Local Secrets, Big Finds - VirginiaLocal Secrets, Big Finds - Virginia

Local Secrets, Big Finds - Virginia

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Hull's Drive-in Theatre
Lexington

540.463.2621
From the first weekend in April to the first weekend in October, bring the whole family to Hull's Drive-in for a "back to the '50s experience you will never forget." So loved by the Lexington locals, the theater gathered a following of "Hull's Angels" after it closed its doors a few years back. After much fundraising, the Hull's Angels "resurrected" the drive-in to be the only not-for-profit, community-owned drive-in of its kind. Read more.

Prince William Forest
Triangle

703.221.7181
See what the east coast looked like centuries ago at the Prince William Forest, a "sanctuary for native plants and animals." It's the largest park of any kind in the Washington, D.C area, with 37 miles of hiking trails, 21 miles of bike paths, and picnic tables galore. Let the "waterfalls sing you to sleep" while camping, or try your luck fishing in the creeks, which are "Mother Nature at her grandest." Read more.

Chateau Morissette
Floyd

540.593.2865
Chateau Morissette
Indulge in some of the "finest wine in Virginia" as you take in the sun setting along the Blue Ridge Mountains at Chateau Morissette, a winery and restaurant that is "an amazing romantic getaway." Make sure to attend a wine tasting, or relax on the vast lawn while taking in a jazz concert at this "hidden mountain gem." Since the Chateau has events planned for almost every weekend, "the hardest part is deciding which day to go." Read more.

Storybook Trail
Massanutten

540.740.8310
About a half-mile long, the Storybook Trail "is a short, easy hike to the lookout at the top of the mountain." It is a paved, interpretive trail with "wonderful scenery year-round" and "amazing views" of the Blue Ridge Mountains and Page Valley. As you hike, notice the signs explaining the geology and types of rocks that make up the mountain. Boasting a "180-degree panoramic view of the eastern Shenandoah Valley" at the trail's end, trekkers will feast their eyes on abundant scenic beauty. Read more.

Wayne Henderson Music Festival & Guitar Competition
Mouth of Wilson

276.579.7092
Experience "bluegrass bliss" amidst the "breathtaking scenery" of Grayson Highland State Park, as musicians from all over the world celebrate "all things Wayne." Watch as 20 contestants "finger-pick their hearts out," as one lucky winner receives a guitar, handmade and donated by Wayne C. Henderson, "the most masterful guitar maker in this whole United States." The festival includes performances by Henderson himself, as well as instrument-making demonstrations. Read more.

Big Sam's Inlet Cafe and Raw Bar
Virginia Beach

757.428.4858
Sip on a bloody Mary that is "shear perfection," and watch the sun rise over the Rudee Inlet at Big Sam's. You are "considered family" at this eatery where every night is keg night in this "fun and funky place for foodies." Since "breakfast rules" at Big Sam's, make sure to check out the "truly amazing" breakfast burrito.

Doumar's Cones & Barbecue
Norfolk

757.627.4163
Doumar's Cones & Barbecue
Called the longest-running drive-in restaurant in the US, Doumar's is home to the first ice cream cone machine and still makes "the best homemade cones you'll ever eat, especially the butter pecan cone!" Make sure to start your meal off with some limeade, "which tastes just like it did when the place opened in 1934," followed by some real Southern "off-the-hook" barbecue. The wait staff greets hungry guests in their cars with cones and barbecue by the armful, which makes this find a "national landmark." Read more.

Pony Swim and Auction
Chincoteague Island

757.336.6161
Put on your Stetson and get ready to become a "salt water cowboy" at the Chincoteague and Asseteague Islands' pony-penning festival, where herds of wild ponies swim from the grazing grounds on Asseteague Island to Chincoteague Island. Gather the whole family at the carnival grounds in Chincoteague, where the ponies are auctioned to their new homes, and you can "feast on clams and get to know the locals." Read more.

Breakfast at Misha's Cafe
Alexandria

703.548.4089
For "a real, no gimmick" cup of Joe, make sure to visit Misha's Cafe in Old Town Alexandria. With a staff that "loves what they do and knows how to do it," this independent coffee house has not "crumbled to the competition." Although they "don't cater to the crowd looking for flavored lattes," locals swear by Misha's hand-roasted and hand-picked coffee blends that some claim are what "Starbucks wants to be." Read more.

Friday Cheers
Lynchburg

434.528.3950
Every Friday evening during the summer in Lynchburg, you will find the locals at the Community Market for Friday Cheers--"a wonderful way to see your neighbors and unwind with a glass of wine." Local bands perform into the wee hours of the night while townies partake in outdoor dining on "the best steak ever" at the nearby Texas Steak and the "greatest key lime pie in America" at Neighbor's Place.