Our annual “avoid the mall and big box store” report this year comes just in time for new, lower gas prices so you can travel a little and find more ways to enjoy the Blue Ridge and an old fashioned country Christmas. In addition to choosing and cutting your own Christmas tree, unique shops and quaint villages await you.
What better time to warm up with a glass of wine than now, in Virginia? Find a fire to cozy up to, shop for the wine lover in your life, and take home a few bottles for yourself. It's one-stop, slightly selfish shopping at its best. Refer to the wine events in this issue for information on all of the holiday happenings.
Loudon County
Loudoun is just a quick drive west from the DC area - take the Dulles Toll Road and west on Rt. 7 - and contains an historic and delightful downtown with an array of interesting shops. For the mall-inclined, there’s the Leesburg Corner Premium Outlet Mall, at the intersection of Rts. 7 and 15. From the heart of downtown Leesburg, travel south on Rt. 15 and stop at one of the several Christmas tree farms to choose and cut your own. Four miles south of Leesburg on Rt. 15 (and one mile north of Oatlands) is an ideal spot to cut your own tree: Heron Pond Farm, Leesburg;(703) 777-3807 Jack and Tish Murray
For a real “Country Christmas” feeling, you might want to visit Oatlands Plantation just south of Leesburg on Rt. 15. The mansion is decorated in Colonial Virginia style and is open daily through Dec. 30 from 10 to 5 (Sundays 1:00 to 5:00). Tours of the house are offered on the hour daily until 4:00 p.m., admission is $8 per person with seniors and students $7 and children 5-11 $1. Special Candlelight Tours are offered from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Saturdays in December; these are $10 per person. Phone: 703-777-3174; Web site: www.oatlands.org
Middleburg
The capitol of Virginia’s hunt country straddles the border of Loudoun and Fauquier counties and glows during the holidays with quaint shops, restaurants, and even a Christmas parade. Located 25 miles west of Fair Oaks on Rt. 50, it makes an ideal day trip for shopping and dining. The town’s annual Christmas Parade is on Sat., Dec. 6.
The Middleburg Hunt gets underway at 10 a.m., with hounds, horses and riders parading down the street. The parade starts later, featuring floats and antique firetrucks. Live music, bake sales and special sales at the shops in the village make Dec. 7 the day to go.
There are several cut your own Christmas tree farms in the Middleburg area. Try Lowelands Farm—turn right on Snickersville Pike just past Aldie R onto Route 734 (Snickersville Turnpike); 5 miles; R onto Route 733 (Lime Kiln Road) 1 mile; L onto Route 763 (Steptoe Hill Road); 0.5 miles to entrance on R. Lowelands also has a Christmas shop with wreaths, roping, and Lowelands Farm specialties. Middleburg; (703) 777-7746 or (540) 687-6923 Karen and Richard Lowe or visit www.erols.com/loweland.
Another location to look for the perfect tree is White Oak Farm located west on Rt. 50 through Middleburg continue three miles and turn right on 611 1.8 miles to a right on Newlin Mill Road to White Oak Farm - Middleburg (540) 687-6121 www.christmas-tree.com/real/va/
Fauquier County
Travel west on I-66 to the Gainesville exit and take Rt. 29 south. You might want to stop at the Christmas Shop on the right in Gainesville for all manner of Christmas decorations and gifts. Traveling south on Rt. 29, there are several Christmas tree stands and farmers markets with seasonal goodies. The town of Warrenton is 13 miles south of Gainesville on Business 29.
The main drag in Warrenton has several shopping centers including a K-Mart, Wal-Mart and Tractor Supply store (toystore for the men on your shopping list). Warrenton’s Old Town has delightful and unusual shops and restaurants and you’ll find plenty of free parking and less crowds, plus good places to dine.
Fauquier is a farm-friendly county: it has many Christmas tree farms where you can cut your own and let the kids visit with some farm animals. Here are three:
Christmas Tree Farms:
Colline Farm - Marshall Doeller, Orlean (540) 341-1512
JB's Christmas Tree Farm, Midland (540) 788-4035
Stribling's Farm, Bill Stribling, Markham (540) 364-1206
The farmer’s market at the Archwood Green Barns will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. the first two Sundays in December; Dec. 7 and 13th, for “Christmas on the Farm.” Many of the popular farmers’ market vendors will be there, along with an array of freshly cut trees from a local farm, as well as grapevine wreaths and roping for holiday decorating. Santa will be there for the little kids from 12 – 2, and a girls’ choir will carol while a live nativity of goats, sheep, miniature horses and alpacas is on display. Lunch is available including chili and corn chowder and samples of products for sale in the barns. Archwood Green is located just at the intersection of Rt. 245 and I-66 exit 31, The Plains; (540) 253-5289.
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