Illustration by Aldo Crusher
Best Bed and Breakfast
The Joshua Wilton House
412 S. Main St., Harrisonburg, JoshuaWilton.com, 540-434-4464
Rest your head in one of five historic inn rooms, which have walnut furnishings, feather-top queen beds, and antique touches. A full gourmet breakfast is included, but for those who like to sleep in a little, try the brunch menu, with dishes like crab cake benedict with an English muffin, spinach, poached egg, and Old Bayhollandaise sauce.
second place: Frederick House, Staunton, FrederickHouse.com, 540-885-4220
third place: The Iris Inn, Waynesboro, IrisInn.com, 540-943-1991
Best “Do Not Miss” Tourist Attraction
Natural Bridge State Park
6477 S. Lee Hwy., Natural Bridge, DCR.Virginia.gov, 540-291-1326
The newest Virginia state park features a 215-foot-tall limestone gorge carved out by Cedar Creek. Take a trek on the six miles of hiking trails and check out Lace Falls, a 30-foot cascade waterfall, or the Monacan Indian Village at the visitor center, where you can step inside a wigwam replica.
second place: Frontier Culture Museum of Virginia, Staunton, FrontierMuseum.org, 540-332-7850
third place: Heifetz International Music Institute, Staunton, HeifetzInstitute.org, 540-907-4446
Best Equestrian Event
Bonnie Blue National Horse Show
487 Maury River Road, Lexington, VaHorseCenter.org, 540-464-2950
In its 34th year, the event will bring back the Morgan division to showcase another horse breed. A United States Equestrian Foundation-rated event held at the Virginia Horse Center, the show takes place May 9-11 this year.
second place: Shenandoah Classic Horse Show, Lexington, VaHorseCenter.org, 502-664-0870
third place: Middlebrook Ruritan Club Horse Show, Fishersville, MiddlebrookRuritans.org, 774-244-7459
Best Fishing Guide Company
Mossy Creek Fly Fishing
480 E. Market St., Harrisonburg, MossyCreekFlyFishing.com, 540-434-2444
Twin brothers Brian and Colby Trow take fly fishing seriously. Their shop manages more than two miles of private water on Mossy Creek and other private areas to provide the best guided fishing experiences for their customers. Gear up for a half- or full-day guided float trip or fly fishing with equipment from their shop, which is endorsed by Orvis.
second place: South River Fly Shop, Waynesboro, SouthRiverFlyShop.com, 540-942-5566
third place: Murray’s Fly Shop, Edinburg, MurraysFlyShop.com, 540-984-4212
Best Golf Course
Waynesboro Golf and Country Club
1117 Meadowbrook Road, Waynesboro, WaynesboroGCC.com, 540-943-1131
Founded in the 1950s on an old farm, today the club is home to a pristine 18-hole course for all levels that is surrounded by Blue Ridge Mountain views. Members can enjoy dinner in the clubhouse and grab a drink in the taproom or cool off in the saltwater pool on a hot day.
second place: Lakeview Golf Club, Harrisonburg, LakeviewGolf.net, 540-434-8937
third place: Heritage Oaks Golf Course, Harrisonburg, HeritageOaksGolf.com, 540-442-6502
Best Gym or Fitness Studio
Rockbridge Aquatics Center
194 Wallace St., Lexington, RockbridgeSwims.org, 540-464-3663
The center, which opened in 2007, features a 25-yard pool and an Asati fabric dome that keeps the pool temperature controlled. It offers many programs to fit a variety of needs, including Aquacise classes and an Adaptive Aquatics class taught by a licensed physical therapist for those with injuries or who prefer low-impact exercise.
second place: Sentara RMH Wellness Center, Harrisonburg, RMHWellnessCenter.com, 540-564-5682
third place: Staunton-Augusta Family YMCA, Staunton, SAYMCA.org, 540-885-8089
Best Historic Site
Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library and Museum
20 N. Coalter St., Staunton, WoodrowWilson.org, 540-885-0897
Presbyterian Manse, Wilson’s childhood home, is open to the public for guided tours and is decorated with period furnishings and family memorabilia. Inside the museum, visitors can view the president’s original 1919 Pierce-Arrow limousine and step foot into a recreated World War I trench in an interactive exhibit.
second place: Downtown Staunton, StauntonDowntown.org, 540-332-3867
third place: Lee Chapel and Museum, Lexington, WLU.edu, 540-458-8768
Best Horseback Riding Lessons
Keezlenutten Farm, LLC
3224 Caverns Drive, Keezletown, KeezlenuttenFarm.com, 540-269-2227
Lessons at the farm include learning to groom and tack your horse, essential skills that prepare children for the task of owning a horse. The facility has an outdoor ring with jumper-style fences, fields, and trails. Students working toward competition have opportunities to participate in local shows during the summer.
second place: Horse Logical Training, Natural Bridge, HorseLogicalTraining.com, 540-817-5744
third place: Tish Vest at Windhorse Farm, Natural Bridge, 540-570-3718
Best Hotel
Stonewall Jackson Hotel & Conference Center
24 S. Market St., Staunton, StonewallJacksonHotel.com, 540-885-4848
A member of Historic Hotels of America, the hotel was built in 1924 and completely renovated in 2005 to include amenities like an indoor heated pool, fitness center, and 8,500 square feet of meeting space. Enjoy comfort dishes like seared sea scallops and pan-fried noodles at the hotel’s casual Sorrel’s Lounge or a plate of Stonewall’s steak and eggs for breakfast at Magnolia South.
second place: The Georges, Lexington, TheGeorges.com, 540-463-2500
third place: Hotel Madison, Harrisonburg, HotelMadison.com, 540-564-0200
Best Hunting Guide Company
Double Spur Outfitters
2011 Star Tannery Road, Star Tannery, DoubleSpurOutfitters.com, 540-533-3898
Double Spur offers two cabin choices as an option for hunting packages. Deer, turkey, and black bear guided hunts are available, as well as trout fishing. The company owns or leases tracts in counties across northern and western Virginia, covering 22,000 acres of fertile hunting land for clients.
Best Martial Arts School
Brian Mayes Karate
81 Betts Court, Harrisonburg, BrianMayesKarate.com, 540-432-8400
Both children and adults are encouraged to participate in the many programs the school offers to build physical and emotional well being. Martial arts classes, fitness kickboxing, after-school programming, and summer camps are all supported by a caring, family atmosphere.
second place: Grandmaster Dong’s Martial Arts, Staunton, DongsMartialArts-Staunton.com, 540-414-4452
third place: American Freestyle Karate, Staunton, GoodChoice.lpages.co/AFK-Staunton-Kids, 540-885-7868
Best Outdoor Adventure
Shenandoah National Park
Luray, NPS.gov, 540-999-3500
Download the park’s app before you arrive. The new ground tool helps visitors find facilities, sites, tours, and events, and even provides GPS when there’s no cell service in the mountains. Check online and in the app for the ranger programs that are offered every day, including walks, talks, hikes, and visits to cultural sites.
second place: Frontier Culture Museum of Virginia, Staunton, FrontierMuseum.org, 540-332-7850
third place: South River Fly Shop, Waynesboro, SouthRiverFlyShop.com, 540-942-5566
Best Resort
Massanutten Resort
1822 Resort Drive, McGaheysville, MassResort.com, 540-289-9441
The 6,000-acre getaway has unique experiences for families and guests, like the bike park with jump trails, a 1920s-themed escape room, an indoor/outdoor waterpark, and even a petting zoo. Looking for something more relaxing? Refresh yourself in the dry-salt therapy booth at the spa or enjoy a glass of Massanutten Mosaic, a red blend made for the resort by local Prince Michel Vineyard.
second place: The Omni Homestead Resort, Hot Springs, TheOmniHomestead.com, 540-839-1766
third place: Bryce Resort, Basye, BryceResort.com, 540-856-2121
Best Retirement Community
Sunnyside Retirement Community
3935 Sunnyside Drive, Harrisonburg, Sunnyside.cc, 800-237-2257
Offering a variety of living choices, from apartments to villas, the community provides plenty of programs and events to keep seniors active. Residents can participate in classes with the James Madison University’s Lifelong Learning Institute or take day, overnight, and travel trips ranging from places as close as local wineries to as far as Alaska.
second place: Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community, Harrisonburg, VMRC.org, 540-564-3400
third place: Kendal at Lexington, Lexington, Kalex.Kendal.org, 540-463-1910
Best Summer Camp
Camp Mont Shenandoah
218 Mont Shenandoah Lane, Millboro Springs, CampMontShenandoah.com, 540-997-5994
At Camp Mont Shenandoah, traditions are important; the camp has been welcoming young girls every summer since 1927. Every morning begins with a flag-raising ceremony, and every evening ends with the playing of taps. Campers share meals and cabins together and participate in numerous activities like archery, cooking, horseback riding, watersports, and art.
second place: Camp Horizons, Harrisonburg, CampHorizonsVa.com, 540-896-7600
third place: Camp Maxwelton and Camp Lachlan, Rockbridge Baths, Maxwelton-Lachlan.com, 540-348-5706
Winners were determined by our Best of Virginia Readers’ Survey in January and published in our Best of Virginia 2019 issue.
