SHENANDOAH VALLEY

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 1

The great valley of Virginia and West Virginia takes its name from the eponymous river that flows through its lowest-elevation areas. The mountains to the west and east rise sharply from the valley floor, embracing the history, culture, nature and attractions of a beautiful area.

SHENANDOAH VALLEY

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Shenandoah Valley Westminster-Canterbury300 Westminster-Canterbury Drive

Winchester, VA 22603540-665-5914 | www.svwc.org | 800-492-9463

At Shenandoah Valley Westminster-Canterbury (SVWC), we’re growing…more than just � owers! Last year we purchased

22 acres adjacent to our campus, and are making plans for “� e Villas at SVWC.” As you are preparing for your future, we hope you will consider Winchester, VA, and the security of a Lifeplan Community. Give us a call for more information or to learn about joining our waiting list.

t Shenandoah Valley Westminster-Canterbury (SVWC), we’re

a Lifeplan Community. Give us a call for more information or to learn

VisitSVWC.orgto learn about our upcoming Zoom and LearnEvents!


By SU CLAUSON-WICKER

; Our favorite must-see places, to-do events, best-of experiences in and around the Shenandoah Valley of western Virginia and eastern West Virginia. Items grouped loosely into increasing activity levels. See = relaxed. Do = some walking/standing required. Play = option for longer activity.

; *Time of year key: Spring (Sp) Summer (Su) Fall (F) Winter (W) Year-round (YR)

SEE

; Virginia Quilt Museum (Harrisonburg, VA) Virginia’s official quilt museum features modern and traditional quilts, some made from surprising non-fabric materials. YR vaquiltmuseum.org

; American Shakespeare Center (Staunton, VA) Experience a Shakespeare Play in his kind of theatre at Staunton’s Blackfriars Playhouse. The shows play in the world’s only re-creation of the bard’s indoor theatre as well as under the stars on the grounds of Blackburn Inn. YR americanshakespearecenter.com

; Brownsburg Museum (Lexington, VA) One of Virginia’s best little museums kicks off a new long-term exhibit, “Cradle to Coffin: Remembering the Country Store.” YR brownsburgva.wordpress.com/online-store

ABOVE: American Celebration on Parade is at Shenandoah Caverns, Virginia. UPPER RIGHT: Dinosaur Land is a quirky attraction at White Post, Virginia. (March – Dec. dinosaurland.com)LOWER RIGHT: Virginia Safari Park, at Natural Bridge, Virginia, is a drive-through zoo.

; Virginia Military Institute Museum (Lexington, VA) The VMI museum displays all manner of artifacts of VMI life – including the stuffed hide of Stonewall Jackson’s beloved steed; the world-class collection of muskets, pistols, rifles and more has become the main attraction. YR vmi.edu/museums-and-archives/vmi-museum

; Virginia Safari Park (Natural Bridge, VA) See and interact with hundreds of animals at Virginia’s only drive-thru zoo. March-Nov. virginiasafaripark.com

; Wonderment Puppet Theatre (Martinsburg, WV) Fun-loving Joe Santoro bewitches with his whimsical, original puppet theatre. Private shows can also be arranged.wondermentpuppets.wixsite.com/mysite-1/home

; Skyline Drive through Shenandoah National Park (Front Royal to Waynesboro) Cruise along the mountaintop looking for bear and pulling off at some of 70 overlooks for vistas of the valley. YR Visitskylinedrive.org

; American Celebration on Parade (Shenandoah Caverns, VA) Enjoy a parade without the crowd. See floats for inaugural parades, Rose Bowl festivities and more, including a collection of vintage animated window displays and the caverns. YR shenandoahcaverns.com

; Gen. Adam Stephen House (Martinsburg, WV) Descend into a secret tunnel under the 1778 home of a Revolutionary War general and town founder. July-Sept & Dec facebook.com/adamstephenhouse

; Virginia Beer Museum (Front Royal, VA) Focusing on Virginia’s beer history and its 300+ craft breweries, this museum also serves libations. YR virginiabeermuseum.com

; Burwell-Morgan Mill (Millwood, VA) Built in the late 1782, this gristmill still uses a mahogany waterwheel and authentic grindstones for its grinding. Freshly ground flours, corn meal and grits with no additives for sale. May –Nov. burwellmorganmill.org

; West Virginia Glass Outlet (Martinsburg, WV), is like a museum except every piece of handmade West Virginia glass is for sale. Collection includes pieces from 25 studios and factories. YR facebook.com/WestVirginiaGlassOutlet

; Family Drive-in Theatre (Stephens City, VA) Operating under the stars since 1956, this classic two-screen drive-in theater plays ‘50s music between shows. March-Nov. thefamilydriveintheatre.com


; Seven Bends State Park (WOODSTOCK, VA) – Virginia’s newest state park, named for the wiggly North Fork of the Shenandoah River, offers eight miles of scenic hiking trails and four miles of public river access. www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/seven-bends

; Hopewell House Bike & Bed (STRASBURG, VA) – Open to everyone but especially geared for cyclists, this new b&b offers an on-site self-service bike repair shop and great rides beginning that begin at the driveway. bikebedva.com

; Swover Creek Farms’ disc golf course (EDINBURG, VA) – Continues to add to its offerings, from pick-your-own berry farm and farm market, to farm brewery, to their new 18-hole disc golf course. Relax with wood-fired pizzas after a game of Frisbee golf. wovercreekfarms.com

; Sage Bird Ciderworks (HARRISONBURG, VA) – The valley’s newest cidery uses local fruit and flavors to produce small-batch, handcrafted hard cider. sagebirdciderworks.com

; James Madison University’s Atlantic Bank Union Center (HARRISONBURG, VA) – This huge new campus facility will accommodate basketball games, concerts and major events. jmusports.com/feature/AtlanticUnionBankCenter

; Blackburn Inn Conference Center (STAUNTON, VA) – Staunton’s new boutique hotel, housed in an elegant former asylum, recently opened a multi-space conference center with indoor/outdoor options. Adjoining wellness center. blackburn-inn.com/conference-center

; Shakespeare under the Stars (STAUNTON, VA) – American Shakespeare Theatre takes its performances into the fresh air on Blackburn Inn’s sprawling lawn during their SafeStart Season August 29 – Sept. 26. americanshakespearecenter.com

; Rockbridge Vineyard (RAPHINE, VA) – The popular winery will open its brewery by October and become a new stop on the Shenandoah Beerwerks Trail. rockbridgevineyard.com

; Staunton Grocery (STAUNTON, VA) – Ian Boden is opening a grocery that acts as the pantry of the Shack, his acclaimed restaurant. Currently operates Sundays; allows customers to purchase craft and locally sourced ingredients used to make Shack menu items. theshackva.com

; Children’s Discovery Area at Natural Bridge State Park (NATURAL BRIDGE, VA) – Construction on a nature-based outdoor play area and wildlife trail should be completed in October. Will offer learning stations in the Natural Bridge setting. dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/natural-bridge

WHAT’S NEW?EAT (& DRINK) ; The Press Room

(Shepherdstown, WV) Formerly home of the newspaper pressroom, this charming restaurant focuses on fresh simple food ranging from steak to seafood to pasta. facebook.com/ThePressRoomWV

; Blu Point Seafood (Staunton, VA) You can’t beat crab, fish and lobster that arrives fresh daily from the coast. The Blu is a new venture by the owners of the acclaimed Zynodoa. blupointseafoodco.com

; DeFluri’s Fine Chocolates (Martinsburg, WV), wins top awards for its truffles and other chocolates created at their family factory. Offerings include sugarless chocolates, wine truffles, more. YR defluris.com

; Caverns Café at Shenandoah Caverns (Shenandoah Caverns, VA) Reminiscent of the 1950s soda fountain it once was, this re-invented café now serves fresh ingredients sourced from an onsite garden as well as its classic burgers and floats. shenandoahcaverns.com/cavernscafe.html

; Magpie Diner (Harrisonburg, VA) Opened this year in the new West End district, the Magpie features a bakery and a modern interpretation of the corner diner by award-winning chef Kristen Moore. magpiediner.com

; 0-60 Energy Café (Winchester, VA) Serving the area’s largest selection of grilled cheese sandwich combos, this fun café also specializes in coffees, teas and sauces for lattes. 0-60energycafe.com

; Mimslyn Inn/Circa 31 restaurant (Luray, VA) The Mimslyn is still known for its pan-fried chicken and pies straight from heaven; they’re still on the menu, with an added selection of gourmet entrees. mimslyninn.com

; Black Draft Distillery (Martinsburg, WV) The area’s first grain-to-glass craft distillery since the Prohibition, BD produces small-batch whiskey, vodka and bourbon. Saturday tours and tastings by appointment. YR blackdraftdistillery.com.

0-60ENERGYCAFE

Winchester, Virginia’s 0-60 Energy Cafe’s claim to fame is the region’s largest selection of grilled cheese sandwich selections.


Harpers Ferry, West Virginia is famous for its history, beauty and the Appalachian Trail through town.

DO ; Ghost/Historical Tours of

Harpers Ferry (Harpers Ferry, WV) Get a darker perspective of this historic town’s past from a skilled storyteller. YR harpersferryghost.20m.com/contact.html

; Berkeley Springs State Park (Berkeley Springs, WV) Treat yourself to a healthful 19th-century-style dip at the Roman bathhouse of the famous mineral spring George Washington enjoyed. YR wvstateparks.com/park/berkeley-springs-state-park

; Luray Caverns (Luray, VA) Packed with colorful cave formations and housing the world’s largest musical instrument, a stalacpipe organ. Also: a car museum, garden maze, a ropes adventure course and a 47-bell carillon. YR www.LurayCaverns.com

; Natural Chimneys Regional Park (Mt. Solon, VA) The giant limestone “natural chimneys,” each nine to 12 stories tall, create the illusion of a great castle at this quiet park with camping, swimming, hiking and birdwatching. dwr.virginia.gov/vbwt/sites/natural-chimneys-regional-park

; Walking Tour of Staunton Pick up a brochure at the visitor center or download the free Traipse app provides riddles to decipher. www.traipse.co/staunton

; Dinosaur Kingdom II (Natural Bridge, VA) Enter into a time tunnel and discover Stonewall Jackson battling a vicious spinosaurus. This is a crazy, funny nightmare of fiberglass dinosaurs, tattered soldiers, shrieks, roars and lurching floors. May-Oct. dinosaurkingdomii.com

; Berkeley Gadgets GeoTour (Martinsburg, WV) Martinsburg is one of America’s top destinations for geocache treasure hunters. Grab a smartphone or GPS and set out to find the area’s 200 outdoor caches. . YR geocaching.com/play/geotours/berkeley-gadgets

; Martinsburg Roundhourse (Martinsburg, WV) is the oldest domed locomotive roundhouse in the nation. Its construction in 1866 was a feat of physics and design. April–Oct. themartinsburgroundhouse.com

; Catch a workshop, art exhibit, concert at Barns of Rose Hill (Berryville) Or bring an instrument to one of the free acoustic jams at this arts center housed in renovated dairy barns. YR Barnsofrosehill.org

; Andre Viette Farm & Nursery (Fishersville, VA) Strolling through more than six acres of flowers and water gardens, visitors can plan their own landscaping and buy plants from the hostas, daylilies, irises and peonies. May–Oct. inthegardenradio.com

; Frontier Culture Museum (Staunton, VA) History comes alive on these historic farmsteads portraying the lifestyles of the diverse people who settled the Shenandoah Valley. March–Nov Frontiermuseum.org

; Harpers Ferry National Historical Park (Harpers Ferry, WV) The 3,500-acre park includes Civil War battle sites, trails, a restored historic district, John Brown’s Fort and museums, as well as workshops in 19th-century skills. nps.gov/hafe

; Museum of the Shenandoah Valley (Winchester, VA) includes the adjacent Glen Burnie House, gardens and exhibits. This fall the Big Bugs sculptures and Appalachian Trail photography will be exhibited outside. YR themsv.org

; Cedar Creek Battlefield Driving Tour (Middletown, VA) Recounts some of the most dramatic events of the Civil War in the valley. June-Oct. nps.gov/cebe

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Three centuries of “taking the waters” in Berkeley Springs.

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Berkeley Springs, WV


; Bryce Resort (Bayse, VA) Go adventuring on mountain bikes, ski, swim, or try fling golf, disc golf or regular golf. bryceresort.com

; Fields of Gold Trail Follow this farm driving trail to pick your own pumpkins, hobnob with goats, fish a farm pond, along I-81 in the Shenandoah Valley. fieldsofgold.org/about-fields-of-gold

PLAY ; Llewellyn Lodge Fly-Fishing Trips (Lexington, VA) Combine a stay at a fine B&B with a relaxing fly-fishing expedition under the guidance of a fly-fishing expert. Outings from a few hours to two days. March – Nov. vatrout.com

; Hike the Devil’s Marble Yard (Natural Bridge Station, VA) You gain a terrific view as you climb to Devil’s Marbleyard in the James River Face Wilderness area, but the jumble of huge white boulders steals the show. naturalbridgestatepark.org/miscellaneous/devils-marbleyard

; Horseback Riding in Clarke County, VA. Whether it is fox hunting, show riding, trail riding, riding lessons, or if you just prefer to watch a powerful horse jumping a hurdle, Clarke County has it all. March – Nov. clarkecountyequinealliance.org

; Hiking the Chessie Nature Trail (Lexington to Buena Vista) This easy seven-mile trail meanders along the Maury River through good songbird territory, connecting Lexington and Buena Vista. dwr.virginia.gov/vbwt/sites/chessie-nature-trail

STAY ; Cacapon Resort State Park (Berkeley Springs, WV) The 48-room lodge overlooks the Robert Trent Jones golf course. Activities include swimming, sporting clays, horseback riding, and more. wvstateparks.com

; Inn at Vaucluse Spring (Stephens City, VA) This beautiful b&b gives the option of six different guesthouses and private cabins. Morning yoga. vauclusespring.com

; Blackburn Inn (Staunton, VA) An attractive boutique hotel retrofitted from an upscale mental asylum, the Blackburn features, art gallery and complimentary breakfast in the sunroom. blackburn-inn.com

; Stonewall Jackson Hotel (Staunton, VA) The 1924 Stonewall perches on the hill above Blackfriars Playhouse, within walking distance of everything in downtown Staunton. stonewalljacksonhotel.com

; Natural Bridge Hotel & Conference Center (Natural Bridge, VA) Hospitality at the hotel is as genuine and Southern as its scratch-made biscuits. Offerings include a s’more station in the lobby, bonfires in the evening and shuttle service to the gorge light show. naturalbridgeva.com

BELOW: Natural Bridge Hotel & Conference Center operates next to Natural Bridge State Park.

; Bavarian Inn & Lodge (Shepherdstown, WV) Enjoy an AAA Four Diamond hotel beside the Potomac with an infinity pool and a casual-dining brewpub on the premises.

; Canoeing the Shenandoah (Front Royal, VA) Known as the Canoe Capital of the World, the Front Royal section of the Shenandoah River is beginner-friendly with exciting patches as well as good smallmouth bass fishing. Front Royal Outdoors and Downriver Canoe Company has you covered. discoverfrontroyal.com

; Tuscarora Trail (Frederick County, VA) This less-crowded bypass route of the Appalachian Trail, Tuscarora Trail cuts a 250-mile path through the mountains of VA, WV, PA, MD. hikethetuscarora.org

; Cabin Capital of Virginia (Luray/Page County, VA) With more than 400 cabins from rustic log huts to luxurious woodland houses, Luray provides a range of getaways. cabincapital.com

; Massanutten Resort (Harrisonburg, VA) Stay at the “everything” resort offering golf, dining, hiking, biking, craft classes, spa, winter skiing and indoor/outdoor waterpark. massresort.com


To the east and west are bustling cities, but in between

is pure bliss. Beauty that will take your breath away

and stories of bravery that will leave you speechless.

———— � ere Ordinary Ends... ————Bedford Begins.

National D-Day Memorial

Peaks of Otter

DestinationBedfordVA.com877-447-3257 | #DestinationBedfordVA

301 S. Main St. Harrisonburg, VA 22801540-433-3818 | vaquiltmuseum.orgBACKYARD ESCAPE: SEP 8 - DEC 19, 2020

EYE CONTACT: JUL 15 - SEP 15, 2020

ONGOING EXHIBITSTreasures from the Vault

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Madison County! Hike Old Rag, go horseback riding, have some wine or beer and listen to music, or just listen to the peaceful sounds of the streams and nature. Plenty of peace and space to wander. Find your MAD WanderLove in Madison.

MADISONVA.COMPlease check our website below for up to date info!

For more than 250 years visitors have been making the journey to Bath County in the mountains of Virginia west of the Shenandoah Valley. Then visitors arrived on horseback or by covered wagon to soak in the healing waters of the natural mineral springs. Today, travelers arrive on motorcycles, sports cars or the family minivan. The journey is just as memorable and the mountain views haven’t changed at all.Bath County is a favorite destination for a road trip or as a hub for scenic drives. The peaceful back roads offer breathtaking mountain scenery with little traffic and not a single stoplight in the entire county.While scenic drives are a favorite pastime here, there is abundant outdoor recreation and a thriving arts and culture community that includes the internationally known Garth Newel Music Center. In recent years, Bath County has

developed a reputation as a destination for food lovers. Creative chefs work with local farmers to develop delicious farm-to-table options.One thing that has not changed is the beauty of the landscape and the relaxation that comes from a mountain getaway. One can easily imagine it is exactly the same as what George Washington and Thomas Jefferson saw over 200 years ago. Visitors seeking a unique vacation experience certainly hope it stays that way.

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A Spectacular Road Trip to

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SHENANDOAH VALLEY