By Bob Tagert

It seems like it has been forever since we headed out of town to do the R&D for this column. We always bring it home for the holidays in the December issue and recap the previous year in the January issue so I had to reach back into my memory bank to last November to retrace our steps to River Bluff Farm located on the Shenandoah River on the outskirts of Quicksburg, VA. As a point of reference, this little “burg” is near New Market (their physical address is listed as New Market) and fairly close to Woodstock.

The main reason we headed out in that direction was because we were once again invited to the Fifth Annual Shenandoah Valley Wine Trail Awards & Gala that was being hosted in The Yellow Barn event venue near the entrance to the Shenandoah Caverns. This is the premier event for the 22 wineries that dot the landscape in the Valley. There were 73 wines submitted to the 2023 competition with Jump Mountain Vineyards taking home the coveted Shenandoah Cup with their 2019 Borderland. Borderland is made with a blend of tannat, cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc grapes and it was very worthy of this award.

Last year the event was held at Brix & Columns Vineyard that is close to Harrisonburg where accommodations are plentiful. However, the Yellow Barn isn’t as conveniently located and we wanted a place to stay as close to the venue as possible. After we did a Google search of the area, River Bluff Farm hit the mark. Located a mere 2.9 miles from the Yellow Barn and situated on the North Fork of the Shenandoah River, it was the perfect choice.

If any of you are like we are, we tend to lean toward places that are off the beaten path. And let me tell you, River Bluff is definitely one of those places. We were really glad that we were checking in during the daylight hours because I seriously don’t know if we would have been able to find it otherwise. Even though it is close enough to a “real” road that you can see from the deck on the main cabin, it is a challenge getting back to the property. We made specific mental notes as we found our way to the Yellow Barn for the event knowing that we had to find our way back in the dark of night. Quicksburg doesn’t have a lot of street light in general and some of the streets/roads aren’t exactly defined. They recommend that you follow the directions that are provided on their website since the GPS directions may not be reliable after you turn on to Ridge Road. Don’t let this information discourage you from making the trek. River Bluff Farm B&B is well worth it.

The B&B is very rustic but also has an air of elegance. The cabin is a legitimate log and timber structure located on 20 stunning acres and sits on a bluff about a hundred yards from the banks of the river. There are several ways to enjoy the view whether in a hammock near the water, in an Adirondack chair around the fire pit in the meadow below the cabin or on a comfortable chair on the porch and deck. The view from the dining room is also a perk while you enjoy breakfast.

River Bluff offers three guest bedrooms each with a private bath. Shared spaces available to all of their guests include the main living room, the log cabin sitting area with fireplace, a dining area with a small complete kitchen, a half bath on the first floor and a cozy upstairs seating area. We spent the bulk of our time in the sitting room in front of the fire where we met another couple who were staying there. We discovered that we knew many people in common as we enjoyed a few glasses of wine and some lively conversation.

Outdoors, facing the riverside meadow and the river, you will find a large deck with gas grill, tables, and chairs as well as a covered porch accessible from the breeze way between the main room and the dining area. The gas grill is a nice touch as they invite you to grill the fish you catch from the river if you so choose to try your hand at catching a couple.

The group breakfast the next morning was a real treat as we talked over wonderful food with that view of the Shenandoah River over my shoulder. The breakfast menu varies from day to day and your host is happy to accommodate special scheduling requirements and dietary needs with advance notice.

The property also allows you to use the kitchen to make your own meals if you desire to do so. If you decide to go off property to eat, they are located off of I-81 with easy access to several small towns. Our suggestion is taking the drive into Woodstock where there are several dining choices to choose from as well as nice shops and historic attractions. The New Market Battlefield, Shenandoah Caverns, many wineries and breweries are easily accessible from the B&B. Don’t forget that you are near Shenandoah National Park and the year-round outdoor activities that take place there. After all, you are in the Shenandoah Valley between the Allegany and Blue Ridge Mountains.

The River Bluff Farm Bed and Breakfast is such a jewel in the valley that you will need a few days here to truly appreciate it all. The bulk of the drive out there can be all interstate or you can take your time and jump off on to one of the secondary roads over the mountains for a beautiful drive.

In addition to two-night stays, full home rental and extended stay lodging is available. They also have a single bedroom cottage on the property that is available. Frankly folks, it doesn’t get much better than this. How can you go wrong with comfortable accommodations and a river adventure wrapped into one?

And…if you really need to stay “connected”, the WiFi is free and there is a SmartTV with Netflix and a Fire TV Stick.

River Farm Bed & Breakfast

183 Quicksburg Mill Lane

New Market, VA

540-454-9751

E-mail: relax@riverbluffbnb.com

riverbluffbnb.com