Apple picking is one of those quintessential fall experiences that has many of us cheering the arrival of cooler weather and September days. Imagine sunny avenues of fruit trees, brisk fall air, mountain views, and the smell of fresh, sweet, juicy apples. If you’d like to make your mental picture a reality, start planning your Front Royal apple picking trip today! Read on for a list of Front Royal’s top apple picking spots, as well as four tips to make your apple picking experience the best it can be!

With rolling hills, plentiful farmland, and a temperate Virginia climate, Front Royal is the natural place to plan a memorable apple-picking adventure. Hartland Farm and Orchard, with its convenient location and high visibility from I-66, is an obvious apple picking choice for Front Royal’s locals and visitors alike. Don’t forget to stop by the shop for fall goodies such as caramel apples, apple donuts, and apple pies. 
 
Apple pickers looking for a mountain side orchard will want to check out historic Stribling Orchard in Markham. It’s a little more “off the beaten path” (a perk for many of us!), but the stunning views are worth it. You can enjoy some refreshment from the snack shack or pick up goodies to bring home from the harvest house. Grass-fed beef from the farm is also available for purchase.
 

Apple pickers looking for a mountain side orchard will want to check out historic Stribling Orchard in Markham. It’s a little more “off the beaten path” (a perk for many of us!), but the stunning views are worth it. You can enjoy some refreshment from the snack shack or pick up goodies to bring home from the harvest house. Grass-fed beef from the farm is also available for purchase.

Four Tips for Enjoyable Apple Picking
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​Ready to pick your own in Front Royal? Use the following tips to guarantee you’ll have a great time.
 

​We can’t emphasize this one enough. Apple season is typically late August through October, but (like everything in nature) it’s not completely predictable. Pick your own farms also have an inconsistent stream of pickers to deal with. All that’s to say that availability isn’t one hundred percent consistent. It’s a good idea to call and see what’s available to pick before making a long trip. The good thing about apple picking in Front Royal is that if one orchard’s picked out, another should have fruit ready on the tree for you!

2. Keep Both Feet On the Ground
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Climbing trees can be fun, but climbing fruit trees is dangerous – both for you and the tree! Fruit trees are there to hold fruit, and during picking season they’re at their most heavily laden. Adding the weight of a human can easily damage even a strong and healthy fruit tree. Climbing can also result in knocking down and bruising fruit, leading to unnecessary waste.
 

Pick your own orchards are lovely places, and you may want to linger longer than it takes to pick the apples you need. Pack a picnic or snack so you can spend longer relaxing in the fall air. Forgot your food? No problem. Most of Front Royal’s pick your own farms also have food available for purchase. 
 

4. Get Ready to Bake!
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It’s easy to get carried away picking fruit at a pick your own farm. When you get your apples home, you may find you have a lot more on your hands than you realized! If you have too many apples to eat fresh, baking with them is a fantastic (and delicious) way to use them up before they go to waste. For any easy fall desert, try apple cobbler, while many recipes call for peeling apples, you can save time and effort by skipping this step, and you won’t notice much of a difference.  Another classic fall past-time is to make and can apple butter, so you can enjoy the tastes of fall throughout the year to come. 
 

​Whether you pick apples every fall or you’ve never tried it before, Front Royal is a great place to plan a pick your own apple orchard adventure! Just an hour from the D.C. area, Front Royal is the perfect daytrip or weekend escape for the weary city-dweller. You can support local, small-scale agriculture, and have great family fun while doing it. And when you get home, you’ll enjoy the unique satisfaction of knowing exactly where the food in your mouth came from. Don’t forget to check out Front Royal’s other fall attractions while you’re here. 
 

 
If you’re considering a trip to Front Royal this fall, there’s a unique lodging opportunity you should consider: the NOVA 4-H Center in Front Royal is opening up its accommodations to the public!
 
This limited-time opportunity is an outdoors-lover’s dream. With tent and lodge accommodations available, hiking, fishing, and more on site, and easy access to the Front Royal area’s many attractions, it’s a perfect fit for many different types. Whether you’re heading to Front Royal for fall foliage views, a personal break, a small-group retreat, or to attend a public event, be sure to check out this lodging opportunity to make your visit extra enjoyable.
 
Read on for our list of five irresistible reasons to reserve lodging at the NOVA 4-H Center this fall.

1. A Rare Opportunity
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The saying goes that when opportunity comes knocking you should answer the door. In this case, it’s true! This is one opportunity that you shouldn’t count on coming back to later. Lodging at the NOVA 4-H Center is typically used for large groups and organized programs. Usually, this lodging isn’t available to the public.
 
This fall, cancellations due to COVID have left the 4-H Center in the unique position of being able to open up their fantastic accommodations to the public. Take advantage of this rare opportunity before it’s gone! 
 

2. Lodging that Fits Your Group Size and Your Taste
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The 4-H Center is a large complex with various accommodation options. Private rooms are available in the 4-H Center lodges for individuals, couples, or small families. A larger group could book two adjoining rooms, or reserve out an entire lodge. It’s a perfect set up for a family reunion or a getaway with friends.
 
Plenty of open space is also available for tent camping. So if being outdoors 24/7 is what rejuvenates you most, dive on in!

3. Amazing Amenities
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Staying at the NOVA 4-H Center gives you much more than just a place to sleep. You’ll also find plenty of fantastic amenities to keep you busy all day. Enjoy miles of hiking trails including access to the Appalachian Trail, a disc golf course, tennis and basketball courts, and even a lake for fishing. Fire pits and picnic shelters are also available for reservation.
 

4. Fantastic Location near Front Royal
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There’s plenty to keep you busy without ever leaving the 4-H Center, but you’ll want to tear yourself away to enjoy all that the Front Royal area has to offer. Enjoy this peaceful rustic setting just an hour from Washington D.C. With stunning fall foliage appearing all around, fall is one of the best times to visit the Front Royal area. You’ll find loads of outdoor attractions, including the famous Shenandoah National Park, which draws thousands of visitors every fall. 
 
Or head to the nearby town of Front Royal to enjoy delicious dining, fantastic wineries, and all the unbeatable charm of a small mountain town.
 

5. All in a Good Cause
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​When you stay at the 4-H Center, you’re not just planning a few days of fun for yourself and your loved ones. You’re also supporting a fantastic cause. The money you spend on lodging at the NOVA 4-H Center goes straight to supporting this worthy non-profit organization, and all the important educational programs they offer for youth. It’s a win, win, win situation. 
 
So don’t delay, make your plans today for your fall stay at the NOVA 4-H Center. For more information, or to make a reservation, call Chris Newlon at 540-635-7171, or reach her by email at chris@nova4h.com.

Every fall sees large numbers of visitors heading to the Front Royal area in pursuit of the breathtaking fall foliage vistas. But if you’re seeking nature’s glory splendor in Front Royal this year, make sure you catch the whole show! Mother Nature isn’t done after a day of drinking in the splendor of fall. There’s an equally glorious display about to come: the star-filled night sky. 
 
There’s something about stargazing that’s good for the soul. The sight of thousands of sparkling lights coming from worlds away is one that never gets old. It’s a good reminder of how big the universe is. And how small we are. 

​And maybe it’s something we’re meant to see. After all, for most of human history, people everywhere enjoyed star filled skies on a regular basis. Today, light pollution has made stargazing difficult for those living in highly populated areas. That’s yet another reason to escape to the Front Royal area this fall so you can enjoy the night sky the way it’s supposed to be.
 

Stargazing Spots in the Front Royal Area
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For those in search of the thrill of gazing at a starlit sky, there are two parks in the Front Royal area that offer particularly outstanding displays. 
 

The first is Shenandoah National Park. Driving on Skyline Drive already makes you feel a bit closer to the sky. But for stargazers there’s still some light pollution from the towns in the valley below. To maximize your night sky viewing, head to one of the park’s top stargazing areas. The Big Meadows area is a sought-after stargazing spot, and the location of Shenandoah National Park’s formal astronomy program, which takes place on select Friday nights through the month of October. The Skyland Amphitheater is another top stargazing spot in the park. Making arrangements for a campsite,cabin, or hotel room in Shenandoah National Park is a great way to enjoy some stargazing without having to make a long trip home at night. 

​For more tips, see this guide to stargazing in Shenandoah National Park. The guide includes including a list of the top overlooks in the park for stargazing (with the least light pollution interference). 

On the other side of Front Royal, another great option is Sky Meadows State Park. Sky Meadows offers such great night sky views, that it’s recently become an officially designated Dark Sky Park. The park typically closes at dusk, but check their schedule of events for the popular Astronomy for Everyone program. For these family friendly events, the park stays open after dark, and you can enjoy a guided stargazing experience. Or if you want a real stargazing adventure, plan on using their primitive hike-in tent camping site and spending a memorable night under the stars.

If you’re sold on making stargazing part of your next Front Royal adventure, read on for a few more tips that will help make your experience great!
 

1.Plan with the moon in mind. The brighter the moon, the less you’ll see of the stars, as the light of the moon can drown out these smaller nights. Stargazing will be best with a new or crescent moon above you.

 
​1.Wait for clear skies. You’ll also want to make sure that there’s minimal cloud coverage blocking your views of the stars. Choose a crisp, clear fall night (and maybe bring a mug of hot chocolate!).

1.Let your eyes get used to the dark. You may not be used to being outside after dark, but your eyes will get there quicker than you think. While it takes several hours for your eyes to completely adjust to darker conditions, major changes take place in your eyes after just ten minutes of darkness, allowing you to see better. To help your eyes adjust, avoid using flashlights or other artificial lights as possible. It’s also helpful to avoid looking at phone screens. If you must use a light, try using one that’s tinted red.

​1.Stay safe. If you’re an adventurous spirit in the park after dark, you might be tempted by the idea of a stargazing hike. While hiking at night can be a fun and memorable adventure, it’s important to keep in mind that you’ll want to take added safety precautions. Don’t stray from trails at night. You may find it impossible to retrace your steps without light. Also, avoid trails with hazards such as steep drops that could be particularly dangerous in the dark. Be particularly alert for wildlife. And as always, make sure someone knows where you are going, and when you expect to return.

For more stargazing tips, see this article on stargazing in Shenandoah National Park.
 

​There are few sights as captivating as a night sky filled with stars, or as stunning as the Blue Ridge mountains lit up with the colors of fall. Plan to enjoy both this year. A combination leaf-peeping star-gazing trip will leave you filled with awe at nature’s wonders.

Skyline Drive/Shenandoah National Park is an incredible leaf-peeping destination. It’s not surprising that the park is something of a national treasure. The only problem is that it does attract significant crowds during the peak of fall foliage.

​1. Shenandoah River State Park
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This amazing park is like Skyline Drive’s overshadowed little brother. Located just nine miles down the road from Skyline Drive’s Front Royal Entrance Station, Shenandoah River State Park doesn’t get the attention it deserves. However, there’s plenty to write home about here. The park extends right up the Shenandoah River, and you’ll find plenty of outdoor activities to enjoy.
 
Visit Shenandoah River State Park to discover 5.2 miles of Shenandoah River shoreline, over 24 miles of hiking trails, scenic overlooks, and opportunities for camping, horseback riding, and fishing.
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2. George Washington National Forest
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George Washington National Forest is another great option for fall outdoor adventure in the Front Royal area. Though less frequented than Skyline Drive, the National Forest is full of hiking and biking trails, and also boasts great locations for camping and fishing. Passage Creek is a stocked trout stream that flows through the forest. It’s a favorite of local fly-fishermen. And, of course, the forest features plenty of trees, so there’s lots of fall foliage to enjoy.
 
If you’re looking for scenic views in the George Washington National Forest, Buzzard Rock is a great hike to check out. It’s something of a local favorite. You’ll follow a wooded trail before eventually emerging on the exposed rocks at the top of the mountain. From this vantage point, enjoy stunning views of the surrounding countryside. There’s a good chance you’ll even see some buzzards soaring through the skies.
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3. Enjoy Fall Views from the Shenandoah River
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If you want to enjoy a relaxing outdoor adventure away from the crowds, don’t forget that Front Royal sits right on the famous Shenandoah River. You might associate river trips more with summer, but the river can be a great fall destination too. As fall colors appear on the tree-lined banks of the river, a boating trip is a great way to enjoy them. To plan your trip, get in touch with one of Front Royal’s River Outfitters. Or, if you have your own boat, you can organize a day on the river independently. This map shows public river access points in the Front Royal area.

4. Take a Scenic Fall Drive
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Skyline Drive isn’t the only scenic road in the Shenandoah Valley. There are plenty of other options for those seeking less heavily travelled fall foliage drive. If a fall drive through the Front Royal area sounds appealing, consider the Front Royal Fall Foliage Driving Tour, developed by the experts at the Virginia Department of Forestry. They’ve carefully planned out the route to ensure lots of opportunities for enjoying the fall leaves. To make the day complete, stop in Front Royal to pick up some fall-themed road trip snacks or a pumpkin spice latte to sip on as you drive.

Don’t let fear of crowds prevent you from enjoying all that the Shenandoah Valley has to offer in the fall. Even if you’d prefer not to join the crowds at Skyline Drive, there’s plenty of beautiful fall foliage in the Front Royal area.