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May is finally here, the end of the school year is well in sight, and (if you haven’t already) it’s a great time to start making travel and tourism plans for the summer. In Front Royal, we love the many guests who pass through our small town. May 1-7 is Travel and Tourism Week, and we’re joining the celebration by recognizing the fantastic folks who find something to draw them to Front Royal. There are so many things to love about Front Royal, that tourists come into town for many different reasons. Read on for our handy guide to six kinds of tourists/travelers you’ll find passing through town!  Front Royal from a different view 1. Hiking Legends The most legendary hike in the U.S.A. is unquestionably the Appalachian Trail. Large numbers of dedicated hikers taking on the daunting challenge of hiking the over-two-thousand mile trail every year. As the Appalachian Trail passes close by Front Royal, it’s not surprising that many of them drop by our town. In fact, with an affordable shuttle service from the trail to the town, a free locker, laundry, and shower service, a premium gear shop, and fantastic restaurants to fill hungry hikers, it’s not surprising that Front Royal is a favorite stop for Appalachian Trail hikers. There’s even lodging specifically provided by and for Appalachian Trail enthusiasts. An officially designated Appalachian Trail Community, Front Royal has become a model for many of the towns that host Appalachian Trail hikers every year.  Vibrissa Beer - Basecamp If you enjoy hiking, you don’t have to be undertaking the Appalachian Trail to find some hiking to love around Front Royal. Shenandoah National Park is another favorite hiking location, with stunning scenery and hikes ranging from easy to challenging, including the beloved Old Rag. 2. River Relaxers  Front Royal Outdoors For those who enjoy fishing, boating, swimming, tubing, or anything that requires a river, Front Royal is a dream destination. With the North and South Forks of the scenic and lovely Shenandoah River meeting right in town, there are so many opportunities for river recreation that Front Royal is known as the Canoe Capital of Virginia. Bring your own gear, or work with one of our friendly outfitters. You’ll find an enthusiastic welcome, a beautiful river, and a boatload of memories waiting to be made! Check out Front Royal’s riverside campgrounds for even more time to enjoy the river. 3. Leaf-Peepers  Photo Credit: Shannon Cangemi “Leaf-Peepers” are the tourists known for pursuing the stunning sights of the changing leaves of fall throughout. Fall is a great time of year to visit Front Royal. With Shenandoah National Park one of the top leaf-peeping destinations in the country, October is a popular month for visitors. Head to Front Royal to access the park and enjoy the stunning vistas of vibrant fall colors spread across the Blue Ridge Mountains. 4. Foodies  To be found at Pavement Smokin' Taphouse From to farm-to-table operations, pick-your-own farms, craft breweries and internationally acclaimed restaurants, the Front Royal area has plenty to keep a foodie happy for a long, long time. Plan a weekend or longer to explore the gourmet food options of the Front Royal area, and enjoy breakfast, lunch, and dinner Front Royal style! 5. Wine Lovers  Virginia Wines - Photo courtesy of Virginia Tourism Corp With sensational sipping spaces, rolling vineyards, and stunning mountain views, Front Royals wineries are a special destination for all lovers of wine . . . from the casual to the connoisseur. Pack a picnic, enjoy a tasting, or buy a bottle. There are so many ways to enjoy the amazing Virginia wines and wineries of the Front Royal area. Don’t forget to stop by Front Royal Wines before you leave town and pick up some souvenirs to bring home. 6. Big City Escapees  WanderLOVE - Photo courtesy of Virginia Tourism Corp Living and working in the big city takes its toll, and sometimes you just need a little WanderLOVE. For residents and commuters in the D.C. Metro area, Front Royal is the ideal destination to find that love and enjoy a country weekend. Less than a 90 minute drive from central Washington D.C., it’s convenient enough for a day or weekend trip, but still rural enough that you’ll feel like you’ve truly entered a different world. Break free of the city and head to Front Royal for fun, adventure, relaxation, and restoration.  Come see us in Front Royal, VA Front Royal draws visitors for many reasons, and it’s a dream destination for a variety of tourists and travelers. Do you find yourself drawn to join one (or more!) of our groups of happy visitors? If so, make plans for your trip to Front Royal today! You’ll find yourself wanting to come back again and again!
There are so many reasons to love biking.
 Make biking a family affair. With all these wonderful perks and many more, it’s not surprising that biking is extremely popular as a sport, a hobby, and even a mode of transportation. But since most American towns were designed with the car in mind, finding a convenient and safe place to ride a bike can be a challenge. The Front Royal area is surrounded by great mountain biking trails for those interested in an intense and adventurous biking experience. But there’s also some scope for more laid back “leisure” biking. Read right on here for our guide to leisure biking in the Front Royal area. In this post you’ll find tips about where to enjoy a more relaxing bike ride in and around Front Royal. Take a Bike Ride around Front Royal  Bike ride while enjoying our local parks. For those interested in an around-the-town bike ride, Front Royal has a treat in store. Royal Greenway is a five mile biking/walking/”baby-strollering” loop trail around Front Royal. It’s a varied ride with the fun of biking through town as well as a heavy dose of natural beauty. Follow the trail and you’ll get to enjoy the sights and sounds of Front Royal’s charming downtown area, as well as exploring Eastham Park’s riverside walking/biking trail, right along the banks of the Shenandoah River. Take your Bike to the Park  There are many good bike trails in the park's of Front Royal. Another exciting Front Royal option is Rockland Park’s Carson Trail. This gently sloping gravel trail runs alongside the Shenandoah River. When fully complete, it will cover 2.62 miles to the Front Royal Golf Club, giving leisure bikers the opportunity for a fun out-and-back adventure in a beautiful setting. Enjoy a Weekend of Organized Bike Riding  Gather a group and enjoy the ride! For biking enthusiasts looking for some fun and challenging riding in the Front Royal area, the Strasburg Bike-Around event is a great fit. Mark your calendar for June 10-12, and enjoy three days of pre-planned routes in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley. You can relax and enjoy the ride while event organizers take care of logistics. It’s a great opportunity to connect with other cyclists, too. And you’ll be contributing to the future of leisure biking in the Shenandoah Valley the whole time. Part of the registration fee for this event goes to support the development of the Shenandoah Rail Trail, an exciting new initiative aimed at turning a disused rail line into a vibrant new bike path. Explore Biking Trails in Nearby Towns  You don't need to go too far for good bike paths and trails. If you’re in search of a biking trail, and are willing to go a little farther, Front Royal’s neighboring towns have some great options in store. Luray’s Hawksbill Greenway is a fun two-mile trail that combines town and countryside. Another slightly closer option is Winchester’s Green Circle Trail, which takes cyclists around the city of Winchester with an emphasis on the city’s scenic streams.
Biking is a great way to exercise and have fun! With safe and scenic biking trails popping up all over the Front Royal area, it’s an activity to add to your to-do list for your next Front Royal trip.  We all know how much women love friendship and social connection, and there’s something extra special about time spent with “just the girls.” Planning a getaway or weekend together is a great way to take these strong, sisterly bonds to the next level. If you’re planning a girls’ trip in 2022, put Front Royal at the top of your list of destinations. With fun shopping, outdoor adventure, wineries, gourmet food, and more, there’s too much to do for just one weekend! Read on for six ideas to help you plan a girls’ trip that any group will love! 1. Spend an Afternoon at a Winery (or Meadery)  Wine time! What better way to kick off some time with the girls than by enjoying some wine together! Especially if you’re reuniting a group that hasn’t been together in a while, sipping on some wine is a great way to renew old bonds quickly. Plan your trip to Front Royal, and you’ll get to enjoy wine against some of the most stunning views of the Shenandoah Valley. Front Royal has lots of fantastic wineries waiting to host you. Try Rappahannock Wine Cellars, Chester Gap Cellars, or Glen Manor Vineyards for outstanding wines and amazing ambiance. Want to switch out wine with something that may be new to you, but is old news for humanity? Consider planning a mead tasting instead at one of Front Royal’s two local meaderies. 2. Get Creative Together  Be creative together (Explore Art & Clay) Artsy group? You’re in for a treat in Front Royal! Head to Explore Art and Clay for a fun adventure painting your own pottery. Or schedule a Paint Party at The Studio! Bring your own refreshments, relax, and enjoy a painting project together under professional instruction. You’ll even bring home a memento of your trip. Plan a totally creative weekend and visit both studios. Art lovers will want to check out Turnmeyer Galleries for souvenirs too. 3. Explore the Town and Shop  Shop, eat, explore in Front Royal Talking of shopping, if you have a group of eager shoppers you’ll have a hard time finding a more unique, fun, and memorable place to shop than Front Royal. Set aside some time to wander around in the historic downtown area, where you’ll find antique stores, farm markets, unique gift shops, a used book store, and more, all within walking distance. Don’t forget to save time for taking a break and treating yourselves to some delicious coffee, baked goods, or ice cream! 4. Bond Over an Outdoor Adventure  Outdoor adventure In Front Royal, it doesn’t have to be all about doing stereotypically “girly” things! Many women enjoy exercising in the great outdoors, and sharing an outdoor adventure can be one of the best bonding experiences you’ll have! Pack snacks and plan a day on the river, or head to Shenandoah National Park or George Washington National Forest for an unforgettable hiking adventure. 5. Explore the Front Royal Dining Scene  Dining in Front Royal When you’re ready to relax over that delicious meal that someone else cooked, Front Royal is a great place to be. For a girls’ weekend, ViNoVA might be our top pick. Enjoy more wine with tasty tapas to share. To treat yourselves to a classic fine dining experience, check out The Element. Or enjoy craft beer and gourmet food at PaveMint Taphouse or Vibrissa Beer. 6. Relax and Get Cozy with Accommodations that Feel Like Home  Girl's getaway The activities and the food are only half of what makes a girls’ weekend amazing. The other component that can make or break the trip is where you stay! Sharing an Airbnb will give you a great way to extend your time together, get cozy in pjs, and maybe even bust out the popcorn and enjoy some romantic movies. Front Royal has lots of accommodation options that are cozy and unique. To get your search started check out this one and this one. Or see here for a fuller list of lodging options in the Front Royal area.  Girls of summer With cozy lodging, fun activities, and adventure in store, Front Royal has everything it takes to make for a great girls’ trip. As an added bonus, it’s conveniently located within easy distance of Northern Virginia, so if you’re in the D.C. metro area, you won’t have to spend half your weekend travelling. Start planning your 2022 get together with your girls today, and make Front Royal the destination!
 Old Rag, Shenandoah National Park Our National Parks are some of America’s greatest treasures, and they’ve been getting steadily more popular in recent years. In fact, crowds are actually becoming a problem in many of America’s favorite places to enjoy peace, quiet, and nature’s beauty. It’s up to the National Park Service to make sure these treasures stay enjoyable for us today, and are preserved for many generations to come. That’s why several national parks are introducing new ticketing policies to limit impact on the ecosystem, and to improve every visitor’s experience.  Blue Blaze View, Shenandoah National Park The Front Royal area’s own Shenandoah National Park is seeing some significant changes in 2022. But there’s no need to be intimidated. Discover Front Royal has you covered with this guide to all the upcoming changes at Shenandoah National Park. Read on to find the information you need to make sure your visit to the Park goes according to plan. Tickets to be Required for Old Rag Hike The biggest change Shenandoah National Park visitors will experience is a ticketing system designed to reduce crowds at Old Rag. One of the park’s most popular hikes, Old Rag has begun to suffer from overcrowding during peak seasons of the year. Starting March 1, 2022 Old Rag hikers will need to pre-purchase a $1 ticket to secure their spot on the mountain’s famous trails.  Shenandoah National Park - trail Don’t worry, the system is designed to give everyone a fair chance. Tickets can only be purchased up to thirty days in advance, so a little advance planning should give you the Old Rag access you want. And you’ll have the added bonus of enjoying a more secluded hiking experience. Head here to purchase Old Rag tickets and here for more information. Note: Old Rag tickets will not be available at the trailhead and must be purchased in advance. Camping Fee Changes at Shenandoah National Park Going forward, campers at Shenandoah National Park can expect to pay a little more for their stay. Campground users will now pay $30 per night, with the fee for group campsites going up to $75. It’s a raise in fees that’s been long in coming; camping fees at Shenandoah National Park haven’t changed since 2007. The Park Service will use the increased revenues to make improvements and updates to the campgrounds, such as adding new fire grates and picnic tables.  Shenandoah National Park - Parkway And coming in 2023, the park will also introduce new fees for back country campers, so they can fund their efforts to ensure that camping at Shenandoah National Park remains safe and fun for everyone. Free Lifetime Passes for Veterans and Gold Star Families  Military Veterans But it’s not all about fees going up! In 2022, free lifetime passes to National Parks and more (including Shenandoah National Park) will become available for America’s veterans and Gold Star Families. So those who have sacrificed so much can enjoy some of America’s greatest treasures at no cost. Check here to see who’s eligible and learn how to claim your lifetime pass! With the warmer weather coming, it’s a great time to start dreaming of outdoor adventure in and around Front Royal. If Shenandoah National Park is in your plans for 2022, look forward to less crowds and improved camping facilities to come.
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AuthorDiscover Front Royal Archives
February 2023
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