Plan Your Next Vacation in Staunton

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(Published 01/30/2023)

Did you know that January 31st, 2023 is National Plan a Vacation Day? And just like us, we bet you REALLY need one! From romantic weekends to family getaways, to weekends with the girls or guys, let us help with some quick recommendations on what to do on a vacation in Staunton!

Romantic Weekend

Share romantic meals, be pampered in luxurious lodgings, sightsee on one of America’s best main streets, and even discover the great outdoors. Here are some of Staunton’s best bets for couples.

Where to Stay

• The Hotel 24 South and The Blackburn Inn both feature elegant rooms in tastefully updated historic buildings. Check the specials for romantic add-ons like champagne, chocolate, and spa packages. Or discounts on your stay if you catch a show at American Shakespeare Center.
• The newly renovated Historic Berkeley Place features 7 suites, each uniquely designed and curated to provide guests with a luxury, boutique stay.
• The Frederick House is a 20 room inn, comprised of 5 historic houses, located in downtown Staunton, Virginia. They offer the privacy of a hotel, with the personal experience of a Bed and Breakfast.

Where to Eat

• Réunion Bakery & Espresso offers delicious coffee drinks as well as a mouthwatering selection of French-inspired pastries. 
• Channel romance with a fine dinner from sea or land at Blu Point Seafood.  
• Farm-to-table favorite, The Shack, serves four and five-course tasting menus using seasonal ingredients.
• Awaken your tastebuds at Taste of India.
• Visit Magdalena Bake or Whipp’d Cakery for something sweet and beautiful. 

What to Do

• The Staunton Farmer’s Market is open from the first Saturday in April until Thanksgiving, and it features fresh produce, baked goods, and live music. 
• Take a self-guided or seasonal guided walking tour with the Historic Staunton Foundation.
• Visit the Woodrow Wilson Birthplace to learn about Wilson’s connection to Staunton and much more.
• Stop to flirt at Ox-Eye Tasting Room or take a scenic drive to Barren Ridge Vineyards to reconnect with your sweetie over some local wine.
• Shop downtown Staunton’s independent stores and galleries for a range of wares including gourmet chocolate and olive oil, art-glass ornaments, unique gifts and art, and vintage treasure of all kinds.
• Take in a show at the American Shakespeare Center. The 2023 season includes As You Like It, Eurydice by Sarah Ruhl, The Taming of the Shrew and more.

Family Fun

Looking for a wonderful family trip where fun, history, and the great outdoors are all in big supply? Here’s how to enjoy Staunton’s best with your family.

Where to Stay

• The Fairfield Inn and Suites is a family-friendly hotel convenient to both downtown Staunton as well as the interstates. The hotel offers a free hot breakfast, free Wi-fi, and an indoor saltwater swimming pool.
• The Storefront is a two-level downtown lodging with a full kitchen, two queen-sized beds, and a unique bar/lounge area with a television.

Where to Eat

• Voted one of the best breakfasts in the Valley, Kathy’s Restaurant heaps on the goodness with traditional breakfast fare served all day.
• Your kids will love the caboose parked outside of The Depot Grille. They’ll also love the American fare served inside for lunch and dinner. The menu includes a section for kids. 
• Shenandoah Pizza’s gourmet pies celebrate local ingredients and lore. Parents will be pleased with the extensive tap list.
• The menu at Baja Bean has loads of Tex Mex options including choices for the younger set and an impressive tap list. 
• Finish your meal with one (or more) of the 18 fresh-made gelato flavors from The Split Banana.

What to Do

• Pool your wits to solve one of the active puzzles and escape a themed room at Crack the Code Escape Room. 
• Step back in time at the Frontier Culture Museum, which invites visitors to explore the lives of the Shenandoah Valleys pioneers from the 1600s through the mid-1800s.
• Watch as artisans use extreme heat, to blow and shape molten glass into globes and art pieces at Sunspots Studios. 
• Family favorites for shopping include treasure hunting at Staunton Antiques Center. Pufferbellies is the largest independently owned toy store in the Valley, which has a hands-on policy and something to fascinate kids and grownups alike.
• Hit up one of Staunton’s great city parks like Gypsy Hill Park to feed the ducks, hit the skatepark, and play on the playgrounds. Montgomery Hall Park has more playgrounds as well as miles of hiking and biking trails.
• There’s always something happening at Augusta Expo. Events include the Augusta County Fair, monster truck rallies, Bigfoot conventions, and more. 

Getaway with the Girls

Share the best of Staunton’s trendy restaurants, local wine, and unique shopping with your besties. You’ll make so many new memories that you’ll want to make Staunton an annual destination.

Where to Stay

• Not only does 4-suite Gibson’s Warehouse have an interesting history as a working railroad warehouse, but it’s also just steps from downtown Staunton dining and entertainment. Renovated efficiency apartments are appointed with full kitchens and living spaces. There’s also a common space in the lobby with seating so guests can mingle and socialize.
• Staunton Stays is a four-suite boutique hotel in a beautifully renovated Victorian house. Each suite is decorated according to a different theme. All offer full kitchens, modern bathrooms, living quarters, and access to a laundry room.

Where to Eat

• Try a range of Spanish tapas and other Mediterranean food at Aioli Restaurant.
• Enjoy wine by the glass or bottle at Yelping Dog Wine. Share a cheese plate or munch on gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches.  
• Savor wine, beer, and light fare such as apps and sandwiches at The Green Room.
• Dine at Zynodoa which offers inspired southern cuisine in a stylish, metropolitan setting.

What to Do

• Shop Design at Nine for the latest in women’s fashion, shoes, and accessories. Try The Sparrow’s Nest for jewelry, pottery, bags, and more. If you’re looking for fine art check out Co-Art Gallery, where local artists exhibit and sell their work. 
• Indulge yourself with skin treatments, massage, reflexology, nail care at the Spa at the Blackburn. You can also relax at Breezy Hill Day Spa, or Mill Street Body and Soul Day Spa and Salon.
• Several Staunton breweries host fun events like trivia, live music, open mic nights, and karaoke. Check out the Staunton on Tap and the Shenandoah Beerwerks Trail events page for info.
• Visit Harmony Harvest, where you can pick a bouquet of whatever’s in season.
• Grab your beads and a cocktail, and experience Mardi Gras Staunton Style

Guys’ Weekend

Staunton has golf, cigars, the great outdoors, and food and beer.  What else do you need for an awesome guys’ weekend? 

Where to Stay

• Tru by Hilton has modern amenities, access to both the interstate and downtown, and generous public gathering spaces.
• Avid Hotel focuses on getting the essentials right at a value price.

Where to Eat

• Fuel up with caffeine in the industrial cool Crucible Coffee Roasters.
• You can’t go wrong at Chicano Boy Taco for Mexican food. 
• Steak lovers can go full carnivore at the Depot Grille or the Mill Street Grill.
• Explore the 17 breweries along the Shenandoah Beerwerks Trail to taste some of the best craft beer in the state. While all the breweries are within an hour’s drive of each other, Redbeard Brewing, and Queen City Brewing are right here in town.

What to Do

• Play a round of disc golf at Montgomery Hall Park.
• Hit the links at one of Staunton’s two golf courses. Both Gypsy Hill Golf Club and Ingleside Golf Course are challenging and well maintained with excellent views.
• Shop CFO Trading Company for fine clothing and accessories. Barrister Books sells hard-to-find used books and The Vinyl Asylum stocks vinyl, cassettes, CDs, and vintage stereo equipment. Outdoors enthusiasts can score new hiking, camping, and paddling gear at Wilderness Adventure.  And if one of your hobbies is table gaming, visit The Dragon’s Hoard for supplies like war and fantasy miniatures. 
• Smoke and socialize in style at Beverley Cigar Store.
• Ski in the winter or ride your mountain bike in the off-season at Massanutten Bike Park. 
• Waynesboro’s South River Fly Shop can outfit fishermen, provide guided excursions, or point you toward several incredible stocked waterways.