Fall is the ideal time to visit the mountains and valley to our west. In our September 2023 issue, we reveal where to go for great hikes and how to see the area by plane or by car. Plus, we’ve found the best places to eat, drink, and shop — and where to kick back and stay awhile.
World-class Shenandoah artisans possess exceptional skill and creativity. What fun it is to peruse their charming galleries while exploring the nooks and crannies of Shenandoah. Earmark these spots for your next ventures west.
Hugo Kohl
Jeweler
Hugo Kohl preserves industrial age jewelry-making methods and creates beautiful new custom pieces. His boutique offers stunning vintage and filigree designs, all meticulously manufactured in-house. Bonus: Watch craftsmen at work in the onsite factory workshop. 217 S. Liberty St., Ste. 103, Harrisonburg
Blanc Creatives
Cookware
Gastronomy enthusiasts, rejoice: Blanc Creatives creates superior, handcrafted kitchenware and barware. Stop by the shop to purchase carbon steel skillets, maple cocktail muddlers, walnut serving boards, and other handmade goodies right from the source. 326 Ohio St., Waynesboro
Sunspots Studios
Glassblowing
Explore this gift gallery and glass studio, offering live glassblowing demonstrations daily. The gallery is full of one-of-a-kind art pieces, as well as items for purchase, including handblown vases, hummingbird feeders, ornaments, and artisan jewelry. 202 S. Lewis St., Staunton
White Oak Lavender Farm
Lavender products
Visit this family-owned farm for sweet-scented lavender products. You’ll find Earl Grey lavender tea, lavender goat milk lotion, lavender deep muscle jelly, lavender essential oils, and, of course, lavender plants. While there, try a little lavender wine at this fragrant destination. 2644 Cross Keys Rd., Harrisonburg
The Carpetbagger
Reproduction carpetbags
This Woodstock store designs and creates authentic reproductions of carpetbags. In the 1840s, Americans started traveling more and needed inexpensive luggage. Made of old carpets, the bags sold for a dollar or two back then. The shop’s reproductions, which range in price from $100 to $250, are so impressive that Hollywood used them in movies like The Lone Ranger, Tombstone, and Gettysburg. 140 W. Court St., Woodstock
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Feature image of cookware courtesy Corry Blanc/Blanc Creatives
This story originally ran in our September issue. For more stories like this, subscribe to Northern Virginia Magazine.
