Drink

How to Make a Michelada, Summer’s Spiciest Cocktail

Brunchers know the Bloody Mary like the back of their hand—but have they met its beer-based, chili-spiced sister, the michelada? This classic summer refresher takes an ice-cold beer and kicks it up a notch with spice, bold seasonings, and even seafood. Similar to a Bloody Mary, with beer instead of vodka, the michelada delivers citrusy, […]

by Hope Cartwright

Scenic Sips

Halcyon Days Cider Co. is a Valley oasis. “Older Ways. Better Days,” is Halcyon Days’ motto. This Natural Bridge cidery touts a selection made from 100 percent Virginia-grown heirloom apples—and sometimes pears, too. Try their InspiRed for a sweet, nutty, fruity rosé cider, or choose Occam’s Razor for a sharper and crisper […]

by Staff

Shenandoah Secret

This college town bar is a true hidden gem. To enter, knock on the grey door behind 92 South Main Street. You’re in downtown Harrisonburg’s only speakeasy, Jack’s Hideaway. Open Thursday-Saturday nights, it’s the perfectly tucked away tavern, beckoning you for an after-dinner cocktail. Choose from a lineup of classics or try […]

by Staff

Mobjack Bay Coffee Roasters

A coffee shop that serves up pastries, lattes, and a historic walking tour. Mobjack Bay Coffee Roasters and Petite Cafe is known for more than gourmet sandwiches and cappuccinos. Located in a historic 1730s house in Yorktown, this coffee shop also offers guided walking tours through Yorktown National Park. Join a historical […]

by Staff

Billsburg Brewery

At Billsburg Brewery, history, community, and craft beer collide. Dave Baum started home brewing as an after-work hobby in 2008; he loved the way beer brought people together. In 2017, Baum quit his job working for Lumber Liquidators to open Billsburg Brewery. A short three years later, he died after a […]

by Staff

Southern Shine

Moonshine and more in southside Virginia. Virginia’s urban meccas have more than their fair share of distilleries, but traveling outside Southside Virginia’s city limits reveals a host of small-town makers and lots of tasty spirits. Bondurant Brothers Distillery, Chase City Run by the descendants of the Bondurant Boys, the subject […]

by Staff

Sake Surprise

North American Sake Brewery brings the taste of Japan to Charlottesville. A decade ago, while in Tokyo on business, Andrew Centofante’s life changed. “I tried all these different sakes, and it kind of blew my mind,” he recalls. “I love craft beer, craft cider, and spirits. And it was one of those […]

by Staff

Drink Winners

Our 2023 Made in Virginia Awards for Drink. High Rye Lost Whiskey Club, Fairfax Drive an hour west of Washington D.C., into the hills along the Appalachian Trail, and you’ll find Lost Whiskey Club, an off-the-grid experience that’s all about people, place, and bourbon. The people are […]

by Staff

Sweet Freeze

Ice wine delivers luscious flavor with award-winning results. Shutterstock Ice Wine Grapes It’s been called liquid gold in a glass. Ice wine, made from late-harvest grapes left to freeze on the vine, originated in Germany, where it’s called eiswein. When frozen, the grapes shrivel, concentrating their sugars and flavors. Virginia winemakers […]

by Frank Morgan

A Trio of VA Winemakers

A new generation is earning accolades. If you’re a winemaker in Virginia, there are only three places to be when the year’s top wines are revealed at the Governor’s Cup Gala: pouring for the guests at Richmond’s glittering Main Street Station; up on stage when the Governor’s Case—the top 12 wines—is announced; […]

by Staff

Zoll Vineyards Makes a Splash

Gloucester’s first winery also features first-rate food. Last we checked, Dutton, Virginia, near the county line between Gloucester and Mathews, wasn’t known for its robust winemaking industry. But head down Route 198, past James Store and Cobbs Creek, and you’ll find Zoll Vineyards, which became the area’s first winery when it opened […]

by Madeline Mayhood

Juice Reboot

From smoothies to power bowls, White Birch Juice Co. makes healthy food delicious. At White Birch Juice Co., located in the heart of Abingdon, the smoothies, cold-pressed juices, and quinoa power bowls are made with fresh ingredients sourced from local farms. Owners Jeannie Ferracci and William Denton offer a wide variety of […]

by Staff

Sip ‘n’ See

Trek Virginia’s Craft Beer Trail along scenic Route 58. Sarah Hauser Sarah Hauser, Virginia Tourism C Damascus Brewery A local brewery located in Damascus, offering through hikers and Creeper Trail Riders a refreshing beverage. Virginia Tourism Corporation, www.Virginia.org More than a dozen breweries make up the Virginia 58 Beer Trail, part of […]

by Staff

Winning Wineries

Good wine and good times sum up Eastern Virginia. (Photo by Sera Petras) You’ll find 74 wineries in Virginia Living’s Central Region, more than any other part of the state. And the wines here are succeeding spectacularly. What’s their secret? You might think competition spurs each winemaker to new and more exciting […]

by Staff

Brewing a Culture of Care

Lickinghole Creek Craft Brewery. You can learn a lot about a place and the people who run it by how they give directions. To get to Lickinghole Creek Craft Brewery in Goochland, you’ll take “a private shared gravel road” the owners say, so “when visiting the brewery please drive slowly and responsibly […]

by Staff

A Spot of Tea

Rosewood in Lunenburg serves up English specialties. Southern hospitality meets British charm at Rosewood, a café, pub, and tea room in Lunenburg. Owners Kathy and Paul Davies are the reason. She hails from Maryland; he’s from Kent in southeast England. The couple married in 2014 and, after living outside Winchester and commuting […]

by Staff

A Weekend Vineyard Escape

At Veritas, there’s more than fine food and wine on the menu. (Photography by Hannah Malloy) We meet on yoga mats, breathless from travel. The 12 of us stretch as we gaze across rows of sleeping grapevines framed by the Blue Ridge Mountains. As our teacher invites us to sit comfortably, an […]

by peggy sijswerda

Spirits on Wheels

Tricked-out mobile cocktail carts are all the rage. Imagine a Volkswagon Bug and a Vespa had a baby. And loved to drink. And got a state-of-the-art makeover. Dream no more: A wave of customized bars on wheels have taken Coastal Virginia’s mobile bar scene by storm. From ‘50s-style camper vans to horse […]

by Staff

Raising a Glass

Here are the winners of the 10th Virginia Craft Beer Cup (2022). Congratulations to all the winners and competitors that entered. A record 106 breweries competed in this year’s competition which included 14 new participants! Brewers were able to submit up to four beers to be judged in 33 different categories. A record […]

by Staff

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Events

July 4, 2025

Independence Day Celebration

Yorktown VA

July 4, 2025

4th of July Family Forest Bathing

Potomac Overlook Regional Park

July 4, 2025

Fabulous Fourth at Ferry Farm

George Washington’s Ferry Farm

The U.S. DOE Labeled These Virginia Schools Outstanding

Eight Virginia schools received the National Blue Ribbon 2024 award for their high performances. The Exemplary High Performing Schools are Spring Hill Elementary in McLean, Green Run Collegiate in Virginia Beach, Bethel Manor Elementary in Hampton, and St. Andrew the Apostle School in Clifton. The Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools are Central Academy Middle […]

by Gabriela de Camargo Gonçalves

UVA Claims Top Spots Among Public Universities

The University of Virginia has climbed to No. 4 among public universities in U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 Best Colleges rankings, advancing one position from last year. The university maintained its No. 24 overall ranking, tying with Emory and Georgetown universities. UVA’s commitment to accessibility and student success stands out in several key metrics. […]

by Madeline Mayhood

Can’t-Miss Spots in Shenandoah National Park

Shenandoah National Park offers breathtaking views, scenic trails, and diverse wildlife—the perfect prescription for nature lovers. Some spots to add to your itinerary include: This article originally appeared in the Best of Virginia 2025 issue.

by Stacy Watkins

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Fabulous Fourth at Ferry Farm

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The U.S. DOE Labeled These Virginia Schools Outstanding

UVA Claims Top Spots Among Public Universities

Can’t-Miss Spots in Shenandoah National Park

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