Your time is precious. Spend your time on what matters most.
Spend TIME with family and friends enjoying NEW EXPERIENCES and making MEMORIES that will last a lifetime, because…… The TIME is now! Time to EXPLORE, time to SAVOR, time for FAMILY, time to SHOP, time for FRIENDS, time to REFRESH and UNWIND. It’s time to visit CLARKE COUNTY!
Only 90 minutes from D.C. and an hour from Northern Virginia, cross over the mountains and feel the ‘ahhh’ as you begin to unwind from the hectic hustle and bustle of daily life and discover a place where time is yours to do what you want whether you take on a new adventure or kick back and relax — Spend some time in Clarke County!
01 Hike the Appalachian Trail
The Appalachian Trail is a natural wonder of 2,200 miles of pathways from Maine to Georgia through 14 states! Twenty-two miles of the Appalachian Trail are in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Clarke County with some gorgeous, not to be missed rock outcropping overlooking of the Allegheny Mountains, Shenandoah Valley and the Shenandoah River. There are six marked trails here, ranging from easy to strenuous for every level of hiker. Bear’s Den Hostel offers accommodations for the thru-hikers or multi-day hikers respite. Bring the whole family (and even the dog) for a short, day hike to beautiful summit vistas and a breath-taking experience. Check out all hiking opportunities throughout our County here.
02 Tube on the ShenAndoAh
The easy-flowing, relaxing Shenandoah River is the original “Lazy River” experience that theme parks have tried to recreate. Watermelon Park rents tubes and provides transportation up the river for your 2-3 hour experience, floating peacefully downstream. Of course, if you have your own canoe or kayak, putting in at one of our three public boat launches for a day of paddling or fishing is a perfectly tranquil way to spend a day on the River. Click here for a list of public boat launches in the County.
03 WAtch grAin being ground
Step back in time and tour the Burwell-Morgan Mill and see the immense interior water wheel, a National Register Historical Landmark of one of the oldest, most original operational grist mills in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley. Experience grains being ground into flour and cornmeal by the historic, water-powered wheel while traveling beautiful backroads of Millwood. For more History about our County, visit here.
04 Engage in Family Farm Fun
Clarke County is filled with beautiful pastures of farms, barns and grazing animals. It prides itself on traditional, sustainable farming and healthy foods. We invite you to visit and experience life-on-the-farm. Bring the family for some wholesome fun and Pick-Your-Own fruit, vegetables and flowers at Mackintosh Fruit Farm. They are open May through December, their PYO, farm market and kitchen are open Saturdays and Sundays and check out their new Hard Cider Room. Wayside Farm Fun is a Fall delight for pumpkin picking, corn mazes and farm animals. Open September and November, it has all the activities to jump into the Fall season. For information on all of our farms, click here.
05 Experience Downtown Berryville
Stroll down Berryville’s historic Main Street and experience the boutique gift shops, farm-to-table cuisines at our intimate restaurants, sweet treats at our bakeries or even an afternoon tea. Waypoint House B&B and Rosemont Manor in Downtown Berryville offer comfortable luxury accommodations. Rose Hill Park offers a place to stretch your legs or let the kids enjoy the playground equipment. Browse the Art Gallery at the Barns of Rose Hill, or attend a concert in the renovated dairy barns. Step into the Visitor’s Center, located on the first floor of the Barns of Rose Hill, for maps and brochures about all there is to do during your visit. To learn about our other Clarke County towns and villages, click here.
06 Shop Antiques & Collectibles
Clarke County is a treasure trove of antiques, collectibles, and artistically repurposed pieces for your home. Don’t miss the Hip & Humble ‘experience’, or the unique finds at Berryville Treasures and the Rat Pack Antiques & Toys in Berryville. The Red Schoolhouse Antiques in Millwood and The Fox & Pheasant in Boyce offer fine antique furniture and decor, and eclectic, fun pieces at Carina’s Collections along Route 340, south of Berryville, will bring a smile to your face and joy to your home. Visit all the unique shops in Clarke County here.
07 Walk among Dinosaurs
This affordable roadside attraction, Dinosaur Land, has been delighting children of all ages for more than 50 years! Walk among life-sized dinosaurs in the cool shade of the park, learn about some types of dinosaurs that you never knew existed and take home a souvenir in their expansive gift shop. To see a listing of all of our attractions, click here.
08 Wineries, Breweries, & Cideries
Clarke County features two wineries, Veramar Vineyard and Twin Oaks Tavern Winery. Both have gorgeous mountain views to sit and enjoy while you sip the day away. For beer lovers, visit, Twisted Oak Farm Brewery, where they grow their own hops, or try a Chilly Hollow Brewing Company brew, paired with their amazing pretzel charcuterie board. If you prefer Hard Cider, don’t miss Wild Hare Hard Cider at the edge of Berryville where you can enjoy a round of music bingo with your cider at this inimate tasting room. To see more information on where to eat and drink in Clarke County, visit here.
09 Historic Manors & B&Bs
Take a tour of Historic Long Branch House and Farm, and marvel at its amazing spiral staircase; enjoy fine dining and exquisite accommodations at L’Auberge Provencale French County Inn (pictured above); or stay at the grand Historic Rosemont Manor or one of our quaint, cozy, bed and breakfasts, Waypoint House B&B in downtown Berryville, where you can walk to shops and restaurants; or Smithfield Farm Airbnb, your luxury, farm experience complete with cows, sheep, pigs and chickens. For all lodging opportunities in the County, go here.
10 Enjoy the State Arboretum
Enjoy self-guided walking trails or reserve a guided garden tour on the 172-acre property at Blandy Experimental Farm, aka, the State Arboretum of Virginia owned by the University of Virginia. Be sure to visit the 300 tree Gingko Grove in the Fall to see their splendid, vibrant yellow color. Try geocaching or dial-a-tree as you wander the property for some additional fun. Summer camps, workshops and seasonal events will delight your sense of learning about the ecosystems of nature. Where will you find your secret garden?
Quick Links
Quick Links