noun | /ˈwändərˌləv/
a strong desire to travel to Nelson County, Virginia
WanderLove is calling – and adventure is the destination. Reconnect with what you love on an epic Virginia road trip to Nelson County.
Nelson 29 is the perfect WanderLove Road Trip destination. Follow our suggested day trip itineraries or create your own!
Separated they live in Bookmarksgrove right at the coast of the Semantics, a large language ocean. A small river named Duden flows by their place and supplies it with the necessary regelialia.
Route 29 is a ribbon of highway that travels up the center of Nelson County. The county is conveniently located between Lynchburg and Charlottesville, so every year thousands of people pass through Nelson to rest. Luckily, there are plenty of things for visitors to do along Route 29 in Nelson. The county’s newest craft beverage trail, Nelson 29 stretches 20 miles between Blue Mountain Barrel House in Arrington and Mountain & Vine Vineyards and Winery in Faber. Enjoy the scenic drive through Nelson County and stop to play, eat, or take in some gorgeous country views any season of the year. If it’s too hard to leave, you can stay at one of Nelson’s impeccably-decorated bed and breakfasts, such as the Orchard House Bed & Breakfast or Harmony Hill Bed & Breakfast.
Nelson county is a patchwork of bright green and pastel flowers in the springtime. Driving through the county along Route 29 is beautiful any time of the year, but the pops of color along the highway make spring a special time to stop and stretch your legs in Nelson County. In fact, if you travel up 29 North, you could stop at the SPCA and adopt a friend on your way out of Nelson!
Let the kids play at the Whitney Loving Memorial Playground off 29. The playground features unique, hand-made equipment. If you’re getting hungry, stop at Vito’s Pizza and Italian Restaurant for delicious pizza and Italian entrees. Along Route 29 is Lovingston, the County seat. It is a quaint, walkable historic district with locally owned retail. lodging and food establishments. It is the perfect hub for a tour of the craft beverage producers along the Nelson 29 trail, with four wineries, two breweries and the producer of the first single malt whisky in America. Nearby Lovingston is the Rockfish River, a favorite place for kayaking, fishing and watchable wildlife. A little known hiking trail is Fortune’s Cove Preserve, a five-mile mountainous hike with seven viewpoints and a stream. It is owned and maintained by the Nature Conservancy. Several orchards and farms offer pick-your-own and farm markets for fresh, local products.
Nelson County is a patchwork of bright green and pastel flowers in the springtime. Driving through the county along Route 29 is beautiful any time of the year, but the pops of color along the highway make spring a special time to stop and stretch your legs in Nelson County. In fact, if you travel up 29 North, you could stop at the SPCA and adopt a friend on your way out of Nelson!
Let the kids play at the Whitney Loving Memorial Playground off 29. The playground features unique, hand-made equipment. If you’re getting hungry, stop at Vito’s Pizza and Italian Restaurant for delicious pizza and Italian entrees. Along Route 29 is Lovingston, the County seat. It is a quaint, walkable historic district with locally owned retail. lodging and food establishments. It is the perfect hub for a tour of the craft beverage producers along the Nelson 29 trail, with four wineries, two breweries and the producer of the first single malt whisky in America. Nearby Lovingston is the Rockfish River, a favorite place for kayaking, fishing and watchable wildlife. A little known hiking trail is Fortune’s Cove Preserve, a five-mile mountainous hike with seven viewpoints and a stream. It is owned and maintained by the Nature Conservancy. Several orchards and farms offer pick-your-own and farm markets for fresh, local products.
Fall is one of the most popular times for people to visit Nelson County. The azure sky contrasts against the brightly-leafed mountains. Stop at Virginia Distillery Company and take a picture with their LoveWork sign, which can be found right off Route 29 and features their logo and wine-making materials. Wood Ridge Farm Brewery offers eats as well, in a rustic locale bursting with inventive activities for patrons, a true family farm brewery utilizing all local ingredients with a “from dirt to the glass” motto that supports sustainable farming.
Of course, what is autumn without crisp, fresh apples? The Apple Shed in Lovingston sells apples, fruit, jams, and cider- when it isn’t being used as an impromptu wedding chapel. Another great place for orchard and garden fare is Drumheller’s Orchard, located off Route 29 near the local high school. Drumheller’s hosts great events every fall, and offers baked goods, honey, apple butter, hams, flowers, and of course- orchard fruits and fresh vegetables.
Winter! When a person’s fancy turns to holiday shopping and family traditions! Winter is a great time to enjoy all of the coziness that Nelson has to offer. If you need to pick up a book for the rest of your ride, stop at the Blue Moon Antique Mall, which houses thousands of used and new books. Rapunzel’s, another bookstore along Route 29, steps up the coziness factor with their coffeehouse vibe. If you’re lucky, you’ll end up stopping by on Open Mic Night!
Cozy gifts abound at Olde Southern Charm, whose owner strives to help you channel your inner Southern Living! If you find your tummy grumbling during your trip through Nelson, stop and warm up at Ann’s Family Restaurant with home-style southern cooking. If you’d rather spice things up a bit, grab a meal from El Mariachi, which offers hundreds of authentic Mexican food dishes.
