Congrats 2023 Winners!

Congrats to our local winners of the 2023 Best of the Blue Ridge Awards!

In the annual Best of the Blue Ridge Awards, reader's casted their votes for their favorite "places, races, and wide-open spaces in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic."

Below is a congratulatory list of local winners in and around the Nelson County Blue Ridge area.

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Destinations

Best Public Lands (National Park/Forest) 

Blue Ridge Parkway – NC/VA

Runners Up 

Fairy Stone State Park – Stuart, Va.

Best Hiking Trail 

McAfee Knob – Virginia 

Best Biking Trail 

Virginia Creeper Trail – Virginia

Runners Up

Carvins Cove Natural Reserve trails – Virginia

Best Waterfall 

Cascades – Virginia

Best Swimming Hole 

Runners Up

Saint Mary’s Wilderness – Virginia

Best Lake

Lake Moomaw – Covington, Va.

Runners Up

Philpott Lake – Henry County, Va.

Best Whitewater

Runners Up

James River – Virginia

Best Fishing Spot (Public or Private) 

Mossy Creek – Virginia

Best Overlook 

Runners Up

Dan Ingalls Overlook – Virginia 

Best Campground 

Douthat State Park – Virginia

Runners Up

Devils Backbone Camp – Roseland, Va.

Best Kid-Friendly Adventure Spot 

Runners Up

Mountain Lake Lodge – Pembroke, Va.

Best Pet-Friendly Adventure 

Massanutten Resort – Massanutten, Va.

Runners Up

Peaks of Otter Lodge – Bedford County, Va.

Best ADA Outdoor Experience 

New River Trail State Park – Virginia

Best Beer/Wine/Spirits Trail 

Shenandoah Beerwerks Trail – Virginia

Runners Up

Nelson 151 – Virginia

Best Place for Outdoor Singles to Live 

Charlottesville, Va.

Runners Up

Harrisonburg, Va.

Best Place to Raise an Outdoor Family 

Roanoke, Va. 

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Businesses

Best Ski Resort 

Runners Up

Massanutten Resort – Massanutten, Va.

Wintergreen Resort – Nellysford, Va.

Best Raft Guide Company 

Twin River Outfitters – Buchanan, Va.

Best Bike Park 

Massanutten Resort – Virginia 

Best Zipline 

Runners Up

Buffalo Mountain Ziplines – Floyd, Va.

Massanutten Resort – Massanutten, Va.

Best Fly Fishing Shop 

South River Fly Shop – Waynesboro, Va.

Best Climbing Guide Company 

Blue Ridge Mountain Guides – Charlottesville, Va.

Best Gym 

River Rock Climbing – Roanoke, Va.

Runners Up

Rocky Top Climbing – Charlottesville, Va.

Best Running Shop

Ragged Mountain Running & Walking Shop – Charlottesville, Va.

Runners Up

Runabout Sports – Roanoke and Blacksburg, Va. 

Best Bike Shop 

Blue Ridge Cyclery – Charlottesville and Warrenton, Va.

Runners Up

Cardinal Bicycle – Roanoke, Va.

Adventure Damascus and Sundog Outfitter – Damascus, Va. 

Best Outdoor Store 

Great Outdoor Provision Co. – North Carolina and Virginia

Runners Up

Marion Outdoors – Marion, Va.

Best Lodging 

The Merry Inn – Marion, Va. 

Best Wellness Center

Primland Resort Spa – Meadows of Dan, Va. 

Runners Up

Mountainside Holistic Clinic – Floyd, Va.

Just Breathe Yoga & Bodywork – Martinsville, Va.

Best Outdoor Club

Marion Outdoors Group Hikes – Marion, Va.

Runners Up

Camp Mont Shenandoah – Millboro, Va.

Best Environmental Organization 

Virginia Creeper Trail Conservancy – Abingdon, Va.

Runners Up

James River Association – Richmond, Va.

Keep Virginia Cozy – Richmond, Va.

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Food & Drink

Best Drink in the Blue Ridge 

Get Bent IPA – Parkway Brewing Co. – Salem, Va.

Runners Up

Peg Hatcher’s Straight Whiskey – Twin Creeks Distillery – Rocky Mount, Va. 

Bluegrass Kombucha – Blue Ridge Bucha – Waynesboro, Va.

Best Brewery 

Blue Mountain Brewery – Afton, Va. 

Runners Up

Parkway Brewing Company – Salem, Va.

Best Winery 

Chateau Morrisette – Floyd, Va.

Runners Up

Veritas Winery – Afton, Va.

Stanburn Winery – Stuart, Va. 

Best Distillery 

Twin Creek Distillery – Rocky Mount, Va.

Runners Up

5 Mile Mountain Distillery – Floyd, Va.

Best Cidery

Potter’s Craft Cider – Charlottesville, Va.

Runners Up

Ciders from Mars – Staunton, Va. 

Best Restaurant 

Floyd Country Store – Floyd, Va.

Runners Up

River and Rail Restaurant – Roanoke, Va.

Best Coffee Shop

Runners Up

Sweet Donkey Coffee House – Roanoke, Va.

Red Rooster Coffee – Floyd, Va.

Best Farmers Market 

Harrisonburg Farmers Market – Harrisonburg, Va.

Runners Up

Stuart Farmers Market – Stuart, Va.

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Events & Races

Best Music Festival 

FloydFest – Floyd, Va.

Runners Up

Red Wing Roots Music Festival – Mt. Solon, Va.

Best Family Friendly Festival 

Trail Days – Damascus, Va.

Best Unique Festival 

Highland County Maple Festival – Highland County, Va.

Runners Up

Beaver Dam Sunflower Festival – Buchanan, Va.

Best Running Event 

Blue Ridge Marathon – Roanoke, Va.

Best Triathlon 

King of the James – Richmond, Va.

Runners Up

Ironman 70.3 Virginia’s Blue Ridge – Roanoke, Va.

Best Bike Race 

Tour de Valley – Waynesboro, Va.

Runners Up

Virginia’s Blue Ridge Go Cross Cyclocross – Roanoke, Va.

Agony in the Alleghanies Gran Fondo  – Clifton Forge, Va.

Best Climbing Event

Runners Up

Triangle Rock Club Competition – Richmond, Va.

Best Paddling Event 

Runners Up

Kibler Valley River Run – Ararat, Va.

Best Fly Fishing Event 

VA Fly Fishing & Wine Festival – Doswell, Va.

Runners Up

So Fly Fest – Warm Springs, Va. 

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