Waynesboro is ideally located at the gateway to both Shenandoah National Park and the Blue Ridge Parkway, providing abundant hiking opportunities within easy driving distance. Check out the Blackrock Summit Hike in Shenandoah for a rock scramble the kids can handle or Humpback Rocks at mile post 5.8 of the Blue Ridge Parkway for a short but steep climb to a peak that offers incredible views of the valley below.
Blue Ridge Tunnel
If you’re looking for something truly unique, the newly opened Blue Ridge Tunnel trail might be for you. After a 20-year restoration project, this abandoned railroad tunnel from the 1850s has been transformed into a 2.25 mile out-and-back hiking trail that will wow history lovers and outdoor enthusiasts alike. You’ll need to bring a flashlight or a headlamp, as the nearly mile long tunnel is not lit and gets pitch dark inside.
Grand Caverns
For an indoor adventure, take a tour at Grand Caverns, the oldest continually operating show cave in the U.S., which opened its doors in 1806. In addition to regular walking tours, there are also Adventure Tours of Fountain Cave and Historic Trails available.
“Father and Child” by Nils Westergard at the Waynesboro Family YMCA
Aside from a variety of hiking trails, Waynesboro is also home to its very own Street Arts Trail, which features more than a dozen larger than life works of art around town. These impressive pieces have been completed during the Virginia Street Arts Festival, held in Waynesboro annually since 2015. Take a stroll along the South River Greenway, a paved path that runs beside the South River through a portion of downtown, for a look at our largest mural and to snap a family photo at our fishing-themed LOVEworks sign.
The grown-up kids in your group will appreciate the refreshing brews found at three Waynesboro area breweries along the Shenandoah Beerwerks Trail. The whole trail features 19 breweries in the Shenandoah Valley, and if you get stamps from eight participating breweries, you’ll earn a free t-shirt! Basic City Beer Co., Stable Craft Brewing, and Seven Arrows Brewing all welcome kids and pets, and they all have delicious food available from their in-house kitchens. Blue Ridge Bucha is one of only a handful of kombucha taprooms open on the east coast, and it is a great place to try out their organic kombucha with a tasting flight.
The Fishin’ Pig
After all that activity, you’ve probably worked up an appetite. Head to Benny Stivale’s for a ginormous slice of pizza that takes up two paper plates, try the mouthwatering fried catfish at the Fishin’ Pig, or get some tableside guacamole at Los Panchos.
Ready to plan your getaway? Drop by VisitWaynesboro.com to explore all Waynesboro has to offer.
This is a sponsored post. If you are interested in advertising with Northern Virginia Magazine, click here.
