Culpeper, Virginia may look like a classic small town from the outside, with charming storefronts and rolling farmland. But walk around long enough, talk to enough people, and you’ll quickly realize: there’s so much more beneath the surface.
This year, the town launched Culpeper Uncovered: an initiative that peels back the layers of local history to spotlight the stories that haven’t always been told. Black, Indigenous, and immigrant communities. Women-led businesses. Families who’ve built and rebuilt this place over generations. It’s a campaign rooted in truth, and it completely changed how I experienced this little town.
So here’s how to spend a weekend in Culpeper, Virginia – bison and biscuits included, with your eyes and heart wide open.
Table of Contents
Day 1: Murals, Museum Finds & a Cabin with a View
Start with a lunch at It’s About Thyme, a cozy spot in historic downtown Culpeper known for hearty specials and a warm, European vibe. Make sure to order one of their weekly rotating lunch specials!
Then head to the Museum of Culpeper History. It’s small but rich, offering everything from 215-million-year-old dinosaur tracks to the story of the Culpeper Minute Men. You’ll also find Indigenous artifacts from the Manahoac people, grounding you in the deeper, more complex history of this land. Don’t forget to take a photo with the historic red caboose and Virginia LOVEwork Sign!
Check into your weekend home at Virginia Bison Company – a rustic A-frame cabin tucked inside a 300-acre bison farm. The bison? They’ll probably be grazing just outside your window. We also spotted baby goats, chickens, and a very friendly farm dog named Winter.
Before dinner, take a stroll around downtown with a self-guided Culpeper Mural Tour. The art is beautiful, but the stories are what linger. “The Trailblazers” mural honors African American leaders from The Wharf and Fishtown neighborhoods – names and faces that were left out of the history books but are now being given a meaningful space in the town’s visual landscape.
Dinner at Piedmont Steakhouse is a must. It’s woman-owned, locally loved, and the kind of place where the food is good but the feeling is better. Expect great service, a killer ribeye, and maybe even a visit from the owners if they’re around.
Day 2: Farms, Flavor & Finding the Hidden Chapters
Start your morning at Frost Café – a classic diner with pancakes, eggs, and the kind of no-frills charm that just feels good.
Then head to Bees & Trees Farm, a family-run operation where you can pick up raw honey, local beef, and meet the goats. It’s a peaceful stop that shows you what’s possible when people stay connected to land and community.
Next, go all in on flavor at Old House Vineyards. It’s the first winery, brewery, and distillery trifecta in Virginia. Grab lunch from the on-site kitchen, Green Ribbon, sip a little rosé or gin, and soak up the views. The lobster bisque and oysters are drool-worthy!
After a rest break, set out on the Right the Record walking tour – a self-guided path through downtown that tells the stories of African American contributions to Culpeper’s economy, culture, and resilience. Each plaque is outside of buildings that were historically owned by thriving Black businesses, and includes a QR code so you can dive deeper.
Before dinner, explore downtown shops. A few women-owned favorites:
- Botanical Dwellings for plants and calming gifts
- Green Roost for thoughtful brands and feel-good finds.
- La Bee da Loca for honey-themed goodies (and yes, there’s a live beehive upstairs).
- Le Monkey House for funny, tongue-in-cheek goodies and local branded merch.
Wrap the day with dinner at Zandra’s Taqueria. Order the Chicken Tinga tacos and don’t skip the delicious elote!
Day 3: Coffee & Shenandoah
Before heading out, swing by Raven’s Nest Coffee House for a latte (the Samoa-flavored is DIVINE) and a breakfast sandwich. It’s cozy, community-focused, and the perfect last stop in downtown Culpeper.
Then hit the road for Shenandoah National Park, just 30 minutes away. Whether you’re hiking or cruising Skyline Drive, it’s the perfect way to stretch out the weekend.
Culpeper, Virginia is the kind of town that sneaks up on you. On the surface, it’s cute and quiet. But if you’re paying attention, it starts to open up. Through murals and walking tours. Through the stories told by small business owners and longtime locals. Through the work of Culpeper Uncovered.
This isn’t about rewriting history, it’s about completing it. And as a traveler, that kind of honesty and intention? It’s something I’ll always come back for.
Disclosure: This trip was hosted by Culpeper Tourism as a part of the Culpeper Uncovered campaign. All opinions are my own – I wouldn’t have it any other way!
