Blog Post

Just outside of your Cornerstone home, family-friendly outdoor fun awaits in Richmond and its surrounding areas. With the holidays around the corner, there’s no better time to take a day trip into town with family or friends to enjoy outdoor excursions and seasonal events! Take a look at a few ways to get into the festive spirit and enjoy the season:

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Boulevard Flower Gardens: Family-owned and operated, these scenic gardens provide year-round beauty to residents and visitors who come to explore flowers, trees, produce, and more. When your grandchildren are in town, take them pumpkin picking! Families are welcome to visit the pumpkin patch, feed the animals, play on the playgrounds, and explore the lush garden center.

Steam Bell Beer Works: Specializing in unique farmhouse ales, Steam Bell Beer Works is the first production craft brewery in the area — and is so much  fun to visit for a fall day trip! Grab a couple friends and sit out on the patio for a fun and relaxing day trying new, delicious beer and enjoying the autumn weather. 

Henricus Historical Park: 2020 is so yesterday… travel back 400 years in time to 1611 and experience the second successful English settlement in the New World! This vibrant park is perfect for history buffs and nature lovers alike, with autumn fun from family-friendly ghost tours to pop-up breweries. Keep history alive while enjoying unique excursions with your family and friends.

Pocahontas State Park: Fall is the best time to celebrate the great outdoors! With 90 miles of lush trails, this park is perfect for bikers (and walkers!) to soak up the beautiful scenery. There’s also camping cabins, open space to enjoy a picnic with family, dining halls, and three lakes that offer fishing opportunities and boat rentals. 

Ashton Creek Vineyard: What could be sweeter than sharing a few glasses of wine with friends in a scenic, casual setting? Focused on southern hospitality and memorable experiences, this cozy vineyard is the perfect place to enjoy charcuterie and crostini's with some of the most delicious wines you’ve had all year. 

R. Garland Dodd Park at Point of Rocks: You never need an excuse to enjoy some fresh air and relaxation time with family and friends. This 176-acre park is filled with all of the outdoor fun you love, from picnic areas and trails to a floating boardwalk through a freshwater tidal marsh. Disconnect from technology for the day and immerse yourself in the autumn scenery with the ones you love.

Hanover County

Hanover Wayside Park: With scenic fall foliage and a chill in the air, there’s no better time to put on a cozy sweater and soak up the beauty of the season. Take a relaxing day trip to this family-friendly park with your grandkids and enjoy time spent in the great outdoors. Lay out a blanket for a picnic, take a leisurely stroll along a walking trail, and compete in a fun game of volleyball with family before heading home. 

James River Cellars Winery: Wine flights with your friends? Say no more. This scenic winery in Glen Allen offers a variety of 100% Virginia wines to taste and enjoy on beautiful grounds. There are also private group tastings for you to indulge in a personalized experience that makes for the perfect day trip with family or friends.

Center of the Universe Brewing: “It all revolves around the beer!” If you’re intrigued by beers like a white Russian milk stout, a brown ale brewed with cold-pressed coffee, or a Mexican hot chocolate imperial stout, you’re going to love the lineup of unique fall beers at this cozy and fun beer hub. Sit out on the patio with your friends and enjoy the fresh air with your new favorite drink.

Castle Glen Estates Winery: Set on a historic, rolling farm, this countryside winery has everything you’re looking for in a fall day trip with your friends: gorgeous scenery, delicious wine, and the peace and quiet you love. Just like Thomas Jefferson famously said wine is a “necessity of life,” this beautiful winery prioritizes great wine that brings people together and creates memorable experiences. 

Historic Town of Ashland: There’s no place like downtown Ashland! Stroll through the vibrant main street along the railway tracks and enjoy the variety of restaurants, stores, and historic Victorian homes. Home of Randolph-Macon College, this quaint town is the ideal place to visit and enjoy a picnic in the fall. 

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Braehead Farm: Farm Festival Weekends are in full swing! Purchase tickets ahead of time to visit on the weekends and enjoy festive hayrides, corn and sunflower mazes, and family playgrounds with farm animals, a tree house, slides, swings, a hay barn, and so much more. You can also come down to pick pumpkins or visit the concession stands, no tickets needed. 

Eden Try Winery: Set on a sprawling, scenic estate, this winery provides the perfect setting for a day trip with friends. Enjoy walking paths, formal gardens, and multiple trickling fountains as you sample handcrafted Virginia wines. Open on weekends, treat yourself to a relaxing day of delicious wine and beautiful scenery!

Kickoff to the Holiday Season: Can you feel the joy in the air? It’s (almost) the most wonderful time of the year! Starting on November 14, downtown Fredericksburg will be all “dressed up” in its beloved festive cheer — come experience the lively streets, where store fronts will be decorated and holiday music will be playing. Begin your holiday shopping at the quaint shops or simply enjoy the holiday happiness.

From all of us at Cornerstone Homes, we hope you enjoy your outdoor adventures this fall!