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Eat. Drink. Love. in Front Royal, VA

7/27/2021

 
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Eat. Drink. Love. Front Royal Photo Credit: Virginia Tourism Corporation
With scenic mountain wineries, a fast-growing craft brewery scene, and restaurants sourcing delicious food from local farms all around, rural Virginia is a foodie’s dream destination. This year, Discover Front Royal is joining with the Virginia Tourism Corporation to highlight all the fantastic epicurean experiences you can enjoy in the Front Royal area.

​A wide range of wineries, breweries, and unique eateries await you in this scenic town of the Shenandoah Valley. Read on to find out how you can eat and drink what you love in Front Royal, Virginia. You’ll find a quick rundown of some recommended eats and drinks, as well as a section on the best ways to merge your edible experience with the Front Royal area’s fabulous outdoor attractions.

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Eat – Front Royal’s Foodie Scene
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Front Royal is full of fabulous restaurants, and foodies will find plenty to explore. For today’s post, we’re featuring several local eateries that we’ve specially selected for their diversity. No matter your taste or budget, you should be able to find a fit on this list. 
 
For a classic fine dining experience in Front Royal, don’t look any further than Element, where you’ll find gourmet cuisine and an atmosphere to match.
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The Element

​Italian food lovers should head to Osteria 510. It’s a farm to table Italian dream come true! Or if you’re in search of something a little more exotic, Try Thai, on Front Royal’s historic main street might just fit the bill. Here you’ll find gourmet Thai food and sushi. 
 
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Try Thai
You’ll see the smokers working away in the parking lot when you pull up at Pavemint Taphouse. Delicious smoked food in a trendy renovated gas station, along with brewed-on-site craft beers. It’s a fun, one-stop shop for lovers of gourmet food and craft beer.
 
Wine lovers in search of a bite to eat, make your way to ViNoVa. A wine bar serving gourmet tapas, it’s a great place to relax and enjoy perfectly paired wine and eats.

Drink – Front Royal’s Wine, Beer, Mead, and Coffee
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DL Campus Coffee on Main
Of course a foodie’s adventure doesn’t stop with eating. If you’re looking for an gourmet weekend, you’ll want to plan out some delicious drinks too. In Front Royal, you’ll find a wide range of great sipping! Start the day with a perfect coffee from Happy Creek, Daily Grind, or DL Campus Coffee. Move on to wine, craft beer, or even a glass of mead.
 
​Front Royal’s wineries are the perfect combination of delicious Virginia wine, stunning countryside, and that unbeatable winery feel. For fields and rolling hills, visit Rappahannock Cellars, or for a mountainside experience try Fox Meadow Winery. See a full list of Front Royal’s wineries here.
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Beer lovers will find plenty to love among the craft breweries of the Front Royal area. If you’re looking to get out in the countryside, head to Backroom Brewery. For an in town brewery experience, check out the Front Royal Brewing Company. 
 
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Honey & Hops Brew Works
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Saga Meadery
Finally, if you’re looking to try something new and unusual, don’t overlook Front Royal’s meaderies. Mead is an ancient alcoholic beverage that’s making a comeback. If you’re curious to try out honey wine in Front Royal, visit Saga Meadery or Honey and Hops Brew Works for a tasting you won’t forget. 
 
Love – Where Food Meets the Front Royal Outdoors
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While you’re in Front Royal, don’t forget to plan an outing where you can satisfy your love for food while immersing yourself in the great outdoors of the Front Royal area.
 
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Valley View Farm
 A great way to enjoying eating and the outdoors is to visit a local pick-your-own fruit farm. Valley View Farm is a great destination where you can eat, drink, and love all at once! Start at the pick your-own-orchard and enjoy in-season fruit. Then head on over to the farmers market, where you can buy organic vegetables and local farm produce. End your visit with some wine or hard cider tasting in the farm tasting room. Other pick-your-own options in the Front Royal area include Stribling Orchard, Hollin Farms, and Hartland Orchard. 
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Hartland Orchard
Another way to enjoy Front Royal’s food and outdoor attractions is to bring some Front Royal food with you on an outdoor adventure. Blue Wing Frog will pack a gourmet picnic lunch for you. Or try Manor Line Market for locally sourced take-out or eat-in food.
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Blue Wing Frog
If you’re planning a visit to Front Royal, plan on some fabulous food while you’re here! With a wide range of restaurants, Virginia wine and beer, and food for every outdoor adventure, Front Royal is the destination your taste buds are rooting for! It’s time to Eat. Drink. Love. in Front Royal, Virginia.

Find Your WanderLove in Front Royal, Virginia

7/21/2021

 
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WanderLove Virginia-style!
When someone has a strong urge to travel, we call it wanderlust, but here in Virginia, that feeling’s called WanderLove. If you’re looking to a Virginia road trip to satisfy your yearning for travel, put Front Royal on your itinerary. You’ll find a small town with a big history, outdoor activities ranging from golfing to river tubing, and wineries and gourmet restaurants for when you’re ready to relax. Read on to find out why Front Royal is the road trip stop you’ll want to prolong.

Enjoy the Great Outdoors 
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All road trippers need a chance to get out the car, get some exercise, and breathe the fresh air. If you’re in search of outdoor adventure, you won’t find a town that’s better located than Front Royal. Situated at the northern entrance to Shenandoah National Park, Front Royal is the threshold to almost unlimited hiking, camping, and rock climbing excursions.

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Shenandoah River
On the other hand, if you’re looking for an aquatic adventure to keep you cool, you can find one on the Shenandoah River, as it winds its way through Front Royal. Fishing enthusiasts will find plenty of great fishing spots. Or contact one of our fun and friendly local outfitters to plan your perfect canoeing or floating trip on the river. Front Royal is known as the Canoe Capital of Virginia. You’ll find the best canoeing in the state right here! 

Play Front Royal’s Golf Courses
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Golf enthusiasts shouldn’t forget to put their clubs in the car if Front Royal is on the road trip! You can experience the stunning scenery that surrounds Front Royal, all while playing your favorite sport. Check out Front Royal’s golf courses today to see why Front Royal is becoming a destination for golf lovers from all over Northern Virginia and beyond.
 
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Golfing in Virginia
Explore Historic Front Royal 
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You’ll want to carve out some time from all the outdoor fun to explore the quaint town of Front Royal and check out some of our local history. Enjoy a stroll down historic Main Street, taking a break to sip on a coffee or explore an antique store. Or for a deeper dive into history check out some of Front Royal’s historic sites, such as the Belle Boyd Cottage or the Balthis House. Civil War enthusiasts should take themselves on the Front Royal Civil War Driving Tour to make sure they don’t miss out on any of the fascinating history around our town. 
 
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Balthis House
Front Royal’s Food and Lodging
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Finally, when you’re ready to relax, you’ll find gourmet food, Virginia wine and beer, and comfortable lodging all at your fingertips in Front Royal. Spend an afternoon relaxing in the countryside at one of Front Royal’s exquisite wineries. Or grab a bite in town, where you can choose from a huge range of delicious options, including craft microbreweries, cuisines from distant lands, or a wine bar with tapas. If you’re in search of something sweet, try Down Home Comfort Bakery or stop by C & C Frozen Treats for that road trip classic: ice cream. 
 
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Photo credit: Virginia Tourism Corporation
Don’t Forget to Check Out the LOVEworks
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Before you leave Front Royal for your next destination, don’t forget to stop at one of the LOVE signs for a picture. Swing by the downtown gazebo area to take a photo that shows how much you LOVED your time in Front Royal! Don’t forget to use the hashtag #LoveVA!
 
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LOVEworks
With outdoor adventure, the Shenandoah River, delicious food, and a historic small town feel, Front Royal is the Virginia destination you want to include on your road trip. We’ll be ready to welcome you when you find your WanderLove in Front Royal, VA!

“Keep the Music Alive!” Appaloosa Music Festival Returns to Front Royal, VA

7/6/2021

 
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Appaloosa Roots Music Festival
Have you been wondering where you can:
  • Enjoy live performances from folk, Americana, and Irish musicians?
  • Savor a full weekend of wholesome, family friendly fun?
  • Camp under the stars at Skyline Ranch Resort in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley? 
  • Experience the best of Front Royal’s local beers, wine, food, and crafts?

​Find it all at Appaloosa Music Festival, Front Royal Virginia, August 13-15! 

​COVID-19 restrictions are lifting, and musicians everywhere are ready to get back together with their fans! If you’re ready to enjoy music and fellowship again, it’s time to book your tickets for Appaloosa Music Festival 2021. A weekend at this extraordinary music festival will leave you with memories for a lifetime!

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Photo Credit: Craig Spiering
The Appaloosa Story: Bringing the Folk Music Crowd Home to Front Royal
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Appaloosa all started in 2014 with the D.C. area folk rock band, Scythian. They’d played for crowds around the world, but they were ready to spend less time touring, and more time close to home. Founding band members and brothers, Dan and Alex Fedoryka, realized that the solution lay in their own hometown: Front Royal, Virginia. With its proximity to Skyline Drive and the idyllic Shenandoah Valley, its supportive team of local artisans, and its genuine small-town atmosphere, Front Royal had incredible potential. It was the perfect setting for a folk, Americana, and Irish music festival that would bring in musicians and fans from all over the country. And so, Appaloosa Music Festival was born.
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Scythian
Now in its seventh year, Appaloosa’s explosive growth has proved the Fedorykas right about the Front Royal community and the irresistible draw of their music-making. With annual line-ups featuring little known but soon-to-be famous musicians. Appaloosa has claimed its reputation as the festival where fans can enjoy intimate performances from excellent musicians. There’s so much fun to be had that the crowds have kept growing year after year!  

We also want to give a huge shout out to this year's line-up @YoungDubliners, @dustbowlrevival, @brooklynyarn, @AZTECSUNBAND, 
@BillandBelles Arbo @bendavidwarner, @AbigailDowd, His & Hers, The Moores, The Wilson Springs Hotel, Honeyday, Jesse Eastman, Low Water Bridge Band, Cake for Dinner.
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So Many Stars in the Valley
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Appaloosa has hosted everyone from GRAMMY winners to future grammy winners and has developed a reputation for being a festival where you can find the next big artist. From major acts to the next big name, you'll find them here!
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Appaloosa and the Front Royal Community
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Main Stage - Photo Credit: Rob Laughter
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Appaloosa Music Festival is a genuine a grassroots effort, with local talent lending a hand from all around the Front Royal area. Whether it’s the music you’re hearing or the drink in your hand, it probably hails from not too far away! In addition to the local musicians in the lineup, Front Royal’s food vendors and beverage brewers pitch in to provide authentic local refreshment for fans. With local arts and crafts on sale too, it’s a full immersion experience into Front Royal talent. Even the main stage is locally sourced, lovingly crafted by Front Royal based Strong Oaks Woodshop with reclaimed wood from old Virginia barns.

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Appaloosa Volunteers
​“Music among friends”
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Scythian’s motto is “Music among friends,” and that’s the kind of feel that audience members can enjoy at Appaloosa. It’s a friendly, wholesome, country atmosphere. The young adult crowd can have a few drinks and some fun, but the festival was also specifically designed with families in mind. There’s truly something for everyone here!
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Roots music festival in the Shenandoah Valley
The festival grounds include a FREE kids zone, with face painting, bouncy houses, games, and everything you need to get your whole family into the festival feel. There’s even a dedicated stage with special performances and workshops just for kids. And parents can enjoy fantastic family packages with free admission for all kids 12 and under and a dedicated family camping area.
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Kids Zone - Photo Credit: Danielle Lussier

​Appaloosa is such a good fit for families, that it’s becoming nationally recognized. The festival has been one of five festivals nominated for best family-friendly festival at the Festx awards in Las Vegas. Fellow nominees included the nationally known Austin City Limits and Jazz Fest New Orleans.

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Appaloosa 2019 - Photo Credit: Craig Spiering
Appaloosa Accommodation
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Appaloosa Music Festival is three days long, and spending time outdoors in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley is part of its draw. If you want to get the complete experience, consider the camping options available right on site at Skyline Ranch Resort. You’ll be able to relax at your tent while listening to the music, spend more time with friends old and new, and fully immerse yourself in the great outdoors of the beautiful Shenandoah Valley. ​

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Skyline Ranch Resort
With a variety of tent sites and RV hookups available, you can choose an option that suits your comfort level and your budget. And if you’re not up for camping, but don’t want to miss a second of the festival, don’t worry! A limited number of VIP packages include Skyline Ranch Resort’s comfortable chalet accommodations. 
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Skyline Ranch Resort Map - Appaloosa
We are also offering a special discount at the beautiful Blue Ridge Shadows Holiday Inn and Suites. Click here to check out the discount and availability. We're super grateful for their support!
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Blue Ridge Shadows Holiday Inn and Suites
Tickets!

If you don’t have a whole weekend to spare, no problem. You can purchase tickets by the day as well.
 
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Various Food Vendors
So buy your tickets now, and come on out for Appaloosa Music Festival this August 13-15. The COVID-19 lockdowns were particularly tough for musicians, and attending Appaloosa is one way to support folk music and local businesses while having a great time. Please share this post and let’s all work together to “Keep the Music Alive” because #​VirigniaisforMusicLovers!!
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Virginia is for (Appaloosa) music lovers!

Adventurous Eats in Front Royal, Virginia

7/5/2021

 
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Attention Foodies of Front Royal!
Have you ever thought of the food you eat as an adventure? It’s not a connection we make every day, but food has numerous ties to excitement and uncharted territory. Maybe your food adventure is trying something new, savoring a dish from a distant land, or sampling artisanal food that doesn’t taste quite the same anywhere else. Or perhaps the adventure is more simply in the fact that the food you eat is the fuel for your next hike, bike ride, swim, or rock climb. Or maybe it’s a combination of the two!  

​Whether you’re looking for a uniquely delicious dining experience, or for food that will carry you for miles in the great outdoors, you can find it in Front Royal. Try out some adventurous eats in our welcoming small town, and you’ll discover why Front Royal is the foodie’s choice in the Shenandoah Valley.

Front Royal’s Unique Restaurants
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Front Royal’s diverse selection of gourmet eateries make the town a great destination for foodie of all tastes. If you’re after a classic fine dining experience, you can’t go wrong with the Element. It’s fine dining the Front Royal way! 
 
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Element on Main Street
For a unique and delicious micro-brewery experience try Pavemint Taphouse. Pavemint has all the character you’d expect to find in a micro-brewery located in a renovated gas station. The smoker in the parking lot will tempt you inside, to enjoy delicious, locally sourced food alongside your craft brew. 

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Pavemint Taphouse, Front Royal, VA
If wine sounds better than beer, another great option in town is ViNoVa tapas and wine bar. Pair your wine with gourmet tapas from a fresh and exciting rotating menu. The small plate format is meant to encourage guests to share and try something of everything! 
 
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ViNoVa on Main Street
If you enjoy cuisines from distant lands visit Royal Spice to experience authentic Nepalese and Indian Cuisine. Family owned and operated, Royal Spice specializes in bringing exotic flavors from the foothills of the Himalayas all the way to Front Royal, Virginia. It’s hard to imagine a more adventurous eat!
 
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Royal Spice - Main Street
And the adventure doesn’t end in Front Royal! Get off the beaten by a bit by heading to the neighboring town of Flint Hill, and expand your options even further. At Flint Hill’s Griffin Tavern you’ll find pub food in a renovated 1850s Victorian Manse. Or check out The Blue Door Kitchen and Inn for gourmet offerings in the setting of a delightful four acre estate.
 
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Griffin Tavern - Flint Hill, VA
Food (and Caffeine!) to Fuel Your Adventure
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If it’s the desire to adventure in the great outdoors that brings you to the Front Royal area, you’ll still want to make food a part of your adventure. You’ll find that Front Royal’s business owners are ready and willing to help fuel your journey. Blue Wing Frog is a favorite hiker stop for healthy, homemade food. Better yet, they’ll even pack a picnic for you, so you can enjoy gourmet food out on the trails.
 
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Blue Wing Frog - Front Royal, VA
For some of us, when we think of the fuel that gets us going, we only think of caffeine. If coffee is an adventure necessity for you, Front Royal’s coffee shops will keep you supplied. DL Campus on Main, Happy Creek Coffee and Tea, and the Daily Grind are all located in Front Royal’s historic downtown. For an adventurous order at Happy Creek, try the Valencian. It’s coffee with chocolate and orange zest. An unexpected combination, but a great one!
 
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DL Campus on Main Street
Planning a Front Royal Foodie Getaway
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There are too many great places to eat in the Front Royal area for just one dinner out. If you’re a lover of gourmet food, why not treat yourself to a getaway, and spend several days in Front Royal? If you want to know exactly what to expect, Front Royal has accommodation available at several classic chain hotels including Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn, and Townplace Suites. 
 
 If you want to carry your adventure into your accommodations, there are also more unique options. Stumble Inn is specifically geared to the many Appalachian Trail hikers who come through our town. With shuttle service and resupply run provided, it’s a great stay for these great adventurers.
 
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Stumble Inn
​For a historic local Airbnb try John Pope Cabin in Browntown. Built in 1865 at the end of the Civil War, this historic cabin was the home of a soldier along with his wife and eleven children. Now it’s a cozy, welcoming, and totally unique accommodation option for a stay you won’t forget!
 
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John Pope Cabin - Browntown, VA
With gourmet restaurants, outstanding breweries, delightful coffee shops, and hospitality for hikers, Front Royal is fast becoming THE foodie destination of the Shenandoah Valley. When you’re planning your next adventure, don’t forget to plan for some adventurous eats in Front Royal, Virginia!

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DIRECTIONS

To say all roads lead to Front Royal is not an exaggeration. From the numerous winding state roads lined with gorgeous fields and farms, to fast-moving multi-laned interstates, you’ll find an easy commute to our community. Once here, we can personalize all your travel needs. ​

​Front Royal/Warren County Visitors Center
414 East Main Street
Front Royal, VA 22630

Phone: 540-635-5788

Winter Hours:
Open Thurs. - Sun.
10:00 AM to 4:00 PM

​
Directions
HELPFUL LINKS
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Front Royal Trolley (PDF)
Front Royal Visitors Guide
​Front Royal Weather Forecast
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Shenandoah Valley

Visit Shenandoah
Battle of Front Royal Quest
Quest Shenandoah for  Kids


ABOUT US
​
Front Royal/​Warren County is conveniently located within the beautiful Shenandoah Valley of Virginia and offers numerous recreational activities, historical landmarks, and annual events in and around us. Visit Front Royal to find out why it’s the perfect location for your next family reunion, business meeting,  destination wedding, get-away weekend or ... new home!
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