Surry’s changing scenery and engaging experiences are available all year long. Below are some things you can add to your agenda whether you need an activity for this coming weekend or are planning a little getaway later in the year.

Summer

Summer in southeastern Virginia is hot and humid. It is a great time to enjoy the James River. A ride on the Jamestown-Scotland ferry allows you to enjoy the broad river views and often see many of the animals that make the river home. Gray’s Creek Marina is a beautiful place for a bit of boating. Whether or not you are a boater, you can certainly enjoy the summer breezes over Gray’s Creek from the patio at Surry Seafood Company.

Summer is prime season for agriculture in Surry. This means you will see corn, soybeans, peanuts, and cotton growing in the wide-open fields along Surry’s country roads. You will also find the freshest locally-grown food at the Friday afternoon Surry Farmers Market. Pick-your-own berries at College Run Farms and Drewry Farms is a fun activity for the most delicious strawberries and blueberries.

Fall

A drive through Surry County is the perfect activity as the weather begins to cool and the days grow a bit shorter. Cre8tive Works Gallery and Café is a great stop for a traditional southern meal as well as a tour of the quirky paintings and driftwood sculptures.

College Run Farms is always a fun fall destination with pick-your-own pumpkins, a corn maze, and delicious pumpkin ice cream.

If you are interested in something scary you might like the haunted tours at Bacon’s Castle. You will hear some scary stories as you tour the historic property, sometimes even accompanied by paranormal investigators.

Bacon’s Castle also hosts a Guy Fawkes Day bonfire at the beginning of November. You can celebrate the traditional English holiday with historical reenactors and 17^th and 18^th century activities.

Winter

As you prepare for the winter holidays, Surry is a great place to find delicious traditional food for your family gatherings and parties. Edwards Ham Shop and Bacon’s Castle Peanuts carry amazing country hams as well as lots of other treats. You’ll also find amazing desserts at Just for Kicks Cupcakes. Hampton Roads Winery is a great place to get locally produced wine for your celebrations.

If you enjoy Christmas decorations, you will want to tour the historic Bacon’s Castle and Chippokes Plantation mansion. Not only will you enjoy the decorations, but you will experience how early Americans celebrated the holidays.

Spring

Spring is planting time in Surry. It is the perfect time to visit Farmer Joe’s Greenhouse and Nursery and Johnson Brothers for plants and gardening supplies. You will also get the best planting and growing advice.

As the weather starts to get warmer it is a great time for a drink on the patio at Surry Seafood Company and the Hampton Roads Winey. Both have beautiful views, charming atmosphere, and delicious beverages.

No matter what time of year, you will find great activities, delicious food, and beautiful rural countryside in Surry County. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to stay aware of what is going on in Surry. Check out surrytourism.com to learn more about places in Surry that you will enjoy.

When life gets hectic and overwhelming it might be time for a drive down some country roads. The expansive views of peanut fields, feeling of warm breezes, and simple sounds of nature can help you set aside the anxious chaos of day to day life. There is something about escaping the hustle and bustle to a quieter place that allows us to breathe more deeply, relax more fully, and enjoy more simply.

As you drive into Surry County you might notice the wide open fields. There is likely corn, soybeans, wheat, peanuts, or cotton growing in those fields. In many areas of the county you won’t see a single person; just fields stretching as far as you can see with wide open sky above.

If you’ve become accustomed to the constant sound of traffic, sirens, and construction, the quiet of country life can be unnerving. Listening closely, though, reveals a whole different world: the sound of birds in the trees, animals hiding among the woods, and the frogs and insects emerging as the sun sets. Surry is home to deer, opossums, raccoons, foxes, and occasionally a black bear. You might see some of these creatures if you look closely.

The James River begins in the mountains of western Virginia winding its way through Charlottesville, Richmond, and into the Chesapeake Bay. At the start of the river it is narrow and sometimes shallow enough to walk across. As the river passes Surry County it is wide and deep, creating a habitat for all kinds of wildlife. With a walk along the beach or a ride on the Jamestown-Scotland ferry you might see a bald eagle, a pelican, or a great blue heron. The smaller inlets, such as Gray’s Creek, that feed into the James River also provide beautiful wetland views, especially during sunrise and sunset.

You will also find that business is a bit different in the small towns of Surry County. The long lines are replaced by a friendly conversation and a slower pace. At Just for Kicks Cupcakes or Farmer Joe’s Greenhouse you might have a chat with the owner and get a recommendation about places to visit. At Johnson Brothers you might get some advice about the best time to plant your garden and meet a farmer who has been working the fields for 60 years. At Surry Seafood Company you can sit quietly on patio with a fruity drink while the sun sets over the water.

We hope that you spend some time enjoying Surry County, discovering its secrets, and allowing its peaceful character to refresh your soul.

Visit surrycountytourism.com for itineraries and information about places to visit in Surry.
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Whether you are planting your own garden or craving food fresh from the farm, Surry is the perfect destination. Agriculture has been central to life in Surry County for hundreds of years. Surry and the surrounding communities have been especially important in the development of pork and peanut production in America.

Agritourism

Surry features some engaging sites such as Chippokes State Park, Bacon’s Castle, and Smith’s Fort where you can learn about the rich agricultural history of the area.

You can also see agriculture in action at College Run Farms where you can pick your own blueberries starting in June and pumpkins in October. College Run also produces some of the best ice cream you’ll ever have with their fresh blueberries and pumpkin.

Drewry Farms also has pick-your-own blueberries in addition to strawberries, blackberries, and raspberries. You can also select some amazing meat and eggs from Drewry’s unique breeds of livestock.

A stop at the Hampton Roads Winery also allows you to experience the way locally grown crops become the products we love. Walking though the vineyards and seeing the developing grapes will make you appreciate the local wine even more.

Fresh Food

In addition to the fresh food you can find at Drewry Farms and College Run Farms, you will find amazing pork products at Red Barn Berkshires and Edwards Ham Shop.

Edwards has been producing salt-cured country ham in Surry since the 1926. Now you can also enjoy their wonderful bacon, sausage, and smoked poultry.

Red Barn Berkshires raises free-range, all natural Berkshire hogs. They have a wide variety of pork products including St. Louis style ribs and jalapeno smoked sausage links.

Grow Your Own

April and May are the ideal months to start most garden plants. Whether you are growing food or landscaping, it is hard to beat the selection and expertise in Surry.

Farmer Joe’s Greenhouse and Gift Shop features a wide selection of vegetable plants and flowers including amazing organic tomato plants grown in Farmer Joe’s greenhouse. Visit Johnson Brothers for lots of garden supplies including plants, seeds, lawn supplies, tools, and lots more.

For first-class landscaping needs don’t forget C.W. Reeson English Boxwoods and The English Connection Nursery & Gardens. Not only can they provide amazing plants, but help you care for your gardens and landscaping.

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