Explore the Area
Virginia Is For Lovers
Central Virginia Regional Guide
Official state tourism guide for Charlottesville, the wine country, Blue Ridge & beyond →
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Things to Do Nearby
All drive times from Belle Meade
River Guide
James River Association
Paddling access maps, river guides & conservation resources for the James
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- Farm-to-Batteau Dinners at Belle Meade — open-fire, live music, aboard the batteauxSeasonalOn-site
- Riverside Gatherings at Belle Meade — catered dinner, live music, aboard the batteauxSeasonalOn-site
- James River Batteau Co. — River Tours & Sunset Cruises ↗3 min
- James River Reeling & Rafting ↗3 min
- James River Runners — Canoe, Kayak, Raft & Tube ↗3 min
- James River State Park ↗1 hr 20 min
- Farm-to-Batteau Dinners at Belle MeadeSeasonalOn-site
- Riverside Gatherings at Belle MeadeSeasonalOn-site
- James River Brewery ↗3 min
- Tavern on the James ↗5 min
- Amici's Italian Bistro ↗5 min
- Red Rose Pub — Farm-to-table ↗5 min
- Beijing Kitchen ↗5 min
- Baked on the James — Bakery ↗5 min
- Luv'n Oven — Burgers, fried chicken & milkshakes ↗5 min
- Baine's Books & Coffee ↗5 min
- Michie Tavern (1784) — Colonial lunch ↗25 min
- Three Notch'd Brewing — pub fare & craft beer ↗30 min
- Downtown Charlottesville Mall — dining, music & shops ↗30 min
- Lampo — Traditional Neapolitan pizza, Charlottesville favorite ↗30 min
- Public Fish & Oyster — Raw bar, Virginia oysters, happy hour ↗30 min
- Dairy Market — Food hall, multiple vendors, great for groups ↗30 min
- Mas Tapas — Spanish tapas, locally sourced, Belmont neighborhood ↗30 min
- Dr. Ho's Humble Pie — Wood-fired pizza ↗40 min
- Marigold at Keswick Hall — Jean-Georges farm-to-table, special occasion ↗40 min
At Belle Meade & Scottsville
Charlottesville — 25–40 min
What's happening nearby?
Scottsville — visitscottsville.org/calendar/ for festivals, farmers market & community events.
Charlottesville — visitcharlottesville.org/events/ for concerts, festivals & regional events.
- Scottsville Supply Co. ↗3 min
- SCAN — Scottsville's Center for Arts & Nature, gallery & theater ↗3 min
- Visit Scottsville — Town events & guide ↗3 min
- The Market at Scottsville — Deli & fuel ↗3 min
- Balance Boutique — Women's clothing & gifts ↗3 min
- Scottsville Farmers Market — Saturdays Apr–Oct ↗5 min
- Farmstead Ferments Mercantile ↗5 min
- River Town Antiques — 50+ vendors ↗5 min
- Food Lion — Groceries ↗5 min
- Virginia ABC Store ↗5 min
- St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary — Society of St. Pius X, Dillwyn ↗20 min
- Wegmans — Full-service grocery ↗25 min
- Charlottesville Downtown Mall — boutiques & galleries ↗30 min
- IX Art Park Saturday Market — local makers ↗30 min
Charlottesville — 25–30 min
Official Trail
Monticello Wine Trail
Interactive map of all 40+ AVA wineries
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Scenic Byway Trail
Nelson 151
7 wineries, 6 breweries, 3 cideries & 4 distilleries along Route 151
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- Hardware Hills Winery ↗10 min
- Mount Ida Reserve ↗15 min
- Blenheim Winery ↗20 min
- Eagle Zen Winery ↗25 min
- Eastwood Farm & Winery — wines, beers & ciders, Governor's Cup gold ↗25 min
- Merrie Mill Farm & Winery — dog friendly ↗25 min
- Valley Road Vineyards — 2026 Governor's Cup ↗25 min
- Trump Winery ↗25 min
- Muddy Paws Winery ↗25 min
- Gabriele Rausse Winery — godfather of VA wine ↗28 min
- Michael Shaps Wineworks ↗28 min
- Jefferson Vineyards ↗28 min
- Keswick Vineyards ↗40 min
- King Family Vineyards ↗40 min
- Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards — panoramic Blue Ridge views, farm-to-table ↗40 min
- Stinson Vineyards ↗45 min
- White Hall Vineyards ↗45 min
- Veritas Vineyards ↗45 min
- Flying Fox Vineyard ↗50 min
- Hazy Mountain Vineyards & Brewery — Blue Ridge views, wine & beer ↗50 min
- Mountain & Vine — formerly DelFosse, terraced vineyards, Governor's Cup gold ↗50 min
- Barboursville Vineyards ↗55 min
Digital Passport Trail
Charlottesville Ale Trail
16+ breweries, cideries & distilleries — earn stamps & rewards
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Scenic Byway Trail
Nelson 151
7 wineries, 6 breweries, 3 cideries & 4 distilleries along Route 151
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Regional Guide
Visit Nelson County
Home of Blue Mountain, Devil's Backbone, Wild Wolf, Hazy Mountain & more
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Digital Passport Trail
Charlottesville Ale Trail
16+ breweries, cideries & distilleries — earn stamps & rewards
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Scenic Byway Trail
Nelson 151
Bold Rock, Silverback, Devils Backbone Distillery & cideries along Route 151
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Regional Guide
Visit Nelson County
Home of Blue Mountain, Devil's Backbone, Wild Wolf, Hazy Mountain & more
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- Potter's Craft Cider — farmhouse ciders in a stone church, live music & lawn ↗30 min
- Albemarle CiderWorks — heritage apple ciders, Governor's Cup Best in Show ↗35 min
- Bold Rock Hard Cider — Virginia's flagship cidery, riverside taproom ↗45 min
- Silverback Distillery ↗50 min
- Ragged Branch Distillery ↗55 min
National Park
Shenandoah National Park
Skyline Drive, 75+ overlooks, Appalachian Trail — 1.5 hrs
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Scenic Drive
Blue Ridge Parkway
America's Favorite Drive — accessible from Nelson County, ~1 hr
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Regional Guide
Visit Nelson County
Hiking, cycling, waterfalls, Wintergreen, and Blue Ridge access along Route 151
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- Farm trails — walking & river accessOn-site
- Van Clief Nature Area — lake & hiking ↗3 min
- Dorrier Park — riverside park ↗5 min
- Route 6 Scenic Drive — James River corridor5 min
- Chiles Family Orchards — U-Pick & Cider ↗30 min
- Carter Mountain Orchard ↗30 min
- Saunders-Monticello Trail ↗30 min
- Quarry Gardens at Schuyler ↗35 min
- Blue Ridge Parkway ↗45 min
- Blue Ridge Tunnel — Walk through a 4,700-ft Civil War railroad tunnel ↗50 min
- Humpback Rocks — Short steep climb, 360° Blue Ridge views ↗55 min
- Wintergreen Resort ↗60 min
- Shenandoah National Park ↗60 min
- Crabtree Falls — Highest waterfall east of the Mississippi ↗1 hr 15 min
- James River State Park ↗1 hr 20 min
- Natural Bridge State Park ↗1 hr 30 min
Heritage Trail
Jefferson Heritage Trail
Wine, food, art & history along Route 20 — Monticello to Poplar Forest
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- Scottsville Museum ↗3 min
- Canal Basin Square — outdoor canal history park3 min
- St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary — Society of St. Pius X, Dillwyn ↗20 min
- Michie Tavern (1784) ↗25 min
- Ash Lawn-Highland — Monroe's estate ↗28 min
- UVA / The Lawn ↗28 min
- Yogaville / Satchidananda Ashram ↗30 min
- Monticello ↗30 min
- Walton's Mountain Museum ↗35 min
- Montpelier — James Madison's estate & Constitutional museum ↗55 min
- Appomattox Court House NHP — Civil War surrender site ↗1 hr
- Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (Richmond) ↗75 min
- Poplar Forest — Jefferson's personal retreat ↗1.5 hrs
- SCAN — Scottsville's Center for Arts & Nature, gallery & theater ↗3 min
- Fridays After Five — free outdoor concerts every Friday, Apr–Sep, Ting Pavilion ↗25 min
- Jefferson Theater — Live music, historic Downtown Mall ↗30 min
- The Paramount Theater — Performing arts, 1931 landmark ↗30 min
- Ting Pavilion — Outdoor amphitheater, national acts ↗30 min
- IX Art Park — Free outdoor murals, sculptures & events ↗30 min
- Starr Hill Brewery — regular live music & craft beer ↗30 min
- Virginia Film Festival — Annual October/November festival at UVA ↗30 min
- Carter Mountain Orchard — Pick-your-own, cider donuts, mountain views ↗30 min
- Virginia Discovery Museum — Hands-on children's museum, Downtown Mall ↗30 min
- IX Art Park — Free outdoor murals, kid-friendly events ↗30 min
- Natural Bridge State Park — 215-ft natural rock arch ↗1 hr 30 min
- Luray Caverns — World-famous underground caverns ↗1 hr 40 min
Area Guide
Scottsville & Central Virginia
Belle Meade is your base camp for exploring one of Virginia's most beautiful regions — wine country, historic sites, rivers, and small-town charm all within easy reach.
40+ wineries within 45 minutes · Mount Ida Reserve 15 min · Monticello & UVA 25 min north · Blue Ridge Parkway 60 min west · James River tubing & kayaking steps from the door.
Historic Scottsville
Just one mile from Belle Meade, Scottsville is one of Virginia's most charming small towns — a historic James River port with local restaurants, antique shops, and the Scottsville Museum.
Founded in 1818 at the James River horseshoe bend, it served as a key port on the James River and Kanawha Canal. Scottsville holds the distinction of being Virginia's first Bee City USA community — home to active honey bee conservation efforts and educational apiaries.
The James River
The James River at Scottsville is one of the most accessible and scenic stretches in central Virginia. Tube, kayak, swim, or simply sit by the water — with river access directly from Belle Meade.
Three outfitters are minutes from Belle Meade — James River Batteau Co. for guided tours, and James River Reeling & Rafting and James River Runners for canoe, kayak, raft & tube rentals.
Best Time to Visit
Spring
April–May. New blooms, mild temperatures. Wine trails coming alive. Best for nature lovers.
Summer
June–September. River season peak. Batteau dinners July–October. Tubing, kayaking, swimming. Best for families and groups.
Fall
October–November. Peak foliage, harvest season at wineries, Batteau dinners through October. Most popular and beautiful season.
Winter
December–March. Quiet and romantic. Fireplace season. Occasional snow. Off-season rates available. Best for rest and solitude.
Your Base Camp on the James
Ready to Explore?
Wineries, rivers, history, and farm life — all within reach. Book your stay at Belle Meade and make central Virginia your home for a few days.
Book Your Stay →