A day trip to the Pearisburg, Virginia Amish area feels like a secret shared among backroads travelers: one excellent Amish‑run market, a scattering of farms and home businesses, and Blue Ridge views instead of bus tours. It is simple, quiet, and exactly right for travelers who want sandwiches, scenery, and a glimpse of everyday Amish life in the mountains.amishamerica+2
Morning: Arriving in Pearisburg and Walker Valley Market
Set out in the morning for Pearisburg, tucked in Giles County’s mountains, home to Virginia’s oldest Amish settlement founded in the 1990s. As you roll into the valley, watch for buggy warning signs and small lanes leading to farms; this community is small—around a dozen families—but surprisingly busy with home enterprises.amishamerica+1
Your first stop is Walker Valley Market, the heart of the visitor experience at 106 Nature Lane, Pearisburg, VA 24134. This locally owned, Amish‑run market functions as grocery, bulk food store, deli, bakery, and even a furniture showroom under one roof. Inside, shelves are lined with bulk staples, dried fruits, nuts, candies, local meats, and “gourmet snacks,” alongside hand‑churned ice cream and naturally made skincare products.walkervalleymarket+3
Walk the aisles slowly: you will see big bins of flours and grains, jars of jams and relishes, and maybe a corner with handcrafted wooden items or outdoor furniture. Locals and repeat visitors rave that it is “the best Amish market” in the region, praising the selection and the drive through pretty countryside to get there.onlyinyourstate+4
Midday: The deli counter and bakery treats
Plan your visit so you are at Walker Valley Market right around lunch, because the deli is the star of the show. Ordering is simple: grab a sandwich slip (often a check‑off style form), choose your bread, meats, cheeses, and condiments, and hand it to the counter staff. Reviewers insist these are “the best sandwiches ever,” stacked on homemade or high‑quality bread and built for hungry travelers.mapquest+3
Popular choices, based on customer comments, include:
- Thick deli sandwiches with turkey, roast beef, or ham and Swiss, plus plenty of toppings.onlyinyourstate+1
- Fresh whole‑wheat bagels and homemade loaves, perfect to take home or enjoy as a simple lunch with local cheese.mapquest
- Bakery items like cookies, breads, pies, and pastries, baked on site and praised for flavor and freshness.onlyinyourstate+1
One visitor notes they “stop and get their deli sandwiches for supper sometimes and we love Joe’s Tea too,” highlighting the store’s tea selection as another little draw. Others call the food “delicious,” the service “great,” and the overall experience “always delightful to browse,” turning this into a must‑repeat stop whenever they are in the area.reddit+1
After lunch, grab a slice of pie or a cookie to go, and pick up a few bulk items or local meats for the road; many reviewers mention stocking up on basic groceries because prices and quality are so good.walkervalleymarket+1
Afternoon: Exploring the Amish community and countryside
With lunch handled, it is time to explore the surrounding Amish area, which is spread out in a rugged valley and along backroads leading away from Pearisburg. Amish America notes that the Pearisburg settlement includes multiple businesses—country stores, a harness and tack shop, a shed‑building business, and custom furniture shops—though not all are formally signed or geared toward tourists.amishamerica+1
Key stops and experiences may include:
- Nature Way Country Store – Historically another Amish country store at the same address Walker Valley now uses, created so local families had a place to buy flour, baking supplies, and staples. Whether you see the old sign or just recognize the replacement, it captures the community’s practical roots.amishamerica
- Roadside stands and bake sales – The community holds occasional bake sales and lunches to raise funds for the Amish school, often advertised locally. If your timing is lucky, you might find tables loaded with breads, pies, and simple hot meals.amishamerica
- Farm lanes and valley views – Amish homes with hitching posts, bunnies or produce for sale, and barns clustered near the road, all set against steep mountain hills that make farming here a serious commitment.amishamerica+1
Drive slowly, respecting horses and buggies, and avoid turning into private lanes unless a sign explicitly welcomes customers. This is a working community, not a museum, and part of Pearisburg’s charm is that businesses exist first for local needs and only secondarily for visitors.amishamerica+1
Late afternoon: Furniture and handcrafted goods
If you are interested in furniture or higher‑end handcrafted items, Pearisburg can function as a gateway rather than a single stop. Barkman Furniture, for example, promotes custom Amish‑made furniture available through dealers serving the Pearisburg area, with pieces hand‑built by Amish craftsmen combining old techniques and modern design. While this is not a tourist showroom in town, it shows how local Amish craftsmanship links into larger regional furniture networks.barkmanfurniture+1
Closer to the settlement itself, Amish America describes at least two custom furniture shops and a shed‑building business within the Pearisburg community, which use open fields near the homes as work spaces for starting projects like sheds and outdoor structures. Even if you do not buy anything, simply seeing lumber stacked and projects underway adds texture to your understanding of how this small group supports itself in such rugged terrain.amishamerica+1
As afternoon shadows lengthen, consider looping back past Walker Valley Market for any last‑minute purchases, then driving a bit farther into Giles County to enjoy scenic overlooks, hiking near the New River, or a quick stroll through downtown Pearisburg before heading home.onlyinyourstate+1
Why Pearisburg makes a perfect Amish day trip
Pearisburg’s Amish community stands out because it combines true remoteness with at least one standout visitor‑friendly business. Unlike larger tourist centers, here you get:amishamerica
- One excellent Amish market—Walker Valley—where you can reliably eat, shop, and experience plain‑style hospitality.walkervalleymarket+2
- A scattering of home businesses and farms that keep the community economically diverse, including produce, furniture, and possibly specialty operations like licensed animal breeders.amishamerica
- Dramatic mountain scenery that makes every mile of the drive feel like part of the attraction.amishamerica+1
Travel writers and visitors alike describe the area as “beautiful country” and even call Walker Valley “one of the better Amish markets” they have visited, thanks to its food and atmosphere. For a one‑day trip from places like Roanoke, Blacksburg, or even southern West Virginia, Pearisburg delivers a full, satisfying mix of simple pleasures without the crowds.facebook+2
Check sources
- https://amishamerica.com/amish-pearisburg-virginia/
- https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/trip-ideas/virginia/pearisburg-amish-va
- https://amishamerica.com/amish-virginia/
- https://walkervalleymarket.com
- https://www.mapquest.com/us/virginia/walker-valley-market-351465998
- http://walkervalleymarket.com
- https://www.reddit.com/r/roanoke/comments/1oe226g/amish_market/
- https://www.facebook.com/amishamerica/posts/this-is-one-of-the-better-amish-markets-ive-been-towalker-valley-market-pearisbu/1072691088226400/
- https://www.barkmanfurniture.com/pearisburg-virginia/
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbHoZq_cmVY