The name Shenandoah evokes a feeling of peaceful beauty in nature. That’s no myth or legend. When visitors come to Shenandoah County, nestled between the Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountain ranges, the feeling of being completely immersed in nature is awe-inspiring.
Begin your adventure with an early morning horseback ride at Fort Valley Ranch where a slow paced guided tour on horseback through the George Washington National Forest offers a quiet trail experience under a cool canopy of trees. There you might see a passing deer or a field of wild turkeys and wild flowers. For more experienced riders or for those who come with their own horses, there are a number of packages available for parking trailers and following well established trails.
From Fort Valley Ranch, it’s a quick hop over Massanutten Mountain through Edinburg Gap where there are great shops, and restaurants such as Edinburg Mill Restaurant in the cute little town of Edinburg. From there head South through the town of Mount Jackson and find a tree lined road to the West that takes you to the Meem’s Bottom Covered Bridge you can pull off the road and wade into the North Fork of the Shenandoah River which typically runs low and lazy. It’s a perfect place for wading in below the knees and skipping rocks or going fishing. From there, you’re in the general vicinity of some of Shenandoah County’s favorite family attractions. Route 11 Potato Chip Factory has a welcoming shop and Fry-Viewing in their state of the art Super Eco-Friendly facility. They pride themselves on small batch “unhurried” potato chip deliciousness. From there, a quick jaunt around the corner you will find Shenandoah Caverns family of attractions. The Caverns are a spectacular site with one-hour tours that take you through several rooms highlighting underground stalactites and stalagmites. The knowledgeable tour guides will tell you everything from the mineral content of the formations to how the caverns were discovered by two curious young boys in the late 19th century. For the price of Caverns admission, visitors can also see some extravagant collections of retired parade floats and animated department store window displays from “yesteryear”.
If the timing is right, The Shenandoah Valley Music Festival has a summer concert season in the town of Orkney Springs. A great way to end a day in Shenandoah County is to stretch out on the lawn with a chair and picnic blanket, a glass of wine and live music. The surrounding trees create great acoustics and the fireflies add a touch of sparkle and magic.
A short distance from Orkney Springs is Basye home to Bryce Resort a beautiful, affordable, vacation destination, with year round activities for the entire family! Become a champion golf pro on the 18-hole golf course, dip into the cool waters of Lake Laura, paddle, kayak or swim out to the floating dock. If you’re a cyclist climb the mountain and get adventurous at the new bike park or get daring and jump on the euro bungee, rock climbing wall or castle bounce. In the winter months Bryce Resort offers nine different runs for beginners and skilled skiing and snowboarding enthusiasts.
We hope you extend your stay, and discover the beauty and adventures of Shenandoah County.
Contact
600 N Main St #101
Woodstock, VA 22664