Staunton for the Solo Traveler

Planning a trip this fall? Staunton is an excellent choice for both groups and solo travelers. Visitors can enjoy a mix of history, food, nature, culture, and adventure. Here’s a mix-and-match list of itinerary items designed with the solo traveler in mind.

Connect with the Locals

Want to have an authentic travel experience? Visit the spots where the locals spend their time.

Spend your Saturday morning strolling through the Staunton Farmers Market for fresh food, live music, and community spirit.
Grab a pastry and a coffee at Crucible Coffee Roasters. The shop has a variety of indoor and outdoor seating areas where you can chill on your own or strike up a conversation with your neighbor.

Traveling with your dog? Make sure to take a walk through Gypsy Hill Park. The park is popular with both human and canine walkers. There’s also a fenced dog park where pups and humans can socialize.

Try the craft beer at Redbeard Brewing. Meet locals and learn how the beer is made. Plus, there’s usually something going on like trivia, karaoke, or a gaming session!
If you enjoy a fine cigar, you’ll appreciate the selection and company to be had at The Beverley Cigar Store.

Practice Self-Care

Your body is your temple. Give it some love in Staunton.

Indulge yourself with a stay in one of the rooms or suites in the Historic Berkeley Place. The inn has undergone a recent renovation and retains its historic character combined with modern luxury.
Enjoy a spa day at the Spa at the Blackburn Inn and Conference Center. Pick from a variety of skin treatments as well as several different styles of massage therapy.

Eat a healthy meal or indulge in a good-for-you smoothie at Cranberry’s Grocery. The By&By is another laid-back spot to enjoy a private, healthy meal.

So is Seed to Tail!

Breathe your stress away with a yoga class at Burrow and Vine. Yin, Vinyasa, and other classes are available on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.
Pamper yourself with a new wardrobe at one of Staunton’s boutiques like Design@Nine, Billy Opal or Juniper Lane.

Commune with Nature

Fresh air does wonders for your body and mind.

It’s easy to get in touch with nature when your home base is Staunton. Nearby Shenandoah National Park offers hundreds of miles of hiking as well as the Skyline Drive. You can see incredible views from both inside and outside the car.

Go with the flow with a canoe or kayak ride on one of our local rivers. Waynesboro’s Rockfish Gap Outfitters can rent you a craft if you don’t have your own.
Staunton is an excellent hub for cyclists. Here’s a roundup of some of our favorite rides. You can also stop in at Black Dog Bikes for supplies and info about routes and group rides.

Learn Something New

Keep busy with a new interest or hobby.

Grab a new favorite book at Staunton Books. You’ll find a curated collection of used books at excellent prices.

Pop in for a class at the Art Hive. Offerings usually include a mocktail/cocktail workshop, a class on artisan soap making, guided meditation and more! You can also stop in during open studio time for a more organic creative experience!
Learn about the different estate-grown wines created by Ox-Eye Vineyards in their downtown tasting room. Order a glass of your favorite and design a charcuterie board to go with it. Another way to enjoy the wine experience is to take a guided tasting at Accordia, an artisanal wine, chocolate, and cheese shop. You’ll learn how to appreciate fine wines and how to pair them with the appropriate foods.
Think flower season is over? Think again. Harmony Harvest Farm will host weekly dried flower workshops this fall.
Attending a play at Staunton’s Blackfriars Playhouse is a Staunton no-brainer. But did you know that many shows offer chances to learn more about Shakespearian history and the production itself?

Take a Guided Tour

Guided tours are excellent ways for solo travelers to not feel so isolated!

Reserve a hike or other outdoor adventure with Vivid Earth Adventures. Guided trips provide instruction for canoeing, caving, rock climbing, rappelling, outdoor skills, and more. All trips are tailored for your personal experience level and particular needs.
Staunton has a wealth of notable architecture in its downtown historic districts. Download the Historic Staunton Foundation’s walking tour map and discover it on your own of join one of the Historic Staunton Foundation’s free Saturday walking tours.

Staunton Guided Tours provides personal hour-long car tours to see Staunton’s important historical sites. You can also take a narrated trolley tour to learn all about the Queen City’s history.
Find Staunton’s most haunted spaces and learn history on a 90-minute Ghosts of Staunton Lantern Tour.
Ride in a modernized 1940s vintage train car while enjoying a Virginia Scenic Railway tour.

There’s plenty to do in Staunton for the solo traveler. Start planning your trip today!