Kyle’s Favorite Weekend

My favorite way to spend the weekend around Afton, Virginia includes outdoor activities mixed in with plenty of indoor chill-time. It’s good to get out and then relax with a nice beer and some games. Luckily, Afton provides all of this in one location.

Friday Night

The best way to spend a Friday night is go out to eat. My two preferred restaurants are Blue Mountain Brewery (it’s so close to the Indigo) or Edelweiss German Restaurant in Stuart’s Draft (a bit farther away). 

After dinner, unwinding around a fire pit with some local beers or whiskey really hits the spot. If you need a drink recommendation, Blue Mountain’s Dark Hollow for those cold days, Bold Rock’s cider on the warm days, and Ragged Branch Whiskey, well, every day.

Saturday

Saturday mornings require a light breakfast, as I’ll be heading out immediately to hit up the trails. Marietta loves the convenience of Stoney Creek Golf Course’s trails, but I prefer the AT or anywhere in Shenandoah National Park. If I’m in a Trail Running training block, I’ll run around Humpback Rocks as the elevation is a good workout. 

My favorite trails:

• Humpback Rocks
• Dobie Mountain
• White Rock Falls leaving from Sherando Lake
• Dripping Rock Trail

Then, I like to spend the afternoon recovering with some wine at Veritas or Hazy Mountain. If there is football game going on, I’m going back to Blue Mountain in the evening to watch the game, otherwise I might grab dinner from Paulie’s Pigout or Basic Necessities.

Sunday

No Sunday is complete without some extra relaxation. I tend to linger around the house sipping some coffee in the mornings, especially if the fire is going. Maybe get another hike or run in, and then relax in a hammock for a bit listening to folk music. It can be really fun to get out and explore some of the local agriculture businesses too. My favorite is the alpaca farm, where you can walk the alpacas.

The perfect way to end the weekend is around a fire. With a great drink in hand and some fun company surrounding me – sharing stories from the trail or travels. I look forward to hearing yours soon!

– Kyle