Our Shenandoah Valley bed and breakfast offers a perfect base for just about everything. Spend your days relaxing at the Inn or exploring the mountains, valleys, surrounding towns and historic sites. You might want to take a picnic to Goshen Pass, a spectacular rocky gorge created by the Maury River. A long weekend will give you a good taste of our little piece of heaven. Plus, you’re always welcome to come back again and experience what you missed!
Goshen Pass
Route 39 “Appalachian Waters Scenic Byway” is just 4 doors from the Hummingbird Inn.
Follow Route 39 East through Goshen Pass for a beautiful drive, fishing, kayaking, swimming, picnics or hike Jump Rock, Jump Mountain Loop, Laurel Run. Drive onward to Rockbridge Baths to visit Jump Mountain Vineyard, Lexington Valley Vineyard, turn onto Route 252 to Brownsburg, an 18th century Village that provides an “excellent picture of a typical early valley village in a well preserved state” stop and see Brownsburg Museum. Before arriving Brownsburg, head east on 712/Decatur Rd one mile to Lavender Fields at Tantivy Farm, beautiful stunning views, a special place for Lavender lovers, then find your way to visit wonderful Bels Bees, our local honey source in route to Brownsburg. Beyond Brownsburg take 606 toward Raphine and discover 1750 Wade’s Mill the oldest continuously operating commercial grist mill in the Shenandoah Valley, worth a tour or stop to photograph, and then just up the road is award winning Rockbridge Vineyard. Special Note: Route 39 East & West are “spectacular” motorcycle rides from the Inn. Route 39 East ends at Route 11 in Lexington where you can continue on Route 11 South to see Historic Natural Bridge, our county’s namesake.
Follow Route 39 West, be sure to pull over at the top of Warm Springs Mountain, Dan Ingalls Overlook offers a stunning view to the East as well as access to Dan Ingalls Overlook Trail, a nice short hike with some optional rock climbing. Continue on Route 39 crossing the mountain to experience formerly named Jefferson Pools, historic mineral baths for the public at Warm Springs Pools reservations required. Garth Newel Music Center offers chamber music, as well as special musical events. Continue your drive to Hot Springs via Route 220 to visit beautiful historic Homestead Hotel, a 2000-acre Omni Resort worth seeing or enjoy golf on one of their two championship golf courses. Continue on Route 220 to see Falling Spring, a breathtaking 80′ Waterfall beside the road with a nice pull over for photographs. Continue onward to check out Virginia’s oldest covered bridge Humpback Bridge, a 15-20 minute drive via Route 220 and Route 60 W in Covington. A nice alternative to Hot Springs & Humpback Bridge is to follow Route 39 West from Warm Springs to Lake Moomaw and take in Bolar Mountain Recreation area, a nice picnic spot, beach and swimming. Be sure to return via Falling Spring to view the 80′ waterfall on Route 220.
Biking: In the greater Goshen area, you will find the following adventures. On-Road Rides Douthat Lake/Clifton Forge, George Washington NF Loop, Brushy Hill Loop, Lexington/Goshen Loop, Middlebrook M&M and 5 area rides suggested by W&L Outdoor Education. Greenways & Paths The Chessie Trail and Douthat State Park. Gravel Routes Little North Mountain Loop, Middlebrook Fat Tire Farm Route. MTB Douthat Blue Suck Falls Loop, Douthat IMBA Epic Route and 3 area rides suggested by W&L Outdoor Education. Check out Bluestone Bike & Run for Cycling Tours, Guided Bike Trips, Shuttle Service and beyond. Information and trip planning for the entire Shenandoah Valley may be found at bikethevalley.org.
Farm Tours: America’s premier non-industrial food production oasis Polyface Farms, Asian pear orchard and more Virginia Gold Orchard, a small fiber farm featuring Cotswold and Finn Sheep Cabin Spring Farm. Visit Cestari Sheep & Wool Company, a wool sheep operation with a commercial textile mill producing wool and cotton blend yarns, their extensive store is worth the stop, plus they offer fresh frozen lamb delivered to your door. The must-see Lavender Fields at Tantivy Farm for Lavender lovers and Bels Bees for wildflower meadows and honey bees, both farms offering items grown, made and packaged in Fairfield VA. Hummingbird Inn is a proud member of Shenandoah Valley’s Farm Trail Fields of Gold, and North Rockbridge Trail.
Fishing: Top Trout Fishing Water, Category A, on the Maury River in Goshen Pass. Largemouth bass, black crappie, channel catfish, sunfish, and common carp at Lake Merriweather in Goshen, bank fishing available. Fly Fishing on Mill Creek same stream we’re on, but the best fishing is just above us along Route 39 West. Further west on Route 39 to Route 629 inside Douthat State Park is Douthat Lake with excellent largemouth bass and chain pickerel fishing. During season, the lake is stocked twice a week with rainbow, brown and brook trout.
Hiking: Our location on the edge of the Alleghany Mountains is great for hiking no matter the season! Head into Goshen Pass and the Goshen Wildlife Management Area, just four miles from the Inn, and start your hike at the swinging bridge over the Maury River or at Laurel Run. Goshen Pass Natural Area Preserve, Goshen Pass: Chambers Ridge – Jump Mountain – Viewing Rock. Other trailheads are 30 minutes or so by car. Brushy Hill Preserve, Chessie Nature Trail, Crabtree Falls, Devil’s Marbleyard, Douthat State Park, House Mountain, Mount Pleasant & Mount Pompey, North Mountain, Panther Falls. Enjoy a nice walk at W&L Back Campus or bird-watching ambles in a Wetlands Sanctuary. If you’re up for a day trip to Roanoke, check out McAfee Knob’s spectacular 8-mile hike, a bucket list for hikers around the world.
Horseback Riding: Appalachian Horse Adventures appeals to riders both experienced and novice, with trail rides through the Blue Ridge Mountains, and North Mountain Outfitter offers half-day, full-day, and overnight trips on Shenandoah Valley mountain trails to rekindle the cowboy way of life “may the spirit ride with you”.
Water Outfitters: Riders Up! Outfitters in Clifton Forge, Twin River Outfitters in Buchanan and Wilderness Canoe Co. in Natural Bridge.
Lexington, Virginia Calendar of Lexington Events
History & Museums: George Marshall Museum, Historic Lexington Carriage Tour, Robert E. Lee Chapel, The Reeves Collection, Stonewall Jackson House/Museum , Stonewall Jackson Memorial Cemetery, VMI Museum. The Arts: Lenfest Center for the Performing Arts, Summer Theater at Lime Kiln. Horse Lovers: Virginia Horse Center. Meander downtown, visit galleries, boutiques, restaurants and for the sweet tooth (and lunch) check out the local bakery Sweet Treats Bakery or a fabulous waffle cone filled with delicious homemade ice cream at Sweet Things. Be sure to consider Ghost Tours of Lexington or Hulls Drive-In Movie.
Natural Bridge: Fifteen miles south of Lexington, Natural Bridge, one of the seven wonders of the natural world. The Natural Bridge area also includes Natural Bridge Caverns, Natural Bridge Zoo and Virginia Safari Park or paddle the James River with Wilderness Canoe Company.
Staunton, Virginia Calendar of Staunton Events
Blackfriars Playhouse – American Shakespeare Center, Frontier Culture Museum, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum. Sunspots Studio – live glass blowing, artisan gifts and gallery worth a visit. Continue on foot downtown to experience the beautiful Victorian architecture with many antique shops, boutiques and galleries, wine bar, wine tasting room, local brews and restaurants. In August, a world class festival of music Staunton Music Festival is not to be missed if you love classical music. And, if you admire antique and classic cars, don’t miss Bruce A. Elder Antique and Classic Automobiles also in downtown Staunton.
Clifton Forge: Riders Up! Outfitters offers canoe and kayak rentals with guided or non-guided trips on the Jackson, James, and Cowpasture Rivers. You can visit antique stores, Alleghany Highlands Arts & Crafts Center, the Historic Masonic Theatre, and C&O Railway Heritage Center, C&O Train Shop (run by the Chesapeake and Ohio Historical Society) and visit Jack Masons Brewery for a local brew and delicious pub fare for lunch or dinner.
Buena Vista: Bluegrass Festivals at Glen Maury Park and if you’re going to drive or hike in the Blue Ridge, Buena Vista is a good starting point. Beyond Buena Vista in Buchanan is tubing, canoeing & kayaking with Twin River Outfitters on the upper James River in the heart of the Blue Ridge mountains.
Day Trips: New Market Battlefield Museum & Virginia Museum of the Civil War; Charlottesville Monticello, Ashlawn-Highland; Lynchburg Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest, National D-Day Memorial; Roanoke Virginia Museum of Transportation, Black Dog Salvage. Hike the Appalachian Trail. Drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway or Skyline Drive. Explore the Greenbrier Bunker, Organ Cave, Cass Scenic Railway, Luray Caverns, The Dayton Market – a community of shops and antiquing in Verona at the largest antique mall in America. And… enjoy Shenandoah Valley Beerwerks Trail, Shenandoah Valley Wine Trail!