Blake Walsh

15 Best Things to Do in Culpeper, VA

  • Published 2022/03/01

Culpeper, Virginia’s only incorporated town and CulpeperCountry’s seat, was once known as Culpeper Courthouse and Fairfax before that.

It’s only an hour away from Washington, D.C., yet Culpeper, Virginia, feels like a world away.

People are friendlier, and the pace is slower.

In Culpeper, you’ll find a mix of old-world elegance and modern convenience.

As a nature lover, you’ll be surrounded by parks, lakes, and family-friendly farms all around you.

Its breweries and pubs provide regular live music performances and year-round art classes and seminars.

No matter which route you choose, you’ll be greeted with several breweries, distilleries, and wineries of the highest caliber.

Take Photographs with the Historic A.P. Hill Boyhood Home

Exterior of the A.P. Hill Boyhood Home.

Jerrye & Roy Klotz, MD, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Located in Culpeper, Culpeper County, Virginia, lies the A. P. Hill Boyhood Home.

The first portion was erected in 1820, and it was expanded to its current size in the early 1860s.

The townhouse has three stories and a five-bay by a seven-bay brick layout in the Tuscan villa style.

Seven bays were added to its depth soon before the American Civil War.

A marker plaque at the A.P. Hill Boyhood Home.

Cecouchman, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

General Edward Stevens erected it in the Revolutionary War, and it was bought by A. P. Hill’s father in 1832.

In addition to the apartment, it also contained a shop. In 1862, the Hill family sold the land.

As of now, the A.P. Hill Boyhood Home is occupied by commercial establishments.

On one of the Culpeper Historic District’s walking excursions, you can get a glimpse of it outside.

Learn How the Town Came to Be at Museum of Culpeper History

Located in downtown Culpeper, the Museum of Culpeper is housed in the old railroad depot.

A gift store and various display halls are available at the property. The existence of dinosaurs in the Triassic Period is celebrated in the Triassic Gallery.

The Manahoac Confederation, a Native American organization that occupied Blue Ridge before European immigrants arrived, is described in the Native American Gallery.

The Culpeper Minutemen’s participation in the American Revolution is shown in the Colonial Gallery.

Civil Conflict Gallery in Culpeper, Virginia, allows visitors to learn about Culpeper’s role in America’s most aggressive war.

Temporary exhibitions are rotated through the museum regularly.

Try Moving Meadows Farm’s Baked Goods

For more than a century, Moving Meadows Farm in Hudson has been operated by the Hudson family.

In Culpeper, Virginia, they have a 47-acre homestead while also managing a 100-acre farm where they grow wheat, Dinkle wheat, and rye and pasture-raised chickens and grass-fed cow and goats.

Whole-grain bread and cinnamon buns produced with flour milled in-store are the specialties of their bakery in Culpeper, Virginia.

You can also acquire some freshly milled flour here.

Soups and sandwiches prepared from scratch are also available in the bakery and a wide variety of baked goods, like chocolate chip cookies and brownies and cinnamon rolls and muffins.

Explore Andora Farm

On Route 3 in Culpeper County, Andora Farm is the home of Tom Seay, an excellent horseman.

Cattle Drive Weekends at Andora Farm is open to experienced and novice riders of all ages from March through October.

At the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, nestled in colonial Virginia, the main farmhouse was built around 1758 and assessed by George Washington during the American Revolution.

Daniel Boone, who lived and worked on the farm within a mile of the site, used to transport tobacco to nearby ports to be shipped to England for sale.

The farm a Daniel Boone Days event in the fall with artists, mountain men, craftspeople, historians, and hayrides to commemorate this legacy.

During the Civil War, the house was inhabited by Union officers, and approximately 30,000 soldiers tented here and on nearby farmland.

During the Civil War, General George Armstrong Custer led forces through the ford during the Battles of Signal Mountain and subsequent engagements.

You may easily reach this and other battlegrounds from Andora Farm.

Tour the Burgandine House

Burgandine House, a two-and-a-half-story historic residence in Culpeper, Virginia, was likely built in the late 1700s and is the oldest privately owned property in the city.

It seems to be a clapboard-covered log home with a gable roof on the outside.

Except for a few places that have been rebuilt, most of the interior retained its original parts.

Initially owned by Mrs. Elizabeth Burgandine Coons, the log home was presented to the town of Culpeper in 1966.

The Culpeper Historical Society used the building as its headquarters for numerous years.

Culpeper’s town government restored the home to its previous splendor in the 1990s as a nod to its rich history.

On the National Register of Historic Places, you can find the Burgandine House.

Check Out Amish Furniture Connections’ Woodworks

If you want a lasting memory of your Culpeper visit while adding something to revamp your home, Amish Furniture Connections may have something for you.

In the past, Amish furniture was only renowned for its unfinished wood construction and its traditional country or shaker design.

As years go by, craftsmen from the Amish community have recently ventured into hardwoods and finishing.

Amish Furniture Connections features wooden furniture made by Amish craftsmen.

The craftsmen in the Amish community use the knowledge and pride they’ve gained from their upbringing to make furniture that you won’t find in most stores or online retailers.

Dovetail drawers and solid wood cabinet sides are standard on all hardwood furniture available.

A wide range of stain colors and wood species are available at Amish Furniture Connections, including Cherry, Oak, Quarter Sawn White Oak, Maple, and Pine.

The item can also be changed or manufactured just for you.

Pay Respects to Fallen Heroes at Culpeper National Cemetery

Headstones at Culpeper National Cemetery.

Something Original at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Founded in 1867, Culpeper National Cemetery in Culpeper, Virginia, is a six-acre burial place.

Expanded many times in the late twentieth century.

More than 22 acres were added to the land to accommodate the needs of veterans.

About 7,500 individuals have been buried there since the Civil War and the growth of Culpeper, Virginia.

Several significant monuments may be seen at the cemetery.

A memorial honoring the soldiers of seventh ohio at Culpeper National Cemetery.

Something Original at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania constructed monuments honoring the regiments whose soldiers perished during the Battle of Cedar Mountain.

Since it was built in 1992, the Armed Forces Monument has been a popular tourist attraction.

For the Civil War’s Unknown soldiers, a monument was built in 1988.

A cast-iron cannon tube was used to construct the National Military Cemetery monument.

Unleash Your Inner Picasso at Wine & Design

What could be better than raising a glass to great times with great people?

Not much, in our opinion.

Indulge your creative side with a class called Wine & Design.

Attend one of its two-hour wine-tasting sessions with a group of friends or a significant other.

A local artist will provide stroke-by-stroke instruction using its canvases and brush supplies.

If you’re looking for a new and exciting way to interact with your friends, Wine & Design has a wide variety of paint and sip events for all ages, groups, and abilities.

During your break, sip wine and eat some cake!

Stroll around Old House Vineyards

On 75 acres of overgrown alfalfa fields and an abandoned farm home in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Old House Vineyard was painstakingly constructed.

Old House Vineyards has been transformed into a lush vineyard producing premium grapes for various award-winning wines.

The abandoned 1800s farmhouse is now a warm and attractive meeting spot and wine tasting room, hosting frequent live music and art events and serving the vineyard’s finest wines.

The cellar and vineyard at Old House are open to the public for visits, and they are a favorite location for weddings and other events.

Generally, a food truck is parked in front of a live music event on a given day.

Experience the Paranormal at Grass Rootes

A Culpeper, Virginia, Grass Rootes opened its doors in the spring of 2016.

Tobacco warehouses, tin shops, stables, Civil War jails, and hardware stores have all been housed in the structure during its existence.

The system is supposed to be haunted by the spirits of former warriors and enslaved people.

Grass Rootes, a restaurant in Culpeper, kept the ancient exposed brick wall and covered it with vintage town photos.

An appealing ambiance is created by the crimson banquettes along the border, including bright cushions.

The basement has been restored to its original 19th-century prison appearance and is currently used for private gatherings.

In keeping with its name, the food at Grass Rootes is created from scratch using fresh, seasonal ingredients sourced locally.

Everything on the menu is sourced from nearby farmers.

Catering to clients with unique dietary requirements is a top priority.

Every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night, you can catch some of the best local bands performing.

Have a Wine Tasting at Mountain Run Winery

Mountain Run Winery is a tiny Virginia farm vineyard and winery that produces award-winning wines located just five minutes from downtown Culpeper.

Altillo Vines from Hurt, Virginia, and three other area wineries have partnered to supply their estate vineyards with grapes.

A winery estate is an excellent option for a family picnic, a stroll around the vineyard, or a relaxing sunset in one of their Adirondack chairs.

A 120-year-old corn crib and a 100-year-old horse barn house their tasting room.

An oak and pear tree-shaded 150-year-old oak and pear trees surround the property, which overlooks the flood plain of Mountain Run.

Enjoy live music and gatherings here.

Surround Yourself with Plants at Botanical Dwellings

At Botanical Dwellings, a home décor and gift boutique in Culpeper, Virginia for plant lovers, you’ll find everything you need to make your surroundings more lively with plants.

Plant parents and plant lovers benefit from the brand’s unique shopping experience, anchored in the company’s objective of creating beautiful settings for plants and plant parents alike.

Using plants and one-of-a-kind home decor, the Botanical Dwelling’s staff aims to encourage customers to make their living spaces more visually appealing.

Their primary purpose is to help their clients feel good about their space, be creative with their design, and walk out of the store as confident plant parents.

Bring home a succulent if you wish!

Shop Aboriginal Art at The Cameleer

Camel trains are led by a cameleer.

“Cameleer” conjures images of camel caravans trundling over the Silk Road, exchanging exotic items from a bygone era.

“The Cameleer” felt like a perfect name for this shop for its owners.

For the last two decades, this shop in downtown Culpeper, Virginia, which began to focus on Central Australian aboriginal art and craftsmanship, has grown to include items from over 80 nations.

It has also extended its product range to jewelry, apparel for both men and women, linens, tableware, and other household items, as well as stationary.

The shop collection covers various products and nations, from Argentina to Zimbabwe.

Have a Pint of Beer at Beer Hound Brewery

Beer Hound Brewery is a microbrewery situated in Culpeper, Virginia, that aims to keep beer local by producing and serving it to consumers at the brewery itself.

In October, Culpeper’s first brewery, Beer Hound Brewery, opened its doors.

It didn’t take long for the Beer Hound brand to establish itself as a downtown Culpeper institution, drawing both locals and tourists.

All its beers have the names of canine companions to establish a connection between the beer type and the hound.

Stop by to check what’s new on tap at Beer Hound Brewery and have a pint of your favorite kind of beer!

Buy Fresh Produce at Culpeper Downtown Farmers Market

This farmers’ market began in the late 1950s.

For more than 50 years, the market has moved throughout the Depot neighborhood until landing in its current spot on the East Davis Street parking lot.

Culpeper’s Downtown Farmers Market has become a must-stop on Saturday mornings.

From the final Saturday in April through the Saturday before Thanksgiving, the market is open for business in the neighborhood.

At the end of Davis Street, the market is a one-stop shop for local goods.

Culpeper Downtown Farmers Market features more than 30 booths.

While you’re there, make a point to support your local farmers by purchasing fresh produce from the market.

Shop at the farmers’ market for a wide variety of locally grown produce and flowers. Be sure to try some locally sourced products, including farm-fresh eggs and baked items and locally bred beef, pig, and poultry.

Final Thoughts

Architectural Digest named Culpeper Virginia’s prettiest town, and the city certainly lives up to its name!

Experience this charming town with its list of the best things to do in Culpeper, Virginia.

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