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🗺️ Farm Day Trips guide
Things to Do Near the Lavender Farms of Wytheville & the Blue Ridge Highlands, Virginia
In Virginia's Blue Ridge Highlands, pick lavender free at Mystic River in late June, then ride the 57-mile New River Trail near Wytheville.
5 places · updated October 17, 2026
✏️ Report outdated info
Southwest Virginia's Blue Ridge Highlands run from the New River Valley around Riner and Dublin down through Wytheville, Hillsville and Independence toward the North Carolina line. The New River and the railroad grade beside it shape much of the area: a 57-mile state park trail follows the old line along the river, and a shot tower built more than 200 years ago still stands above it. Wytheville adds small museums on its main streets, and the Blue Ridge Parkway crosses the southern edge near Galax. Distances are long here, so plan on more driving than in most farm areas.
Lavender visits take some planning. Mystic River Lavender in Riner opens to the public only on a few u-pick weekends at bloom (in 2026, June 27–28 and July 4–5), with no admission charge, and sells its products online and by phone the rest of the year. Beagle Ridge Lavender Farm near Wytheville, which has trails and a butterfly house, is closed for the 2026 season except by appointment and plans its Lavender Academy for April and late July 2027.
The lavender farms
- Mountain Air FarmLavender farm · Independence
- Mystic River LavenderLavender farm · Riner
late June to early July
Open to the public on u-pick weekends at bloom (2026: June 27–28 and July 4–5) with no admission charge; online and phone orders year-round.
- Beagle Ridge Lavender FarmLavender farm · Wytheville
Closed for the 2026 season except by appointment; lavender, trails, butterfly house and herbal tea when open; Lavender Academy in April and late July 2027.
- Carroll County Lavender CompanyLavender farm · Hillsville
Best time to visit
The Blue Ridge Music Center opens for its season from May through October. Guarded beaches at Claytor Lake and Hungry Mother state parks run from the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. Lavender peaks from late June to early July, when Mystic River holds its u-pick weekends (June 27–28 and July 4–5 in 2026). Beagle Ridge's Lavender Academy is set for April and the end of July in 2027. Summer and early fall are the easiest times to rent bikes, canoes or tubes at Foster Falls on the New River Trail, since livery hours vary by season, and the Claytor Lake gas dock stays open on weekends through October.
Places to see nearby parks, trails, beaches and landmarks
- New River Trail State Park (Foster Falls)🌳 State park · Max Meadows · about 16 mi, 25 min drive
A 57-mile trail on a former railroad grade, 39 miles of it beside the New River. The Foster Falls area has a livery renting bikes, e-bikes, canoes, kayaks and tubes, plus boat launches and a gift shop.
Dawn to dusk daily; livery and gift shop hours vary by season
$7 parking per standard vehicle
- Shot Tower🏛️ Historic site · Austinville · about 15 mi, 25 min drive
A stone tower above the New River that was used more than 200 years ago to make lead shot. The grounds are open, but tours are paused for renovations.
Grounds dawn to dusk
$7 parking per standard vehicle (New River Trail State Park fee)
- Claytor Lake State Park🌳 State park · Dublin · about 20 mi, 30 min drive
A 472-acre park on a 21-mile, 4,500-acre lake, with a marina, about seven miles of easy trails and lake ecology exhibits in the 1870s Howe House.
Daily 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.; guarded beach Memorial Day weekend Saturday to Labor Day, 10 to 6
Parking fee charged at all times
- Hungry Mother State Park🌳 State park · Marion · about 32 mi, 40 min drive
A 108-acre lake ringed by more than 17 miles of year-round trails, with a summer swimming beach. The park takes its name from a local legend tied to Molly's Knob.
Daily 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.; guarded swimming Memorial Day weekend Saturday to Labor Day
Daily parking fee charged
- Crystal Springs Recreation Area🏞️ Park · Wytheville · about 5 mi, 10 min drive
Wooded hiking and mountain bike trails through meadows and along ridges, a short drive from downtown Wytheville, with picnic spots and primitive campsites.
Dawn to dusk
- Edith Bolling Wilson Birthplace Museum🏛️ Museum · Wytheville · about 7 mi, 15 min drive
The childhood home of Edith Bolling Wilson, the Wytheville native who became First Lady during Woodrow Wilson's presidency.
Tuesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Haller-Gibboney Rock House🏛️ Museum · Wytheville · about 7 mi, 15 min drive
The 1823 stone home of Wytheville's first resident doctor, later a Civil War infirmary and school, holding more than 1,400 original artifacts and furnishings.
- Thomas J. Boyd Museum🏛️ Museum · Wytheville · about 7 mi, 15 min drive
Local history from the Civil War and railroad era, including an exhibit on the 1950s polio epidemic that hit the town.
Wednesday to Friday, 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m.
- African-American Heritage Museum🏛️ Museum · Wytheville · about 6 mi, 15 min drive
Housed at the former Wytheville Training School, the main school for Black students in the area during segregation, with photographs, artifacts and personal stories.
Monday to Thursday 2–7 p.m., Saturday 10:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m.
- Blue Ridge Music Center🌉 Landmark · Galax · about 31 mi, 40 min drive
A Blue Ridge Parkway stop devoted to old-time and bluegrass music, with Midday Mountain Music sessions and a summer concert series.
May through October
Where to stop: farms, food and stays
- Chateau MorrisetteWinery or vineyard (21+) · Meadows of Dan
A Floyd County winery along the Blue Ridge Parkway with a restaurant and family-friendly events; 21 and over to taste.
- Top of the Stairs (TOTS)Restaurant · Blacksburg
A downtown Blacksburg bar and grill near Virginia Tech since 1978, open Tuesday to Saturday evenings, about 25 minutes from Mystic River.
- Mac and Bob's RestaurantRestaurant · Salem
A Salem restaurant since 1980 known for oversized calzones, open daily from 11 a.m., about 40 minutes from Mystic River.
A one-day plan
- 10:00 AMMystic River Lavender
Cut a lavender bouquet and shop the farm's products; about an hour. Only works on a u-pick Saturday (2026: June 27 or July 4); other times, the farm is not open to visitors.
- 11:45 AMChateau Morrisette · about 45 min drive
Lunch at the winery restaurant (check their website for hours); about an hour and a quarter.
- 1:15 PMBlue Ridge Parkway south to the Blue Ridge Music Center · about 75 min drive
Drive the parkway south and stop at the music center to catch a midday jam or see the exhibits; about 45 minutes.
- 4:00 PMNew River Trail State Park, Foster Falls · about 40 min drive
Rent a bike or walk a stretch of the river trail; about an hour.
- 5:15 PMShot Tower · about 5 min drive
See the tower and the river view from the grounds; 20 minutes.
- 6:00 PMCrystal Springs Recreation Area · about 20 min drive
A short evening walk in the woods outside Wytheville before dusk.
Tips
- Mystic River Lavender opens only on its posted u-pick weekends; follow the signs two miles off Route 8, and come early on hot days.
- Beagle Ridge is by appointment only until its next season; call or text 276-621-4511 before you go.
- New River Trail State Park charges $7 per vehicle to park, and the same fee applies at the Shot Tower.
- Wytheville's museums keep short and different hours (for example, the Boyd Museum opens Wednesday to Friday only), so check before planning a museum afternoon.
- Claytor Lake requires parking fees at all times; if no one is at the booth, pay with a self-pay envelope to avoid a $25 ticket.
- Distances in this guide are measured from Beagle Ridge or Mystic River, whichever is closer.
Checked in October 2026 against official park, tourism and business websites. How we check listings
Questions
When can I pick lavender near Wytheville?
Mystic River Lavender in Riner holds u-pick weekends at bloom; in 2026 they were June 27–28 and July 4–5, with no admission charge.
Is Beagle Ridge Lavender Farm open?
It is closed for the 2026 season except by appointment. Its Lavender Academy is planned for April and the end of July 2027.
Can I rent bikes or boats on the New River Trail?
Yes. The Foster Falls livery rents bikes, e-bikes, canoes, kayaks and tubes; its hours vary by season.
Where can I swim in summer?
Claytor Lake and Hungry Mother state parks have guarded beaches from the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, for a fee.
🪪 Collect a stamp at every stop
The free Lavender Passport keeps a stamp for each farm and stop you visit, in real life and in the Lavender Farm Simulator. At the farm, play Field Quest to collect plant varieties as you walk, climb the leaderboards and unlock sponsor rewards.
Open the Passport🏡 Own a farm, café or inn here?
Add your listing for free so travelers find you, or become a Featured sponsor to sit at the top of this guide, on the Passport map and in the event calendars.
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