Today after breakfast, it’s time to explore Halifax, located just six miles north of South Boston. On the way, you can visit the South Boston-Halifax County Museum of Fine Arts and History which displays art and historical memorabilia including Civil War artifacts, glassware, Indian artifacts, military uniforms, and collections pertinent to South Boston, Halifax County, and Southside Virginia. Many items were donated by Halifax first families. Exhibits are changed in the Main Gallery each month to reflect different aspects of the history and art.

Reaching the quaint, historic town of Halifax, you may feel like you’ve stepped back into antebellum Virginia. The gentility of its curving roads, flowering trees and serene landscape make it to some, “the prettiest historic town in Virginia.” If not, it’s close. The careful preservation of 18th and early 19th century homes is astounding, especially when you know portions of these homes are going on 250 years old. Plantings at many of the homes date from the 1840s. In addition to residences, the Mountain Road Walking Tour takes you past two antebellum churches, the 1828 Masonic Hall, the Courthouse and the Clerk’s office. Thomas Jefferson’s master builder Dabney Cosby who constructed the core University of Virginia buildings, traveled to Halifax to build the new clerk’s office in 1835 and the new county courthouse, completed in 1839. Absolutely walk the road from end to end, it’s doesn’t get much better than this.

Leaving Halifax, you’ll be on your way to Berry Hill Plantation (now Berry Hill Inn) where you can marvel at one of the finest examples of Greek Revival architecture in Virginia. As you travel up the tree-lined drive, you’d almost expect Scarlett O’Hara to slip through the massive columns and glide down the stairs to meet you. The massive eight-columned house, built in 1842, is a quintessential southern antebellum mansion. It was also the seat of one of the most successful tobacco plantations in the region. Previous owners of the property included Colonel Edward Carrington who fought alongside General Nathanael Greene in the Revolutionary War. Most recently, Berry Hill was meticulously restored to its original pre-Civil War grandeur after being abandoned for 50 years.

Berry Hill Plantation is located on the River Road Scenic Byway, a route that still takes you past a variety of plantations and tobacco fields. During the 18th century River Road was part of main stage route between New York and New Orleans and the principal road from Halifax Court House to Danville. Berry hill is a reflection of the wealth that was once centered here during the antebellum era.

Bob Cage’s Sculpture Farm is also here in tobacco country. Mr. Cage illustrates there are many ways for people who once made their living in tobacco to change professions. He is one of the more unusual stories. This World Champion Tobacco Auctioneer is now a sculptor, painter and champion tennis player. In addition to pieces scattered about South Boston, the Bob Cage Sculpture Farm is an open field with, among other things, sculptured llamas, burros, and goats grazing in the field. He has also restored a very historic home in Halifax County.

From there, it’s on to the South of the Dan Historic Driving Tour which begins at Glenmary, the historic home owned by Cage. This road, now US Route 380, was the main stage route from Norfolk to Milton, North Carolina. You’ll can also explore the area where William Byrd II surveyed the boundary between Virginia and North Carolina that has stood for nearly 300 years.

This evening after dinner plan to attend a performance at the Halifax County Little Theater, celebrating 50 years of theater. The Theater now presents its performances at The Prizery in South Boston.

Choice of Accommodations for night two: See night one.