Including Staunton, Harrisonburg, Winchester, Waynesboro Created and managed by locals to provide you with the real 'inside scoop' on the area. |
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No place on Earth can provide the wondrous mix of spectacular natural beauty, history and unlimited outdoor activities that await the visitor to the Shenandoah Valley. Whether your interests lie in retracing Stonewall Jackson’s famous Valley Campaign, stalking wild trout or merely taking a few days to relax and enjoy our unmatched scenery the “Valley” has something to offer every visitor. Please come to enjoy our down-home hospitality, exceptional regional cuisine, comfortable accommodations and the myriad activities offered by this piece of Heaven… we know that you will return again and again! Your hosts, Richard and Nancy Dickerson |
| Nestled between the Appalachian and Blue Ridge Mountains, the spectacular Shenandoah Valley of Virginia encompasses 150 miles of meandering river valleys and gently rolling mountains. Ancestral home of the Tuscarora and Shawnee Indian tribes, the region was first populated by European settlers in 1730. The early history of the Valley was one of agricultural development and as a base for further western migration. At one time, Augusta County actually extended westward all the way to the Mississippi River! During the Civil War, the region was vital to both sides, which resulted in nearly four years of struggle for control. The Valley’s many historical sites offer revealing insight into this troubled time in our nation’s history. Annual battle re-enactments provide history buffs of all ages a thrilling – and sometimes chilling – experience of what it must have been like for brother to fight brother, father to fight son. A fabulous vacation destination, The Shenandoah Valley offers tourists a vastly different experience than tradition vacation “hot spots.” To be sure, the range of accommodations – from elegant resorts to ski chalets to quaint bed & breakfast inns - and restaurants match those of any destination. But it’s the overall environment and attractions that line the Valley make this the ultimate alternative travel spot. The world famous Skyline Drive and Blue Ridge Parkway wind along our western mountains and provide spectacular vistas. For those who enjoy hiking, there’s no better place than the Appalachian Trail, which parallels most of the valley. Those who love the outdoors – from winter skiers to summer fishermen to history buffs seeking to learn more about America’s roots – will find The Shenandoah Valley offers so much more, for so much less! Winchester Located at the northern tip of Virginia, Winchester and Frederick County are within a two hours of Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, Maryland – Richmond and Pittsburgh just a three hour drive. Home to the world to the world famous Apple Blossom Festival held each spring, Winchester was originally settled by Quakers in 1732. The armies of the North and South engaged in five battles and many skirmishes within or near Winchester, which changed hands more than 70 times. Stonewall Jackson used a home on Braddock Street for his headquarters during the war, and today his office remains much the way it was during his stay. The Kurtz Cultural Center downtown has a permanent exhibit, "Shenandoah -- Crossroads of the Civil War." The birthplace of Patsy Cline, Winchester was home to one of Country Music’s true legends. Killed in an airplane crash in 1963, Cline is buried at the Shenandoah Memorial Cemetery along the Patsy Cline Memorial Highway. Harrisonburg In the geographic center of the Shenandoah Valley sit Harrisonburg and Rockingham County. This area is known for panoramic vistas, abundant recreational opportunities and rich history. Harrisonburg is home to 16 major industries and serves as the financial and retail center for eight counties, including three in neighboring West Virginia. For travelers, it's a great place to settle in for a while and explore other attractions in the valley. A thriving city, Harrisonburg continues to undergo major revitalization. A new Agriculture and Transportation Museum, along with the Virginia Quilt Museum, are attracting thousands of first-time visitors. Live theater is performed in the Rockingham Motor Company building, which also offers movies and an Opry-style variety show in the Nashville tradition. Dayton’s indoor Farmer's Market features more than 20 shops with everything from baked goods and fresh cheeses to antiques, spices and grains. The George Washington and Jefferson National Forests lie in western Rockingham County. To the east is the Shenandoah National Park and the Massanutten mountain range, home to Massanutten Resort, a year-round residential community known for its ski slopes and golf courses. Old Town Winchester Old Town Winchester welcomes visitors with the grace and style typical of Virginia hospitality. The shopping is fabulous, with charming stores filled with antiques, art, clothing, specialties and much more. Restaurants feature everything from cafés to fine dining in a historic setting. Walking tours are available showcasing both our rich history and our remarkable architecture. Located in the heart the historic district is an open mall lined with cafes and shops – the perfect setting for the town’s many special festivals and events. Staunton Called the Queen City on the Great Wagon Road, Staunton celebrated its 250th anniversary in 1997. A great city to explore on foot -- if you don't mind a few hills -- Staunton is full of Victorian, Greek Revival and Italianate architecture, unique shops, one-of-a-kind eateries and important historical sites. The city is the birthplace of President Woodrow Wilson, who was born in 1856 to a Presbyterian minister and his wife in a Greek Revival manse on Coalter Street. Today the manse is open for tours and sits next to a museum where you can learn all about Wilson's life, his political views and his vision for world peace. The Woodrow Wilson Museum also houses the president's 1919 Pierce Arrow limousine. Another major attraction in Staunton is the Frontier Culture Museum, an indoor-outdoor living museum that features four authentic working farms and all kinds of domesticated critters. Staunton is an appropriate place for a museum that documents life in frontier America. It is the seat of Augusta County, which once stretched all the way to Mississippi. Most early settlers in the area were Scotch-Irish, including John Lewis, the first white man to build a homestead here in 1732. In 1749 Lewis' son, Thomas, laid out lots and streets for the new town of Staunton, named in honor of Lady Rebecca Staunton, Gov. William Gooch's wife. Nineteenth-century Staunton grew by leaps and bounds following incorporation as a town in 1801. Education became a priority, with the establishment of the Virginia Institute for the Deaf and the Blind in 1839, Augusta Female Seminary in 1842 (now Mary Baldwin College), Virginia Female Institute in 1844 (now Stuart Hall School) and Staunton Military Academy in 1884. The railroad came to Staunton in 1854, stimulating the city's growth as a center of commerce for the region. Today Amtrak serves the city, and the old C&O train station is a showcase of meticulous restoration work. There you'll find an authentic 1880s Victorian Ice Cream Parlor in the Pullman Restaurant serving dense, Italian-style ice cream in a room with antique-parlor and drugstore furnishings from ceiling to floor. Next door, the Depot Grille boasts a gorgeous, hand-carved antique walnut bar, and in the same building, Depot Antiques sells fine collectibles, Victorian and country furniture. The wharf area has undergone restoration work; the old mill buildings and warehouses contain antiques shops, a pottery workshop and studio and a marvelous antique-car dealership. The Historic Staunton Foundation has a detailed brochure to guide visitors on a walking tour of the city. |