🍸 You had me at martini trail.


Hi Reader,

I just got back from a travel creators conference in Virginia, and besides getting to see so many online friends IRL, one of my favorite parts was exploring a few places I'd never been before.

I got to spend an afternoon at Jolene Family Winery in New Kent, just outside of Richmond.

It’s a family-run winery right on a small lake with a huge patio and adorable glamping tents you can rent.

If you're a fan of dry wines, I loved their Family White, a Chardonnay-based blend. And the Vidal Blanc was excellent too. Definitely worth a stop if you're in the area.

After the conference, Visit SoSi invited me to spend a weekend exploring Danville and Pittsylvania County.

I'll admit, I didn't know much about the area before I arrived. By the end of the weekend, though, I was wondering why more people don't have it on their radar.

I loved how many of the city's old warehouses and historic buildings have been converted into restaurants, hotels, and gathering spaces. It made every stop feel like it had a story.

A few of my favorites:
🍸 The Lady Astor Martini Trail inspired by one of Danville's most famous residents
🍷 Self-pour wines at Crema & Vine (inside a converted gas station!)
🦀 Some of the best crab cakes I've had at The Schoolfield Restaurant
🚶‍♀️ A gorgeous riverfront park and miles of walking trails
🏛️ Beautiful Gilded Age mansions in the Old West End

Whether you're planning a Virginia road trip or just looking for somewhere new to explore, Danville is worth checking out.

See the full guide for all my recommended stops, plus tips for planning your weekend getaway.

Cheers,

Laura

🏨

Stays I'm Loving

This hotel in a former newspaper office

🐘

Activities I'm Into

A walkable "safari" in the River District

⚙️

Travel Tools I'm Using

This guide to Danville's Old West End

Recommendations may be affiliate links on which I earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products and services that I love and think you’ll love too!

P.O. Box 44, Pinehurst, MA 01866
Unsubscribe · Preferences

Wine Travelista

Hi! I'm Laura, your go-to source for all things wine and wanderlust. Whether you're a wine newbie or a seasoned pro, I'm here to help you experience the same joy and education that wine country travel has brought me. From wine travel basics to wine region guides to done-for-you itineraries, I make planning a wine tasting trip simple…and fun!

Read more from Wine Travelista

Hi Reader, I spend a lot of time dreaming about international destinations like Italy and France (for good reason!). But between Fourth of July celebrations, America turning 250, and the U.S. making a World Cup run, it's been a pretty good week to be celebrating here in Boston (or as some might say, "New Scotland" 😆). So it feels like the perfect excuse to appreciate some of the places that helped shape American wine. 🇺🇸 From the oldest vineyard in the country to the region that proved we...

Hi Reader, As the travel planner in my friend group, I've organized my fair share of trips over the years. Girls' weekends. Family vacations. Friends’ getaways. And they usually start the same way: "This is going to be so much fun!" Then, things start to get complicated…especially when you add a wine region to the mix. Now you're coordinating winery reservations, transportation, tasting fees, and making sure nobody gets stranded at a winery because they stopped to buy a case of wine. 🤪 But...

Hi Reader, Back when I started branching out beyond your basic Cab Sauv and Chardonnay wines, Chianti was one of the first I tried. I'm not entirely sure why. Maybe I'd heard someone order it in a movie and thought it sounded sophisticated. 🎬🤵🏻😆 Or maybe it was because I was a young professional on a budget and Chianti was one of the few wines I could actually afford. Either way, when you hear "Chianti," there's a good chance one of those wicker basket bottles comes to mind. You know the...