The pumpkin spice latte has become a favorite treat of the fall season. And it’s not hard to tell why. You’ve got cozy fall spices, sweet milky goodness, and (of course) coffee. It’s definitely a combination that’s hard to resist. But if you’re looking for something delicious to sip on this fall, Front Royal has options that might tempt you to branch out beyond this crowd-pleasing favorite . . . in favor of something a little stronger.
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Read on for a list of Front Royal’s best fall beverages. If you’re in search of an alcoholic drink, you’ll find beer and cider options, as well as mead. But for those who prefer to stick with an old favorite, we’ve identified some great spots for a pumpkin spice latte. Also included: other non-alcoholic drinks that whisper “fall” with every sip!

​If you’re looking for a cozy fall drink, craft beer is a great place to start. Americans have fallen in love with the German Oktoberfest tradition, and if you’ve ever attended an Oktoberfest celebration, you know that hearty German-style beers play a big role in this fall festival!
 

​A visit to the Front Royal Brewing Company during the month of October will give you the opportunity to sample the best of locally crafted Oktoberfest beers. This fall (2020), Front Royal Brewing Company is featuring five Oktoberfest beers, all for a just limited time.

Definitely make your way to the Virginia Beer Museum, where you'll 'experience Virginia and experience beer'.  They celebrate Oktoberfest in a grand fashion! Take a museum tour where you'll learn about the heritage of Virginia beer, stretching from 1607 to the current craft beer renaissance. The beer is flowing, the beer is cold, and admission to the museum is free! 

For another option in fall beer, check out Pavemint Taphouse. Here, you’ll also find a selection of Oktoberfest style beers.
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​Pavemint Taphouse features a range of hard ciders in addition to its beer offerings. Apple juice meets beer: what better drink for apple-picking season?
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The Backroom Brewery in Middletown is definitely worth a visit since it has more than 25 beer recipes approved by the State of Virginia. You'll enjoy the beers, the surroundings, and a much more. 

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For a more rural experience in the Front Royal area, visit Hinson Ford Cider and Mead. You’ll find a range of ciders here, as well as meads. (Note: Hinson Ford’s taproom is closed for the 2020 season, but check their website for options to buy by the bottle.)
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As for dedicated meaderies, you can find two right in the town of Front Royal, both offering seasonal fall drinks. This fall, Honey and Hops will release two “cysers” (ciders with honey). They also promise two “surprise” fall flavors. And if you’re looking for traditional tastes of fall, search no further than Saga Meadery. Here you’ll find Pumpkin Spice Mead. You can get your fall flavor fix while enjoying an ancient favorite beverage.

​If you’re determined to stick with the pumpkin spice latte, or can’t think of anything more satisfying than a warm fall beverage, don’t worry. Front Royal has you covered here, too. Visit one of our three local coffee shops for something deliciously cozy to sip on. Daily Grind is an old local favorite. Another option is Happy Creek Coffee and Tea. A great coffee shop with a unique atmosphere, Happy Creek has a variety of fall drink options. Check out their hot and cold apple cider, or savor a hot chocolate. Finally, DL Campus on Main is the latest addition to Front Royal’s roster of coffee shops.

Whether you’re a beer lover, a mead enthusiast, or a pumpkin spice latte connoisseur, you’ll be able to find something delicious to sip on in Front Royal. Don’t forget to make a fall drink part of your leaf-peeping visit to the Shenandoah Valley.

As the season of fall gets underway, apples give way to pumpkins as the seasonal produce of the moment. October is pumpkin month! Pumpkin patches, pumpkin pie, pumpkin spice, and jack-o-lanterns are all fall staples that aren’t going anywhere. If you haven’t had a close encounter with a pumpkin yet this fall, now’s the time! Read on for a run-down of pumpkin patches in the Front Royal area, as well as some carving and eating tips.
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​A visit to a pumpkin patch in the Shenandoah Valley will be a memory you’ll cherish for years to come. The Front Royal area’s pumpkin farms combine scenic beauty, fun activities, and pumpkins that taste as good as they look. You can pick them right where they grew! Plan your visit during the month of October, as most pumpkin patches close after Halloween.

Hartland Orchard pumpkin patch is the closest to the town of Front Royal. It’s conveniently located just one exit down on I-66. Here, you’ll also find delicious pumpkin pies in the store.
 
If you’re up for a longer drive to a truly rustic pumpkin patch, head down US-340 to Valley Star Farm in Luray. About a thirty minute trip from Front Royal, Valley Star Farm is located in the valley between the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Massanutten mountain range. You’ll enjoy great views of both. In addition to its pumpkins, the farm usually has a range of fun attractions, including a corn maze and a duck race. (Due to COVID, Valley Star’s 2020 season is pumpkins only. Extra attractions are closed.)

Heading in the opposite direction, you’ll find several options for pumpkins and fun. Wayside Farm Fun, Hill High Farm, and Great Country Farms are all in the Winchester/Berryville area. These family-friendly options include various side attractions, such as corn mazes, hayrides, and pumpkin guns. Be sure to check ahead when planning your trip, though. Due to COVID, advance tickets are required on certain days at both Wayside Farm and Great Country Farms.
 

​When you get your pumpkin home, you have three options: set it out as a decoration, carve it, or eat it (we won’t include letting it rot on the counter because you’re indecisive…). Pumpkins are a simple and tasteful fall decoration. Simply setting one out on your porch can give your home seasonal appeal.

For more involved decorations, carved pumpkins are an obvious choice. Carving pumpkins is a favorite fall activity for both kids and adult. Designs range from simple smiley faces to highly complicated works of art. Don’t throw the seeds away when you scoop them out! Save them and roast them for a snack that’s both delicious and nutritious.

​Finally, pumpkin-flavored baked goods are a delicious way to enjoy fall. In addition to its delicious taste, pumpkin also adds a nutritional boost to your home baking projects. Don’t forget, it’s a vegetable! Pumpkin pie is a fall classic. For breakfast or brunch, try some chocolate chip pumpkin pancakes. Or for a naturally sweetened, gluten free, healthy snack, check out these pumpkin chocolate bars.

​The Shenandoah Valley is a great fall destination. Don’t forget to include some pumpkin-picking as you’re planning your fall in the Front Royal area.
 

​Early fall is a thoroughly enjoyable time of year. It’s still warm enough to enjoy a picnic in the sunshine, or your last chance to cook out in shorts and a t-shirt. Nevertheless, fall has unmistakably arrived. The first hints of color are showing among the leaves, and there’s a welcome coolness in the air – although it’s not too cold yet. Apple-picking season is in full swing, and it’s a great time to enjoy a beautiful orchard among Virginia’s sunny hillsides. You can enjoy harvesting delicious fruit without worrying about overheating in the blazing heat of summer.

​This week, we’re providing our guide to early fall in the Front Royal area. Read on for the scoop on the foliage you’ll see in early fall, as well as our top “picks” for local apple orchards. We’re even throwing in some tips on how to use that big bag of apples when you get it home.
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​Early fall doesn’t bring the riotous beauty of full-on fall foliage, when vivid colors totally overwhelm the landscape. Nevertheless, early fall foliage has its own particular charms. The deep green of the forest changes to a lighter shade. The first bright pops of red and yellow against this green background are charming . . . and they hold the promise of more to come.
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If you’re out hiking or driving through Virginia in early fall, you’ll see the first signs of fall foliage. Among the first colorful leaves of the fall, you can expect to see Virginia Creeper, Black Gum, and Dogwood. Virginia Creeper is one of the first heralds of fall, but it isn’t actually a tree at all. This vine climbs on anything – trees, walls, houses, even along the ground. In Shenandoah National Park, the sight of bright red Virginia Creeper leaves intertwined among the still-green tree branches is one of the first signs of the arrival of fall. Black Gums and Dogwoods will be among the first trees to turn, bright splashes of red, gold, and even purple standing out from a tranquil green background.

​You can enjoy the sights of these early turners while on an apple-picking expedition in the Shenandoah Valley. The Front Royal area is home to several pick-your-own apple farms. Check out Hartland Orchard or Hollin Farms, both located just one exit down from Front Royal on I-66. Stribling Orchard is another favorite, with a stunning mountainside location. Unfortunately, Stribling’s 2020 season is cancelled, but be sure to check back next year.
 
If you’re driving from Front Royal to pick apples at any of these orchards, you’ll drive directly past the local favorite Apple House, right before you get on I-66. Make sure to stop in and pick up some of their famous Apple Butter Cinnamon Donuts. These divine creations are the perfect treat to enjoy on your apple-picking adventure (or on your way home!).

​There’s just one thing about apple-picking. That basket of apples looks a whole lot bigger on your kitchen counter than it did in the field! If you’re overwhelmed by a huge supply of apples, we’ve rounded up some ideas for you.
 
Apple pie and apple crisp are classic favorites that need no explanation. It’s also surprisingly easy to make your own apple butter. You don’t even need to peel the apples, and as they cook all day in your crock pot, they’ll make your whole home smell like fall. Or enjoy apples baked on a fall campfire. There’s even a good use for all those apple cores that get left over from your baking. Apple scrap vinegar is a fun way to use the parts you would otherwise throw away. And it has an impressive range of uses and health benefits.
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​Many pick-your-own orchards offer apple cider for sale, but if you’re feeling adventurous, you could try making your own. You’ll need an apple crusher to break down the apples, before squeezing the juice out in a cider press. Commercial apple cider equipment can be forbiddingly expensive, but for home use, you can get what you need for a more reasonable investment. Enjoy your fresh, sweet cider warm or cold, or ferment it into hard cider for an extra challenge.

​It’s definitely fair to say that the year 2020 has defied expectations. When the calendar flipped to January 1, who would have predicted that we’d face a pandemic and the lockdown of our entire society, not to mention riots and social unrest?

With all the uncertainty in today’s world, we can take some comfort in knowing that the seasons continue to change as they always have. While the tide of human affairs ebbs and flows, another stunning fall will illumine the Virginia hillsides around Front Royal. And yet, as we mentioned last week, no two falls are the same. With the many factors that go into creating the beautiful colors of fall, it should be no surprise that there’s some variation from year to year. Certain colors might be more or less vibrant. The season could begin earlier or later, and could be more or less drawn out.

​But since we know a little bit about what causes the leaves to change, we can make some estimates as to how each fall will go. So, even though it’s apparently dangerous to make any kind of prediction in 2020, we’re going to be bold. Here are our best guesses as to the way the fall foliage will play out this year in the Front Royal area.

Spring and Summer 2020 Indicate a Late Fall
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​Leaves are living things that come to life in the spring and die in the fall. Weather conditions during the entire lifetime of the foliage will impact its appearance in the fall. Taking a look back at the spring and summer can give us some hints as to how the fall may go. For a couple of reasons, the weather of spring and summer 2020 points to a late arrival of fall color.

First of all, spring got off to a rough start this year. Though warmer temperatures appeared earlier than normal, they weren’t around to stay. A chilly April, and a late frost in May damaged the yields of fruit-bearing trees in many areas. Tender young buds that had emerged in the early warmth could not survive the bitter cold of the late the frost. In general, the colder temperatures in late spring meant that the season got off to a later start than usual. A late start to spring often causes fall to come slowly as well.

​The conditions of the summer are also likely to cause fall foliage to appear later than usual. Summer 2020 saw record-breaking heat in Virginia, and a fairly dry July. These conditions can cause tree stress, leading to less vibrant fall hues. However, welcome rains in August brought some stress relief to the trees. These late rains will likely allow the trees around Front Royal to stay greener for longer. They may also reverse the negative impacts of a hot and dry July.

Fall Weather May Cause Vibrant Reds
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Of course, it’s not possible to predict the fall foliage entirely from the weather of spring and summer. When fall arrives in Front Royal, it will bring its own combination of weather conditions that can greatly influence the foliage display we see around us.

​It’s obviously difficult to predict the fall weather in advance. Long-range weather forecasting is far from an exact science. In fact, many meteorologists will tell you not to trust a forecast of longer than ten days. And they may well be right. But it’s still fun to make some guesses.
 
According to the Farmer’s Almanac, a popular long-range weather forecast source, the Front Royal area will enjoy plenty of sun in September and October, mixed with some rain. The forecast of sun bodes well for a brightly colored fall. Sunlight supports the production of anthocyanins, the chemicals responsible for the red hues in fall leaves. The sunshine of the fall, in addition to being enjoyable for humans, promises to contribute to a stunning display on the tree covered mountain slopes of Virginia. That is, if the almanac’s right…

​Our best prediction: fall foliage will be slow to arrive in the Shenandoah Valley, but splendid when it comes.
 

The good news is that while we can’t predict the exact condition or timing of the fall foliage, we can tell you one thing for sure. Any visit to the Shenandoah Valley or the Front Royal area during the fall foliage season will be memorable. Even if your arrival doesn’t quite coincide with the perfect peak of fall foliage, you’ll still be able to enjoy glorious colors, beautiful views, and every essential fall activity that your heart desires.