How to Spoil Your Valentine in the Shenandoah Valley

It can be difficult to come up with the perfect gift for your special someone on Valentine’s Day. Fortunately, the Shenandoah Valley is full of wonderful opportunities to show your love. We’ve included ideas for where to spend a romantic weekend away, where to go for a delicious dinner or a spa treatment for two, even how to bond over your mutual love of animals. Pick one or a few from this list to spoil your Valentine right this year.

Romantic Getaways & Specials

• Spark your love with a rustic mountain romance package at Sugar Tree Inn (Lexington), This family-run mountain lodge is free from tech to keep you focused on your partner and the now. The package includes two nights in a king-sized room decorated with a seasonal bedside floral arrangement. Share champagne and artisan chocolates with your partner by the fire. Enjoy a delicious breakfast in bed in the morning.

• The Friendly City Inn (Harrisonburg) can help make your dreams of romance come true. Rooms at this restored 1885 mansion are decorated with antiques and other charming touches, but they have been updated with modern comforts in mind. Take advantage of the romantic package, which includes two dozen red roses, chocolate-covered strawberries, a bottle of champagne or prosecco, breakfast in bed, and a $50 certificate to a local restaurant. You can even have them set up a private couples’ massage.

• Brookside Cabins (Luray) has been hosting guests for 80 years. A stay in this remodeled 1940s motel will help you reconnect with each other as they do not have the distractions of TVs or phones. Book as stay in one of the honeymoon cabins that come complete with hot tubs! You’ll also enjoy the vast, homestyle menu at the onsite Brookside Restaurant.
• Plan your romantic getaway (or family getaway with the kids) by reserving a week or weekend at the Shenandoah Vineyard Retreat (Woodstock). Enjoy the idyllic setting amidst the vineyards. Hike Big Schloss, ski at Bryce Resort, and hang out by the firepit.

• Waynesboro’s Iris Inn is a tranquil, modern retreat that provides guests with an incredible view of the Shenandoah Valley from above. Enjoy a treat of locally sourced wine and cheese before retiring to your room to watch the sunset over the Valley and soaking in the two-person jacuzzi. Celebrate Valentine’s Day with one of several romantic packages. We’d recommend the Sweetheart Package for a traditional Valentine’s Day experience. You’ll inspire romance with a dozen red roses, hand-dipped chocolate-covered strawberries, and a bottle of champagne.

• Head to the Inn at Meadowcroft (Swoope) for an incredible Valentine’s Weekend Getaway. Enjoy a 3-day, 2-night stay in the historic and romantic inn. You’ll be welcomed on Friday with a treat of Virginia sparkling wine and local chocolates. The package includes gourmet dinners at the inn both Friday and Saturday’ nights.
• Cider House Bed and Breakfast sits just north of Waynesboro on a historic apple orchard farm. The house boasts antique furnishings and details, but has been updated with all the modern comforts you expect. You’ll love not only the views of the mountains and the stars, but also the romance package that will help you celebrate Valentine’s day with luscious truffles and a bouquet of gorgeous flowers.
• The Blackburn Inn’s (Staunton) Valentine Sweetheart Package is the perfect way to show your partner how much you care. The romance of your luxurious room will be enhanced by rose petal sprinkles, a bottle of Prosecco, and chocolate-covered strawberries. The next morning, breakfast for two will be delivered to your room.
• Hotel 24 South’s (Staunton) Date Night Getaways turn a Friday or Saturday night into something extra special. Not only will you get to relax in your stylish room, you’ll also get chocolate-covered strawberries, drinks credit in The 1924 Lounge, and a delicious breakfast for two. Even your parking is included in this special.

Romantic Restaurants and Food and Drink Specials

• Benny Stivale’s (Waynesboro) and Shenandoah Pizza (Staunton) serve  huge heart-shaped pizzas for hungry couples or families. 

• Zynodoa (Staunton) offers a delicious modern twist on classic Southern cuisine. You’ll always be able to find something delightful that emphasizes local and seasonal ingredients, but you won’t want to miss the special Valentine’s Day menu.

• The Clocktower restaurant (Staunton) serves a great menu with modern versions of classic pastas and desserts as well as a large sandwich and panini selection. You can get amazing crab cakes and even seven different kinds of mac and cheese any day of the year, but they’re really going all out for Valentine’s Day with their special Eats & Sweets menu. 
• Plan a romantic evening at Haywood’s Piano Bar (Lexington). Not only will you indulge in delicious food made with fresh, locally sourced ingredients, but there’s also nightly entertainment.
• For a romantic meal, dine in or take out at RHouse Wine & Cafe (Basye). Pick out a bottle of wine and split a Formaggio & Salumi de la casa, which is a delicious assortment of cheeses and charcuterie from around the world. This platter is accented by fresh bread and seasonal fruits.

• Dine in or take out at the Woodstock Cafe (Woodstock). For a special night, order a dish made with homemade pasta. You can also get artisan sandwiches, salad, and baked goods. After you eat, browse the huge selection at the onsite wine shop, and pick out a tasty or fun gift at The Pantry at 117. 

• If your idea of a wonderful Valentine’s Day date is eating delicious treats from the comfort of your home, order some wine and a charcuterie box for two from The Valley Cork (Luray). The box contains cheeses, crackers, meats, fruit, and sweets. 

• Make reservations for Valentine’s Weekend (Feb 12 at Local Chop & Grill House (Harrisonburg). The Valley’s best products and produce will be highlighted in a seasonal three-course dinner. $55/person.
• Joshua Wilton House (Harrisonburg) is pleased to announce that we will be open Sunday, February 14th with extended hours from 4 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

• Make reservations at Rocktown Kitchen (Harrisonburg) for the special Valentine’s dinner and cocktail list. This small restaurant emphasizes locally sourced ingredients and serves elevated American cuisine. The special menu includes tempura fried shrimp, surf and turf with filet mignon and bacon-wrapped scallops or seared Chilean sea bass with roasted cauliflower risotto, and decadent chocolate sin cake with raspberry coulis, sweet cream, and fresh fruit.

Local Wine & More

• Shenandoah Vineyards (Edinburg) is offering a winter wine special trio for just $55! Enjoy bottles of Pinot Gris, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon from this award-winning winery.
• Plan to pick up a bottle of wine or spend the afternoon enjoying the mountain views at one of Berryville’s premier vineyards. You can even call ahead to reserve a fire pit at Veramar Vineyard (Berryville). This family-owned winery produces 14 different varietals, including award-winning cabernet franc, seyval blanc, riesling/vidal, and rosé.

• Del Mello Vineyards (Quicksburg) and Valley Pike Farm Market (Weyers Cave) stock a selection of wines and tasty wine chocolates. 
• You can’t go wrong with a bottle (or three) of wine from Castle Vineyards (Luray), Wisteria Farm & Vineyard (Stanley), Briede Family Vineyards (Winchester), James Charles Winery (Winchester), Lightwell Survey (Waynesboro), Barren Ridge Vineyards (Fishersville), and Rockbridge Vineyard and Winery (Raphine).

• Share a whiskey tasting at River Hill Distillery (Luray). This family-owned distillery makes bourbon and corn whisky and either produces or sources locally all the ingredients that go into the product.
• Grab some beers from Hawksbill Brewing Company (Luray), which also uses locally grown hops, honey, blackberries, and more in their beers.

Gifts

• You’ll definitely find something special at The Virginia Farmhouse (Woodstock), a family-owned shop that stocks an ever-changing selection of Virginia-made food and treats, goods, and artwork. Buy one special item or put together a gift basket for your Valentine that’s full of wine, candy, jewelry, soaps made with soothing essential oils, and decorative or functional housewares.

• She’ll look and feel great in jewelry and accessories from Shenandoah Made (Luray). These include locally made, hand-dyed habouti silk scarves and hand-painted brass or copper earrings. Artist Susan Rocke calls it wearable art.

• There’s something for everyone at the 10,000-square foot Warehouse Art Gallery (Luray), including sculptures, paintings, jewelry, pottery, glass art, and more. Shoppers can explore the more than 1000 available works of art by 90 regional artists.
• Look for unique treasures including journals and jewelry in Sugar Maple Trading Company (Lexington).
• SweetNanaCakes Bake Shoppe (Waynesboro) creates Valentine’s Day treats with a twist! Heartbreaker boxes are 8” chocolate boxes filled with the candy of your choice. They come with a wooden mallet to break them. Pour hot milk over a cocoa bomb to make it melt into decadent hot chocolate in your mug.
• 1st Annual Warren County Chocolate Crawl (February 7th and 14th). Spread the love by stopping in at the participating businesses for your chocolate treat! No purchase is necessary, but many places will be having special sales, menus, drinks, or desserts.
• Chocolates are another old Valentine’s standby that we shouldn’t mess with because they’re just so perfect. Cocoa Mill (Lexington & Staunton) all kinds of treats including heart-shaped boxes filled with artisan truffles. You can also get kind of crazy with boozy truffles and order a side of spice-it-up bark! 

• Other places to score candy for Valentine’s Day include I Want Candy (Front Royal), Shenandoah Fine Chocolates (Winchester), and Warfel’s Chocolates (Dayton).

Flowers

Flowers have the power to brighten your day and make you feel loved. Shop the Valentine’s Day specials at Ava’s Florist (Fishersville). The Jefferson Florist and Garden (Lexington), Waynesboro Florist, and Honey Bees Florist (Staunton) are also good bets.

• Bluebells Florist (Winchester), Blakemore’s Flowers (Harrisonburg), Evergreen and Victoria Floral (Broadway), Donahoe’s Whimsical Flowers (Front Royal), Sponseller’s Flower Shop (Berryville) 

Spa Treatments

Can you think of a better way to relax than with a massage or spa treatment? Here are some of our recommendations.

• Freda’s Skin Studio (Waynesboro): For the entire month of February you can get a complimentary stress relief foot soak and foot massage with any facial.

• Mill Street Body & Soul Day Spa and Salon (Staunton): Indulge in a sole-relaxing treatment for couples the Valentine’s Day. Your partner (and your feet) will love you for it! Stick around for a 30, 60, or 90-minute massage if you want even more relaxation.

• Ali & Co. (Staunton): You’ll love getting your hands on some make-your-own love potion massage oils or great-smelling heart-shaped bath bombs. 

• Other good places for spa treatments include Intuitive Touch Massage Therapy (Lexington), Smooth Day Spa (Penn Laird), Escapes Spa (Harrisonburg)

Enjoy the Outdoors & Active Fun with Your Love

• It’s great fun to tour the Virginia Safari Park (Natural Bridge)! Kids and adults love to look at and feed the animals while exploring their habitats. If you’re looking for an even rarer experience, sign up to spend a Saturday with a pair of cheetahs, penguins, or sloths and their handlers. Not only will you bond with your Valentine, you’ll learn how the animal-care specialists feed and interact with their charges!
• Devils Marbleyard (Rockbridge County) is a relatively easy 2-mile hike that offers terrific views in the winter and pays off with an interesting field of enormous granite boulders ripe for exploration, climbing, and selfies. This hike can be stretched into an eight-miler if you want to make a day out of it.

• Connect with your sweetie with a North Mountain Outfitter (Swoope) couple’s ride through the George Washington National Forest. Taking inspiration from the Old West, “North Mountain Outfitter rekindles the cowboy way of life by providing riders with a unique wilderness adventure.” This 3-hour private ride includes a “saddle lunch.”
• Point of View Alpaca Farm (Mt. Sidney) – For couples who love animals and having unusual experiences, Point of View Alpaca Farm’s Walk-a-Paca activity will be a lot of fun. Participants will be educated about alpacas, paired with suitable animals and taught handling techniques. After that, the fun begins as you take a guided stroll of the beautiful farm with your new friend. Selfies are encouraged and alpaca products are available after the walk!
• Race the clock to problem solve with your Valentine at Crack the Code Escape Room (Staunton). From cat ladies, to weather gods, to missing FBI agents, five games are available right now, including two especially designed around Staunton.
• Take a special Valentine’s Day Sweets and Treats guided trail ride at Fort Valley Ranch. After exploring the mountains and national forest, you’ll return to the ranch to warm up with hot drinks and s’mores around the campfire. Regular rides are offered in various lengths, from one hour to a full-day adventure for experienced horse people. Make a weekend out of it by booking a two-night stay in one of the ranch’s cabins.

• Horse enthusiasts will also enjoy trail rides through the foothills at Rocking S Ranch (Winchester). This ride will appeal to history buffs as it covers some of the same ground covered by Civil War calvaries.
• If you’re looking for a private, moderate hike that shines in the winter, try the hike to Eagle Rock (near Strasburg) on Great North Mountain. The summit doesn’t offer a view, but you’ll want to spend some time at the overlook, admiring the long views of nearby mountains. The 2.5-mile out-and-back hike climbs 500 feet and straddles the VA/WV line.