8 Best Things to Do in Culpeper, VA

March 28, 2020 - Updated

Culpeper is a médium size city in Virginia and the county seat of Culpeper County. Culpeper played important role in both American Revolutionary War and the Civil War. Many people that perished in both conflicts are interred in the Culpeper National Cemetery. The Museum of Culpeper, located at the historic train depot in downtown Culpeper, is great place to learn about the city’s turbulent and interesting history. The city is surrounded by several vineyards that produce award-winning wines and offer tours and wine-tasting. Downtown Culpeper has a large number of beautifully restored 19th and 20th century commercial, industrial and institutional buildings in broad range of architectural styles.

1.Oldhouse Vineyards

Oldhouse Vineyard was built with a lot of hard work on 75 acres of overgrown alfalfa fields with an abandoned farm house at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Transformed into Old House Vineyards, it is now a lush vineyard producing high quality grapes for a range of award-winning wines. The abandoned 1800's farm house is now a cozy, inviting gathering place and wine tasting room, offering regular live music and art events and of course vineyard’s best wines. .Oldhouse offers tours of their cellar and vineyard and is a popular venue for weddings and other celebrations. On the day when there is live music concert there is usually a food truck parked in front.

18351 Corkys Ln, Culpeper, VA 22701, Phone: 540-423-1032

2.Moving Meadows Farm

Moving Meadows Farm is a Hudson family owned and run farm and bakery. They are living on 47 acres in Culpeper, Virginia and managing 100 acres, on which they produce wheat, spelt, and rye, raise chicken in the pasture, and grass-fed beef and goats. Their bakery in downtown Culpeper specializes in whole grain breads and cinnamon buns made with flour milled right in the store. Ask to see their Austrian flour mill at work in a separate room. You can buy some freshly milled flour for your own baking. They claim that freshly milled flour is the secret for their superb baked good. Bakery also sells home-made soups and sandwiches and a range of baked goods such as chocolate chip cookies, cakes, brownies, dessert bars, cinnamon buns, muffins, apple handpies and much more.

254 E Davis St, Culpeper, VA 22701, Phone: 540-317-5862

3.Museum of Culpeper

The Museum of Culpeper is located at the historic train depot in downtown Culpeper. The facility has a range of exhibit galleries and a gift shop. The Triassic Gallery highlights the presence of dinosaurs in the region. The Native American Gallery describes the Manahoac Confederation, a native American group that populated Blue Ridge and left long before European settlers came. The Colonial Gallery describes the fight for American Independence and the role of the Culpeper Minutemen. The Civil War Gallery is dedicated to the turbulent history of America’s most controversial war as it was fought in Culpeper. The museum also has temporary exhibits that are changed several times a year.

113 Commerce St, Culpeper, VA 22701, Phone: 540-829-1749

4.Mountain Run Winery

Located between Mountain Run Lake and Lake Pelham, about five minutes from downtown Culpeper, Mountain Run Winery is a small Virginia farm vineyard and winery producing a range of award-winning wines. They harvested their first grapes in 2017 and to supplement their estate vineyards they partner with Altillo Vineyards from Hurt, Virginia and three other local vineyards. The winery estate is a lovely spot for a family afternoon picnic, a walk through the lush vineyard, or to relax in one of their Adirondack chairs and watch glorious sunset. Their tasting room is located in a 120-year old corn crib next to a 100-year old horse barn. It is surrounded by soy, corn and hay fields overlooking Mountain Run’s flood plain and shaded by a 150 years old oak and pear trees. There are often parties and live music.

10753 Mountain Run Lake Rd, Culpeper, VA 22701, Phone: 703-638-5559

5.Culpeper National Cemetery

Culpeper National Cemetery was established in 1867 as a six-acre burying ground in the town of Culpeper, Virginia. The cemetery has been expanded several times in the late 20th century. More than 22 acres were added to the property in order to provide burial space to veterans. About 7,500 people are interred at the cemetery, in the aftermath of the Civil War and due to the development of Culpeper. There is a number of important monuments in the cemetery. The markers dedicated to regiments from those states who had members of regiments who died in the Battle of Cedar Mountain were erected by the states of Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. The Armed Forces Monument was erected in 1992. In 1988 a memorial was erected to the Unknown burials from the Civil War. The National Military Cemetery monument was constructed from a cast iron artillery tube.

305 US Ave, Culpeper, VA 22701

6.Burgandine House

Burgandine House is a charming two and half story historic home built probably in the late 1700s and is the oldest private home in Culpeper, Virginia. It is a log house with gable roof, covered by clapboard on the outside. The interior is almost completely original, except a few restored areas. In 1966, Mrs. Elizabeth Burgandine Coons donated the original log house to the Town of Culpeper. The building served for several years as the headquarters for the Culpeper Historical Society. In the 1990s the Town of Culpeper restored the house to its original appearance as a reminder of the town’s historic past. Burgandine House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

803 S Main St, Culpeper, VA 22701-3213

7.Grass Rootes

Grass Rootes opened in the spring of 2016 in the oldest commercial building in Culpeper, Virginia. Throughout its history, the building has been used as a tobacco warehouse, a tin shop, stables, Civil War jail for both the Union and Confederacy and a hardware store. It is said that the ghosts of soldiers and slaves still roam through the building. Respecting the building roots, Grass Rootes restaurant retained the old exposed brick wall and covered them with photographs of Culpeper from different eras. Bright cushions on the red banquettes along the wall create cozy, inviting atmosphere. The basement is brought back to the original 19th century jail look and now serves as space for private parties. Grass Rootes serves simple, small menu of exquisite dishes made from scratch from local seasonal ingredients. Everything is literally brought from local farms to the guests’ tables. Special attention is paid to the guests with special nutritional needs. Local musicians perform every Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.

195 E Davis St, Culpeper, VA 22701, Phone: 540-764-4229

8.Pinto Thai

Pinto Thai in Culpeper is part of a small regional chain of authentic Thai family run restaurants serving traditional Thai and other Asian dishes. Their Culpeper restaurant is modern and bright, without common over-the-top typical Asian décor. The real décor comes from beautifully presented dishes. The extensive menu includes Thai dishes favored by Western customers but also some more traditional and truly authentic dishes prepared using family recipes. There is a large range of appetizers, salads, soups, curries, rice dishes and combinations. Full bar offers imaginative cocktails, local and imported beers and wines and a range of soft drinks. There is a nice small patio for dining al fresco.

179 E Davis St, Culpeper, VA 22701, Phone: 540-829-0777