Cooperative Living June 2014 - 35

Wineries are also a big draw, and
for Thistle Ridge Bed and Breakfast,
located down a winding country road
south of Harrisonburg in the rolling
farmscape between Mount Crawford
and Bridgewater, wine enthusiasts
make up a major component of the
business. On first glance, Thistle Ridge
looks like an ordinary Valley farmhouse.
In fact, I breeze right by it on a
chill winter evening. But after circling
back and being invited in by innkeeper
Dixie Stromberg, I find myself in a
cozy suite decorated in cheerful blue,
white, and yellow, furnished with
antiques and reproductions, courtesy
of Stromberg's frequent patronage of
estate sales.
What makes Thistle Ridge unique,
however, is not so much its downhome
atmosphere as the wine tours
the Strombergs offer. Guests can
arrange in advance for day trips to
Shenandoah Valley- or Charlottesvillearea
wineries, transportation and lunch
included. 
Innkeeper Dixie Stromberg says
Thistle Ridge Bed and Breakfast
is a favorite of wine enthusiasts
visiting the area. Through the inn,
guests can arrange day trips to
Shenandoah Valley- or
Charlottesville-area wineries,
including transportation and lunch.
IF YOU GO...
Get your bearings at the Hardesty-Higgins House Visitor
Center (212 S. Main St., 540-432-8395, www.visitharrisonburg
va.com). Enjoy excellent local shopping in downtown Harrisonburg.
Be sure to hit Mint (128 W. Market St., Suite 103, 540-434-6468)
for truly unique women's clothing and Ruby Red Shoe Boutique
(128 W. Market St., Suite 102, 540-434-7829) for NYC-worthy
shoes and trendy accessories. Also in the Wetsel Seed complex is
The Lady Jane: Vintage Home Décor (128 W. Market St.,
Suite 101, 540-820-6629, www.theladyjaneshop.com). Ten
Thousand Villages (181 S. Main St., 540-442-1010, www.
tenthousandvillages.com/harrisonburg), which sells beautifully crafted
home décor, jewelry, accessories, and garden items made by
artisans in developing nations, is another must visit.
Across the street, you can grab lunch at Earth and Tea Café
(120 S. Main St., 540-432-8280, www.earthandteacafe.com). I
love the place for its lush atmosphere of silk, velvet, and jacquard
fabrics with a variety of tables, booths, and private lounging areas.
The café features teas from around the world as well as tapas,
wraps, salads, and sandwiches. Get your pre-dinner drinks at
Three Brothers Brewing (800 N. Main St., threebrosbrew.
com). This local brewery, operated by (as you might guess) three
brothers, has tastings every afternoon and evening Thursday
through Monday. For dinner, make reservations at The Local
Chop House and Grill (56 W. Gay St., 540-801-0505,
www.localchops.com), or Union Station Restaurant (128 W.
Market St., 540-437-0042, www.unionstationdowntown.com),
also in the old Wetsel Seed complex.
The best overnight digs in Harrisonburg are at the By the
Side of the Road Inn & Cottages (491 Garbers Church Rd.,
540-801-0430, www.bythesideoftheroad.com), a gathering of
cottages and a stately manor house around a pond draped with
weeping willows on the west side of downtown.
June 2014/www.co-opliving.com
In the morning,
head south on Route
11 to the
Shenandoah
Heritage Market
(121 Carpenter Ln.,
540-433-3929,
www.shenandoah
market.net), which
features some very
reasonably priced
antique furniture, shelves and shelves of knick-knacks, antique farm
tools, and estate jewelry, and a mouth-watering selection of
Mennonite baked goods, cheeses, pastas, spices, candies, and
baking ingredients at Grandma's Pantry. Make sure to pick up
some pimento cheese while you're here!
Mount Crawford, just south of Harrisonburg, is home to the
Shenandoah Heritage Market
Green Valley Book Fair (2192 Green Valley Ln., 800-3850099,
www.gvbookfair.com), one of my favorite spots for obtaining
baskets full of discount books, including literary fiction. Also, be
sure to venture southwest for a side trip on Route 276, and pay a
visit to White Oak Lavender Farm (2644 Cross Keys Rd.,
540-421-6345, www.whiteoaklavender.com), where you can purchase
everything from heavenly scented sachets to lavender-oilinfused
lotions and soaps.
Stay the night at Thistle
Ridge Bed and
Breakfast & Winery
Tours (11 Pops Ln.,
Bridgewater, 540-828-4118,
www.thistleridgebnb.com),
and arrange for a
Shenandoah Valley winery
tour after breakfast! 
Earth and Tea Café
33

http://www.visitharrisonburg http://www.va.com http://www.shenandoah http://www.market.net http://www.theladyjaneshop.com http://www.tenthousandvillages.com/harrisonburg http://www.earthandteacafe.com http://www.gvbookfair.com http://www.whiteoaklavender.com http://www.localchops.com http://www.unionstationdowntown.com http://www.thistleridgebnb.com http://www.bythesideoftheroad.com

Cooperative Living June 2014

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