Drakes Branch VirginiaATTRACTIONS & THINGS TO DO
Listed below are the best attractions and things to do near Drakes Branch, Virginia.
1. Drakes Branch Museum
LOCAL HISTORY PRESERVED
The Drakes Branch Museum is a community museum dedicated to preserving the town's rich heritage. Exhibits highlight the railroad, tobacco markets, industries, churches, schools, and farms that contributed to the area's development. Visitors can explore the various displays that tell the story of this small Virginia town and its significance in regional history.
2. Staunton River Battlefield State Park
CIVIL WAR HERITAGE SITE
Staunton River Battlefield State Park preserves the site of the June 1864 Battle of Staunton River Bridge, where Confederate forces and local citizens successfully defended a crucial railroad bridge against Union cavalry. The park features historic structures, interpretive trails, and a visitor center with exhibits explaining the battle's significance. Outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy fishing, boating, hiking, and picnicking along the scenic Staunton River.
3. Hunting Creek Vineyards
AWARD-WINNING LOCAL WINES
Hunting Creek Vineyards offers visitors a chance to sample handcrafted wines in a picturesque rural setting near Drakes Branch. The family-owned winery produces small-batch wines using traditional methods and locally grown grapes. Guests can enjoy tastings, vineyard tours, and special events throughout the year in their charming tasting room surrounded by beautiful countryside.
4. MacCallum More Museum and Gardens
ART AND NATURAL BEAUTY
MacCallum More Museum and Gardens features six acres of beautiful formal gardens, stone walkways, and a diverse collection of art and artifacts. The museum houses exhibits on local history alongside an impressive collection of Native American artifacts and international art. Visitors can wander through themed garden rooms, admire the stone architecture, and learn about the region's cultural heritage.
5. Bondurant Brothers
LEGENDARY MOONSHINE LEGACY
Bondurant Brothers celebrates the infamous local bootlegging legends whose story inspired the Hollywood film 'Lawless'. This attraction offers visitors a glimpse into the Prohibition-era history of the region and the Bondurant family's moonshine operations. Guests can learn about traditional distilling methods and the cultural significance of moonshine in Virginia's rural communities.
6. Danville Science Center
INTERACTIVE SCIENCE LEARNING
The Danville Science Center offers hands-on exhibits that make science, technology, engineering, and mathematics accessible and engaging for visitors of all ages. Located in a historic train station, this Science Museum of Virginia affiliate features a digital dome theater, interactive displays, and special traveling exhibitions. The center provides educational programs, workshops, and events designed to inspire curiosity and foster a deeper understanding of the natural world.
7. Colonial Williamsburg
LIVING HISTORY EXPERIENCE
Colonial Williamsburg is the world's largest living history museum, where visitors can step back in time to experience 18th-century Virginia. The meticulously restored historic area features hundreds of original and reconstructed buildings populated by costumed interpreters demonstrating colonial crafts, trades, and daily life. Guests can participate in interactive programs, witness historical reenactments, and gain insight into the pivotal role Williamsburg played in America's founding.
8. Governor's Palace
COLONIAL SEAT OF POWER
The Governor's Palace in Colonial Williamsburg served as the official residence for seven royal governors and the first two elected governors of Virginia. This magnificent structure, reconstructed on its original foundation, showcases the opulence and authority of British rule with its impressive entrance hall of muskets and swords, formal gardens, and lavishly appointed rooms. Guided tours offer visitors insight into the political and social life of colonial Virginia's elite.
9. DoG Street Pub
CRAFT BEER AND CUISINE
DoG Street Pub offers a refined gastropub experience in the heart of Colonial Williamsburg on Duke of Gloucester Street. The restaurant serves British-inspired cuisine made with locally-sourced ingredients alongside an extensive selection of craft beers from Virginia and beyond. Housed in the historic Bank of Williamsburg building, the pub combines colonial charm with contemporary comfort to create a unique dining atmosphere.
10. Ripley's Believe It or Not! Williamsburg
ODDITIES AND CURIOSITIES
Ripley's Believe It or Not! Williamsburg houses an eccentric collection of unusual artifacts, bizarre art, and mind-boggling exhibits that challenge visitors' perceptions of reality. The museum features hundreds of exhibits across multiple themed galleries, including optical illusions, strange natural phenomena, and cultural oddities from around the world. Guests of all ages can explore this unique attraction that showcases the strange, unusual, and extraordinary aspects of our world.
11. The Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg
AMERICAN DECORATIVE ARTS
The Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg encompass both the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum and the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum in one impressive facility. The collections include more than 67,000 antiques and works of art from the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, featuring furniture, paintings, textiles, ceramics, and metalwork. Visitors can explore the evolution of American decorative arts and folk traditions through thematic exhibitions and educational programs.
12. Museum of Life and Science
INTERACTIVE LEARNING ADVENTURE
The Museum of Life and Science offers 84 acres of indoor-outdoor experiences that encourage visitors to explore, discover, and engage with science and nature. Highlights include a butterfly conservatory, immersive wildlife habitats, dinosaur trail, hands-on exhibits, and a treetop adventure course. Children and adults alike can enjoy interactive learning experiences across diverse scientific disciplines from aerospace to zoology.
13. Virginia Air & Space Center
NASA'S GATEWAY CENTER
The Virginia Air & Space Center serves as the official visitor center for NASA Langley Research Center, showcasing more than 100 historic aircraft and space exploration artifacts. Visitors can experience interactive exhibits, a giant-screen theater, and flight simulators that bring aviation and space travel to life. The center's impressive collection includes the Apollo 12 command module, a Mars meteorite, and numerous aircraft that played significant roles in aviation history.
14. Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
AVIATION HISTORY SHOWCASE
The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum houses the world's largest collection of historic aircraft and spacecraft, chronicling the evolution of flight technology from the Wright brothers to space exploration. Iconic exhibits include the original Wright Flyer, Charles Lindbergh's Spirit of St. Louis, the Apollo 11 command module, and touchable moon rock samples. The museum offers educational programs, IMAX films, planetarium shows, and interactive displays that inspire visitors of all ages.
15. Movie Tavern
DINE-IN CINEMA EXPERIENCE
Movie Tavern combines first-run films with an upscale dining experience, allowing guests to enjoy full meals and beverages delivered directly to their luxury recliners. The theater features state-of-the-art projection and sound systems across multiple auditoriums showing the latest Hollywood releases. Customers can order from a diverse menu of appetizers, entrées, desserts, and cocktails throughout their movie, creating a premium entertainment experience.