Visiting The Peaks of Otter in Bedford, VA
This past weekend Mama and I enjoyed visiting The Peaks of Otter on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Bedford County, VA.
Visiting The Peaks of Otter in Bedford, VA
Bedford County is one of the many beautiful counties in Virginia. The Peaks of Otter is a great place to visit in any season.
Peaks of Otter Lodge
When you visit The Peaks of Otter, you can stay at the Peaks of Otter Lodge.
The lodge has a wonderful dining room overlooking the lake and serves delicious food.
There is also a cozy bar to enjoy.
There is a wonderful walking path around the lake.
This is Sharp Top. Behind the lodge is Flat Top. Both are great places to hike.
Mama and I just missed seeing a wedding.
Along the trail is Polly Woods’ ordinary.
There are quite a few hikes to enjoy at The Peaks of Otter. My favorite is hiking Sharp Top.
In the good old days, teachers could do fun things with kids and I once got to go with the 8th-grade boys to hike Sharp Top. It was so much fun and many of the boys had never been there.
This is the start of the trail. For people who can’t hike, there is a bus to ride to get nearly to the top of the mountain.
In 1943, a WWII B-25 Mitchell bomber crashed on Sharp Top mountain. Five Army airmen were killed in the training mission. There is a side trail to visit the site off of the main trail.
Don’t miss touring the visitor’s center at the base of Sharp Top. It is full of wildlife and is very interesting.
Gross’ Orchard
After we visited The Peaks of Otter, we visited Gross’ Orchard.
We had so much fun looking at everything for sale.
I bought Fuji apples that we will eat and I’ll bake apple bread and Red Hots baked apples. Recipe for the Red Hots baked apples coming soon!
I also will either make either Caramel Apple Pound Cake or Apple Spice Bundt Cake with Caramel Topping.
There are so many good things for sale including locally made apple butter, jams, jellies, pickles, and more.
This is a great place to put together a gift basket.
Peaks of Otter Winery
Our last stop was a visit to the Peaks of Otter Winery.
Here you can pick your own apples and taste delicious wine.
There is a picnic pavilion to enjoy drinking wine with a picnic in warm weather.
I have been a fan of this winery for a long time.
Mama and I enjoyed looking around to see what was for sale. We meant to buy cider donuts but we forgot when it was time to go.
We ordered flights of wine to try and they were ready pretty quickly.
For the flight, you pick eight wines from this list.
This is my flight.
We both enjoyed tasting the wines. My favorite was Blackberry Jammed and Mama’s was Pear.
The Town of Bedford
The town of Bedford is famous because it lost 19 young men, all part of Company A of the 116th Regiment of the 29th Division, and the first wave of American soldiers to hit the beaches in Normandy. Later in the day three more young men were shot and killed.
This was one of the steepest death tolls of any US community. The Bedford Boys book and the movie chronicle it all.
The streets of Bedford are lined with flags honoring these soldiers.
When visiting Bedford, don’t miss the National D-Day Memorial.
If you are ever traveling through Virginia, don’t miss visiting beautiful Bedford County.
I can’t go this year to “God’s country” ie Bedford. I go every few years – always beautiful. Thanks for sharing the photos of the beauty. I marked my fall 2022 calendar to visit the Omaha Beach/Boys of Bedford park and Peaks of Otter.
We Virginias are blessed with beauty from the Ocean to several mountain ranges
We are lucky to live in the beautiful state of Virginia!
What an incredible trip. Thank you for sharing these beautiful pictures! I have family in Virginia; I think I will insist we come here next time I visit. ❤️❤️❤️
(PS, hope your mama is feeling well. She looks great!)
I hope you get to visit The Peaks the next time you are in Virginia. Mama is feeling good!
This is such a beautiful place, a great place for visitors! We just hiked Sharp Top on Sunday for the second annual Hokie Hike. We were lucky that the foliage was still really beautiful!
A Hokie Hike sounds like so much fun! You had a perfect day for both hiking and admiring the fall foliage.
Peaks of Otter is one of my favorite local places to go. The path around the lake is easy to traverse and beautiful! I must try the winery, as I’ve never been.
You will love the winery, Peggy!
Hi Paula – I have always wanted to visit Bedford. This looks like a great overnighter for us. Thanks for sharing all the interesting things to do and information about Sharp Top and Bedford. It looks like you and mama had a great time. She looks good. Hope you are both doing well. 🙂
Thank you so much, Lynda! Mama is feeling great.
I love all your traveling posts! The lake surrounded with fall trees was stunning and I loved all the old buildings!
Thank you so much, Crystal!
What an incredible get away. Stunning scenery in a sacred and historic area. Love seeing all your adventures on the East Coast. The list of places I want to visit one day keeps expanding. xo
Thank you so much, Juliet!
That looks like a beautiful spot to hike, explore, and shop. And that winery with all those options. Man! I want to take a weekend trip from PA!
B
I hope that you can do this one day. You won’t regret it!
What a great trip, Paula! I’ve never been to Bedford County, but I’m eager to go now. It has lots of my favorite features like rich history, apples, wine, and scenic views. I miss seeing fall foliage since we don’t get much down here in Texas. Thanks for sharing your highlights!
I hope I can share all of these things with you next summer!
Your travel posts are such a joy to read! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you so much, Marieza!
I live just north of Bedford and go to the Parkway, POO and the Gross Orchard regularly.
Gross Orchard also has a shop on 43 South, the Apple Country Market, whixh has one of the best pie-makers anywhere. They have great hand pies/turnovers as well as regular pies. They have a grill but it is just carry out.
If you like model trains, check out the Bedford Museum on Main Street during the Christmas season!
Bedford also has many antique and art shops that you should check out.
The next time I go to Roanoke, I am stopping at the Apple Country Market for pie. Thank you so much for telling me about this. I also won’t miss the train exhibit at the Bedford Museum. I’m already looking forward to seeing the decorated Christmas trees in the visitor’s center.
I need to add this to my next Virginia trip. I’ve never heard of it.
You will love it! The town of Bedford is charming.
I have never heard of this place and lived in Virgina for 13 years! When I am visiting next I will have this pan my list of places to see.
You will love it and we can meet in person!
Looks like such a lovely area to visit!
It really is.
This is stunning scenerey. I can’t believe the beauty you are surrounded by. I loved the wreath on the fireplace and the markets.
I am very lucky to live in a beautiful area of Virginia. You and your hubby should take a trip to Virginia in the future.