If you like a slab of country ham with your eggs, Coffee Break Cafe is the breakfast joint for you. Go for the Country Boy Breakfast, or build your own biscuit sandwich with your favorite flavor of breakfast meat, eggs, and cheese. Folks have started their days off at Coffee Break Cafe since 1973. If you’ve got a musical side, bring an instrument to sit and play at the Tuesday morning jam sessions.

Just 30 minutes from Martinsville Speedway is a racing museum where you can get up close to racing history and its cars. One of the most successful and long-standing racing teams in NASCAR history--the Wood Brothers--originated in Patrick County. Walk through the history of NASCAR since the 1950s, and check out some truly amazing machines at this museum. Take your foot of the gas as you round the corners in this museum. There’s lots to see.

One part bar, one part restaurant, one part market, Pickle & Ash works with local providers and showcases regional art and music. At lunch, choose from some of their seasonally inspired, scratch made dishes like the charred pimento cheese sammy or the slow braised brisket tacos. The spinach salad comes with crunchy pecans, whipped queso and a honey-smoked paprika vinaigrette. Hungry yet?

Ready for a survivor snack? Worms are on the menu at Nature Freaks, an environmental/outdoor education organization based in the foothills of the Blueridge Mountains. Take a hike or hand-on learning class at Nature Freaks Acres where you can learn about trees, mammals, wilderness survival, and wild edible plants and (GULP) insects. Bring your own hot sauce, it may make the wiggly snacks go down a bit easier.

Please call ahead or email for an appointment.
Phone: (276) 692-4738
Email: iamanaturefreak@gmail.com

Dress in your “resort best” and prepare to have trouble deciding what to order. The menu at Elements will tempt you with starters, like fried quail with whipped honey and bread and butter pickles, and bewitch you with mains, like pan roasted grouper over glazed red lentils, beech mushrooms with a ramp beurre blanc. Hopefully your dinner partner likes to share bites so you can try more than one.

Mabry Mill’s buckwheat pancakes are famous for a reason. Taste for yourself--along with egg plates with a country ham or biscuits smothered in sausage gravy--when you make this historic mill your breakfast destination. Originally built in 1910, the historic water-powered grist mill, sawmill, and nearby blacksmith shop provide you with a view of pioneer life along the Parkway. Self-guided tours include a sorghum mill, soap making kettle, and an "old time" whiskey still. Afterwards, stop by the Store and pick up a bag of cornmeal and buckwheat flour to take as a gift. We won’t tell if you keep it.

Stroll and shop through this unique artisan studio and gallery in downtown Woolwine. Marvel at the stained glass creations and consider registering for one of their workshops that teaches how to create stained glass panels. The gallery also offers eclectic jewelry, fine art, and crafts for sale.

Studio hours vary. Please call ahead at (276) 340-8445

Escape the hustle and bustle with a visit to this charming little farm in Critz, VA. Make friends with free-roaming goats, chickens, and pigs. View honeybee hives. Bring a picnic lunch and relax on the lawn. View their barn quilts also on the Patrick County Barn Quilt Trail. Make your reservations to visit on the farm’s Facebook page (admission is free). Handpick some fresh flowers while you’re there and bring some of the farm’s cheer home with you.

Head to Leonardo's for lunch and fall in love with this quaint, family-owned pizzeria with a Greek flair. Omar and Sadie serve up gyros, pizzas, calzones, salads, wraps, and desserts. Snap a selfie with a salami. Grab a portrait with a pepperoni. Update your profile pic with a photo of you eating a slice of pizza no sane person would attempt to eat alone. Good times. Melted Cheese. The perfect recipe for a great lunch.

Life is a series of awkward and humiliating moments separated by candy binges. That's why life has led you to Nancy’s Candy Company. Fudge. Truffles. Handmade candy. Sample and purchase your favorites in its adorable retail storefront. While inside on a weekday, look through the large windows into the factory to watch the candy being made. Just outside, there’s a Love Sign perfect for a photo shoot / awkward family photo style moment with your travel gang.

Pull up to Villa Appalaccia and do a double-take at the Italian style villa and killer view. Swirl, sip, and smile at their 8-wine tasting or buy a bottle and enjoy it out on the beautiful grounds. Try the Lirico if you like white wines with a hint of grapefruit, or Sangiovese which no doubt will go great with your next pasta dish. Don’t leave Buddy and Fido at home for this one, kids and leashed pets are welcome and might enjoy stopping by the Rocky Knob Recreation Area located next door.