Things
to do while staying at
The Cabins at Crabtree Falls...
Hiking
Crabtree Falls
Crabtree Falls features a series of five major
cascades and a number of smaller ones that fall a total distance of 1,200 feet.
The area offers a degree of isolation and freedom in a forest stream
setting to both day hikers and backpackers.
After crossing an arched wooden bridge spanning the Tye River, the trail
wanders through rugged mountainside capturing scenic views of the highest
waterfall east of the Mississippi River. The
trail provides views of the falls from overlooks designed to accent the beauty
of the valley. The first overlook
is just 700 feet from the lower parking lot, making it an excellent stopover for
travelers. The more adventuresome
hiker may continue to the other overlooks, to Crabtree Meadows where the trail
ends, or to the Appalachian Trail just one-half mile beyond Crabtree Meadows.
Peak season for the waterfalls is from winter through spring, when the
water is high. Although the water
flow is lower during the remainder of the year, the trail is still popular.
Good hiking boots or comfortable shoes are recommended.
During the winter, the trail may be covered with ice and should be
traveled with extreme caution. Crabtree
Falls is located ¼ mile north of The Cabins at Crabtree Falls off State Route
56. A parking area is provided.
Canoe
& Kayak
Canoe
and kayak on the beautiful and historic James River Basin.
James River Basin Canoe Livery, Ltd. Offers canoeing for everyone from
novice to whitewater champ, from fisherman to excursionist.
Whether you want the thrill of fast water or the relaxation of slow, lazy
paddling, whether you’re looking for big game fish or beautiful scenery,
they’ve got a trip for you. Go
for a day or go for several and camp along the river at sites they have arranged
for you to use. Open year round. May 1 to September 30, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Seven days a
week. October 1 to April 30 by
appointment.
James
River Basin Canoe Livery, Ltd.
1870 East Midland Trail
Lexington, Virginia 24450
540-261-7334
http://CanoeVirginia.com
Take a ride on the Blue Ridge Parkway
Virginia’s
214 mile-long stretch of the Blue Ridge Parkway begins in Nelson County.
It links the Shenandoah National Park to the Great Smokey Mountains
National Park. The Parkway offers
fabulous panoramic views and opportunities for short side trips to interesting
local attractions. The Parkway is a
designated route on the Transamerica Bicycle Trail.
No admission fee.
Blue
Ridge Parkway
www.blueridgeparkway.org
Bicycling
on Nelson County back roads
Nelson
County contains 471 square miles of adventure and not one stoplight! Our
quiet country roads wind along the Tye and James Rivers through meadows and
pastures. In the mountains there
are more demanding grades that will challenge even the most avid biker.
On a bike you can see more of the Blue Ridge Mountain beauty which makes
our county so special. Bring your bicycle and helmet and discover Nelson County
by biking on our back roads!
Mountain
Biking
If
you are a mountain biking enthusiast, check out the mountain bike rentals,
trails and programs at Wintergreen Resort.
Located just 15 miles from The Cabins at Crabtree Falls, the Wintergreen
program offers a 12.5 mile, 3000 square foot downhill mountain biking park and a
shuttle service back to the top! The
George Washington National Forest has an additional 80 miles of trails, two of
which have been voted among the best in the mid-Atlantic. You can rent your equipment and hire a guide to go along.
Wintergreen
Resort
www.WintergreenResort.com
Hike
the Appalachian Trail
Here
in Nelson County we have 25 miles of the Appalachian Trail meandering through
the Blue Ridge. The trail passes
through the Crabtree Falls area and over Main Top Mountain (Elev. 4,000 ft.),
The Priest Mountain (Elev. 4,063 ft.) Three Ridges (Elev. 3,970 ft.) Black Rock
(elev. 3,800 ft.) and Humpback (elev. 3,645 ft.).
Whether you are on a day trip or attempting the entire trail, a walk on
the AT is always a memorable adventure.
Appalachian
Trail
www.atconf.org
Visit
Washington and Lee University in Lexington
Endowed
by George Washington in 1796, Washington and Lee University the ninth-oldest
university in America. Here,
General Robert E. Lee spent the last five years of his life serving as president
of the University. Visit the
Colonnade and the Lee Chapel. Both
are National Historic Landmarks. In
the lower level of Lee Chapel visitors will see the last office of Robert
E. Lee, which remains much as it did when he left it on September 28, 1870.
In the chapel is the famous statute of Robert E. Lee reclining in rest by
Edward Valentine. The Lee Chapel
was meticulously restored in 1962-1963 with the support of Ford Motor Company. Another major renovation was completed in 1998 in celebration
of the 250th anniversary of the University. Washington and Lee
University is located in Lexington, Virginia just off Interstate 81.
Washington
and Lee University
Lexington, Virginia 24450-0303
540/463-8768
www.wlu.edu
Visit Natural Bridge and Caverns
Surveyed by George Washington for Lord Fairfax and Purchased from King George III by Thomas Jefferson in 1774, Natural Bridge is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Located just 5 minutes off exit 180 of Interstate 81. Hotel, Conference Center, Wax Museum, Caverns, restaurants, gift shop, mini-golf, tennis courts, and more! Open year round. Admission charged.
Natural Bridge and Caverns
800-533-1410
www.naturalbridgeva.com
Follow the Blue Ridge Art & Craft Trails
The
Blue Ridge Art and Craft Trails invite you to embark on this creative meander
through quaint towns and villages, farming communities and small cities,
National Parks and historic districts. Experience
a celebration of creativity in the many galleries along the trails as you
discover the works of the potters, weavers, painters, sculptors, and
wood-workers that produce some of America’s finest art and craft.
Visit the heritage museums that chronicle our histories and enjoy the
splendor of our landscapes. This
guide is your compass on a journey through the past, present and future.
As you travel, you will learn the story of a land and its people, the
artists and craft producers that work here and the beauty their hands create.
Come meet our people, feel our history, touch our tradition, and all
along the way… discover! For
additional information visit http://home.rica.net/handcraft
Visit the Walton Mountain Museum
The
Walton Mountain Museum is a special blend of history, nostalgia and
entertainment. The same building
where young Earl Hamner, Jr. attended school now house replicas of sets from The
Waltons, the memorable television series he created.
Step back in time and memory to John-Boy’s bedroom, the Walton’s
kitchen and living room, and Ike Godsey’s store, which also serves as the
Museum’s gift shop.
Walton
Mountain Museum
P. O. Box 124
Schuyler, Virginia 22969
888-266-1981
www.waltonmuseum.org
Attend a Country Festival
There
are dozens of local festivals that take place each year in Nelson County.
Check the Nelson County Department of Tourism to see what events are
taking place during your visit to The Cabins at Crabtree Falls.
Nelson
County Department of Tourism
P. O. Box 636
Lovingston, Virginia 22949
434-263-7015
www.NelsonCounty.com
Visit a Blue Ridge Mountain Vineyard
Founded
in 1972, Mountain Cove Vineyards is Central Virginia’s oldest winery.
Located near Lovingston, the vineyard is just a short drive from U.S.
Highway 29. Mountain Cove is a
family-run farm and winery. The vineyard delights in showing you how they grow and make
their wines. Tastings and tours are
free, and all wines, as well as a nice selection of wine-related gifts, are on
sale in an intimate shop. Picnic
facilities are available for special events and group tours.
Ship wines via U.P.S. Open
noon to 6:00 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.
Call for appointment at other hours.
Mountain
Cove Vineyards
Al Weed, Winegrower
1362 Fortunes Cove Lane
Lovingston, Virginia 22949
804/263-5392
800/489-5392
Visit Montebello State Fish Hatchery
Each year approximately 170,000 newly-hatched brook, brown and rainbow trout are nurtured to maturity at this rearing station, then released to stock all trout waters east of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Fish at various stages of maturity are visible in cascading pools. The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries operates the facility. Picnic tables and restrooms are available. Located on Route 690, one-half mile off State Route 56. Open daily 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Admission is free.
Montebello
State Fish Hatchery
540-377-2418
Trout
Fishing
The
North Fork of the Tye River is a noted trout stream. Bring your fly fishing gear.
You may also wish to visit the fishing pond at Montebello.
Snow
Skiing
Wintergreen
Resort
800-266-2444
www.WintergreenResort.com
Horseback Riding
The Rodes Farm Stable in Stoney Creek offers horseback riding mid-March through November. Open every day except Wednesdays. Trail rides, sunset trail rides, pony rides for children, vaulting and lessons are available. Rides at 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. and 5:00 and 7:00 p.m.
Rodes Farm Stable
434-325-8260
Shopping,
Dining and Antique Hunting
Nelson County has a wide variety of restaurants, shops and antique stores. The Nelson County Visitor Center has brochures listing many of these. Stop by the Visitor Center on U.S. Route 29 in Lovingston on your way to The Cabins at Crabtree Falls. Or visit their web site.
Nelson
County Visitor Center
Lovingston, Virginia
800-282-8223
www.NelsonCounty.com
Take
in a show at the Theater at Lime Kiln
Up until the early 1980’s, the Kiln Theatre was little more than a hole in the ground with tumbled-down stone walls. Now the theatre seats 388 and the natural ruins of a building with parts of its chimney still intact create a wonderful background for plays and create the perfect dance floor for concerts. The Bowl Theatre is an intimate amphitheater that is the perfect setting for listening to world class artists. Lime Kiln’s third theater is “The Tent”. Used only in case of rain, it provides both audience and artist with dry cover. For current shows and information, visit their web site. The Lime Kiln is located off exit 188 from Interstate 81. Follow Route 60 West through town approximately 4 miles to a left on Borden Road. Lime Kiln is 2/10 of a mile on the left.
Theater at Lime Kiln
14 South Randolph Street
Lexington, Virginia 24450
www.cfw.com\limekiln
Visit
the Virginia Horse Center
This 378-acre facility for horse shows and exhibitions is one of the finest in the nation. Barns accommodate over 700 horses and the first-class coliseum seats over 4,000 spectators. Open mid-January through mid-December; check their web site for upcoming events.
Virginia
Horse Center
P. O. Box 1051
Lexington, Virginia 24450
540-463-2194
www.horsecenter.org
Visit
Stonewall Jackson’s House
Thomas Jonathan Jackson is known to the world as “Stonewall” Jackson, the Confederate general who earned his nickname for his stand at First Manassas and is best known for his brilliant leadership in the Valley Campaign of 1862. In Lexington, where Jackson lived and taught for ten years before the Civil War, he was known simply as Major Jackson. The Stonewall Jackson House at 8 East Washington Street is the only home that Jackson ever owned. Restored in 1979 by Historic Lexington Foundation, the house is furnished with many of Jackson’s own possessions. Guided tours, conducted on the hour and half hour, provide information on Jackson’s life and his family. Visitors may enjoy a walk through the restored garden and have the opportunity to browse in the museum shop. The house is a Registered National Landmark. Museum and shop hours are Monday through Saturday 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and Sunday, 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. The house is closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas, New Years Day and Easter. Admission is charged. Visit the Stonewall Jackson House by taking exit 188 from Interstate 81 and follow the signs to the Historic Lexington Visitor Center. The house is located one block west of the Visitor Center.
The
Stonewall Jackson House
8 East Washington Street
Lexington, Virginia 24450
540/463-2552
www.stonewalljackson.org
Visit
Virginia Military Institute
Founded in 1839, VMI is the nation’s oldest state-supported military college. It seeks “to educated the citizen-soldier for leadership roles in society”.
Virginia
Military Institute
Lexington, Virginia 24450
540-464-7000
www.vmi.edu
Visit
Cyrus McCormick Farm
This five-acre memorial plat at the Shenandoah Agricultural Research & Extension Center pays tribute to Cyrus McCormick and the ingenuity of the McCormick family. The memorial is designated a National Historic Landmark. Cyrus McCormick invented the first successful reaper and founded the harvesting machine industry. The world’s first successful mechanical reaper opened a new era in agriculture and made it possible for millions of people to leave the land and enter an industrial society. Visitors are welcome to tour the farm in Walnut Grove including the historic blacksmith shop turned museum, grist mill and manor house, which are National Historic Landmarks. Open daily 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Free admission. Exit 205 off Interstate 81.
Cyrus
McCormick Farm
P. O. Box 100
Steeles Tavern, Virginia 24476
703-377-2255
www.vaes.vt.edu/steeles/mccormick.html
Golf
Wintergreen
Resort offers two golf courses. The
eighteen-hole Devil’s Knob course, elevation 4,000 feet, is the highest course
in Virginia. The Stoney Creek
course is a Rees Jones-designed, twenty-seven-hole course.
Wintergreen
Resort
www.WintergreenResort.com
Visit Historic Oak Ridge
Oak
Ridge is a privately owned 4,800 acre estate.
Its restoration began in 1990 and will continue well into the 21st
century. Visitors to Oak Ridge are
afforded the opportunity to see the pieces of a faded dream being returned to
their once-splendid grandeur. Step
through history as the story of Oak Ridge and its owners unfolds.
Robert Rives, an international merchant, built the original manor house
in 1802 on his tobacco plantation. Thomas
Fortune Ryan, born in Lovingston, and orphaned by the age of nine, became one of
the ten richest men in the United States. In
1901, he returned to Nelson County and began building his own private Piedmont
kingdom. He added two wings and a
third floor to the original Rives manor. The 23,000 square-foot mansion became
the centerpiece of his palatial estate which included a power plant for
electricity, a movie theatre, a 700,000-gallon reservoir water system,
blacksmith and carpentry shops, an early phone company, a railroad station, a
formal Italian garden and schools. Oak
Ridge is open for private tours throughout the year by advance appointment only.
A variety of event and festivals are open to the general public.
Oak Ridge is located 2.4 miles off U.S. Highway 29 on Routes 653 and 650
in Nelson County.
Oak
Ridge Estate
2300 Oak Ridge Road
Arrington, Virginia 22922
www.OakRidgeEstate.com
Visit
the Wintergarden Spa & Fitness Center.
Get
a Swedish, Aromatherapy or Deep Tissue Massage at the Wintergarden Spa at
Wintergreen Resort. Also available
are facials, aromatherapy wrap, body polish or salt glow body treatments.
Manicures and pedicures, highlights, color treatments cuts and waxing
services complete the offerings. Reservations required. Contact the Wintergarden Spa at
Wintergreen Resort at www.wintergreenresort.com.
Enjoy
a stage performance at the Blackfriars Playhouse.
Visit the Blackfriars Playhouse, an Elizabethean Theatre in Staunton, Virginia. See a Shakespeare play or a special holiday production. For schedule and reservations contact them at www.americanshakespearecenter.com.
Enjoy
an Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Sporting Event at UVA
The University of Virginia is a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference athletic division. Enjoy seeing some of our nation’s top NCAA teams compete at Scott Stadium, the new John Paul Jones Arena or other athletic venues at the University of Virginia. For schedules and ticket availability contact the University at http://virginiasports.fansonly.com.
Camping
Crabtree Falls Campground www.crabtreefallscampground.com
Information
Nelson County Tourism Department- www.nelsoncounty.com