Take a drive through the countryside. Two scenic byways take you through bucolic fields and woodlands complete with well-tended farms and beautiful mansions. Little Skyline Drive provides magnificent views of the nearby Blue Ridge Mountains. 

Or schedule a balloon ride . You'll lift off in the morning right from Willow Grove and drift away with the wind. Once airborne, you'll  be treated to the many colors of the countryside,  marvel in the splendor of  the Blue Ridge Mountains, and watch the birds and geese fly over the Rapidan River and Lake Orange. A champagne breakfast awaits your return. 

But don't miss the history for the beauty. There's plenty of time for both. Just minutes from Willow Grove is Montpelier, lifelong home of our fourth President, James Madison. Montpelier was the Madison family homestead for more than three generations. It was here that, two centuries ago, James Madison authored our Constitution and the Bill of Rights and where he and Dolley retired after two presidential terms. The mansion is still under restoration, but guides give loving tours and carefully explain what the archeologists are unearthing. It is here that you can experience the evolution of an important historic site and the creation of a monument to the Father of the Constitution.

Some of James and Dolley Madison's possessions can also be seen at the James Madison Museum, which features their furnishings, clothing, jewelry, books, and correspondence from Madison's library. The museum also houses early farm equipment and machinery along with a restored 1730s house.

St. Thomas Episcopal Church, which was copied after Thomas Jefferson's only ecclesiastical work sits next door to the museum. It is noted for its stained glass windows, including one by Tiffany, as well as for the fact that Robert E. Lee and other Confederate officers worshipped here during the winter of 1863-64. The tree where Robert E. Lee tied his horse, Traveler, is duly marked. Another interesting work is Waddel Memorial Church, located in the Village of Rapidan. Noted for its sprouting forest of spires, it is said to be Virginia's finest example of Gothic architecture.

Just a short drive from Willow Grove are the Exchange Hotel Civil War Museum, which served as a military hospital during the Civil War, several Civil War battlefields, and the Barboursville Ruins, an imposing mansion designed by Thomas Jefferson and home to James Barbour, governor of Virginia from 1812-1814, which burned to the ground on Christmas Day 1884.

Barboursville Vineyards and Winery sits adjacent to the Ruins. Owned by the the proprietors of the largest wine company in Italy, Barboursville takes special care to produce wines of high quality, unique character and subtlety. Tours and tastings are available daily. Horton Vineyards, also closeby, offers world class wines, tours, and tasting.

Orange County is also rich with the arts. The Ed Jaffe Studio is filled with paintings and marble carvings that represent themes more often than not based on a culture different than ours. John Graves' Old Somerset Fine Art Gallery is a traditional British print shop and gallery that features antique American and European hand-colored engravings, watercolors, and oils by leading artists. The award-winning landscapes of Fred Nichols  include original paintings and silkscreen prints of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the surrounding area which can be seen at his studio. The Four County Players present a series of productions during the year, including a Shakespeare production at the Barboursville Ruins each August. And the Blue Ridge Community Orchestra gives free concerts throughout the year.

As a wonderful place to bring your family for clean, wholesome entertainment, Orange County can't be beat. . There's the Orange County Fair, an old fashioned country fair in the truest sense with activities, contests, and entertainment aimed at creating a fun atmosphere for the family. There's also a Steam and Gas Show that features vintage farm equipment run with steam engines where you can actually participate in an old-fashioned tractor pull. And there's a Fiber Festival where you can witness sheep being sheared and see items being woven from the newly sheared wool.

Click Here to Continue Your Tour

What's New|Search|Home

Dining|Lodging|Entertainment|Weddings|Conferences