Fluvanna offers many great experiences for travelers all year round – and the fun truly peaks during the Fall. It’s the perfect time and the perfect place to discover something new, while feeling the comfort of a small-town community.
When you find Fluvanna, you can find your flow with outdoor activities, the arts, history, and agricultural attractions. Enjoy for the day, the weekend, or as a day trip, during a stay in nearby Charlottesville (30 minutes) or Richmond (45-60 minutes).
The center of the draw? Our people. Fluvanna has a welcoming rural energy. Visitors will find Fluvanna a peaceful, friendly place. For the stories behind the smiling faces of Fluvanna hospitality, visit FindFluvanna.org.
What’s leading visitors to Find Fluvanna this Fall?
-Part of the Monticello American Viticultural Area (AVA) – the area Wine Enthusiast has named the world’s best wine region – Fluvanna is home to two award-winning wineries. Both Hardware Hills Winery and Cunningham Creek Winery are casual, dog-friendly and a good fit for the outdoor-focused traveler. Hardware Hills, located on Route 6 near Scottsville, is popular with travelers taking a fall trip from RVA. Some even stop on their way to the Rt. 151 corridor.Cunningham Creek Winery, located near Palmyra, is a perfect place to wind down after a great day of hiking, kayaking, mountain biking, or horse-back riding at Pleasant Grove.
–Fruit Hill Orchard, family owned and operated with experience going back five generations, provides a wholesome experience for the entire family. With peaches, apples, pumpkins, and so much fun, Fruit Hill is the perfect stop this fall. Cooperative Living recently wrote a great feature piece about this iconic Fluvanna experience.
-One of the best parts about visiting a rural community is being able to purchase fresh food straight from the farm. Home to many working farms, swing by any one of the farm stands you’ll find throughout the county, including Modesto Farms, Chevy Chase Farm, Salt & Pepper, Hidden Springs Family Farm, Harmony Hill, Crossing Brook, and more.
-What started in 2022 as a one day event, the Studio Tour, organized by Arts of Fluvanna County, will expand to two days in 2024. On October 19 and 20, dozens of local artists will open their studios for tours and conversations with visitors, showcasing the wide range of talents in Fluvanna. Fine arts and crafts, including woodworking, metals, glass, painting, pastels, and many more art mediums will be on display in this up close opportunity to connect around art and the artists.
–Pleasant Grove is a paradise for the outdoor adventurer. The 900-acre county-owned park includes miles of frontage on the Rivanna River, a State-designated Scenic River. The park also features more than 20 miles of trails perfect for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. With the arrival of cooler temps, visitors can enjoy disc golf, birding, and incredible flora and fauna along miles and miles of trails amid the beauty of fall.
-Pleasant Grove trails will come alive the weekend of October 5 & October 6, when the park plays host to the state mountain biking championships. The major elevation changes on the river bluff trails make this an exciting marathon race, and an event not to be missed.
-Pleasant Grove also offers attractions for the history buff. The Pleasant Grove House Museum and the Farm Heritage Museum offer a window to the past, with exhibits highlighting transportation of bygone days gone and honoring the rural, agrarian history of the county. Come and experience that history during the September 28 Fluvanna Family Fall Festival.
-Witness a piece of Fluvanna’s connection to our Revolutionary past and kick off upcoming VA250 events during Columbia Day. Located on the border of Goochland and Fluvanna at the confluence of the James River and the Rivanna River, the former town of Columbia was a thriving transportation hub in the colonial era. On October 12, Fluvanna will celebrate the 200th anniversary of the “Farewell Tour” of the Marquis de Lafayette. A roadside marker will be dedicated in Columbia to commemorate the 1824 visit of the popular French leader and Revolutionary War hero.
-Wondering where to eat on your adventure? Get a broad taste of Fluvanna at Local Eats. Part short-order kitchen, part local food market, Local Eats offers visitors a chance to eat delicious food (including vegetarian and vegan options), and shop for locally-made foods such as Two Labs Coffee, Herbert’s Wine Jelly, and much more. Check out more Fluvanna restaurants in our Find Fluvanna Visitor Guide, available at FindFluvanna.org.
