Louisa VA Small Town Big Impact

From Asheville NC we drove to Virginia where we planned on staying just a few days at each of two RV Parks. But the first of those parks, Middle Creek Campground in Buchanan VA, was such a dud and with absolutely no internet or cell service, that we only stayed one night. Happily we found that our next stop was in awesome Louisa VA, a small town with a big impact.

Win some, lose some

Not every park that we reserve meets our expectations. But most are at least passable. This was only the second time in over a year of traveling that we knew one night was more than enough. It was fortunate that the next park on our schedule could accommodate us for the extra days. And Small Country Campgrounds was a delightful upgrade in a bucolic setting.

As we drove to Small Country Campgrounds we couldn’t help but comment on how many signs there were for wineries. It turned out we were in the heart of Virginia’s wine country. Immediately I knew one of our activities would be wine tasting!

As we approached the park we passed many farms and a herd of Texas Longhorns. For some reason I have a fascination with this breed of cattle. It’s those horns. They are not called longhorns for nothin’!!!

Small Country Campgrounds

Small Country Campgrounds had so much to offer that you could just stay and enjoy it all right there. There was Miniature Golf, fun playgrounds for kids, boating, fishing and beach bathing. Plus kids of all ages could bounce as high as they can on their giant, 65-foot-long jumping pillow or challenge your fellow campers to a game of horseshoes or cornhole. Play a game of chess on a giant chess board or start a pickup basketball game at our basketball court. And there’s a pool and hiking trails! There are so many ways to play at Small Country.

Things to do near Louisa VA

Louisa VA, is a small town with a big impact  But we also wanted to explore the surrounding area which included nearby Charlottesville, Monticello and at least one winery.

We spent an entire day shopping in Charlottesville, making the rounds from Trader Joe’s to Wegmans, Fresh Market to a bagel shop. We shopped til we dropped in typical foodie fashion.

The BBQ Exchange

On the way home we stopped to pick up BBQ at a place that was highly recommended by several fellow campers. The BBQ Exchange looked like an old southern home with a large front porch that welcomed us in. Pigs sculptures of all shapes and sizes adorned the property and let you know that at this place BBQ is pork centric.

We brought home Pulled Pork, Ribs and Smoked Sausage along with a couple kinds of house made pickles, assorted sauces and coleslaw. Of course we bought more than we needed for dinner! But we were quite happy to have enough left over for a yummy lunch. In fact it was all so good that we vowed to make a return visit!

Fifty-third Winery and Vineyards

Another highlight of our time in Virginia was our trip to Fifty-Third Winery and Vineyard for a wine tasting. The tasting room was stunning in a rustic and contemporary way. The vista overlooking the vineyard was breathtaking. Rows of vines were heavy with grapes. And what we found unique was that huge sections of vines were covered with white netting. When I questioned our server about that, she told us that those vines held ripe grapes that were ready for picking. If they are left uncovered the animals that hide out in the area would devour the grapes, stripping the vines and leaving nothing to make wine with. I will have to check with our friend Zac at Stuhlmuller Winery and Vineyards to see if they follow that practice in California!

The wines we tasted

We tasted a flight of 4 reds – Cabernet Franc 2019, Chambourcin 2018, Norton 2018 and Red Genesis.

The first sip was the Cabernet Franc which was a lovely, medium bodied red wine characterized by notes of raspberries, cherries, acai berries and undertones of fresh violets. Suggested pairings include grilled pork chops, roasted turkey, pasta bolognese, feta and brie.

The Chambourcin was also a medium bodied red with moderate acidity and low tannins, notes of cherries and blackberries. Suggested pairings include steaks, cheeseburgers, tomato based pasta and dark chocolate.

The Norton was a medium bodied wine with notes of raspberry, black cherry, tobacco and spice. Pairs well with game meats, grilled sausages, spiced beef, parmesan, romano and blue cheeses.

The Red Genesis was an after dinner, Vin de Liqueur wine with notes of blueberries, blackberries and brandy. This luscious wine was a Gold and Best of Class winner in the Atlantic Seaboard Wine Competition.

The wines we tasted were a delicious collection of impressive Virginia wines. And though we had vowed not too, we purchased several bottles to enjoy along our journey across America.

Return visit to The BBQ Exchange

Later in the week, on our way home from our day at Monticello (more about that in my next post), we returned to The BBQ Exchange to pick up Smoked Sausages, a couple of sauces and pickles. Temptation got the best of us and we also got a slice of Peanut Butter Pie and some cornbread to round out our meal. Our only mistake was not doubling the pie and cornbread order. OMG!!! My mouth is watering just thinking about how fabulous they were.

We could certainly have spent a lot more time exploring Louisa VA and the surrounding area. I guess that means we will have to make a return visit to this beautiful small town with a big impact!