The drive through Southwestern, VA looks a lot like this! Beautiful! The Blue Ridge Mountains stretch out before you! During a sunny day their blue color really stands out against the sky.
This post took 2 days of traveling South to get everything I wanted to capture, captured! You can easily spend a weekend down here and add in nearby Roanoke, which is featured in it's own post!
First Stop, Salem with my dear friend Ruth! I quickly fell in love with this sleepy little town about 5 seconds after arriving, considering we started with lunch at one of the very best restaurants I've ever had the pleasure of experiencing.
The Blue Apron in Salem, VA. is a wonderful spot for an incredible, local ingredient meal! Absolutely cute from head to toe!
A bright eyed rooster greets you at the front door and inside, exposed brick walls, fresh flowers and sugar cubes on the tables greet you when you settle into your french bistro chair or upholstered bench.
The menu is as delicious as the surroundings! Featuring locally sourced produce and meats, you are sure to taste the beauty of the blue ridge! From Tandoori-Spiced Grilled Chicken to Roast Lamb and a little bit of everything in between, this places aims to please! Pair a lovely wine with your meal, the wine list is fabulous, featuring varietals from all over the world!
This trip I chose the Tiger Shrimp with Sweet Pea Risotto paired with a Sauv. Blanc! Completely Delicious!
We couldn't resist sharing a sorbet to complete our lunch!
We laughed and talked so long by the time we looked up, we were the only ones left! The place was full when we walked in...we sure can close a place down:) That's the sign of true friendship!
We decided to capture the moment with some pics;)
We even named this one "Our Candid Engagement Photo" <3
After lunch we walked around town. This place is too cute! A few different restaurants, a few antique shops, a farmers market on the weekends and a couple other boutiques, salons, churches and a pretty duck pond occupy this lovely little town.
Charlotte's Web Antique Mall is a great place to stop and treasure hunt! It is a fairly large shop and full of unique curiosities, I brought home a beautiful french antique lamp for my vanity and it fits in with my decor perfectly! I also had my eyes on a few other things! It has recently been put into new hands and new ownership but the Antique Mall will remain open.
Antiques by the Market is a wonderful antique shop full of lovely finds! I have purchased some beautiful vintage clothing pieces and have worn them with pride, I took home a Toby Pirate Mug with a seahorse handle and a few other things. It's hard to leave the many other treasures behind, so I'll definitely be back:)
Post shopping we explored some more! Rich history and culture abound, in this small town founded in 1802! Salem is home to Roanoke College which started as a boy's preparatory school in 1847 and turned college in 1853. Salem is also home to The Salem Red Sox, minor league baseball team.
Historic homes like this one line the streets, grand homes with Victorian architecture. Old trees curl with age and rod iron fences meet at swirling iron gates. Some are quaint, others rise above the rest on hills and reflect old money from a different era.
The pond at sunset is the perfect place to sit for a while and feed the ducks after a long day. With quarters you can buy duck feed at dispensers and watch the freenzy!
On a different day my friend Queila and I came back down to explore the area of Blacksburg. After the drive we did lunch at the Blacksburg Taphouse. A local spot for eats and drinks this place was great to grab a burger and a beer. I did the burger minus the beer;) I am a wine drinker after all, and with all the driving I stuck with an old fashioned iced tea. Folks can tell I'm not from the South as soon as I order an Un-Sweet Tea...
Next door is a lovely Antique Shop that's been serving the community for many years. Now run by the daughter of the original owner, this antique store has everything from beautiful furniture and accents to china and women's accessories.
The nearby town of Blacksburg has a few cute boutiques to explore, the best of which include: Mad Dog and The Clothes Rack. Both of these shops have a great selection of unique clothing and accessories with a bohemian feel. I've also heard good things about the local taco resto Cabo Fish Taco, do try if you're in the mood for something Baja!
Less than 30 min away sits the town of Christiansburg which boasts a small historic district and a really nice winery! This day I went exploring with my husband and we started with brunch at the winery.
White Barrel Winery is a wonderful little winery in the countryside of Christiansburg. They serve a lovely selection of wines and it's one of the few wineries in Virginia that serve food other than the inevitable cheese and crackers. White Barrel Winery offers up a delicious brunch and lunch menu for your enjoyment.
I enjoyed a simple breakfast of scrambled eggs and potato hash while Steven dug into the Nacho Omelette. If it had been later I would've went for the Pan Seared Gnocchi with Basil and Tomato!
After we finished brunch we enjoyed the wine tasting:) A full selection of whites and reds and each was distinct and flavorful! The staff here is lovely, very friendly and knowledgeable about the area and the wines.
We grabbed a selfie outside before we went into town to capture our time together. With our jobs it's hard for us to have day dates so I completely feel the need to document it;)
In Christiansburg there are two extremely large Antique Stores, Antiques on Main and The Cambria Emporium which sits across from the train depot a few miles from the center of town. Both could easily take an hour or more to walk through. They are filled with treasures from near and far, furniture, glassware, silverware, china and other treasures.
After traveling through Southwestern Virginia many days in a row to gather my findings, I settled in with a small glass of port and one of my newest little dears, an antique German doll with one of the purest faces I've ever seen:) Till the next adventure, live beautifully!
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