A beautiful gateway into the Shenandoah Valley and a cozy holiday destination, Front Royal is situated alongside the Blue Ridge Mountains and Shenandoah National Park. Get to know this historic town and learn why it’s a great host for many avenues of exploration.
West of Washington, D.C. and just south of Interstate 66, Front Royal is the “welcome to the mountains” city folks have been looking for. A stop at The Apple House in Linden is your first introduction to a slower pace and easier living. Dive into an apple donut and don’t look back.
In downtown Front Royal, the Walking Tour is a savvy way to become quickly acclimated to the history and highlights. It’s an easy one-mile jaunt from the Visitor Center, which resides in the 1880s train station on East Main Street.
Some of our favorite foodie spots are Down Home Comfort Bakery for delicious homemade pastries and Element for lunch or dinner. If you’re on the lunch end of things, try J’s Favorite, a fantastic homemade curry chicken salad with ham, lettuce, and tomato on a French roll. (Yes, that said ham. Trust us on this one.) Should it be dinner, any of the seafood dishes are out of this world.
Have a flower child or vintage lover on your shopping list? Fleetwood Vintage checks that box with groovy old school finds and eclectic clothing we loved in our heyday (when did the 90s become vintage, anyway?). Bookworms on the list can be fulfilled with a stop at Royal Oak Bookshop. It’s one of those dreamy destinations complete with bookshelf cats. It’s the fluffiest game of hide-and-seek and we’re here for it.
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Saga Meadery on South Street is a great introduction to mead for yourself or someone on your list. Perfect for holiday gatherings or gifting, the Holiday Package is three of the best meads for the season: Sunburst Citrus, Crisp Apple, and Winter Cheer. We especially love Winter Cheer for the smell of cloves and spices; key scents of the season.
Those more interested in beer are in luck. Find the Virginia Beer Museum on Chester Street – the only beer museum in Virginia. Sip a beer while learning about beer; it’s a win-win.
Should your timing coincide with the merriment of December 2, you’re in luck! Christmas on Main includes a Merry Market of artisans, the annual Christmas Parade, the winter carnival, and more. It’s the official start of the holiday season in downtown Front Royal.
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Plan your visit at DiscoverFrontRoyal.com.
Header image courtesy of Discover Front Royal.