Special Edition: Fun VA Things To Do When There’s “Nothing” To Do

Hey, y’all. It’s Amie.

The most joyous time of the year often comes with some… erm… not-so-holly-jolly aspects. If you’re the one planning exactly what every house guest will do when they’re not busy eating Thanksgiving dinner next week, welcome to the party.

Let’s be honest here: It can be hard to plan activities for large groups of people that you only see a few times a year. This week, I thought it might be useful to highlight some of the best “things to do” that Virginia has to offer. Buckle up, it’ll be worth the ride (just double check the operating hours before heading out, due to the holiday week).

Without further ado, I give to you: Fun VA Things To Do When There’s “Nothing” To Do!

Amie Knowles

Community Editor, Dogwood

Visit Local Wineries

Virginia’s known for its vino, and for good reason: We’ve got the best wine around, of course. Not convinced yet? Maybe the commonwealth’s 4,000 acres of grapes and eight defined American Viticultural Areas will tip the scale.

Here are some of the best wineries our state has to offer:

Stone Tower Winery—With a commitment to making world class wines from its estate vines, Stone Tower knows a thing or two about creating a robust flavor. In addition to delicious wines that consistently score in the high 80s to 90s by Wine Enthusiast, the winery itself has everything you need for a fantastic visit, including guided tours and a number of spaces to accommodate you and your party.
Walsh Family Wine—The self-guided tastings are perfect to enjoy in the airy indoors or out on the west-facing patio that overlooks the vineyards. Honoring the flavor profiles of Virginia, Walsh Family Wine offers a variety of whites, reds, and even rosé options.
Zephaniah Farm Vineyard—Named as one of the top 25 wineries in the US by Travel and Leisure, this family-run winery has a long history in the Leesburg area. If you’re one for ambiance and charm, you’ll love the rustic tasting room house inside the family’s historic 1819 home.

Thirsty for more? Check out our article, “6 Things You Need to Know If You’re a Newbie,” to learn more about Virginia wine.

Explore Natural Wonders

Have you heard the same advice about “rowdy” young kids that I have? “Put them in water or take them outdoors.” While I wouldn’t suggest loading up the van and taking your relatives to a swimming hole next week (exception: the Warm Spring Pools), there are plenty of other weather-appropriate outings in Virginia.

Check out these incredible natural wonders:

Natural Bridge State Park
6477 S Lee Hwy, Natural Bridge, VA 24578
Natural Tunnel State Park
1420 Natural Tunnel Pkwy, Duffield, VA 24244
Luray Caverns
101 Cave Hill Rd, Luray, VA 22835
Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge
3100 Desert Rd, Suffolk, VA 23434
Great Falls Park
9200 Old Dominion Dr, McLean, VA 22102

Go Out to Eat on the Oyster Trail

Tired of turkey? In Virginia, oysters are also a staple of holiday traditions. Better yet, if you choose to dine out, you don’t even have to cook the meal (and after all of the prep that goes into Thanksgiving, that might be a welcomed reprieve).

Here are six of the top restaurants along Virginia’s Oyster Trail:

Rockafeller’s Restaurant—How fresh is the seafood, you might wonder? The restaurant works with local vendors, including fishermen, oystermen, crabbers, brewers, and farmers to source “the freshest and highest quality products,” according to the eatery’s website.
Tautog’s Restaurant—Be sure to keep an eye out for weekly specials like the Laughing King dish, featuring salty and sweet oysters from Cape Charles. Or order a menu staple, like Benny’s oysters, which come oven-roasted and topped with sun-dried tomato pesto and melted Havarti cheese.
Off the Hook Seafood & Chophouse—Even if you don’t want oysters as your entrée, you can still order them on the side in a variety of ways: Fried, steamed, or raw. They’d surely pair well with the 14-ounce hand-cut ribeye or dry-rubbed New York strip.
Harpoon Larry’s Fish House & Oyster Bar—Those looking to taste some of the best seafood the bay has to offer can order a peck of local Virginia oysters from the raw bar menu. If you like oysters, but want some other seafood to go with them, try Larry’s steamed combo, which comes with oysters, clams, and shrimp.
King Street Oyster Bar—On any given day, the restaurant serves 10+ varieties of oysters harvested within 24 hours on the East Coast, and within 48 hours on the West Coast. Some of the Virginia oysters come from Hog Island Bay, Chesapeake Bay, and Chincoteague Bay.
Berret’s Seafood Restaurant and Taphouse Grill—There are nine oyster options on the menu. For fresh oysters, order a half dozen James River oysters on the half shell. The southern baked oyster option comes with Surry sausage, fresh tomatoes, and pimento cheese. For something a bit different, order the flash-fried gulf oysters and seared duck breast meal. It comes with cheese grits and apricot marmalade.

This email is written by Amie Knowles, community editor at Dogwood, lifelong Virginia resident, and mom to a fantastic five-year-old who loves monster trucks.
Have a question or comment? Reply back to this email!