​Have you shopped Downtown Smithfield lately?  If not, you just don’t know what you are missing!  From beautiful antique stores, its very own Christmas Store, bakeries, specialty gift shops, places to purchase local ham and peanuts and its really cool Isle of Wight County Museum, you just have to put this shopping trip on your list!
 
The best part about shopping Downtown Smithfield/Isle of Wight County is that you are supporting locally owned and operated businesses while discovering the charm that makes up this lovely community!  This time of year we are all looking for that perfect specialty gift that says “I saw this and thought of you!”  That is exactly what you will find while browsing these shops.  Have you ever been into an authentic Celtic Shop?  Smithfield has one and you may just have a family member that shares in this heritage. But even if not, they have beautifully made clothes and purses from over seas that would certainly make a certain someone feel very special!  And then there is The Taste of Smithfield, where you can not only purchase local peanuts, ham and Smithfield themed gifts, but also have an amazingly delicious lunch or dinner!
 
There are also two bakeries where you can grab a great snack and/or a specialty dessert for the perfect ending to a holiday meal.  And I don’t know about you, but I am always looking for something special to take to the host of all those holiday parties.  Well, Downtown Smithfield has you covered with an amazing florist and a wine shop where you are sure to find something to make your host happy!  
 
And all of this is just the beginning!  Many of the specialty gift shops are filled with hand made clothing and art, things that you won’t be able to find anywhere else!  Not to mention the local art center, historical landmarks, and the amazing restaurants and places to lodge that line Smithfield’s beautiful down town!  
 
Need I say more?  Get out to Downtown Smithfield/Isle of Wight County this holiday season!  You and all the special people on your holiday gift list will not be disappointed!  
 
Check out this link to learn more about the shops and upcoming events like Smithfield’s Christmas Parade! 
https://www.genuinesmithfieldva.com/shopping.html
 
See you out there shopping!
Talk Soon!
SaltyMeg 
https://www.saltysouthernroute.com

And don't forget to get a great family photo with Smithfield's LOVE Sign!
#loveva #ridetheroutefromnutstosnout @visitvirgina
#smitfieldrocks

​It looks it is going to be a pretty beautiful week in Southeastern Virginia, a little chilly, but crisp fall days filled with sunshine!  One way to enjoy this weather is by paying Chippokes Plantation State Park a visit!  If you are a local and have visited before, or if this is your first time, this park is a great place to get away and reconnect with nature and the history of the area.  
 
Situated in Surry County, Virginia, Chippokes is just a short ferry ride from Historic Jamestown or a serene country drive from surrounding counties like Isle of Wight and Southampton and/or a quick trip across the James River Bridge from Newport News or Hampton!  When you embark on your journey to Chippokes you will be met with 1,947 acres of stunning nature, splendid plantation houses and a museum dedicated to the craft and history of local farming.  As one of the oldest continually farmed plantations in the country, Chippokes has been a working farm since 1619 and offers modern recreational activities and a glimpse of life in a bygone era.  While exploring the park, visitors are able to tour the historic area of the park, including its antebellum mansion and outbuildings, stroll through formal gardens and view antique equipment.  
 
Chippokes Plantation and State Park is also a campground that includes four overnight cabins allowing visitors to stay on the grounds.  There are opportunities to bike, hike, ride horseback and picnic and during the warm weather, this park features an Olympic-sized swimming pool!  
 
As previously stated, Chippokes Plantation State Park was created in the vision of local history! One of the ways they display this history is with their Farm and Forestry Museum.  Situated on the grounds of the park, this museum explores the lives of Virginia Farmers, displaying how tools, techniques and crops have changed over time.  The museum is open for self-guided tours daily from the first Friday in March through the first Monday in December form 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is also available by reservation for groups.    
 
Hey!  And Chippokes has events for its visitors all season long! Just to talk about a few, Chippokes has a Welcome Bon Fire happening every Friday night right now!  This evening campfire invites campers and cabin guests to join the Chippokes family for friendly fun and roasting marsh mellows for S’ mores!  Each week a ranger brings stories, games and information about local wildlife! They are also featuring guided tours through The Jones-Stewart Mansion, their stunning antebellum plantation house and events like their upcoming “Harvest Crafts,” a fun way to make art from fall harvest leftovers!
 
(Visit the links below for upcoming event times and information)
 
So what are you doing this week/weekend?  Heading out to Chippokes Plantation State Park, right?!
 
Hey, when you are out exploring Chippokes, don’t forget to tag us on social media! @saltysouthernroute
 
Thanks!
Talk to you next week!
SaltyMeg
It’s always a good time when you ride The Salty Southern Route! 

#loveva #ridetheroutefromnutstosnout
​@loveva 
 
http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/chippokes-plantation#general_information
http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/parkfees
 
 
Chippokes Plantation State Park
695 Chippokes Park Rd., Surry, VA 23883
Phone: 757-294-3728   Email Address: 
[email protected]
Hours
Dawn - dusk.
Location
Surry County. From I-95 and I-295, take Route 10 towards Hopewell. Follow Route 10 East for approximately 40 miles to Surry. Turn left at the intersection of routes 10 and 31 (this continues on Route 10). Turn right at the stop light. Turn left at Route 634 (Alliance Road), and the park entrance is four miles on the left. Because of weight restrictions, those heading east in vehicles weighing more than 3 tons should avoid taking Highgate Rd. off Rt. 10.
Its address is 695 Chippokes Park Rd., Surry, VA 23883; Latitude, 37.137369. Longitude, -76.727691.
Drive Time: Northern Virginia: 2 - 3 hours; Richmond: 1.5 hours; Tidewater/Norfolk/Virginia Beach: 1.5 hours; Roanoke: 4 hours
 
 

I don’t know about you but, these beautiful fall days have me in the mood to take a serene country drive and adventure to a place I haven’t been, or maybe a favorite spot I haven’t visited for a while!  If you have the same feeling, I suggest you jump on The Salty Southern Route and cruise on over to Franklin/Southampton County!  While on your travels, you have to stop by The Peanut Patch Gift Shop! This shop features charming gifts, specialty foods, wine and the famous Feridies Peanuts!  It is definitely one of the county’s #1 local destinations!
 
Located on Rt. 58 in Courtland VA, The Peanut Patch is known for friendliness and a down-home atmosphere.  Run by two mother and daughter duos, this has been a  family business since 1973 when it was opened as a furniture stripping business to refinish antiques!  The thought at that time was, since someone had to be there every day to accept furniture, it only seemed natural to have a gift shop. During these beginnings the store was able to find over 300 craftsmen who sold their handicrafts on consignment! With this success and being that the shop sat in one of the world’s largest peanut producing counties, after so many years they decided to cook and produce Feridies, their own brand of Virginia type peanuts!  
 
All these years later this family has obviously been doing something right!  Not only do they have a beautiful store filled with everything from beautifully unique clothes, jewelry, house ware, unique gifts, Virginia made items and much more, but they also have the store filled with their delicious Feridies Peanuts!  Produced in their manufacturing facility, just a mile down the road,  these peanuts have been nationally recognized and are sold world wide through their catalogue, website and Amazon!
 
But you don’t need to order these delicious peanuts online!  All you need to do is hop in the car and visit the shop!  While you are there browsing the shelves you can sample the Feridies peanut brand and, of course, chat with the friendly ladies running the shop!  
 
So, what are you doing this week?!  Hopefully you are riding The Salty Southern Route to The Peanut Patch!  
 
P.S.  A cool fact about the Feridies name…  This is a “made up name” that has a special meaning!  The name is comprised of a piece of each family member’s last name!  (ShaFER, RIDdick & FrIES)  Cool right?!
 
Check out The Peanut Patch and Ferdies web pages for product information and any upcoming events!  

https://www.thepeanutpatchgiftshop.com
https://www.feridies.com
https://www.facebook.com/ThePeanutPatchGiftShoppe/

 27478 Southampton Parkway
PO Box 186 
Courtland, Va 23837
 
Store Hours:
Monday – Saturday 9:00am – 5:30pm
Sunday – 1:00pm – 5:30pm

Till next week!
#loveva #ridetheroutefromnutstosnout
@loveva
​SaltyMeg

​Have you traveled to Surry County lately?  Maybe you were just at College Run Farms to pick out the perfect pumpkin?!  Well, if you have, you might have passed Bacon’s Castle on the way, another gem on The Salty Southern Route!  With these beautiful fall days we have been having this stop on the route is a must visit! It just so happens that I was just there in late Summer with my Mom and we had a really great time.  The staff was full of knowledge and this historic building is full of interesting facts, tidbits and the secrets of all those who have lived there in years past.  The grounds are great too!  In season, they have a beautiful blooming garden and Bacon’s Castle and Preservation Virginia often host on site events!  The next event on the books is “Castle Christmas,” December 8th from 10a.m. to 5p.m., where seasonal decoration and traditions can be enjoyed by all!  
So, a bit about The Castle’s History!  Built in 1665 by Arthur Allen, Bacon’s Castle is the oldest brick dwelling in North America!  Cool, right?!  Mr. Allen was a prosperous merchant and planter and it is noted that he built his house in an extremely rare example of High Jacobean architecture for the New World, with the crowning jewels being the triple stacked chimneys!  Arthur Allen didn’t get to live in his new house long though, he passed in 1669 and left it to Arthur Allen II, his son.  It was during this time that the dwelling got the infamous name Bacon’s Castle!  History tells us that this naming came from Bacon’s Rebellion, apparently one of the most confusing yet intriguing chapters in Jamestown’s history.  It has been considered that the Virginia Rebellion of 1676, the larger rebellion that Bacon’s Rebellion was part of, was to be the first stirring of the revolutionary sentiment in America, or possibly just a power struggle between two stubborn leaders.  As Bacon’s Castle historians will tell you, the rebellion was due to tense relations between the local Indian tribes and the English Settlers.  One side would attack the other and then the other side would retaliate.  Nathaniel Bacon, a well to do of the area, blamed the local tribes for most of this and decided to go against the wishes of the Governor and, with a number of followers, took vengeance against the Indians.  It was during all of this that 70 of Bacon’s men took control of Allen II’s Brick House for three months!  So, years later, because of this historic event, the house was renamed “Bacon’s Castle.” However, a fun fact is that Nathaniel Bacon most likely never set foot in the building!  The house was then passed through the family over the years. There is even a pretty cool story of a “black widow” who outlived several husbands! 
The point is, you should definitely stop by this cool historic landmark!  The experts at The Castle will fill you in on all of its history and when you are done there is a gift shop and time to wonder the grounds!  You can also do a self guided tour.
Hours and Prices are as follows:
Friday and Saturday   10am – 5pm
Sunday   12pm – 5pm
Also, Memorial Day through Labor Day they have Monday Hours (10am – 5pm)
_________________________________________________________________________
General Admission is $10
AAA, Seniors (60+), Military Discount $9
Students $7
Children under 6 are Free

#loveva #ridetheroutefromnutstosnout 
​@visitvirginia