Lisa’s guide to Wintergreen and nearby areas

Overlooks: (Great at nighttime too for star-gazing, though the back deck’s pretty good for that too.) • (Walking distance) o Cross the street and go between the buildings for a sunrise over the valley o Walk next door into Shenandoah, follow road to the end, go around the BIG rock and you’re at the Dog Park, picnic tables, overlook, and bocce ball courts for a sunset view.

Hiking: • Pretty much you can walk out of the condo in almost any direction. • For more structured hikes: o Easy: Trillium Field Trail to the left of the Wintergreen Nature Foundation building on Wintergreen Drive (across from Wintergarden) o Easy: Shamokin Springs Nature Preserve Loop, trail head and parking area is at corner of Blue Ridge Drive and Shamokin Springs Road (highly recommend!) o Miles of maintained (but moderate to difficult-rated) trails within the resort—see the Trail Map on the fridge.

o Founders’ Vision Overlook—you passed on the way up. It’s on Wintergreen Drive, the section of road that separates the Lodge/Ski area from the Devils Knob/top of the mountain area. You can also walk there from the condo using the Highlands Leisure Trail. o Raven’s Roost at the end of Raven’s Roost Lane (Park in the cul de sac and follow trail at “11 o’clock” if the top of the cul de sac is the 12). o Blue Ridge overlook –just circle around (by car) along Devil’s Knob Loop Road and you’ll see an expansive overlook with parking. o Three Ridges, near the market right off Blackrock Dr on right

o Easy: In the valley (on the way to Nellysford), you’ll see a trail head and parking area to the left for a great set of trails that runs along the river https://www.rockfishvalley.org/blog/rockfish-valley-trails/ o If you turn Right out of Wintergreen, you go the Blue Ridge Parkway and Appalachian Trail. o Crabtree Falls and Humpback Rocks both nearby

Tennis/Pickleball: • The Tennis Courts are right down the hill behind the Condo. Court fees apply; For reservations, call 434-325-8235. • Drop in Pickleball play is available Mondays and Tuesdays from 12:30-2 p.m. You may reserve a Pickleball court on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 12:30-2 pm by calling 434-325-8345 in advance.

Swimming: Use provided beach towels, not bath towels, please! Leave w/ dirty laundry upon checkout. • Access to Chestnut Spring Community Pool Memorial Day to Labor Day (Follow Blue Ridge Dr past the condos, turn right on Timber Camp, pool will be on your right.) Know the unit # if the lifeguards ask. • Hop in a river! Try the Rockfish Valley Trails or Paul’s Creek Trail in Stoney Creek. • Lake Monacan, Weds, Thurs, Fridays, Sundays for a fee, 434-325-8180, https://www.wintergreenresort.com/uploadedFiles/Activities/Lake-Monocan_FAQ_COVID-19-Guidelines.pdf

Nature Exploration: • Wintergreen Nature Foundation—check out their small but informative museum. In the Trillium House on Wintergreen Drive https://www.twnf.org/ (434) 325-8169 • Rockfish Valley Foundation Natural History Center https://www.rockfishvalley.org/blog/ (434) 361-0271 • Also check out the suggestions for Watchable Wildlife loops: https://www.virginia.org/listings/SuggestedItinerary/WatchableWildlifeLoopsinNelsonCounty/

Biking: • Piney River (about 20 minutes south on 151) has a great Rails to Trails, 14 miles out and back (Get some Fried Chicken at Mac’s Country Store while you’re out that way!) Virginia Blue Ridge Railway Trail https://www.virginia.org/listings/OutdoorsAndSports/VirginiaBlueRidgeRailwayTrailNelsonCounty/ • Mountain Biking Trails near the Mountain Inn include intermediate and advanced. The resort has its own mountain bike park with a 3,000-foot drop, 12.5 mile trail. https://www.wintergreenresort.com/uploadedFiles/Activities/mountain-bike-map.pdf

Adventure Center, near the Mountain Inn: has summer and winter tubing, zipline, archery, putt-putt golf, bungee trampoline, gem mining, climbing tower, indoor ninja course, and e-bike tours, all for various fees. https://www.wintergreenresort.com/discovery-ridge-adventure-center/ (434) 325-8180

History: • Monticello, Thomas Jefferson http://monticello.org/ • Poplar Forest, Thomas Jefferson http://www.poplarforest.org/ • Ash Lawn, James Monroe http://www.ashlawnhighland.org/ • Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library and Museum https://www.woodrowwilson.org/ • Appomattox Courthouse https://www.nps.gov/apco/index.htm • Civil War Trails https://www.virginia.org/CivilWarTrails/ • Frontier Culture Museum http://www.frontiermuseum.org/ • Humpback Rocks Historic Mountain Farm https://www.nps.gov/blri/planyourvisit/humpback-rocks-mp-5-8.htm • Rockfish Valley Foundation Natural History Center http

• Within walking distance: DeVine Café and Wine Shop; limited menu (sandwiches, salads, quiche) and market (gourmet chips, desserts) plus lots of wine (434) 326-1940 http://stauntongourmet.com/ • Black Rock Market: near the Mountain Inn—groceries, deli, pizza and the only place on the mountain to gas up your car (434) 325-8224 https://www.wintergreenresort.com/The-Market-at-Wintergreen/ • The Edge/The Copper Mine—resort restaurants; both part of the Mountain Inn complex • But I suggest you go a bit further afield: see below

Devil’s Backbone, Wild Wolf (fav), both back on 151, Basic Necessities, and Giuseppe’s in Nellysford as well as the closest grocery store: Blue Ridge IGA. North on 151 there’s also Blue Ridge Brewery/Restaurant and if you’re looking for ethnic food, try Taj Mahal (lunch only) in the Rockfish Valley Community Center • For BBQ, Blue Ridge Pig in Nellysford or Paulie’s Pig Out further north on 151

• Summer farmers’ market is every Saturday 8-12am in Nellysford…look for the white tents. • Winter: it is once Saturday a month in the Rockfish Valley community center

The Brew Ridge Trail https://www.nelsoncounty.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Nelson-County-Orchards-Craft-Beverages.pdf o Breweries: Wild Wolf, Devil’s Backbone, Blue Mountain Brewery, Blue Mountain Barrel House, Wood Ridge Farm Brewery, Brewing Tree Beer Company, Wild Man Dan’s Brewery o Cideries: Blue Toad, Bold Rock, Bryant’s Cider o Distilleries: Virginia Distillery Company, Silverback Distillery o Wineries on 151 (N to S): Valley Road, Veritas, Afton Mt, Flying Fox, Cardinal Point, Hilltop o Wineries on 29 (N to S): Delfosse, Brent Manor, Lovingston, Mountain Cove, Rebec, Lazy Days

If you’re here anytime except the dead of winter, you can find some fabulous fresh produce, often pick-your own from cherries to apples. Check out the Nelson County Fruit Loop! • Chiles’ Peach Orchard https://chilesfamilyorchards.com/ • Critzer Family Farm https://critzerfamilyfarm.com/ • Dickie Brothers https://www.dickiebrothers.com/ • Hilltop Berry Farm http://www.hilltopberrywine.com/ • Seamans’ Orchard http://seamansorchard.com/ • Silver Creek Orchards http://www.silvercreekorchards.com • Drumheller’s Orchard http://drumhellersorchard.com/ • Saunders’ Brothers Farm Market https://saunder