ve heard of Dugspur, right? No? It’s a tiny little community tucked away off Rt. 58 in Carroll County, and that was where we were headed to check out this award-winning cider. After all, September is apple season in the Commonwealth.

Apple season in Shenandoah County, Va

By Lynn R. Mitchell

There’s nothing like a big red apple sign to entice travelers to stop at a roadside stand in the fall for apples and mums. That’s exactly what happened as my sister and I traveled the back roads of Shenandoah County this week, meandering where the wind took us and making discoveries along the way.