I have always felt that it is important to support local small businesses, and it’s especially important right now. Small businesses have been hit hard over the last year due to the pandemic. Many of them are struggling. You can help by patronizing locally owned restaurants, nail shops, wineries and other businesses that call this area home. Read on for my personal recommendations. Continue reading
Don’t let the Virginia humidity and heat get you down. Taking a dip in the pool is one way to cool off, but we have plenty of places in and around Prince William County where you can stay cool without changing into your bathing suit. Here are some places you can go to cool off this summer while you enjoy nature! Continue reading
You don’t have to travel to Napa Valley to sample high-quality wines. Enjoy Virginia’s award-winning wineries right in your own backyard. Home to more than 300 wineries, Virginia offers both visitors and locals a unique wine-tasting experience. Kick back, relax and sip with panoramic views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, tastings held in historic manors or ghost hauntings told by a roaring fire. Living in wine country gives homeowners one more reason to love spending time locally.
Want to check out the local wine scene? Here are a few in Virginia’s Wine Country: Continue reading
First of May! First of May! Wine fest season starts today!
Well, maybe not right on the first, but a few of my favorite wineries, and maybe of few of yours, are going to be having their spring flings. There are over 200 wineries across Virginia and, while I would love to get to know them all, I am pretty sure I am a bit partial to those in the Northern Virginia area. After being cooped up in the house all winter, a trip to the winery sounds like a great remedy. We have some awesome events coming up, and I want to share those dates with you.
As you know, Wegmans of Fairfax is not a winery, but they want you to know that their mini wine fest can teach you that not all “rosés are sweet and girly.” This event will run from 6:30 – 8 p.m. and is a great warm up for the bigger events coming your way. www.wegmans.com
The Winery at Bull Run was on my fall list of favorites. Now they stepped it up a notch with gourmet foods trucks and a festive atmosphere. Trucks from Killer Tomato Pizza, Two Smooth Dudes and UFO spend various weekends pairing up their wonderful goodies with some good wine. www.wineryatbullrun.com
Another of my favorite wineries from fall 2016 is Paradise Springs. Unassuming and simple, the view is amazing, and it’s a relaxing place to spend Mother’s Day. Besides, who can argue with mimosas and pastries for brunch? www.paradisespringswinery.com
The beautiful drive to Mount Vernon can give you a view of some of the finest wineries in the state. Twenty wineries, including several from Northern Virginia, are featured with gourmet nosh and a wonderful view of the sunset. www.mountvernon.org
If you are looking for a day trip, Front Royal’s Wine and Craft Festival is the place to go. With over 100 artisans, dozens of food choices and twenty wineries represented, your day will definitely be a full one! The festival stretches for seven blocks through historic downtown Front Royal. If you want to make a weekend of it, Shenandoah State Park is nearby. www.wineandcraftfestival.com
I hope you get a chance to enjoy some of these events. I still have quite a list of wineries I am looking forward to visiting and can’t wait to share my thoughts with you soon. Our amazing wineries are just one of the reasons I love Northern Virginia. If you would like to share your favorite reasons to live in our area or are looking to relocate to Northern Virginia, please contact Belinda Jacobson-Loehle at Jacobson Realty and Home Staging today.
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Autumn is wine time! The fall grape harvest is coming in and vineyards in the area are strutting their stuff with new and vintage wines to try. Our region boasts an abundance of wineries, many of which celebrate with fun events. Here are some of my favorite wineries, all no more than an hour’s drive from Gainesville, VA.
Located in Haymarket, this historic home and property serves up amazing tastings and tours, with a patio area offering delightful views of the vineyard. The winery is full of folklore and ghost stories for you to hear about as you sip La Grange’s quality red and white wines. The winery’s event page reminds you to bring a picnic meal to their events. I’d recommend spending the day. Especially during this time of the year, it’s just lovely. www.wineryatlagrange.com
Delaplane sits on Lost Mountain, overlooking a vast vineyard that offers inspiration and reflection. The rustic tasting room and open area patio are delightful. In my opinion, their wines are excellent. There is impressive entertainment on the weekends, as well as a very knowledgeable staff. Delaplane will ship wine to any eligible state, so you can do a little Christmas shopping while you are there. My experience at Delaplane had me considering my own little farm in the country! www.delaplanecellars.com
Gainesville and Bristow residents in particular talk about this winery because it is so close. The Winery at Bull Run is conveniently located right off Route 29 between Centreville and Gainesville. Amid the ruins of a historic farm house, the modern tasting room was built with rustic appeal, offering up an impressive list of award winning wines. Children and pets are welcome on their lively family picnic grounds where free entertainment is provided most weekends.www.wineryatbullrun.com
Naked Mountain boasts they are less than an hour from the Capital beltway. I have to say an early morning trip to a nearby orchard and follow-up with a tasting at this winery is sure to release anyone’s stress. The long rustic wine tasting bar sits high up on the knoll, with a view of the vineyard and some beautiful land. Naked Mountain has a fun, fresh vibe. They offer wine dinner events, as well as light fare wine tastings, or you can bring a picnic basket of your favorite goodies. www.nakedmountainwinery.com
A smaller winery off Rt.15 in Middleburg, Chrysalis is a very down to earth winery with the mission of bringing back the Norton Grape as the premier American wine grape. Nestled up in the Bull Run Mountains, they provide an authentic, up close wine making experience and thoroughly enjoyable wines. If you have not been there, give them a try. www.chrysaliswine.com
BOW! in Delaplane is a winery all about bringing people together for a good time! It feels like a big barn party with plenty of activity. They have “picnics, and Frisbees, and games, and kids, and dogs, and laughter, and friends, and joy.” From local art exhibits to local bands, this winery wants the community involved. They encourage picnic lunches, but remember to read the “Doghaus Rules” if you plan on bringing your favorite fur baby. www.barreloak.com
Tucked away in Clifton, Paradise is a very unassuming winery on a very historic piece of land. Not too big, not too small, they have pleasant front and back patios for enjoying a basket meal. Wines paired with weekend entertainment make this a quick getaway place. Oh, and from October 21st to October 31st Paradise is having wine tastings for junk food. How fun is that?www.paradisespringswinery.com
Aspen Dale is a working farm as well as a small winery in Delaplane, with an intimate tasting room located in a renovated barn. Tastings include matching foods to learn more about pairing. Aspen Dale is a fun experience, and I felt I’ve learned some new things about wine. Most weekend, Aspen Dale has live music.www.aspendalewinery.com
You might think by now that there are no more local wineries left for me to experience for the first time. There are! On my list to visit is Linden Vineyards. This vineyard is “never content,” always striving to improve their wines. I can’t wait to visit them. I will certainly share my experience in another edition full of winery suggestions.
©2016, Jacobson Realty and Home Staging
Jacobson Realty and Home Staging (JRY) was established by Broker/Owner Belinda Jacobson-Loehle in April 2002. Belinda is a native Washingtonian who grew up in Alexandria, Virginia and has lived and worked in Gainesville, Virginia since 1995. She has been a licensed broker since 1989.
Part of the beauty of living in the Gainesville, Haymarket, and Bristow Virginia area is that you don’t have to go far when you’re looking for attractions and entertainment. We have so many options for leisure right in our area. Here are just a few area attractions you can enjoy the next time you’re looking for a date night, ladies’ night out, place to celebrate or an everyday excursion.
Entertainment and Culture
Hylton Performing Arts Center – Get a dose of culture in this Manassas arts center. Whether you’re looking for ballet, theatrical performances, symphony orchestras, choral ensembles, children’s theater or art exhibits, you can find an event to suit your taste here. Some of the great shows include Art Garfunkel on March 31, 2016! Tonight is the Manassas Chorale Voices United, a celebration of sacred music.
Jiffy Lube Live – This Bristow amphitheater hosts shows from international music sensations like Dave Matthews Band, Weezer, Luke Bryan and more. With seating price options to fit every budget, you’ll enjoy rocking to your favorite bands. And because of the way the amphitheater is designed, there isn’t a bad seat in the house. Book early.
History
The Manassas Museum – With a permanent exhibit spanning from the Native American through the 20th century periods, with an emphasis on the Civil War, you can learn all about regional history in this museum. There are 7 nearby historic sites that accompany your museum learning experience.
Ben Lomond Manor House and Old Rose Garden – This historic site in Manassas offers inexpensive tours of the house and the grounds. This was once a plantation owned by Robert Carter III. It was inherited by Benjamin Tasker Chinn who used the plantation to farm corn and wheat to care for the 500 Merion sheep on the property. After the battle of 1st Manassas, it was converted to a Confederate field hospital. You can still read writing on the walls from Civil War soldiers.
Wine and Beer
The Winery at La Grange – This Haymarket winery has an 18th century mansion with views of 8 acres of rolling hills and vineyards. They style their wines to have the refinement of European wines with subdued fruit-forward characteristics. Enjoy your day here with a tour of the winery, taste some samples and choose your favorite to purchase and enjoy on site or at home.
Heritage Brewing Company – If you’re a beer lover and a patriot, this Manassas brewery is for you. This veteran-owned brewery runs an organic and sustainable operation, creating tasty brews and giving back a percentage of all their sales to charity. You can sample beers in their tap room and enjoy a pint of your favorite.
Just for Fun
Burnside Farms – This farm in Haymarket has been in the flower business for 3 generations. They hold special pick-your-own flower events. They are open year-round with different seasonal offerings. Burnside holds a Festival of Spring, Summer of Sunflowers, fall market and Christmas tree shop.
Splash Down Waterpark – This Manassas water park has fun for the whole family. Big kids (and grown-ups) will enjoy two, 4-story water slides. You can test your balance skills on the Lilly Pad and Log Walk. Little kids will enjoy bubblers and spray fountains in the Sandcastle Kids Kove, along with interactive slides and their own play area.
These are just a few of the fun options our area in Western Prince William County offers. There’s also shopping, dining, golf, nature…you name it! If you would like to know more about this place we call home, contact Jacobson Realty and Home Staging. We’d be happy to show you around!
Whether you love to hike, camp, fish, horseback ride or simply enjoy the local plants and animals while you bask in autumn’s beauty, the Prince William County area has what you’re looking for. Here are just a few aspects of nature you can enjoy in this exceptional season.
· Trails – With over 50 miles of trails, Prince William County itself has lots of space.Prince William County trails are open from dawn to dusk so that residents can take a stroll or go on a nature scavenger hunt. Some allow biking and horseback riding as well. Silver Lake Regional Park, Manassas National Battlefield Park and the Bull Run Mountains are minutes away from Gainesville, Haymarket and Bristow. Bring Fido along for a walk (just make sure he wears a leash and you clean up after him). Leave your Vespa at home, as motorized vehicles aren’t permitted.
· Wildlife – You may spot many different animals while you’re visiting Prince William County area parks. There are quite a few varieties of native birds that don’t migrate. If you prefer fluffier wildlife, keep your eyes peeled for white tail deer or cottontail rabbits as you explore the parks. If your idea of a relaxing day includes a rod and a reel, you’re in luck. There are three locations in the Parks and Recreation Department where you can catch bluegill, channel catfish, largemouth bass and crappie. Manassas National Battlefield Park also has some areas for fishing. (Note, if you’re older than 16, you do need a Sportsman’s License to fish in Virginia.)
· Wineries – The Winery at La Grange and The Winery at Bull Run offer not just the fruit of the vine, but breathtaking views of autumn foliage, hills and fields. Enjoy a glass of vino and take in the sights while relaxing in the cool, autumn air. There are even sections and events appropriate for children. The wineries are beautiful any time of year, but these late-autumn months offer something special.
Recognizing that we would not be able to enjoy any of these aspects of our county without the efforts of our dedicated armed forces, we at Jacobson Realty and Home Staging want to say thank you to the men and women who have protected our freedom and to those who continue to do so. Veterans, we appreciate all you have done for our communities and our country!