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Springtime in Virginia is beautiful.  How do you know when spring has arrived?  The bluebells are out, of course!  For our family, like many others, a nice April day often leads us in search of one of Virginia’s natural beauties.  As my neighbor once said, “Tourists go see the Cherry Blossoms.  Virginians go see the bluebells.”

The Bluebells

In our case, the most spectacular display of Virginia Bluebells usually occurs along Bull Run at Manassas National Battlefield.  One of the finest ways to enjoy this attraction is to combine it with the fine winery that is next door, the Winery at Bull Run.  We like to begin visits with our customary walk along the 1.6 mile “Bluebell Loop” which is technically called the Stone Bridge Loop trail.  Along the loop, you can see the woods floor blanketed with bluebells, but you also get to see the often more spectacular display on the far side of Bull Run.  Typically, full bloom is right about Tax Day (April 15).  It’s easy to to tell if it is peak bluebell season by the number of cars in the parking lot when you arrive.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To see these bluebells, park in the parking area for Manassas National Battlefield off Route 29 (next to the entrance for the Winery at Bull Run).  From the parking lot, follow the marked path across the bridge.  This takes you to to the loop which you can then follow though the woods and the battlefield.

The Winery

After you have finished looking at the bluebells, I would recommend that you give the winery next door a visit.  A nice option for those who have children, the Winery at Bull Run has an area for families.  On weekends there are food trucks (you can see the schedule on the website), and during the week they have “winery food” like bread, cheese and salami.  They also offer $15 wine tastings of their wines or you can opt for a bottle or a glass of wine.  They also sell some non-alcoholic drinks as well.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our children enjoy eating at the picnic tables and exploring the play house that is connected to the family area.  The food trucks that are here serve high quality food and the prices tend to be reasonable.  We have enjoyed Two Smooth Dudes (I am a fan of the Crab Tots) and C&E Southern Bites (both the children and adults enjoy this one), but you are also free to bring your own food as long as you eat in the picnic area.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We have found that this is a nice, relaxing way to end our days to see the bluebells.  After the walk, everyone is usually ready for a little time to unwind.

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