Even though it's only a couple of weeks into the new semester, I'm sure you're ready for vacation already.
If you're like me, you don't have the time, money or energy to travel 240 miles to the nearest beach, and while Harrisonburg has a lot to offer, you can only go restaurant/bar hopping at the same place so many times before it starts to get old. So instead of sitting at home or at a restaurant ordering "the usual," take the thirty-minute drive to the beautiful, historic town of Staunton, Virginia.
There's so much to do in Staunton that it can truly be the day-cation of your dreams. But what should you do while you're there? To avoid the stress of planning and traveling to a new place, here's a step-by-step guide through the historic town of Staunton, Virginia.
Start your morning with a cup of locally roasted coffee made with locally produced milk.
Staunton has three coffee shops within walking distance of each other, each with their own unique, local touch. For breakfast that is healthy and inarguably delicious, Cranberry's is the place to go. It also serves as an organic grocery store that sells products produced locally.
After breakfast is the prime time to explore the streets of Staunton.
It is host to a plethora of historic buildings dating back before the signing of the Declaration of Independence as the town was founded in 1747. If you're interested in the history of the town, the Warf district surrounds the old train station, which has been partially revamped and serves as a restaurant called The Depot.
The buildings around the train station have updated their production, but at one point they sold anything from fresh produce to wagons.
Today, Amtrak provides residents of the Staunton transportation from the station to New York and Chicago. Regardless, even if you aren't a history buff, the architecture of the historic buildings is enough to take anyone's breath away.
For lunch, there are various delicious options to choose from.
One of my personal favorites is Wright's. Though there's no shortage of fifties-themed diners, Wright's is special because it is not "'50s-themed," it has simply retained its original menu and décor.
You can order anything from cheeseburgers and tater tots to milkshakes and sundaes. A unique feature of this restaurant is the red telephone plastered to the wall next to each table. To order your food you simply pick up the phone, dial the numbers as instructed, and send your order right into the kitchen.
After lunch, the city of Staunton begins opening the doors of its many, locally owned shops.
Some highlights are Latitudes, a completely fair trade store (meaning the workers are paid fairly for their labor) that sells anything from clothing to jewelry. It's a perfect place to buy a unique gift for a friend or loved one. Each item features a card explaining the where the product was made and who made it.
Across the street is Made, a store that only sells products made in the United States. Local artists sell canvases, stickers, and other décor.
And if you truly fall in love with the city, they have a plethora of Staunton stickers to commemorate your visit. They make and sell their own candles and, if paranormal activity is something that interests you, they claim to have a ghost that mills around the store occasionally pushing things off shelves and opening doors.
Downtown Staunton is an amazing place to thrift shop.
While there are many antique shops scattered through the downtown area, 17 East Beverly Antiques is must see. While it may look like a typical antique shop downstairs, the upstairs features colorful dresses, shirts, shorts, shoes, sunglasses and more. Retro and Me (an Etsy shop) sells many of their items upstairs. The products available range from 80's wedding dresses to 50s skirts. 17 is a great place to find history you can wear.
After taking in all the beauty of the city, you might need a little pick-me-up.
Blue Mountain Coffees is probably my favorite coffee shop. It is a great place to work on school work as it is on the lowest level of a historic building in the Wharf and thus provides the least distraction. It's also a great place to relax with friends. The coffee is locally roasted as well as sold by the pound. The walls are decorated with various works of local art.
If you had a late lunch, there may be time to catch a show at the American Shakespeare Center, the only replica of the Blackfriar Playhouse in the world. If you're not into Shakespeare, don't worry. ASC finds a way to bring Shakespeare's plays to life in a way that is interesting and engaging to all audience members.
If you're feeling a fancy dinner after the show, the best place to go is Emilio's Italian Restaurant.
If you think you've had the best pasta you've ever had before, you're wrong. Emilio's is locally owned and they make all of their ingredients (as well as pasta) from scratch. Each bite of their fettuccini alfredo and manicotti seem to dissolve in your mouth.
Finally, you can finish the night by stopping at a local favorite, Split Banana, for some freshly made gelato. Much like the other establishments in Staunton, Split Banana makes its gelato in-house and constantly changes the flavors served. They also sell crème soda, orange soda, and root beer in glass bottles.
So if you're feeling down about the semester already, treat yourself to a trip to Staunton.
Cover Image from: Wikimedia Commons
