Virginia is for Wine Lovers

Great Country Farms - (Mentioned about under Bluemont Vineyards.) Great place to take the kids. They have slides, hayrides, a petting zoo and more. Seasonally they have a strawberry festival, pumpkin picking and more.

The Salamander Resort has incredible activities you can reserve without even staying there. Activities include horseback riding, archery, disc golf, spa, zip lining, river floats, fishing, axe throwing, art classes, hiking, biking and falconry.

Northern Virginia has a vast golf community. Lansdowne is a golf resort and has three courses open to resort guests and members. There are many other places open to the public if you enjoy playing a round before a trip to the vineyard.

Is retail therapy your thing? Downtown Middleburg is just a few short blocks lined with cute boutiques. It includes some art galleries, antique shops, places to get equestrian gear, bougie clothing stores, toy stores and much more. Leesburg Premium Outlets has a plethora of discounted designer options if that is more your style.

Visiting in the summer? Twilight Polo is a great way to spend a Saturday night. Every weekend there is a different theme and families come to tailgate and enjoy polo matches. Think a little boujee with a side of booze.

Visiting in the fall? Cox Farms is a great place to stop with the family. The market has every type of gourd and every size pumpkin you can imagine. You can take hayrides, marvel at farm animals, enjoy slides and live music. At night it turns into the Fields of Fear, for those who enjoy the spookier perks of the season.

Family Wineries

Cana Vineyards and Winery is my favorite! It is perfect for any type of group. Cana is kid and dog friendly. They also have areas reserved for adults only. You need reservations only if your group is larger than 14 people. They have a covered area, as well as a big open lawn. The winery itself offers some cheese plates and charcuterie. They often have food trucks on the weekends and allow outside food. Most Saturdays in the summer they have live music which can give it a more booming atmosphere than a typical winery. I remember one time they basically had a cover band you would hire for a wedding and people were up dancing. It was a lot of fun. It can get crowded on the weekends, but once you find your spot you can enjoy kids playing ball or blowing bubbles and friends having a great time together.

Bluemont Vineyard sits on top of a hill with incredible views. They have seating inside and outside. I suggest making reservations in advance if you want to sit inside, outside is first come first serve. They have typical winery food (spreads, cheese, meat) in addition to flatbreads and some other food offerings. (You can get the kids chicken fingers). The winery is also dog friendly with an area reserved only for adults. The family who owns this winery also has a brewery on the other side of the hill and a cidery at the bottom of the hill. A little trifecta if you will. The reason it is great to families is that they also own Great Country Farms. This farm has a lot of activities for the kiddos to enjoy (slides, a petting zoo, hayrides, etc.). My family usually goes to the farm so the kids can play and then the hubby and I treat ourselves to some wine, beer or cider after. A win-win for everyone. Pick up the apple cider donuts in that Farm’s market. They melt in your mouth and are to die for. The family also has some small cottages you can rent on the property if you want to have a complete overnight experience.

Bleu Frog Winery is beautiful and relaxing (even with your kids!) It has large sand piles with toys for the kids, soccer goals, and offers s’mores around the outdoor fire pits. They have music on weekends and offer meats, cheese, salads, soups and sandwiches. The staff is incredibly friendly and it is a perfect little retreat for a peaceful day with the whole family.

Couples Wineries

Greenhill Vineyard is the only one on my list that is NOT kid friendly. This winery is 21+ only. Dogs are allowed outside. If you are looking for a more intimate and quiet experience with your significant other or a small group of friends, Greenhill is perfect. They have a strict policy that groups over 10 must have a reservation. The staff in knowledgeable, the views are breathtaking, the wines are fantastic and the food plates are top notch.

Stone Tower is probably the most popular winery in Northern Virginia. Stone Tower transports you to a serene world where you can relax and enjoy beautiful surroundings. Stone Tower is kid-friendly, however they do have a section for Club Members that is 21+. I have gone with and without my kids and feel like I enjoy this one more when I go here without them. (Sorry girls!) It has an incredible wedding venue on the property and they offer a variety of tours.

The Winery at Bull Run is kid-friendly, however when I take my kids, I feel like they are the only ones there or maybe only a couple of other kids. I also think the adult areas are nicer and that there are more 21+ areas than family areas. They have horses on the property; therefore, they do not allow dogs apart from service dogs. They offer cheese, spreads and chips and in the Spring and Summer they have food trucks. In addition to music on the weekends, they have some other fun events, for example comedy nights, movie nights, casino nights, etc. They frequently have live music with a more chill vibe than Cana.

Groups of Friends or Families

Quattro Goombas is a winery and brewery combined. It is a good time with a bit of a party feel. (It attracts a younger crowd, so it can feel a little fratty, but you will find people of all ages there.) They have a nice lawn area for kids to run around. They have a delicious pizza kitchen and typically have live music on Friday and Saturday. They do not require reservations for large groups; however, they do not allow buses or limos. They have both adult-only sections and family sections. Dogs are allowed outside.

Paradise Springs has a large lawn area for picnicking and for kids to run around or play ball. They do have tables, but many people opt for bringing their own chairs or a blanket. Thursday – Sunday they have a Food Truck. Thursdays there is a special menu which often includes a Raw Bar. During the week, they offer Bingo and Trivia nights. On the weekends, they have live music and during the summer they have movie nights. They ask for no groups larger than 10 inside, and to make reservations for groups larger than 30 outside.