Traveling Solo? 48-Hour Getaway in Waynesboro

September 01, 2021
Outdoors, Arts & Culture, Food, History

Are you looking for a chance to rest and recharge in peace and solitude? Do you want to immerse yourself in the natural world or try a new local experience? Are you hoping to connect with new people? There's lots for the solo traveler to do in Waynesboro. Read on for our 48-hour itinerary.

 

Day #1:

 

Check into Your Lodging

Waynesboro has many terrific places to stay, including brand hotels and bed and breakfasts. Treat yourself right at Heritage Hill Bed & Breakfast, located just five minutes from the bustle of downtown, situated perfectly on 7.7 acres. Enjoy the solace of a picturesque mountain sunrise from your 4-poster bed, followed by a delicious homemade breakfast.

 

 

A second option is a sweet escape at Cider House Bed and Breakfast, a 1790s historic home with modern conveniences located on a 20-acre organic farm. You’ll enjoy the mountain views, the seclusion, and the gourmet breakfast that emphasizes local meats, eggs, ripe fruits, and seasonal vegetables in dishes like apple pancakes, frittatas, omelets, and more. Enjoy the privacy of your room, but head to the common spaces to mingle if you feel like company!

 

Grab Some Food and Entertainment

The French Press hosts an Open Mic Night each Friday from 7-10 p.m. Celebrate the arts by watching talent of all sorts on display while you drink coffee and eat fancy sandwiches. Kick back and watch quietly, or show your appreciation and make a connection by chatting with one of the performers. Have a song to sing or a poem to recite? Step right up.

 

 

Day #2

After breakfast at your B&B, park your car in a free parking lot downtown and spend your day exploring shops, dining, and Constitution Park, all within easy walking distance. Head down to the Waynesboro Farmer’s Market at the Pavilion in Constitution Park. You’ll want to select from fresh fruit and baked goods to nibble later, and you might find a special craft souvenir at the market or some fresh flowers to brighten your day. You’ll enjoy the friendly atmosphere and community spirit surrounding the market, and just how open the producers are to talking about their processes!

 

 

If the weather is nice…

If you’ve always wanted to try fly fishing (or up your game with a lesson or guided trip), visit South River Fly Shop. The shop's guides offer a number of packages to outfit you and get you on the water.

 

 

Reward yourself after your morning adventures with a “Virginia Slice” at Benny Stivale’s and enjoy it in their outdoor beer garden or take it to go and grab a picnic table in nearby Constitution Park. Work off that lunch with a stroll down the South River Greenway, a one-mile paved trail that meanders along the river through Constitution Park with natural and urban views.

 

 

If it’s raining…

No sunshine? No problem. Visit the Russell Museum, which features artwork created by Walter Russell and displayed at the beautiful, marble Swannanoa Palace when Walter and Lao Russell lived there and used the historic mansion to house their University of Science and Philosophy. Visitors can enjoy more than 40 tons of Russell’s paintings and sculptures, as well as occasional exhibits that show the work of other local artists. Swannanoa also hosts tours on select weekends and other exciting events, and the palace is just a short drive up Afton Mountain.

 

 

Have pent up stress or frustrations? Get them out at the Havoc House, downtown Waynesboro’s very own smash room! Pick a session time, gear up for safety, and have a blast smashing all kinds of junk in an enclosed room. The best part? They’ll clean up your mess. The Havoc House has also recently added axe throwing, another outlet to release your tension and a test for your aim.

 

 

Evening

How about starting your evening meal with a serving of fried alligator from the Green Leaf Grill? Follow it up with a drunken shrimp New Orleans-style po’ boy, a fried seafood sampler, or a vegetarian coconut curry. Everything on the menu is good, so it might be hard to choose! Meals are available on site or takeout. After you eat, take yourself on a date to the movies. The spacious and comfortable Zeus Digital Theaters offers eight movie screens, along with an arcade if you have time (or on-screen monsters) you’d like to kill.

 

 

Day #3

After checking out from your relaxing B&B, grab your headlamp to explore the Claudius Crozet Blue Ridge Tunnel, one of the area’s newest walking/biking trails, which ventures under Afton Mountain. The tunnel was the longest train tunnel in the country when it was constructed. Used for railroad travel from the 1850s to the 1940s, it sat neglected for years until its recent restoration and repurposing as a recreational area.

 

 

After your underground adventure, fuel up for your drive home at Weasie’s Kitchen, a diner where a friendly staff serves big helpings of country-cooked comfort food for breakfast or lunch.

 

Whether you’re here to relax and recharge or escape the stress of daily life, Waynesboro is ready to welcome you and help you clear your mind.

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