Blue Ridge Parkway at Humpback Rock
Now that autumn has arrived in the Shenandoah Valley, October's calendar is full of festivals and events for those who wish to enjoy cooler temperatures and colorful leaves. If waiting until the fall color show hits its peak, be sure to check out Virginia Tourism's Fall Color Hotline at 1-800-424-LOVE or check the Fall Color report.
Driving the scenic Skyline Drive and Blue Ridge Parkway offers the opportunity to explore new locations, revisit favorite spots, and view the scenery from high above the Shenandoah Valley as you wind your way along mountain ridges. Pack a lunch and enjoy a picnic at the numerous roadside tables and picnic areas.
Humpback Rocks Mountain Farm at Milepost 5.8 on the Blue Ridge Parkway offers a glimpse into the past with authentic rustic log buildings that illustrate nineteenth century Appalachian farm life. At this time of year the buildings have costumed interpreters as well as mountain musicians on the weekends. A visitor center is also on the site, and nearby is the popular Humpback Rocks hiking trail.
The central Shenandoah Valley has enough to see and do to keep families busy for weeks. The Queen City of Staunton, located at the intersection of I-64 and I-81, has kept her history intact, as can be seen by the many renovated buildings, shops, and restaurants in the downtown area. On Saturday mornings there is a farmers market in the Wharf parking area downtown featuring locally-grown goods.
Shopping opportunities in Staunton offer everything from furnishings to clothing. If you're looking for fine dining, check out Zynodoa. Entertainment can be found at the Clock Tower and Mockingbird restaurants while Baja Bean offers fun Mexican fare and a bar that's popular with the locals. In the historic train station, the Depot Grille offers something for everyone, and the floors actually rumble when the train passes.
In the Wharf area, Byers Street Bistro offers sidewalk tables as well as two floors inside for a quiet dining nook or a large group. Two informal eateries on Beverley Street, the main downtown thoroughfare, are Shenandoah Pizza and the nearby Split Banana for ice cream and gelato desserts, or check out Coffee on the Corner for light food and beverages.
One of the prime attractions in Staunton is the American Shakespeare Center featuring a recreated Blackfriars Playhouse serving up Shakespeare plays year-round in an atmosphere that will make you feel as if you've stepped back in time to the days of the Bard. The Frontier Culture Museum, located just off I-81, offers authentic homesteads of the 1800s from Ireland, Germany, England, America, and the newest addition of the West African farm, providing a hands-on history lesson in the story of America's people.
If planning to stay overnight in Staunton, there's Anne Hathaway's Cottage, the Inn at Olde Virginia, Frederick House, and Stonewall Jackson Hotel and Conference Center.
If you would rather stay along the mountain ridges, check out the Iris Inn, Sugar Tree Inn, or Cabin Creekwood located just off the Blue Ridge Parkway south of Waynesboro.
The Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park offers camping as well as Big Meadows Lodge and Skyland Resort. There are miles of leg-stretching hikes throughout the Park.
What is autumn without corn mazes and pumpkin patches? West of Staunton, Cestari Sheep Farm offers a pumpkin festival and corn maze the second and third weekends in October. If it's apples you're looking for, this fall staple can be found at Virginia orchards offering many varieties. The popular family-run Graves Mountain Lodge Apple Harvest Festival north of Charlottesville will take place the second and third weekends in October.
October is Virginia Wine Month and there are plenty of wineries to check out in the Shenandoah Valley, surrounding mountains, and beyond. Barren Ridge Vineyards near Staunton offers wine tastings and events including murder mysteries and musical entertainment.
West of Harrisonburg, the Dayton Farmers Market, open Thursday through Saturday, sells a variety of goods, some from the surrounding Old Order Mennonite community. It offers unique shops, food, and a mouth-watering big soft pretzel. Don't be surprised if you find a horse-and-buggy parked at the hitching post while Mennonite families do some shopping of their own.
South of Harrisonburg, the Green Valley Book Fair returns October 6-21, offering hundreds of thousands of books at 60-90% off retail. A favorite with locals, its reputation for book bargains has traveled throughout Virginia and beyond.
Whether you're looking for a quiet getaway or a fun-filled weekend, the Shenandoah Valley provides something for just about everyone. It's autumn in Virginia.
--Originally posted in the Washington Examiner by Lynn R. Mitchell, October 4, 2010
Photo by Lynn R. Mitchell
September 2012
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