Back in Basic City
A view of Waynesboro, Va outside the Shenandoah Valley Extension Center in May
Stumbled upon the Valley all over again…
I find it so funny how I barely did anything “fun” or for leisure during the weekends when I lived here for work. Of course, work was treated as work whenever I went here, however, I barely had good friends to come out and enjoy Waynesboro on my day-offs.
If you don’t know where Waynesboro (or the River City/Basic City) is, it is a small city that sandwiched in between Charlottesville and Staunton. It is in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley and is home to many outdoor activities, wildlife and some of the best colleges (University of Virginia, Mary Baldwin University, Bridgewater College, James Madison University—do they ring a bell?).
While the Valley is too far from the Coast, what I loved about living there was the people and their Southern hospitality. The Shenandoah Valley often gets a stigma for being too rural or in the “boondocks,” but it’s far from the truth. The Valley is rural and has dense forests, but it’s more community-based and its lifestyle is more laid-back, as opposed to the hustle-and-bustle of living in the city. People also often misconstrue the Valley as a largely poor region in need of more government assistance. I will argue that there is poverty, but there is also poverty within other cities. In fact, throughout my news reporting days, I have met and interviewed some of the most well-established and affluent individuals. They tend to live/settle there not because of “old money,” but because the Valley is quiet, isolated and surrounded by nature.
July is a slow month at my part-time job, so I had more day-offs than usual. What did I decided to do? Drive an hour and a half to Waynesboro last Saturday morning to see my journalism friends from the Augusta Free Press, an independent news site based in the Valley.
Since I have lived in Charlottesville and worked in Waynesboro for over a year, of course, I know the cool spots you should try out! ;) See below!
Attractions:
Humpback Rocks—If you’re a beginner at hiking and outdoorsy adventures, you should definitely try Humpback Rocks. The mountain is located past Blue Ridge Parkway and is a mile hike to climb up to the summit, which are these greenstone outcroppings that face the Blue Ridge Mountains. My best tip would be to go in the mornings during the summer because it’ll be absolutely scorching out there climbing up and down the mountain! But, the summit is worth it!
Skyline Drive—You can’t visit the Valley without seeing Skyline Drive! Skyline Drive is known for its scenic views and hiking trails. Its roads stretches over 105 miles throughout the Shenandoah Valley. Make sure to take some pretty pictures!
Eats:
Bodo’s Bagels—BODOSSSSSS!!! I MISS BODOSS!!! I don’t care what people outside Charlottesville think of these bagels. While they’re not New Yorker-style bagels, Bodo’s is a perfect place to go to grab a bagel for breakfast, lunch or dinner. I loved coming to this place if I need something healthy-ish and quick to eat. Plus, it’s cheap, too! One bagel sandwich can cost between $6 to $10, depending on how much you stuff in. They also have salads and wraps as well you can choose from. The line can get long during the mornings and lunch, but the servers usually have orders in pretty quickly. The maximum wait is around 15 minutes.
Crosskeys Vineyards—We went to this restaurant over the weekend to grab a quick bite and for some wine. The winery is usually packed during the weekends, but thankfully, it was quite empty when we came around. Crosskeys stood out to me the most because it was a restaurant that serves actual entrees instead of overpriced charcuterie boards. Plus, like any wineries, they have fun events going on during the weekends!
Patina—This is a new Italian-inspired restaurant in Waynesboro is connect to Basic City Brewery, a popular downtown brewery spot. This was my first time being here and it did NOT disappoint. Patina serves Italian food like pastas and pizzas, but with a modern twist. It may sound a little off, but don’t knock it until you try it. Not only is the place a good spot for a beer, but on the other side of the restaurant is a music venue called, The Foundry, where a lot of live music takes place.
The Barn Restaurant—Wrote about this place a thousand times before. I don’t mean to be biased, but this restaurant has the best local Southern food. Not only is the restaurant popular with the community, but the food portions are big (leftover-worthy) and are perfect for lunch and dinner. A lot of local blue-collar workers tend to stop here to grab a hardy lunch. While you can find authentic Southern food anywhere in the Valley, what makes this restaurant stand out the most is the community aspect and its cooking. Southern food tend to hit different when you know the worker made the meal with TLC.
Shop ‘til you Drop:
Rusticae Country Manor Home — I tried to cover this story before its grand opening, but unfortunately, it never went through. While Waynesboro is not known to be a fashion-forward town, this consignment and home decor shop is definitely worth visiting! It JUST opened back in June, and the owner, Jacquline Montañez-Williams, decided to open a shop because she wanted to be the first few consignment boutiques in town. The store has a mix of gently-used and new clothing, as well as shabby chic home decor.
Barracks Roads Strip Mall—If you want to shop around while waiting for a reservation, Barracks is the go to. This is a pretty small and somewhat upscale strip mall, IMO. You got Banana Republic speciality, Fink’s, Lou Lou Boutique and many more shops. But, you also have American Eagle, J Crew Outlet, as well as Old Navy. Another strip mall next to it has South Moon Under and Anthropologie. Definitely recommend shopping here if you need something nice for a specific occasion.
They say people grab their experiences and go, but while I did not always had a good experience with being a news reporter, I’ve had amazing experience with the people. I never saw myself living here for a long time, but I do see myself coming back during the fall time because not only is the Valley beautiful, but I’ve made many amazing friends here.
For now, I’m enjoying my summer in my hometown and at the Coast.
Valley, you have my heart still.
—Paula J.P. 