As we wind down what has been a glorious summer in the Shenandoah Valley, we find ourselves eagerly awaiting the arrival of fall in Virginia. Fall in Virginia is mesmerizing, with the vibrant hues of the season painting the surrounding mountains and valleys in the season’s signature hues. Add to the visual sensations of fall in Virginia delicious wine and beer tastings, old-fashioned afternoons at local farms and orchards, and relaxing afternoons surrounded by natural beauty at our Bed and Breakfast in Virginia, and you have an unforgettable sensory experience waiting for you.
One of the best things about staying at our Bed and Breakfast in Virginia – aside from our exceptional hospitality – is our proximity to all the best attractions in the area. Some of the best places to enjoy fall in Virginia are within easy reach of our Inn, including all the fantastic things to do in Shenandoah National Park, exploring the northern portion of the Blue Ridge Parkway, and visiting the charming towns of Lexington and Staunton. We offer guests views of the distant Allegheny and Blue Ridge Mountains from our tranquil 50 acres in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley – in short, it’s the ultimate escape if you’re looking to enjoy fall in Virginia.
If you haven’t yet started planning your fall getaway to the Shenandoah Valley, it’s not too late. From invigorating hikes to breathtaking views to afternoons antiquing your way through the Shenandoah Valley, we’d love to share the very best of fall in Virginia with you this year. Get ready to be wowed, and book your room at our Bed and Breakfast in Virginia today!
The Best Places to Enjoy Fall in Virginia
There’s nothing that beats fall in Virginia – especially when you choose to spend some time in the stunning Shenandoah Valley. Unlike some popular foliage destinations in New England, the fall foliage season in Virginia is generally considered long, stretching from mid-Septmeber through as late as mid-November. Of course, the length and vibrancy of the foliage varies each year and depends on weather conditions leading up to the fall in Virginia.
Our romantic Bed and Breakfast in Virginia is situated between some of the best attractions to enjoy this fall, including Shenandoah National Park and the upper stretches of the Blue Ridge Parkway. But that’s just the start of what is waiting for you this fall! It’s hard to argue with the natural beauty on display in Shenandoah National Park, especially in the fall. It’s arguably one of the best places to enjoy the splendor of fall in Virginia.
Shenandoah National Park, home to the famed Skyline Drive, is about an hour north of our Bed and Breakfast in Virginia. Many of our guests love to take the scenic drive along Skyline Drive, a beautiful 105-mile route through the heart of the park. There are 75 different overlooks along the drive, allowing you to stop and appreciate the scenery. You can expect the trip to take you at least 3 hours.
If you want to get out of the car and stretch your legs a bit, there are also some great Shenandoah National Park hiking trails that are fabulous in the fall. One of the most popular is The Stony Man Trail. As incredible as visiting Shenandoah National Park is, it is just one of the many ways to enjoy a spectacular fall in Virginia. We’ll talk more about the famed Blue Ridge Parkway below, but in the meantime, here are a few more great ways to enjoy a colorful fall in Virginia.
- Go wine tasting at the best northern Virginia wineries. Beer lovers won’t want to miss the valley’s burgeoning craft beer scene, which you can explore on the Shenandoah Beerworks Trail!
- Get out and explore the area’s waterfalls. Our favorite is Crabtree Falls, but there are plenty more Blue Ridge Parkway waterfalls worth seeing!
- Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway are magnificent drives to take in the fall, but they aren’t the only scenic drives in the area! Ask us, and we’ll share our favorite backroads and scenic drives with you.
- Hiking is another great way to get out and enjoy the vibrant colors of fall in Virginia. Here are some of our favorite fall foliage hikes in the Shenandoah Valley.
- Fall is a great time to soak up the agricultural abundance in the Shenandoah Valley by visiting area farms, markets, and orchards.
- A visit to Natural Bridge State Park is another beautiful place to admire the beauty of fall in Virginia.
- There are other things to do in the Shenandoah Valley that don’t involve fall foliage – like exploring the historic towns of Staunton and Lexington!
- You can also enjoy a performance at the American Shakespeare Center’s Blackfriars Playhouse.
Get to Know the Blue Ridge Parkway
We’ve mentioned it already, but the Blue Ridge Parkway is one of the top-rated scenic drives in the country – and it’s for a good reason. The Blue Ridge Parkway stretches from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park of North Carolina to Shenandoah National Park. That means a vast stretch of this magnificent drive is within easy reach of our Bed and Breakfast in Virginia.
Though the Blue Ridge Parkway offers visitors 469 miles of spectacular views and pristine natural wonders, this fabled stretch of highway is far more than that. The Blue Ridge Parkway also preserves vital cultural and historical elements of this part of the country, not to mention protecting some of the most spectacular natural resources.
The Blue Ridge Parkway was the first national parkway of its kind to be completed – and was designed as a destination specifically for the leisure traveler. This lofty project gave the general public previously unprecedented access to the southern Appalachian landscapes and set a new bar for access to scenic parts of the country. To date, the Blue Ridge Parkway stands as a remarkable example of landscape and engineering design.
The Blue Ridge Parkway sees approximately 15.9 million visitors a year, making it easily the most popular scenic drive in the country. The drive is the busiest in the fall, as the fall colors along the Blue Ridge Parkway are nothing short of breathtaking. The route truly offers some of the best views of fall in Virginia. As you travel along the Blue Ridge Parkway, you’ll cross five major mountain ranges within the central and southern Appalachian Mountains. As you move north to south, you’ll find yourself at elevations as high as 6,047 feet and as low as 649 feet.
With 469 scenic miles to drive, you can enjoy endless adventures along the Blue Ridge Parkway. However, within 90 minutes of our Bed and Breakfast in Virginia are some of the most popular highlights of this drive. They include the following:
- The Peaks of Otter area is among the most popular destinations along the Blue Ridge Parkway. The historic lodge sits on the shores of Abbott Lake, showcasing a dramatic view of Sharp Top Mountain. Hike to the top of Sharp Top Mountain, and you’ll enjoy a spectacular 360-degree view of the Blue Ridge Parkway, one of the best views of fall in Virginia!
- Fall is perfect for a walk along the Johnson Farm Trail, a historic farm from the 1880s. It’s been restored to its 1930s condition and includes a period farmhouse open to the public, antique farm equipment, a barn, and a garden.
- Another of our favorite spots along the Blue Ridge Parkway is Crabtree Falls – a great place to enjoy a picnic, surrounded by the colorful beauty of fall!
- Another great place to take a hike is near the start of the Blue Ridge Parkway at the Humpback Gap Overlook at milepost 6. The Humpback Rocks Trail is a 7.8-mile roundtrip hike that will take you to Humpback Rocks, Humpback Mountain, and the Humpback Rocks Picnic Area – not to mention gorgeous fall views.
- Hikers also won’t want to miss the Apple Orchard Mountain Overlook at Milepost 76.5. You’ll start at an elevation of around 4,000 feet here, and you’ll find access to the Appalachian Trail for some beautiful and representative hikes in the area.
Whether you spend your time meandering the entirety of the Blue Ridge Parkway or you create a mix of activities across the Shenandoah Valley, you won’t find any better place to enjoy fall in Virginia than the comfortable accommodations and welcoming hospitality at our Bed and Breakfast in Virginia. Book your room today!
