Best of Virginia Winners

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General

Best Gym

General

1st
ACAC
In addition to group classes and access to top shelf equipment and pools, ACAC membership includes free mini clinics with the personal training team, which focus on rotating topics each month. Recent clinics have taught obstacle course racing, how to get fit while managing back pain, how to regain core strength after pregnancy and an intro to kettlebell swings.
Address:
Midlothian
Phone Number:
804-378-1600

Best Gym

General

2nd
Gold’s Gym
Address:
Fredericksburg
Phone Number:
540-368-0032

Best Gym

General

3rd
Midlothian Athletic Club
Address:
Richmond
Phone Number:
804-330-2222

Best Bed and Breakfast

General

2nd
Acorn Hill Lodge
Address:
Lynchburg
Phone Number:
434-528-0983

Best Bed and Breakfast

General

3rd
Chestnut Hill Bed & Breakfast
Address:
Orange
Phone Number:
540-661-0430

Best Bed and Breakfast

General

1st
Walden Hall
Nestled in the foothills and surrounded by forest, this bed and breakfast—featuring five suites named after 19th-century poets—is inspired by Henry David Thoreau’s Walden. Guests can enjoy the surroundings by fishing at the two-acre, fully-stocked pond, relaxing by the fire pit with a glass of wine or strolling through the gardens.
Address:
Reva
Phone Number:
540-509-1440

Best Fishing Guide Company

General

3rd
Albemarle Angler
Address:
Charlottesville
Phone Number:
434-977-6882

Best Fishing Guide Company

General

1st
Angler’s Lane
Now in its 19th year of business, Angler’s Lane has recently opened Rivenridge at Piney Forks. The renovated lodge is located on the Piney River between North and South Forks, where guests can enjoy overnight, guided trips to fly fish for native brook trout in the region’s diverse waterscapes.
Address:
Forest
Phone Number:
434-385-0200

Best Fishing Guide Company

General

2nd
Matt Miles Fly Fishing LLC
Address:
Amherst
Phone Number:
434-238-2720

Best Family Entertainment

General

3rd
Amazement Square
Address:
Lynchburg
Phone Number:
434-845-1888

Best Family Entertainment

General

1st
Maymont
This fall, the Gilded Age mansion at Maymont will celebrate its 125th anniversary. A new service at the estate is a private golf cart ride with a personal tour guide that allows guests to explore the 100-acre grounds—from the formal Italian garden featuring a fountain court to the Japanese garden that embraces natural landscape.
Address:
Richmond
Phone Number:
804-358-7166

Best Family Entertainment

General

2nd
Science Museum of Virginia
Address:
Richmond
Phone Number:
804-864-1400

Best Fishing Outfitter

General

2nd
Angler’s Lane
Address:
Forest
Phone Number:
434-385-0200

Best Fishing Outfitter

General

3rd
Bass Pro Shops
Address:
Ashland
Phone Number:
804-496-4700

Best Fishing Outfitter

General

1st
Green Top Sporting Goods
In addition to rods and reels, Green Top has an extensive selection of fishing kayaks. The Jackson Kayak line is designed to be maneuverable in a variety of waters, including rivers, rapids, lakes, ponds, inshore saltwater and the ocean. The line’s recent Coosa FD model employs a Flex Drive system that allows for hands-free propulsion.
Address:
Ashland
Phone Number:
804-550-2188

Best Art Event

General

2nd
Arts in the Park
Address:
Richmond
Phone Number:

Best Art Event

General

1st
READ Art Show & Sale
More than 350 people attended the opening reception of the READ Art Show, which showcased a total of 478 works by 100 local and regional artists. The featured artist was LeeAnne Wright, a Richmond-based painter who earned her master’s degree in fine arts at VCU and owns the professional studio Yellow Door Art RVA.
Address:
Richmond
Phone Number:
804-266-2494

Best Art Event

General

3rd
RVA First Fridays
Address:
Richmond
Phone Number:

Best Resort

General

3rd
Boar’s Head
Address:
Charlottesville
Phone Number:
434-296-2181

Best Resort

General

2nd
The Inn at Willow Grove
Address:
Orange
Phone Number:
540-317-1206

Best Resort

General

1st
Wintergreen Resort
Recent renovations to the Mountain Inn include an expanded dining space in the Terrace Café (formerly the Gristmill). Though the resort is popular for skiing in the winter, it keeps just as busy in the summer with tennis and golf camps, a Memorial Day weekend Blues and Brews festival, Fourth of July fireworks and a summer music festival.
Address:
Wintergreen
Phone Number:
434-325-2200

Best Movie Theater

General

3rd
Bow Tie Cinemas Movieland at Boulevard Square
Address:
Richmond
Phone Number:
804-354-6008

Best Movie Theater

General

1st
CinéBistro
This theater combines elegant dining and craft cocktails with the classic movie-going experience. In addition to special events such as an Oscars viewing party, the theater also hosts Wine Down Wednesdays and a family series that admits guests under 21 for select pictures.
Address:
Richmond
Phone Number:
804-864-0460

Best Movie Theater

General

2nd
The Byrd Theatre
Address:
Richmond
Phone Number:
804-353-9911

Best Retirement Community

General

3rd
Brandermill Woods
Address:
Midlothian
Phone Number:
804-744-1173

Best Retirement Community

General

2nd
Cedarfield
Address:
Richmond
Phone Number:
804-474-8800

Best Retirement Community

General

1st
Westminster Canterbury Richmond
One of the ways residents stay engaged is at the community’s theater, which is designed specifically for seniors with larger seats and aisles. There, they enjoy more than 70 free programs each year, ranging from lectures to performances presented by companies both local and from all over the world. This year, Westminster Canterbury is expanding care and taking it off campus with its At Home hospice program.
Address:
Richmond
Phone Number:
804-264-6256

Best Food Festival

General

2nd
Broad Appétit
Address:
Richmond
Phone Number:

Best Food Festival

General

1st
Greek Festival
The drive-through at Richmond’s annual Greek Food Festival makes grabbing a bite of authentic favorites such as pastichio (baked meat and pasta) or moussaka (baked meat and eggplant) easy. On-site festivities include Greek dancing, a marketplace and tours of the sanctuary at Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Cathedral, which hosts the event. This year’s festival will be held May 31-June 3.
Address:
Richmond
Phone Number:
804-358-5996

Best Food Festival

General

3rd
Lebanese Food Festival
Address:
Glen Allen
Phone Number:
804-270-7234

Best Hunting Outfitter

General

2nd
Cabela’s
Address:
Henrico
Phone Number:
804-340-7300

Best Hunting Outfitter

General

3rd
Dance’s Sporting Goods
Address:
Colonial Heights
Phone Number:
804-526-8399

Best Hunting Outfitter

General

1st
Green Top Sporting Goods
The newest gear includes a line of riflescopes from Nikon. The Black FX1000 scopes are competition-grade, the first focal plane optical systems to feature high-speed turrets and Nikon’s signature sharp-resolution optical glass. Waterproof and made of aircraft-grade aluminum alloy, the scopes are built for durability and precision.
Address:
Ashland
Phone Number:
804-550-2188

Best Annual Charity Event

General

3rd
Children’s Hospital Foundation Ball
Address:
Richmond
Phone Number:
804-228-5814

Best Annual Charity Event

General

1st
READ Art Show & Sale
This year marked the 10th annual READ Art Show & Sale hosted by the New Community School, which serves students with dyslexia and related learning disorders. The March event raised more than $100,000 through art sales and sponsorships to support students at both the middle and upper schools.
Address:
Richmond
Phone Number:
804-266-2494

Best Annual Charity Event

General

2nd
Richmond SPCA Fur Ball
Address:
Richmond
Phone Number:
804-521-1300

Best Museum

General

3rd
Children’s Museum of Richmond
Address:
Richmond
Phone Number:
804-474-7000

Best Museum

General

2nd
Science Museum of Virginia
Address:
Richmond
Phone Number:
804-864-1400

Best Museum

General

1st
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
In October, the VMFA is launching an expanded and modernized version of its former Artmobile with VMFA on the Road. The mobile museum will bring art to communities statewide through rotating exhibits, interactive learning experiences and virtual reality tours.
Address:
Richmond
Phone Number:
804-340-1405

Best Hotel

General

2nd
Craddock Terry Hotel & Event Center
Address:
Lynchburg
Phone Number:
434-455-1500

Best Hotel

General

3rd
Quirk Hotel
Address:
Richmond
Phone Number:
804-340-6040

Best Hotel

General

1st
The Jefferson Hotel
Sunday brunch at the Jefferson is served in the rotunda lobby with a new menu each week. Hosted by TJ’s Restaurant, the Champagne brunch features a fresh seafood display, mini desserts, a made-to-order omelet station, a carving station, spoonbread—a Jefferson favorite—and fresh-squeezed orange juice for the mimosas.
Address:
Richmond
Phone Number:
804-788-8000

Best Special Event Venue

General

2nd
Craddock Terry Hotel & Event Center
Address:
Lynchburg
Phone Number:
434-455-1500

Best Special Event Venue

General

3rd
The Market at Grelen Inc.
Address:
Somerset
Phone Number:
540-672-7268

Best Special Event Venue

General

1st
Walden Hall
One might not expect to attend a formal event on the patio of a saltwater pool, but it is one of a variety of indoor and outdoor event spaces available to reserve on the grounds of the bucolic bed and breakfast, Walden Hall (inspired by Henry David Throreau’s Walden). Another popular choice is the Banquet Barn—rustic, but dressed up with chandeliers and accommodating up to 200 guests.
Address:
Reva
Phone Number:
540-764-8000

Best Equestrian Event

General

2nd
Deep Run Horse Show
Address:
Manakin-Sabot
Phone Number:
804-677-5691

Best Equestrian Event

General

3rd
Foxfield Races
Address:
Charlottesville
Phone Number:
434-293-9501

Best Equestrian Event

General

1st
Montpelier Hunt Races
Begun by William duPont, Jr. and Marion duPont Scott in 1929, the National Steeplechase Association circuit event takes place Nov. 3. Seven horse races run throughout the day, following terrier races in the morning. Tailgating, shopping and extraordinary millinery are Montpelier traditions.
Address:
James Madison’s Montpelier, Orange
Phone Number:
540-672-0027

Best Charity

General

3rd
FeedMore
Address:
Richmond
Phone Number:
804-521-2500

Best Charity

General

2nd
Passion Arts Foundation
Address:
Richmond
Phone Number:
804-412-8100

Best Charity

General

1st
Richmond SPCA
In March, the Richmond SPCA, founded in 1891, celebrated a milestone of 50,000 animal lives saved through adoption, rehabilitation, education and low-cost veterinary care. This represents more than 90 percent of animals entering the shelter since it became a no-kill operation in 2002, when it moved to its current location.
Address:
Richmond
Phone Number:
804-521-1300

Best Art Gallery

General

2nd
Glave Kocen Gallery
Address:
Richmond
Phone Number:
804-358-1990

Best Art Gallery

General

3rd
Quirk Gallery
Address:
Richmond
Phone Number:
804-340-6036

Best Art Gallery

General

1st
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
Open through July 8 at VMFA is exhibition The Horse in Ancient Greek Art, which explores the role of the horse from legend to warfare, sport and transportation, and its representation in pottery, sculpture and coins. Upcoming exhibitions include Napoleon: Power and Splendor in June and Congo Masks: Masterpieces from Central Africa in November.
Address:
Richmond
Phone Number:
804-340-1405

Best Historic Site

General

1st
Hollywood Cemetery
Alongside the final resting places of presidents and Confederate generals, visitors can view the oldest feature of Hollywood Cemetery—the James River. Construction on the second overlook of the river, sited near the Chapel Mausoleum, was completed early this year. Friends of Hollywood has also recently begun an initiative to restore the stained glass windows in the mausoleum.
Address:
Richmond
Phone Number:
804-648-8501

Best Historic Site

General

3rd
James Madison’s Montpelier
Address:
Montpelier Station
Phone Number:
540-672-2728

Best Historic Site

General

2nd
Monticello
Address:
Charlottesville
Phone Number:
434-984-9800

Best Golf Course

General

2nd
Independence Golf Club
Address:
Midlothian
Phone Number:
804-601-8600

Best Golf Course

General

1st
Meadows Farms Golf Course
Bill Meadows, owner of Meadows Farms Nurseries, created the golf course in 1993. He took as inspiration his favorite holes at other courses around the country and combined them with his distinctive landscape design skills. The Waterfall Hole, par 6, is the longest golf hole in the nation at 841 yards.
Address:
Locust Grove
Phone Number:
540-854-9890

Best Golf Course

General

3rd
The Country Club of Virginia James River Course
Address:
Richmond
Phone Number:
804-287-1330

Best Outdoor Adventure

General

1st
James River Park System
There is no shortage of opportunity for outdoor activities at the James River, with class I-V rapids for rafting or kayaking, three rock climbing sites and more than 40 miles of hiking and biking trails. In November 2016, the T. Tyler Potterfield Bridge was opened, connecting Brown’s Island to Manchester for pedestrians and cyclists.
Address:
Richmond
Phone Number:
804-646-8911

Best Outdoor Adventure

General

3rd
Old Rag Mountain
Address:
Sperryville
Phone Number:
540-999-3500

Best Outdoor Adventure

General

2nd
Riverside Outfitters
Address:
Richmond
Phone Number:
804-560-0068

Best Music Venue

General

2nd
Jefferson Theater
Address:
Charlottesville
Phone Number:
434-245-4980

Best Music Venue

General

1st
The National
The 1920s Italian Renaissance-style theater features seven full bars and one of the first V-DOSC acoustic sound systems installed in the country. It also houses a VIP lounge in the historic nursery—once sealed and then rediscovered by the Historic Richmond Foundation—which features hand-painted murals still visible on the walls. Upcoming performers include Dirty Heads, American Aquarium and The Neighbourhood.
Address:
Richmond
Phone Number:
804-612-1900

Best Music Venue

General

3rd
The Tin Pan
Address:
Richmond
Phone Number:
804-447-8189

Best “Do Not Miss” Tourist Attraction

General

3rd
Maymont
Address:
Richmond
Phone Number:
804-358-7166

Best “Do Not Miss” Tourist Attraction

General

2nd
Monument Avenue
Address:
Richmond
Phone Number:
804-644-3041

Best “Do Not Miss” Tourist Attraction

General

1st
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
In October, the VMFA will present Fine Arts & Flowers, a museum-wide exhibition in which members of garden clubs statewide create floral interpretations of works of art in the museum’s collections. Flowers are provided by Strange’s Florist and Garden Center, and proceeds benefit the VMFA on the Road initiative.
Address:
Richmond
Phone Number:
804-340-1405

Best Hunting Preserve

General

1st
Orapax
Orapax sits on 700 acres of rural land just 30 minutes outside of Richmond. There, sportsmen and women can participate in upland hunting for quail, pheasant or chukar, tower release mallard hunting, pheasant ring shoots or even bass fishing. For those without their own bird dogs, professional guides and trained dogs are available.
Address:
Goochland
Phone Number:
804-556-2261

Best Hunting Preserve

General

3rd
Rasawek Hunting Preserve
Address:
Goochland
Phone Number:
804-467-9000

Best Hunting Preserve

General

2nd
Rose Hill Game Preserve
Address:
Culpeper
Phone Number:
540-827-7484

Best Summer Camp

General

1st
Passages Adventure Camp
In its 26th summer this year, Passages introduces a new camp: Surf n’ Turf. Campers begin with trail running on Belle Isle in the morning—the goal is that campers will be able to run the distance of a marathon by the end of the week—and in the afternoon learn how to stand-up paddleboard in the James River.
Address:
Midlothian
Phone Number:
804-897-6800

Best Summer Camp

General

2nd
Passion Academy Performing Arts Camp
Address:
Richmond
Phone Number:
804-412-8102

Best Summer Camp

General

3rd
Richmond SPCA Critter Camp
Address:
Richmond
Phone Number:
804-521-1300

Best Performing Arts Company

General

3rd
Passion Academy
Address:
Richmond
Phone Number:
804-412-8101

Best Performing Arts Company

General

1st
Richmond Ballet
Following the close of the season in May, Richmond Ballet goes on tour with Ballet West’s National Choreographic Festival in Salt Lake City, Utah. The company will be one of four from across America to join Ballet West in new works celebrating women choreographers and women artistic directors.
Address:
Richmond
Phone Number:
804-344-0906

Best Performing Arts Company

General

2nd
Virginia Repertory
Address:
Richmond
Phone Number:
804-282-2620

Best Fitness Program

General

3rd
SEAL Team Physical Training
Address:
Glen Allen
Phone Number:
804-262-1894

Best Fitness Program

General

1st
X-Team Fitness
X-Team’s no-excuses approach to fitness is now available through an expanded program offering four class times per day. The program begins with an intake session prior to the first workout—in which clients assess their fitness and set goals—and includes nutritional consultation. The class takes place in different indoor and outdoor locations around the city each day to keep interest fresh.
Address:
Richmond
Phone Number:
804-920-8086

Best Fitness Program

General

2nd
Zacharias Ganey Health Institute
Address:
Richmond
Phone Number:
804-358-1200
September 13, 2024

Wine & Brine

Williamsburg Winery
September 20, 2024

Wine & Brine

Williamsburg Winery
September 27, 2024

Wine & Brine

Williamsburg Winery