Living in Virginia, I’m spoiled by having access to the best of everything. Whether it’s beaches, lakes or rivers you want to visit, or mountains and wineries, Virginia has a bit of it all. About an hour away from our house are some of the best wineries in Virginia, and there are plenty of antique shops on the way.

Gordonsville is a charming town between Richmond and Charlottesville with a quaint main street and plenty of antique shops and boutiques. The town is also home to a long tradition of fried chicken making, with a Fried Chicken Festival that takes place on May 20 this year and celebrates the days of train travel and the African American women who would prepare and sell the best fried chicken in the country to hungry travelers at this crossroads of the Shenandoah Valley.

At Gordonsville Antique and Flea Market, I found a beautiful decorative fireplace grate that looked to have once been cast iron, but had been painted white. It had a fleur de lys on its top and was just the right size to be a planter. Immediately, I knew I wanted to put it on my porch and put some flowers in it.

We grabbed lunch at Restaurant Pomme in Gordonsville, a small French-inspired spot. I had a delicious croque monsieur and fries.

After lunch, we made our way to Barboursville Vineyards. We tasted all of their amazing wines, including their flagship red, Octagon, then visited the ruins on-site. Designed by Thomas Jefferson and constructed between 1814-1822 for his friend James Barbour, Governor of Virginia from 1812-1814. The brick mansion was destroyed by fire on Christmas Day, 1884 and sits on the grounds of the vineyard, next to its bed and breakfast.

Barboursville and Gordonsville make a great day trip from Richmond. Where is your favorite to visit in Virginia?