A stone’s throw from Interstate 81, a major thoroughfare that runs north to south across Virginia, the tiny hamlet of Draper is well worth your time. This former rail town with a population of less than 700 is an unexpected delight that surprises with a formal tea room, a vista-laden vineyard, and easy access to the New River Trail, the longest rail-trail in Virginia. 

Draper is an ideal stopover, particularly for motorists who’ve had their fill of fast food and chain restaurants. Pull off at Exit 92 for decidedly non-highway food and a leg stretcher walk on the New River Trail. Fuel up, then get ready to find out what Draper has in store for you.

What to Do

Explore the New River Trail

The New River Trail, a 57-mile rail-trail, hugs Draper as it meanders south and west from Pulaski toward dual end-points in Fries and Galax. Up until 1985, this passage was home to steam engines that chugged along the Norfolk & Western Railway. Today, train stops are preserved with wooden shelters with picnic tables, encouraging hikers, bikers, and horseback riders to stop to ponder the trail’s rich railroad history.

This popular rail-trail, which features 32 wooden trestle bridges and two train tunnels, is the centerpiece of New River Trail State Park in Southwest Virginia. Bring your own bicycle or rent a bike at The Junction on Greenbriar Road, the main street in Draper. A fleet of bicycles is on call for visitors eager to pedal the wide multi-use trail. 

Head to “The Merc”

From the New River Trail, it’s a few steps to Draper Mercantile, which is at the heart of this tiny village that’s home to a tea room, a restaurant, a healing arts center, a coffee shop, and eclectic gift shops. Known affectionately as “The Merc,” this was once Draper’s post office. The owners have taken great care to preserve this heritage with historic artifacts, like one-time post office boxes. 

Make Time for Tea

Next door, Draper Blooms Tea Garden delights with a formal tea service that features scrumptious finger sandwiches, vanilla scones, seasonal jams, and bite-size sweets, like brownies and breads. The fanciful tea shop also sells gourmet teas, live plants, and decoratives, like antique bird cages, wall art, and vintage tea pots. The Curious Quill shares a storefront with the tea shop, selling uniquely curious gifts, like quotable mugs, bourbon soaps, artisan-made jewelry, and trinket boxes. 

Stop and Sip Wine

Make time to sample wines at Spinning Jenny Vineyard, which sits in the Draper Valley and has an outdoor deck that boasts big views across the Blue Ridge Mountains. The vineyard grows a half-dozen grapes on-site, including chardonnay, cab franc, and pinot gris. 

Create your own tasting flights with more than a dozen wines, including a Route 76 Blush, whose name is a nod to the TransAmerica Bike Trail—a coast-to-coast bike route that’s also known as U.S. Bicycle Route 76. The bike route passes by the vineyard and tasting room. 

What to Eat

Brake for Breakfast

When you’re ready to eat, start at Draper Mercantile. Open Tuesday through Sunday from 8 am to 3 pm, it’s the place to go for delicious breakfast and lunch dishes, like Draper’s French Hen, a fun and flavorful take on chicken and waffles that features a crispy chicken breast topped with maple syrup and sandwiched between two slices of brioche French toast. Delicious. 

Dine Around Town

For lunch, look to made-to-order salads, sandwiches, and burgers, as well as signature entrees, like the honey ginger citrus salmon. There’s also a coffee shop at Draper Mercantile with creative monthly coffee selections, like a s’mores mocha and a vanilla matcha latte.  

For more options, historic Pulaski is an easy 10-minute drive from Draper. Favorite restaurants include Main Street Grill and Al’s on First, which is open for dinner and is located in Pulaski’s Jackson Park Inn. The fare may be considered “casual dining,” but get ready for grilled salmon and prime rib.

One of the most delicious destinations for tortilla chips, salsa, tacos, and fajitas is Compadres. It’s even been heralded by some as the best restaurant in town. Don’t be fooled by its location in a strip mall. The food here is really good.

Where to Stay 

Book a Cozy Stay

Book a stay at the Jackson Park Inn in Pulaski, a 32-room boutique hotel located in a circa 1920s grocery warehouse. Opened in 2015, the renovation and transformation from warehouse to hotel preserved many of the original and timeless features, like aged brick, wide plank wood floors, and rustic beam timbers. Exterior walls have been artfully modernized with industrial-style accents, like steel awnings and soft-glow LED lighting. 

Rent a Cabin or Cottage

For a vacation rental, look to New River Retreat, which rents cabins and cottages across the New River Valley. Osprey’s Landing and Ayita, both less than 15 minutes from Draper, wow with sensational views across the gently-flowing New River, one of the oldest rivers in the world.