The Shenandoah Valley in Virginia and West Virginia‘s Jap Panhandle spans over 200 miles. With the picturesque Blue Ridge Mountains and Alleghenies standing to the east and the west, that is one really stunning and serene patch of land.
In Virginia, it spans from Lexington to Winchester, history-filled cities that present a welcome interruption to your day journey or lengthy journey.
And the locations you’ll discover inside every city and metropolis are a giant a part of why we, and also you, know that is the right place to drive within the US.
From South to North, this information offers you the right tricks to see, eat, and discover throughout your Shenandoah Valley street journey.
This put up is a part of our collection on Virginia and different superior places to visit in the USA. We initially created it on December 12, 2019.
20 Should-Go to Locations throughout Your Shenandoah Valley Street Journey
Lexington (Beginning Level)
Pure Bridge State Park
Natural Bridge State Park is a no brainer for the Nationwide Register of Historic Locations. The 215-foot tall (and 40-foot thick) Pure Bridge is carved out by a creek, weighing a powerful 36,000 tons, and the sight of it’s going to actually make your jaw drop.
Climbing to the Pure Bridge is a straightforward quarter of a mile. Nevertheless, if you happen to’re not feeling it, a shuttle bus that leaves a number of instances an hour can take you.
Along with seeing the naturally made bridge, the path extends additional. In case you hold going, you’ll move by means of a Monocan Native American Village Exhibit, Saltpeter Cave, and ultimately a waterfall.
Close by is the Pure Bridge Caverns. Right here, explorers can take an hour-long tour of the chambers that reach 35 tales under floor!
Nice Valley Farm Brewery
Belgian-style beer is poured overlooking the Allegheny Mountains on the majestic Great Valley Farm Brewery.
As a part of the Shenandoah Beerwerks Trail, this cease features a sprawling 27-acres of farmland. That’s the world that grows the components for these scrumptious brews.
Halcyon Days Cider Firm
New on the scene in Shenandoah Valley is Halcyon Days Cider Company, a cidery dedicated to utilizing solely Virginia-grown apples. Their small batch brew-filled menu ranges from candy to dry. And truthfully, this IPA drinker was satisfied to offer cider one other strive after visiting this place!
Whereas the cider alone is price visiting, Halcyon can be recognized for its apple tree orchard labyrinth.
Formed from 2,000 dwarf apple bushes of fifty completely different varieties, the labyrinth is impressed from the Chartres Cathedral in France and stretches 1.7 miles.
We included these locations and extra in our information to a weekend in Lexington, too!
Swoope
Polyface Farm
Polyface Farm is one in every of a form, as you’ll see when visiting this family-owned and operated enterprise. The farm could be best-known for its proprietor and prolific author Joel Salatin, however there’s extra to this place.
For starters, Polyface is among the solely farms within the US the place you’ll be able to stroll round each nook and cranky any time you’d like. Seeing these completely satisfied pigs and chickens are part of the farm’s dedication to transparency in farming and really natural residing.
Creating symbiotic relationships among the many animals at Polyface, these farmers have eradicated the necessity for fancy gear, feed, and advertising. They’ve really gone again to what’s good for the animal and the land. One other declare to fame is Polyface’s place on the forefront of grass-fed farming within the US.
All these elements make visiting the farm a should for everybody. Even if you happen to aren’t into agritourism, belief me. Your street journey should embody a cease at Polyface.
It is a working farm, so don’t anticipate a tour or data indicators. Nevertheless, you might be welcome to ask questions contained in the farm retailer and stroll across the property to say howdy to the animals!
For extra on Salatin, I like to recommend studying The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan. Yow will discover a few of Joel Salatin’s books here.
Staunton
Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library and Museum
In Staunton, you’ll be able to go to the birthplace of twenty eighth President Woodrow Wilson and the museum that chronicles his life and accomplishments.
Step inside The Manse, the home owned by the Staunton First Presbyterian Church. There, Woodrow Wilson’s father, Joseph Wilson served as church’s pastor.
Displays of be aware inside embody The President’s restored 1919 Pierce-Arrow Limousine. You’ll additionally discover a detailed historical past of Wilson, together with his positions on suffrage, prohibition, and World Struggle I.
Museum-goers can even expertise an extremely harrowing World Struggle I Trench exhibit, with varied lights and sounds taking you again in time.
American Shakespeare Heart
Take a tour or seize extremely sought-after tickets to a present on the American Shakespeare Center.
That is the world’s solely recreation of the Blackfriars Theatre, which was demolished in 1655. In the present day, the Staunton model places on the nation’s finest Shakespearean productions.
And identical to throughout Shakespeare’s time, the Blackfriars Playhouse options common lighting, solid doubling, cross-gender casting, and minimal units. Seeing a manufacturing by the American Shakespeare Heart is an unbelievable expertise and value a cease throughout your Shenandoah Valley street journey!
Eat at Zynodoa
Across the nook from the Blackfriars Theatre, Zynodoa is the right pre-theatre eating spot! Right here, you’ll be able to eat scrumptious farm-to-table (together with Polyface!) Southern meals.
Every merchandise on the menu has an outline labeling the place the merchandise had been sourced. That manner, customers know that they’re supporting Virginia’s unbiased farmers.
Honoring the farmer and the meals, the dishes are thoughtfully ready and plated to be stunning and bursting with taste.
Harrisonburg
Hop on Skyline Drive
Skyline Drive is among the hottest scenic drives in America and Harrisonburg is among the most handy spots for accessing it.
Tucked inside Shenandoah Nationwide Park, this can be a particular bucket list-worthy factor to do. It’s the solely street by means of the park and runs 105 miles from Front Royal to Waynesboro.
Touring your entire size of Skyline Drive will take roughly three hours if you happen to don’t cease at any of the 75 gorgeous overlooks.
Skyline Drive can be accessed from Entrance Royal, Thornton Hole, Swift Run Hole, and Rockfish Hole, the place the street meets the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Hike Shenandoah Nationwide Park
With over 200,000 acres and 500 miles of lovely trails, the Shenandoah Nationwide Park spreads alongside the gorgeous Blue Ridge Mountains. Opened in 1935, there are numerous varieties of wildlife, hikes for all talents, and even seasonal lodging.
The Appalachian Path runs for 101 miles by means of Shenandoah Nationwide Park. Adventurous hikers would possibly need to check out one of many three rock scrambles within the park. Households ought to positively try the displays on the Byrd Customer Heart at Mile Marker 51.
Admission Observe: The charge for a single automobile to enter the park is $30. Examine here for Entrance Charge-Free Days.
Virginia Quilt Museum
With greater than 300 bedspreads in home, the Virginia Quilt Museum is an expansive assortment. It’s additionally charged with the conservation of a observe that runs deep in Virginia heritage.
Rotating displays, a everlasting assortment, plus a cool assortment of stitching machines make this museum one other distinctive to this space.
Celebrating and nurturing this custom, the museum is price a cease for nearly everybody.
Luray
Luray Caverns
Found in 1878, Luray Caverns is the most important naturally occurring cavern within the Jap United States. Their newly opened entrance affords a pleasant gradual sloped path. Guests to the caverns traverse 1-1/4 miles of looping walkways which can be surrounded by the 64-acres of stalactites and stalagmites.
These caverns are recognized for the Nice Stalacpipe Organ, which was created by Leland Sprinkle in 1956. The “organ” is performed by activating mallets hooked up to stalactites distributed throughout 3.5 acres of the caverns. That makes this the most important musical instrument on this planet.
Excursions run each 20 minutes and each 40 minutes in the course of the offseason and price $28 for adults and $15 for kids. Your group ticket additionally grants you entrance to the Automobile & Carriage Caravan Museum, Luray Valley Museum, and the Toy City Junction.
Extra tickets might be bought for the Rope Journey Park and the Backyard Maze.
Middletown
Eat Virginia Barbecue at Shaffer’s
This former fuel station turned wood-smoked barbecue joint is among the best-kept secrets and techniques of Virginia! Shaffer’s Barbecue has been smoking meat since 1952, remaining family-run for 3 generations, and full of native love.
Steeped in vinegar and smoked over oak, Shaffer’s is paying homage to our favourite North Carolina barbecue. Nevertheless, it’s distinctly Virginia-style ‘cue. Whereas smoking pork shoulder, beef brisket, and native rooster, the pitmasters add home-made rubs to carry out extra taste.
Come for breakfast, lunch, or dinner and fill up in your favourite native merchandise, too! Their market is full of hand-curated Virginia merchandise they usually additionally carry an extremely massive number of craft beer!
Shaffer’s is correct subsequent to Belle Grove Plantation and makes an ideal ‘cue and history-filled afternoon!
Belle Grove Plantation
Belle Grove Plantation as soon as was a affluent 7500-acre plantation complicated. It was in-built 1797 by Main Isaac Hite and his spouse Nelly Madison Hite, President James Madison’s sister.
After Nelly’s dying in 1802, Main Hite married Ann Tunstall, and the couple was ultimately joined by ten youngsters within the Manor. As one of many oldest historic mansions of the Shenandoah Valley, Belle Grove reveals the life and tradition of early settlers.
And whereas the Hite household historical past is necessary and detailed at size throughout a tour, Belle Grove Plantation additionally does an unbelievable job of highlighting the work and tales of the 276 enslaved Africans who lived there.
The work isn’t full, although, as researchers are nonetheless working to study extra about these people who had been owned from 1783 to 1851.
The African American story is a vital narrative in our historical past, and never sufficient plantations throughout the American South are keen to share it as overtly as Belle Grove does.
Entrance Royal
Downtown
Front Royal is a enjoyable city and simply 72 miles west of Washington, DC, accessible by way of I-66 and Route 340.
We beloved downtown Entrance Royal and had been completely satisfied to spend a weekend there. Blue Wing Frog has among the finest REAL meals in Virginia and Front Royal Brewing Company brings award-winning beer to the desk with their dishes.
C&C Frozen Treats is THE place for dessert there and has an always-interesting Fb Web page you will need to observe.
Appalachian Path Entry
You can even hop on a bit of the Appalachian Path from Entrance Royal, even if you happen to aren’t up for six to eight months of climbing from Maine to Georgia.
In actual fact, 100 of the two,178 miles of the Appalachian Path swoop and swerve by means of the Shenandoah Valley. Hikers search for the white blazes alongside the path which might be accessed simply 4 miles east of Entrance Royal in Chester Hole.
Virginia Beer Museum
Cataloging the historical past of Virginia beer since 1607 to the present wave of craft beer, the Virginia Beer Museum is greater than only a row of faucets. Every room of the previous City Corridor represents a distinct period of Virginia’s beer historical past.
For extra to do, eat, and keep in Entrance Royal, try our information to a weekend there!
Linden
Load Up on Donuts at The Apple Home
For greater than 50 years, The Apple House in Linden has been serving scrumptious Apple Butter Donuts to vacationers and locals.
Close to the northern entrance to Skyline Drive, this family-run institution has far more than simply unbelievable donuts. Nevertheless, you positively want a few of them!
Cease by for some pork BBQ or one in every of their half-pound Angus burgers! Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, The Apple Home is a Skyline Drive custom!
Winchester
Stroll Outdated City Winchester Pedestrian Mall
An eclectic combine of retailers, eating, and structure is precisely what you’ll discover within the Old Town Winchester Pedestrian Mall. With greater than 30 eating places and 60 outlets, the 250-year-old pedestrian mall is an attractive centerpiece to Winchester’s historic downtown.
Along with the outlets and eating places, Outdated City Winchester additionally has necessary historic points of interest.
You may cease by Stonewall Jackson’s Headquarters Museum, George Washington’s Workplace Museum, and the Outdated Courthouse Civil Struggle Museum.
Need assistance discovering one thing? Take a look at the Old Town Winchester App and even select a self-guided strolling tour!
Seize a beer at Winchester Brew Works
Ladies-owned and women-brewed, Winchester Brew Works has been fermenting grain since 2016. Winchester Brew Works serves scrumptious stouts, seasonal shandys, and IPAs.
In addition they do one thing I’ve by no means seen earlier than.
Upon request, they’ll add varied flavors to your beer. And primarily based on my expertise, I can vouch for a squirt of pumpkin spice within the fall or a splash of coconut as okay additions to a porter.
Shenandoah Valley Civil Struggle Museum
It’s mentioned that Winchester modified fingers in the course of the Civil Struggle as many as 72 instances, even 13 times in one day. Principal Road was a hard-fought battlefield and the Accomplice and Union Armies used Winchester as their headquarters, simply blocks other than one another.
And right now, the Shenandoah Valley Civil War Museum commemorates Winchester’s half within the warfare.
It sits within the Outdated Court docket Home that served as a hospital and jail in the course of the Civil Struggle. Right here, you’ll discover graffiti written by Civil Struggle and over 3,000 artifacts.
Our Ideas and Yours, Too!
This record of locations to go to is simply the tip of the iceberg, truthfully. That’s why we’re prepared for an additional Shenandoah Valley street journey, so we will hold exploring this area even additional. Whereas we gear up for it, we’d love to listen to from you!
In case you’ve pushed by means of this a part of the world, acquired any favorites you’d prefer to share? In case you’ve by no means handed by means of, the place do you need to go first? Tell us within the feedback part under!
Disclosure Observe
Particular due to Shenandoah Valley Journey Affiliation for internet hosting us throughout our keep. You may study extra about them here. All opinions inside this text are our personal.
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