Best of Virginia Winners
Table of Contents
loader
No results found! Sorry, no resource were found with this specification
General
1st
ACAC
Founded in 1984, ACAC offers comprehensive health services for the whole family. After working out solo in the fitness center or sweating in a group class, members can take advantage of the club’s spa services, including body wraps and polishes, facials, massages and even alternative healing treatments like Reiki and Craniosacral energy therapies.
3rd
Gold’s Gym Willow Lawn
2nd
YMCA Downtown
2nd
Albemarle Angler
1st
Angler’s Lane
Scouting for trout on the Jackson River or fly-fishing for bass on the James can be tricky, which is why Angler’s Lane offers classes for aspiring fishermen. The company’s International Federation of Fly Fishers-certified instructors and experienced guides will help you learn the basics, or for the seasoned angler, direct you to fish-abundant waters.
3rd
River Rock Outfitter
3rd
Altria Theater
2nd
Brown’s Island
1st
Craddock Terry Hotel & Event Center
An event’s every detail is accounted for at the Craddock Terry, a former shoe factory in Lynchburg’s re-energized and newly chic downtown district. Converted into a boutique hotel and event destination, kitschy shoe-themed décor remains as a salute to its past life, including a giant red shoe perched on its façade that welcomes guests.
3rd
Amazement Square
1st
Maymont
A visit to Maymont is like stepping into a fairy tale. Children and adults alike awaken imaginations with a stroll through the magnificent Gilded Age home, a visit to the goats and other barnyard animals at the Children’s Farm, or a carriage ride across the 100-acre estate—Maymont offers all the fun of Cinderella, sans the hassle of magic pumpkins.
2nd
Wintergreen Resort
3rd
Amazement Square
2nd
Science Museum of Virginia
1st
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
The VMFA has had a busy year. After expanding its collection with the new McGlothlin Collection of American Art and hosting special exhibition Rodin: Evolution of a Genius, the museum will continue breaking new ground this June with Kehinde Wiley: A New Republic, a retrospective of the New York artist known for his Old Masters-style portraits of contemporary African-American subjects.
1st
Arts in the Park
Now in its 45th year of showcasing the work of artists and craftsmen from across the country, Arts in the Park celebrates creativity from weaving and woodwork to painting and sculpture. An event for both art connoisseurs and crafters, it appeals to even the most discerning tastes.
2nd
First Fridays Art Walk
3rd
InLight
1st
Bass Pro Shop
Bass Pro Shop has an extensive stock for saltwater and freshwater fishing. The store possesses the Central region’s largest selection of salt- and freshwater rods, and nearly 5,000 square feet of fly-fishing gear alone in its White River Fly Shop. Just beginning to wade in? Bass Pro Shop offers fishing workshops to sharpen your skills, including 7-week fly-tying courses.
2nd
Green Top
3rd
Orvis
2nd
Bass Pro Shop
3rd
Dance’s Sporting Goods
1st
Green Top
Since its beginning as a gas station and gun store in 1947, Green Top has grown to offer one of the largest selections of outdoor and hunting equipment in Virginia, including top brands like North Face. If you’re looking to pick up a bow sometime soon, Green Top’s Archery 101 class can get you on target.
2nd
Broad Appétit
3rd
Carytown Watermelon Festival
1st
Greek Food Festival
Pronounce it correctly—YEE-row, not JIE-row—and maybe you’ll get an extra bit of delicious haloumi cheese on your gyro at one of Richmond’s favorite festivals. It’s all Greek with tours through Richmond’s Orthodox Christian Church and traditional folk dancing and music throughout the week, and of course, the food. Dine in or drive-thru.
1st
Chestnut Hill Bed and Breakfast
Explore Charlottesville and Orange while enjoying all the comforts of home. Whether you’re looking for history, adventure, or a romantic retreat, Chestnut Hill ensures that you’re well-informed about things to do in the area, and well-fed with dishes like Grand Marnier orange blossom French toast.
3rd
Inn at Willow Grove
2nd
Walden Hall
3rd
Children’s Hospital Foundation Ball
1st
Richmond SPCA Fur Ball
You might have heard that the Fur Ball has gone to the dogs, but that’s only because it’s one of the few black-tie events where guests include both people and pets. Featuring the Parade of Pets down the Jefferson Hotel’s grand staircase, the event raises money for the SPCA’s Cinderella Fund, which cares for orphaned, sick and injured animals.
2nd
Ukrop’s Monument Avenue 10K
3rd
CinéBistro
2nd
Movieland Bow-Tie Cinemas
1st
The Byrd Theatre
Just visiting the historic Byrd Theatre is an event, given that the movie palace has remained almost unchanged since opening in 1928. But the Byrd doesn’t rest on its laurels. The theater frequently hosts events like filmmaker John Waters’ one-man show, and updated screenings of old classics, even live scoring of silent films.
3rd
Covenant Woods
2nd
The Summit
1st
Westminster Canterbury
Since 1975, Westminster Canterbury has provided affordable care through its fellowship program, awarding $3.9 million in assistance last year. The community unlocks residents’ creativity through classes and stimulates their minds through regular artistic performances and exhibitions, such as those from the Richmond Symphony and the Virginia Opera.
2nd
Craddock Terry Hotel
3rd
Quirk Hotel
1st
The Jefferson Hotel
You can’t help but make an entrance worthy of Scarlett O’Hara when you descend the Jefferson’s grand staircase. The hotel’s Beaux-Arts style architecture, premier dining and storied history makes it a must-see for Richmonders and out-of-towners alike, and as it completes the last stages of its extensive guest room renovations this year, it’s a must-stay, too.
2nd
Deep Run Horse Show
3rd
Foxfield Races
1st
Montpelier Hunt Races
It’s been said that in Orange, “you might miss Christmas, but you never miss the Montpelier Races.” Held at the lifelong home of former president James Madison, the event features seven horse races as well as other activities like Jack Russell terrier races, a ladies’ hat competition and stick horse races for kids.
3rd
Devil’s Knob at Wintergreen
2nd
The Country Club of Virginia
1st
The Federal Club
The Federal Club’s 18-hole bent grass greens and bluegrass fairways make for a lengthy 7,023 yards of play. The Club will soon add a 25,000-square-foot clubhouse and pro shop to its grounds, including dining rooms and a ballroom, allowing members to unwind and shop or enjoy a meal after a day of play.
2nd
FeedMore
1st
Richmond SPCA
The Richmond SPCA is all about the care and well-being of animals, but it’s also interested in matching up new best friends. Happy and colorful, its facilities make for a fun day of meeting potential furry companions. The SPCA even hosts kids’ birthday parties that include—you guessed it—lots of time to play with the animals.
3rd
VCU Massey Cancer Center
2nd
Grymes Memorial School
1st
Passages Adventure Camp
“No whining” is Passages Adventure Camp’s motto, but after a day of whitewater kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, rappelling and wilderness survival training, you’d be hard pressed to find an unhappy camper anyway. Kids spend their days exploring Belle Isle or mastering more advanced wilderness skills outside of Richmond at the overnight camp.
3rd
Richmond Traditional Martial Arts
1st
Hollywood Cemetery
Set atop rolling hills overlooking the James River, Hollywood Cemetery is a Richmond (and national) treasure. Monuments like James Monroe’s Gothic Revival-style tomb, nicknamed “The Birdcage,” the 90-foot Monument to the Confederate Dead and the gravesites of Virginia notables make the cemetery a destination for a day of quiet reflection.
2nd
Monticello
3rd
St. John’s Church
3rd
Innsbrook After Hours
2nd
The Jefferson Theater
1st
The National
Above all, the National aims to please a variety of tastes. Hosting shows as diverse as Greg Allman of the Allman Brothers to Slayer, the National’s vintage vibe, top of the line sound system, and seven full service bars provide the perfect setting for almost any performance.
1st
James River Park System
RVA is truly wild at heart. The only urban setting to have class III and IV rapids, the city has a hidden wilderness of rivers, rocks and forests that comprise the James River Park System, offering activities for the adventurous hiker, climber or whitewater kayaker as well as for the leisure-seeking sunbather.
2nd
Wintergreen Resort
3rd
X-Team Fitness
1st
Wintergreen Resort
Swing clubs and ski the slopes at Wintergreen, a four-season, 11,000-acre resort located in the temperate Blue Ridge Mountains. The resort also offers a month-long summer music festival, featuring lectures, seminars and full orchestra performances each weekend.
2nd
Maymont
1st
Monticello
Monticello, the neoclassical home and 5,000-acre plantation belonging to our nation’s third president, welcomes more than 400,000 visitors every year. Explore Monticello through a behind-the-scenes tour of the Jefferson family quarters, or attend annual events like the Heritage Harvest Festival, celebrating Jefferson’s agricultural legacy.
3rd
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
1st
Orapax
Orapax Hunting Preserve’s 700 acres of forest and marshlands are abundant with quail, duck and pheasant, making the preserve a top area destination for the seasoned hunter. Patrons are welcome to bring their own bird-dogs (areas to train your dog are available year-round). Or, for a small fee, dogs and professional handlers can be provided.
3rd
Powhatan Wildlife Management Area
2nd
Rasawek Hunting Preserve
3rd
ReDefine RVA
1st
X-Team Fitness
Break down your traditional expectations of a workout with a program that calls itself the “anti-gym.” X-Team Fitness consists of boot camp-style group workouts at rotating indoor and outdoor locations around Richmond. Designed to make the experience more than just a gym class, X-Team Fitness is a team working towards a goal of overall fitness.
2nd
Zacharias Ganey Health Institute
1st
Richmond Ballet
Virginia’s state ballet anchors an exciting 2016-2017 season with its first ever performance of George Balanchine’s Slaughter on Tenth Avenue and excerpts from Marius Petipa’s La Bayadere. The ballet has introduced new initiatives like In Studio, which invites audiences into the company’s black box theater to enjoy an interactive rehearsal viewing.
3rd
Richmond Symphony
2nd
Virginia Repertory Theatre
The Newsletter
Get our most popular
weekly newsletter: VL Today
Your weekly roundup of Virginia’s top stories and the best things to eat, drink, see and do across the state.