Did you know that time spent in nature can benefit a stressed-out mental state? Numerous studies support the idea, and almost anyone who spends time in the outdoors will swear to it. Benefits of Forest Bathing Advocates point out that forest bathing may lower heart...
As diverse as Virginia’s wildlife population is, one doesn’t normally think of it as a haven for llamas, bison, ostriches, giraffes, peacocks, zebras and kangaroos. Yet you can see all these species and more roaming the 180-acre Virginia Safari Park. Located in...
More and more people are experiencing the pure joy of seeing the Valley by horseback. Here are some of the best outfits where you can mount up. Fort Valley Ranch (LURAY) Fort Valley Ranch is located just outside Luray. The Ranch’s Ann Heck told us, “Open year-round,...
Between now and November, all National Park Service sites that charge an entrance fee will offer free admission to everyone one on five select days. Shenandoah National Park will also be free on a sixth day. The specific dates are as follows: Saturday, April 17 –...
Beer and wine trails in the Shenandoah Valley combine scenic beauty and award-winning spirits. With 290 craft breweries in in the commonwealth, making it 12th in the nation, and an economic impact of $1.8 billion, Virginia is obviously doing its part to encourage the...
The pandemic hasn’t stopped Massanutten Resort from offering a thrilling package of winter sports. Skiing, snow boarding, snow tubing, ice skating, the Indoor WaterPark, plus dining and live music are all open and underway. But there are a few changes. Massanutten...
Renee Sklarew is a DC-based writer and photographer specializing in travel stories. It’s an understatement to say she’s travelled widely, and one of her favorite regions to explore is the Shenandoah Valley. We got in touch with Renee to get a travel writer’s...
Located in beautiful Shenandoah County about two hours west of Washington, DC, Bryce Resort opened in 1965 with a small ski building and an air strip. It has grown into more than 400 acres of four-season outdoor thrills— with skiing, snow-boarding, tubing, and ice...
The Shenandoah Valley was made for romantic getaways. The stillness that winter brings, the fresh, biting air, and a fine Virginia wine are all within reach to spark your perfect romantic getaway. The cabins and accommodations listed below offer a variety of romantic...
On November 25th, 90 acres of the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley property opened to the community for the first time as a free-admission art park called The Trails at the MSV. Imagine 90 acres of the largest green space in the city of Winchester open to the...
For now, a key part of travel planning centers around following COVID guidelines, especially staying away from crowds, and staying fairly close to home. Luckily, the Shenandoah Valley offers numerous ways to do that. The following attractions, requiring just a short...
If you’re serious about hiking in Virginia you have very likely come across GoHikeVirginia.com, an in-depth hiker’s resource founded by Northern Virginia outdoor writer Erin Gifford. We sought out Erin to get her thoughts on hiking Shenandoah National Park—in...
At this time of year, there are quite a few exciting things one can do in a rented Shenandoah Valley cabin—sleep late, drink coffee, look at the view, read, take an easy hike, and snuggle by the fireplace. Of course, there are plenty of more active options, too —take...
If you’ve ever wanted to go deep into the mountains—literally–the just-opened Crozet Tunnel Greenway is the Shenandoah Valley’s newest way to do so. Nearly 20 years in the making, the new tunnel-trail is 2.25 miles long, running between Waynesboro and Afton. ...
While most of the Shenandoah Valley’s beauty is naturally made—the mountains, the waterfalls, the forests, etc.—more and more it’s created by human hands. Small hamlets like Luray and Strasburg and bigger towns like Waynesboro and Harrisonburg are showing an...
Sub: Most holiday festivities, under Covid guidelines, will go forward in Virginia’s Christmas Capital Bedford takes the holidays very seriously—so much so the town is known as the Christmas Capital of Virginia. But with Covid precautions in place, will traditional...
Christmas shopping in the Shenandoah Valley is much more than just clicking “view Cart” and keying in a credit card number. It’s strolling snow-dusted Main Streets, decked out in holiday trimmings, with seasonal carols playing in the background. It’s delighted...
With everyone’s time at a premium, exploring the Shenandoah Valley becomes very much a matter of pre-trip planning. By considering the Valley as three regions—North, Central and South—travelers can break down ease of access, identify attractions they wish to see and...
If you asked a child to imagine the ultimate place to play, the Shenandoah Valley might be exactly what he or she comes up with. With mountain trails, waterfalls, ziplines, bike parks, swimming pools, horses, giant mazes and inter-active museums, the Shenandoah Valley...
“There is so much to Love in Harrisonburg!” said Jessica Williams, the city’s Tourism and Marketing Specialist, “from cycling, hiking and outdoor scavenger hunts to great food, local craft beer and wine in a friendly scenic atmosphere.” Some attractions have been...
Back in the 1890s, visitors to the region we now call Shenandoah National Park took trains from Washington, DC to the small depot in Luray. There they would climb into horse-drawn wagons for the final leg of their journey—about three miles of dirt switchbacks–...
Bounded by a national park on one side, a national forest on the other, with a historic river carving out the middle, Page County combines the best of Shenandoah Valley pastoral beauty with a thriving Downtown. Luray-Page County Chamber of Commerce President Gina...
WanderLove is calling—and a fall road trip through the back roads of the Shenandoah Valley is an idyllic (and easy-to-reach) destination. The search for fall color is an annual rite pursued and enjoyed by millions. In the Shenandoah Valley, vantage points from...
Picture a place of scenic beauty, historic heritage, outdoor pursuits, and lively downtown areas, and you’ll begin to get a sense of Augusta County. All Augusta, All Outside For outdoor recreation, one can spend endless hours exploring Sherando Lake Recreation Area,...