​Enjoying the sights and smells of a real Christmas tree in the house room is an essential part of celebrating the holidays for many. But going to pick out your tree can be an experience all its own. If you’ve gone out into the fields and cut your own Christmas tree at a tree farm, you may be missing out on a new family favorite holiday tradition. Let this year be the year you give it a try! Wrap up warmly, and bring the whole family!  
 

With its rural location, Front Royal is a great starting point from which to access a number of rustic Christmas Tree farms where you can pick out your tree from right where it grew! If you’re interested in enjoying the outdoors, supporting local farms, and knowing exactly where your Christmas tree came from, heading to a cut-your-own farm should be on your Christmas list this year.

Read on to discover the Christmas tree farms of the Front Royal area! 
 

1. Hartland Farm and Orchard is Front Royal’s closest tree farm option. A summer-time favorite for fruit picking, Hartland transforms into a winter wonderland in the month of December. Saws are provided as well as assistance with tree wrapping and loading. Enjoy some free hot chocolate, and don’t forget to check out the wreaths and other decorations on sale. Hartland is conveniently located right off I-66 so it’s easy to get to, but has a less “tucked away” feel than some other local options.

​2. For a more rustic option, head south to Valley Star Farm and enjoy scenic views of the Shenandoah Valley on all sides from this “down-in-the-valley” tree farm. It’s the same deal: explore the fields, cut your tree, and they’ll help you with wrapping and loading. Precut trees area also available here, for those who would enjoy a visit to a farm, but aren’t up for tramping out into the fields.

3. Concerned about bringing pesticides into your home on your Christmas Tree? Oak Shade Tree Farm is a great option! This family owned and operated tree farm raises all their trees without the use of pesticides or fertilizers. Enjoy cutting your tree, and don’t forget to check out the fantastic farm store after they help you load. Here you’ll find a wide selection of farm foods and hand crafted items, many of them provided by extended family members. There’s even a fire pit to warm up at on a cold day!
 

4. Glengary Tree Farm is another option for a simple cut-your-own operation in a stunning location. Explore the hillsides of this farm in search of your perfect tree, and enjoy gorgeous mountain views.
 

 
5. If you have a cathedral ceiling or a large space for your Christmas tree, consider stopping by Tranco Farms to find the grand tree that matches your space. All of their trees are over ten foot, so this isn’t a good option if you don’t have a big enough space. Tree cutting is by appointment only, so call ahead to make your plans!
 

6. Snickers Gap Farm is the celebrity of the Front Royal area’s Christmas tree farms. It was selected as MSN’s best tree farm in Virginia, and has been featured in several prestigious magazines (including Martha Stewart Living). It’s easy to see why. Beautifully kept rows of trees, a wagon ride out to the field, and a snack shack serving hot cider, warm soft pretzels, and more combine for a magical experience. The fame of Snickers Gap farm can draw larger crowds, so if you’re looking for a more secluded option, it may not be your best bet. 

Remember most cut-your-own farms expect you to haul your own tree in from the field. So make sure you’re ready for the challenge, and bring extra hands to help if you think you’ll need them. Having a rope or a tarp to help drag the tree can also be helpful. Some farms may be willing to offer assistance, but if you’re counting on it, it’s best to call ahead and make sure you’ll have the help you need.
 

It’s also a good idea to call the farm you plan on visiting or check their social media before driving. You’ll want to ensure they still have trees available before making the trip. 
 
The Front Royal area is a great place to visit a tree farm and take your Christmas tree shopping experience to a whole new level. Here’s to a memorable family adventure and a beautiful tree to enjoy all season long!
 

With school age kids settled back into the school routine across the country, parents and kids alike might be missing the opportunities for family bonding and shared experiences that the summer brought. The good news is that the beginning of school doesn’t have to mean the end of family adventures. If you let your imagination take off, you’d be surprised at what you can find to do in the Front Royal area between the end of one school day and the beginning of the next. Instead of driving straight home from the school pick up line, head off on an “after school adventure.” A weeknight adventure means you’ll enjoy less crowds, lower rates, and the mid-week break you need to keep you going.

​Today’s post is all about finding adventures around Front Royal that fit in those precious hours when you’re off work and your kids are home from school. We’re calling these “after school adventures.”  The goal is family fun. We’re not trying to set any world records. So we’ve rounded up some ways you can enjoy a break from your everyday routine, while making sure you’ll be back in time for school the next morning! You may lose a bit of sleep, but you’ll give everyone a needed break, and gain some unforgettable memories. If you’d like to enjoy an after school adventure with your family in the Front Royal area, read on for some ideas of family friendly fun in the Front Royal area. 

Overnight After School Adventure Ideas in the Front Royal Area
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​For kids, nothing says adventure like spending a night away from home. Even camping out in their own back yard can be magical. But if you want to take it to the next level, there’s plenty of scope around Front Royal. You don’t have to go far to find a fun night away where you won’t be spending all your time driving or all your money on accommodations. 
 

A great, family friendly camping options is Elizabeth Furnace Family Campground. The campground is right on the banks of Passage Creek, so you can make dinner over a camp stove while the kids splash in the water or explore the banks. Gather the family for s’mores around the campfire before snuggling up together in your tent. A fifteen minute drive in the morning will bring you right back into Front Royal. An important perk of weeknight camping: you’ll enjoy less crowds, less competition for the best sites, and even cheaper rates at some campgrounds.
 

​If you don’t want to bother with pitching a tent, or if you want a little more comfort than tent camping provides, reserve one of the primitive PATC Cabins in Shenandoah National Park. Though primitive, these cabins do provide four walls around you, a roof over your head, and a bunk to sleep on. Don’t expect running water though! To build up the feeling of adventure, you’ll receive your cabin key in the mail, along with instructions on how to get to the cabin. Range View Cabin is a popular choice near the Front Royal end of Skyline Drive. Older kids will enjoy making the short hike through the woods to arrive at their housing for the night. 
 

After School Adventures that Bring You Home for the Night
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You don’t have to spend the night away from home to make it an adventure though. If you need the refreshing sleep you can only get in your own bed, you can still fit in an adventure before bedtime. Consider taking off after school for a short hike and picnic supper before heading home. Not sure where to start hiking? Two local favorites are the Compton Peak Hikes in Shenandoah National Park, or the Buzzard Rock Hike in the George Washington National Forest area. Both of these hikes do involve overlooks and steep climbs, so try to plan your evening so you’ll be back at the trailhead before dark.
 

If you can’t get out early enough to fit a hike in before dusk, you can have an adventure without going far from your car. How about driving into Shenandoah National Park after nightfall, stopping at an overlook, and making hot chocolate on a camp stove while gazing at the stars? Bring some blankets and enjoy family time under the stars before heading home to sleep in your own bed. 
 

Reward Yourself with Breakfast Out in Front Royal
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Whether you actually spent the night in the great outdoors, or simple carved out part of your evening for family time, your adventure does mean you don’t have the time you normally do for your daily chores. Why not complete the family fun by grabbing breakfast out the next morning? With a great selection of coffee shops and diners, Front Royal has you covered for a breakfast the whole family will enjoy. Try L’Dees Pancake House for a classic diner breakfast, or if a coffee shop is more up your alley, try Daily Grind, Happy Creek Coffee, or DL Campus Coffee on Main.  Celebrate your break from the everyday, before heading back to work and school refreshed and energized. 
 

If you’re looking to add some excitement to your family’s fall routine, it’s a great time to try an after school adventure. The Front Royal area is the perfect backdrop for your and your kids to make memories that will last a lifetime. 
 

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. 
 

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!

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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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.

Appaloosa and the Front Royal Community
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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.

​“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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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.

​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.

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. ​

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. 

If you don’t have a whole weekend to spare, no problem. You can purchase tickets by the day as well.
 

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!!