Location: Stanardsville
Top Things to do in Stanardsville
10 Things to Do in Stanardsville That You Shouldn't Miss
Stanardsville is a town in Greene County, Virginia, United States. The population was 367 at the 2010 census, down from 476 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Greene County. The name is from Robert Stanard, a benefactor who donated land for public use. It is part of the Charlottesville Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Restaurants in Stanardsville
1. Barboursville Vineyards and Historic Ruins
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 503 reviews
Popular vineyard in Orange Country, Virginia that offers wine-tasting.
Reviewed By mamaluvs2travel - Richmond, Virginia
We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to this winery. The wine is truly superb! Staff are friendly and knowledgeable, yet not stuffy nor snobby. They offer small meat & cheese plates for purchase. Cozy with the fireplace. We can’t wait to go back and try their restaurant!
2. James Madison's Montpelier
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 969 reviews
Montpelier is the lifelong home of James Madison, fourth President of the United States, Father of the Constitution, and Architect of the Bill of Rights; and his wife, Dolley, America's first "First Lady." The historic home and grounds are open to visitors and adult and student groups seven days a week. House tours are complemented by the permanent exhibition "The Mere Distinction of Colour"; walking tours; galleries; the Museum Shop; the Madison family and slave cemeteries; an archaeology lab and active archaeological dig sites; formal gardens; 8+ miles of forest trails, and award-winning food at the David M. Rubenstein Visitor Center's Exchange Cafe. Located 25 miles north of Charlottesville and 4 miles south of historic Orange on Route 20, Constitution Highway. Montpelier is administered by The Montpelier Foundation and is a National Trust Historic Site. Montpelier is a monument to James Madison, a museum of American history, and a center for constitutional education that engages the public with the enduring legacy of Madison's most powerful idea: government by the people.
Reviewed By AggieJoe79 - Westerville, Ohio
Was fortunate to visit the day that they were celebrating President James Madison's 267th birthday. Only a couple hours out of Washington DC and near Jefferson's Monticello, this area is steeped in the history of our founding fathers. I did not realize before the visit that this estate was owned for a time by the DuPont family before becoming a public trust again, interesting to see their history of horsemanship. The tour of the mansion and it's history are first rate, the grounds are peaceful and beautiful. Perhaps the most important part of the experience is the very detailed and open history of the era of slavery, much of it described by present day ancestors of slave that served Madison's household. The person who portrays Madison is amazing, I never met a re-enactor who did a better job. Lots of hiking trails on the site too, worth a full day at least.
3. Stone Mountain Vineyards
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 68 reviews
Please see winter hours for December, January, and February. We look forward to seeing you up at the Mountain! Do not follow GPS Come for the adventure and taste the altitude! Come see the charms that you will only find at Stone Mountain Vineyards. Views from our deck that you will not find at any other vineyard in Virginia. Above 1700 feet facing east from the Blue Ridge Mountains we invite you to visit us; Sip our wines and enjoy the serene relaxing setting.
Reviewed By CTL123 - Lake Ridge, Virginia
Took a chance on a long drive to this winery and weren't disappointed. Wines (both red and white) are above average. We would recommend the reserve chardonnay or the Five. The staff are extremely friendly and provide a nice tasting experience. The tasting room is well appointed and expansive with a very large deck that has phenomenal views of the surrounding ridges and valley below. They have live music on the weekends and during our visit it was quite good. Be forewarned; the last leg of the drive up Wyatt Mountain Rd is 1.5 mi long, steep, and the last 1500 feet is windy and can only accommodate one vehicle at a time. I understand from other reviews that the county may be putting in additional turn outs and improving the road, but for now I would recommend to the owners to hire a couple of kids with walkie talkies to act as spotters for that last bit of road leading to the entrance. But that shouldn't deter anyone from visiting a hidden gem. There are also several other wineries in close proximity that are on the Monticello Wine Trail.
4. Glass House Winery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 99 reviews
Reviewed By Russ K - Jamestown, North Carolina
Interesting little tasting room overlooks a beautiful lake. But the main attraction is the subtropical greenhouse adjacent to the tasting room. It is a serene and beautiful venue with lots of seating so you can pull up a chair and enjoy a glass or two in the Glass House. The home made chocolates are divine. We liked their current wine releases and brought a bottle of their Barbera home.
5. Early Mountain Vineyards
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 183 reviews
Located in Madison, Virginia, at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Early Mountain Vineyards comprises more than 300 acres of the historic Monticello Wine Trail. With its warm and inviting tasting room, picturesque outdoor spaces and breathtaking views, Early Mountain welcomes guests to enjoy the wines and linger over a meal or snack. With a strong commitment to viticulture, as well as a fervent expression of place, Early Mountain's mission is to craft high-quality wines and to support Virginia's ascent as a world-class wine region. Owned by tech pioneers Jean and Steve Case, former America Online executives, Early Mountain seeks to create and cultivate the best of Virginia wine with our winemaking team. We hope guests come for the wine, but also enjoy this beautiful land and setting.
Reviewed By LeryPR
A getaway in Virginia is not complete without visiting one of their amazing wineries. We chose Early Mountain thanks to some research and a local recommendation.
Regarding the food:
Though we didn't go for the food, we were happy we could sip through our tasting flights and eat without leaving tipsy. My husband and I shared a grilled cheese and a pulled pork sandwich. They were good but nothing to write back home about.
We also ordered two different wine tasting flights(one of them local). They are more expensive when you take them in the dining area, but if you're there you know you can't be counting your $ingles. You can choose from several groups of wine and they'll bring them in a specific order that coincides with a card so you can read the description at your pace. The wines were delightful!
As for the location and others:
What a beautiful, luxurious and relaxing place! (Though some corners inside could use some cleaning.) Perfect for a romantic date. Plenty of picnic tables and a couple of fire pits with a dog friendly area on the grounds. We enjoyed our date with our daughter(we asked for an outside table just in case she got a bit fuzzy) and played on the grounds after eating and sipping wine. Everything was just perfect!
Prices were a little high. The tastings were $18 each, plus 2 sandwiches (didn't see side dishes available) and tip totaled around $80. They're definitely charging you for the location and overall experience. I would definitely go back, but would ask if we could take the tasting on the picnic area and bring our own food.
6. Vietnam War Foundation Museum
Overall Ratings
5 based on 10 reviews
Reviewed By Frank G - Stilwell, Oklahoma
good info in the museum. I fought in the Korean war so I know about how things are. Everyone who visits Ruckersville needs to visit this museum
7. Kilaurwen Winery
Overall Ratings
4 based on 15 reviews
Reviewed By rmorin49 - Hagerstown, Maryland
We stopped by on our way to Charlottesville from Massanutten. Very nice gentleman provided a nice tasting of about 8 wines. We were hoping the Reisling would be similar to those from the Mosel in Germany but it was a bit too dry for our tastes. We did buy a bottle of Fiesta Red. Worth a stop if you are in the area.
8. Mountaintop Ranch Wilderness Trail Rides
Overall Ratings
5 based on 228 reviews
Mountaintop Wilderness Horseback Guided Trail Rides are located in the Shenedoah Valley of Virgina and boarder the National Park and Skyline Drive on 3 sides. WE offer one and two hour rides for the whole family and for children as young as 5. We have a wilderness ride that digs deep into Appalachian History and a Sound of Music Ride where the rider is surrounded by 360 degree high mountain views
Reviewed By Kimberly M
The family was very nice. The horses were very much taken care of and the experience was simply wonderful. A must do over when I come back into town.
9. Open Gate Farm
Overall Ratings
5 based on 17 reviews
Interactive Farm Tours “An authentic, hands-on learning experience” Families– Private Tours – Schools – Educational Groups Mom/Toddler Groups – Churches – Birthday Parties Just 12 miles from downtown Charlottesville, you can discover the wonders of an organic family farm. With a variety of livestock and an abundant garden, Open Gate Farm welcomes visitors to the full experience of a working farm. Our farm tours are designed to be educational, experiential, and fun! When we say hands on, we mean it. Children will romp with the piglets, gather eggs from under a hen, hold baby chicks, learn how to milk a goat, pet the sows, talk with the turkeys, discover an organic garden, taste herbs, berries and fresh vegetables, ramble on a nature walk, and much more. By Appointment Only: Visit our website and see us on Facebook Where does your food come from?
Reviewed By shifflr1 - Charlottesville, Virginia
This is an amazing adventure for our inner city classes. The children have a wonderful time interacting hands-on with the animals. Farmer Tom and Farmer Marissa are extremely patient with the very energetic children. I love how the children are allowed to run on the farm. We have made this an annual event for our classes!
10. Reynard Florence Vineyard
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 40 reviews
Reynard Florence is a small family owned and operated winery featuring hand crafted wines made in small quantities with care and attention to detail.
Reviewed By Dinah Y - Washington DC, District of Columbia
This was a cute little tasting room. I loved the resident corgi. The décor included lots of foxes. The wines were ok, but it was the end of the day and out taste buds were tired. The owner/pourer was very nice and personable.
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