10 Best Things to Do in Middleburg, VA

By VacationIdea Staff on September 19, 2023 - Updated

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Middleburg forms the heart of Virginia's stunning Wine and Hunt Country region, dating back to the area's Colonial history in the late 18th century. The quaint historic village, which is located in Loudoun County just an hour and a half northwest of Washington, D.C., is known for its lovely area wineries producing high-quality red and white varieties crafted with Virginia-grown grape varietals.

Award-winning restaurants serve rustic tavern fare and European gourmet cuisine in charming settings. Visitors can also peruse the collections of the National Sporting Library and Museum or the Sporting Gallery, one of the United States' oldest galleries dedicated to art depicting sporting and hunting pastimes like foxhunting and equestrian riding.

1. The National Sporting Library and Museum

The National Sporting Library and Museum is a beautiful six-acre museum campus dedicated to the rich cultural tradition of country pastime pursuits, including angling, shooting, horsemanship, steeplechasing, and foxhunting. The museum, which was founded in 1954, is located within the heart of Virginia's beautiful hunt country, home to historic buildings such as the 19th-century Vine Hill. Visitors can explore the museum campus and view collections and exhibits related to various sporting pursuits, presented on a rotating basis. Past signature exhibits have included Afield in America: 400 Years of Animal and Sporting Art, based on the book Animal and Sporting Artists by F. Turner Reuter, Jr. A wide variety of educational programming is offered throughout the year for museum visitors, who can also explore the museum's extensive library collections for scholarly pursuits.

102 The Plains Rd, Middleburg, VA 20117, Phone: 540-687-6542, (website link)

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2. 50 West Vineyards, Middleburg, VA

50 West Vineyards is a delightful Middleburg winery owned and operated by married duo Diane and Mike Canney, named in honor of the historic road of the same name located adjacent to the property, which stretches for more than 3,000 miles across the United States between Ocean City, Maryland and West Sacramento, California. The lovely winery is one of Virginia's largest vineyard operations, located atop a beautiful bluff in view of the stunning Bull Run Mountains. High-quality wines are produced according to Old World winemaking techniques, crafted with 100% authentic Virginia fruit. Visitors can sample wine varieties like Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Albarino, and Vidal Blanc at the winery's tasting room, which is housed within a converted horse stable building.

39060 John Mosby Hwy, Middleburg, VA 20117, Phone: 571-367-4760

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3. Mt. Defiance Cidery and Distillery, Middleburg, VA

Mt. Defiance Cidery and Distillery was opened in 2014, producing signature handcrafted small-batch hard ciders and spirits at its twin Middleburg facilities. The facility's cidery specializes in traditional farmhouse blends of dry cider, infused with delicious flavors like fresh ginger and five pepper. Co-fermented ciders range from honey to blueberry, available for tasting at the cidery throughout the year. Revival classic spirits are highlighted at the facility's distillery, with a focus on pre-Prohibition "lost spirits" and favorites that date all the way back to the region's Colonial era. Liquors sold throughout the year include absinthe, amber rum, apple brandy, and straight bourbon whiskey. Both locations offer flight tastings, food truck pop-ups, and limited operations tours.

207 W Washington St, Middleburg, VA 20117, Phone: 540-687-8100

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4. Things to Do in Middleburg, VA: The Sporting Gallery

The Sporting Gallery is one of the United States' oldest art galleries to feature sporting and wildlife-oriented artworks, in operation since October of 1963. The gallery honors the Middleburg region's rich history of hunting and sporting pastimes, including equestrian sports and foxhunting. It is housed within the beautiful historic Duffy House, constructed around 1820 and located within the city's downtown district. Acclaimed painters on display include Peter Sculthorpe and local artist Linda Volrath, known for her animal paintings. An extensive collection of fox porcelains are also showcased, including Royal Worcester, Nymphenburg, and Royal Doulton pieces. In addition to fine art pieces, the gallery also displays a collection of unique animal-related collectible, including Australian bronzes, glassware, and jewelry. More ideas: Day Trips from DC

11 W Washington St, Middleburg, VA 20117, Phone: 540-687-6447

5. The Red Fox Inn and Tavern, Middleburg, VA

The Red Fox Inn and Tavern has been an institution in Middleburg for nearly three centuries, opened in 1728 as a classic boutique inn and town tavern. The inn, which sits on the village's main thoroughfare, blends classic Virginian character with romantic ambiance, located within perfect proximity to the attractions of the surrounding Virginia Hunt and Wine Country. Visitors can stay in luxurious boutique rooms or enjoy high-quality Southern-style fare at the inn's culinary experiences, including its rustic tavern, which serves up gourmet entree selections like creamy sweet corn polenta crab cakes, butternut squash wontons, and USDA Prime filet mignon and New York strip steaks. Clever pub fare is offered at the Night Fox Pub, ranging from lamb sausage mac and cheese bakes to signature burgers with chimichurri aioli. More ideas: Best Weekend Getaways from DC

2 E Washington St, Middleburg, VA 20117, Phone: 540-687-6301, (website link)

6. Goodstone Inn and Restaurant, Middleburg, VA

Goodstone Inn and Restaurant is one of Virginia's most-acclaimed restaurants, named as one of Wine Enthusiast Magazine's 100 best wine restaurants and one of USA Today's most romantic inn experiences. The inn and restaurant, which is set on a 265-acre working farm facility, dates back to the late 18th century, when the surrounding farmland was purchased for use as a plantation by Jamie Leith. The plantation facility was converted into a Virginia country inn in 1996, which offers elegant guest rooms and suites with luxury amenities like whirlpool tubs, flat-screen televisions, and stunning mountain views. Farm-to-table French cuisine is crafted by executive chef Jan Van Haute at the inn's lovely Conservatory restaurant, which offers prix fixe menus highlighting selections like confit butternut squash with Madeira caramel, Shenandoah Valley lamb loins, and scallop ceviche with white soy and yuzu. More casual fare is served up at the inn's Bistro Bar, which also offers a selection of Loudoun County wines and specialty cocktails. More ideas: Beaches Near DC

36205 Snake Hill Rd, Middleburg, VA 20117, Phone: 540-687-3333

7. Things to Do in Middleburg, VA: Popcorn Monkey

Popcorn Monkey is a delightful gourmet popcorn shop founded by entrepreneur Deltone L. Moore, selling high-quality gourmet popcorn flavors alongside a wide variety of retro candies and confections. All popcorn is popped fresh on site at the facility, which is open to the public most days throughout the year. Unique artisanal flavors include sweet concoctions like dark chocolate with sea salt and savory classics such as cheddar and kettle corn. More adventurous flavors range from snackable varieties such as dill and loaded potato to spicy types like buffalo wing or regional variants like Old Bay-infused Old Crabby. A variety of high-quality fudge flavors are also crafted onsite at the facility, including classics like French vanilla and creative varieties like orange chocolate fudge swirl.

101 W Federal St, Middleburg, VA 20117, Phone: 540-687-6539

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