 Winter Joy by Sharon Fisher - Photo Contest 2022 Winter is probably the least enticing time of year for venturing outdoors, yet it’s important for your physical and mental health to keep some kind of outdoor activity going through the winter. The good news is that the Front Royal area is a great place to get outdoors all year long. Whether you made a New Year’s resolution to spend more time outdoors, or are simply looking for a breath of fresh air to clear your head this winter, read on. We have six great tips for enjoying being outside around Front Royal all year long. 1. Plan Ahead  Shenandoah Valley - Winter If it’s hard for you to take that first step out of your door on a cold day, planning specific outdoor adventure that you’ll enjoy is a good way to overcome this mental block. Whether you decide to take a ten minute walk around your neighborhood, or head to Shenandoah National Park for an afternoon of adventure, you’re more likely to get out there if you know what you’re going to do, and how long (or short!) it’s going to take. 2. Find a Buddy  Having some accountability can make all the difference if you’re on the fence about whether to leave your cozy home on a winter’s day. Find a friend (furry friend is good too!) who’s also committed to getting more outdoor time and make them your winter buddy. If you’ve set a time to meet up, you’re much more likely to go. Or make it a date and have your accountability partner be your spouse or significant other. 3. Be Realistic About What You’ll Enjoy  Take in the winter scenery The beginning of a New Year is a classic time for making unachievable resolutions and ending up frustrated and depressed. If you’re excited about a resolution to get outdoors more, make sure it’s a realistic one. You’re more likely to succeed at something you genuinely enjoy. If you’re not much of an outdoor adventurer during the rest of the year, don’t plan on a five mile hike once a week in the winter. The good news is there a lots of ways to get outdoors in the winter. Just step outside and look around! Front Royal has some amazing views! A window-shopping walk down Front Royal’s Main Street could be a great option. Or if you have kids, plan a trip to one of Front Royal’s fantastic parks. On the other hand, if you already love to hike, planning some winter adventures might be a great way to keep enjoying the outdoors during the cold season. 4. Dress Appropriately  Winter wear Having warm enough clothes can make a huge difference to your enjoyment of a winter outing. Warm socks, a hat, and gloves, are all key items to help retain body heat. And you’ll need a good warm coat too, of course. For all your winter clothing needs, check out Mountain Trails on Front Royal’s Main Street. 5. Make the Most of Winter Weather Conditions  Try a new winter sport! If the weather’s snowy, it may be unsafe to drive, but you have a great chance to try some winter sports that can’t be enjoyed under any other conditions. Enjoy the stillness and the sights of a snowy walk around your neighborhood, build snowmen in your backyard, or venture a little further to find a sledding hill (Front Royal’s Skyline Middle School has one that’s a local favorite!). If the roads are clear, you could head to Shenandoah National Park and try snowboarding, snowshoeing, or cross country skiing for even more snowy excitement. 6. Reward Yourself with a Treat  Reward yourself for your outdoor efforts! Once the chill wears off, we hope you’ll find that the outdoors in winter is so enjoyable that you don’t need any other special treats to help get yourself outside. But if you’re in the camp of those who still aren’t excited about it, reward the extra effort you’re making with a little treat. You could buy (or make) yourself a cup of your favorite hot drink to sip on while you walk or watch your kids at the park. You could enjoy your favorite baked goods when you get home. Or promise yourself a beer and burger as you warm up and refuel from that epic winter hike. Getting outdoors in the winter isn’t always easy. If you’ve risen to the challenge you deserve a reward!
Getting outside in the winter can be more difficult than in any other season. Use these tips to make sure you keep on getting outside this winter. You’ll enjoy the benefits of better health and a better mood all winter long.  Enjoy winter outdoors with the kids. Many people would rank winter as their least favorite season, and with cold temperatures, shorter hours of daylight, and long stretches of time cooped up at home, it’s not hard to see why. It may take more effort to get everyone out the door, but winter can still be a great time for family adventures and creating memories with your kids. Read on for five ideas for keeping winter fun around Front Royal with your kids this year. You’ll find suggestions for kids of all ages, and ideas for outdoor and indoor activities you can enjoy in the winter. 1. Go on a Winter Outdoor Adventure  Sledding is fun for everyone! Getting outside can be less appealing in the winter than any other time of year. But if it’s not too cold, an outdoor adventure can be the boost everyone needs. In fact, getting outdoors in the winter has been proven to help combat seasonal depression. An adventure when it’s chilly leaves a great sense of accomplishment. Older kids will enjoy less crowded hiking conditions and the stark beauty of the winter landscape at some of the Front Royal area’s fantastic hikingl ocations like Shenandoah National Park. For little kids, a less demanding walk will still be an adventure. Try heading to Eastham Park for a walk along the stroller-friendly riverside trail. Little ones can enjoy the playgrounds here too. Kids will be having so much fun they’ll for get to feel cold. 2. Enjoy a Winter Sport Together  Winter sports are full of activity for everyone in the family. If it’s snowy, the Front Royal area is a great location for bigger kids to try cross-country skiing or snowshoeing. Don’t be deterred if you’ve never tried these sports yourself. Snowshoeing is not that much harder than walking, and kids will be tickled at the idea of learning something new alongside an adult they love. Sledding is a favorite winter pastime for kids of all ages and adults too. Front Royal’s Skyline Middle School has a sledding hill that’s a local favorite. Walking back up the hill is a great way to get a work out in. 3. Go on a Hot Chocolate Run  DL Campus Coffee - Main Street Front Royal Add some warm and sugary fun to your kid’s winter day by grabbing a hot chocolate together at one of Front Royal’s fantastic coffee shops. DL Campus Coffee on Main and The Daily Grind are two local favorites on Main Street. Or head about a block further to find Manor Line’s Back 40. You’ll find friendly and welcoming environments at all. Manor Line’s Back 40 has board games available, as well as a designated kids area with toys for little ones. 4. Learn New Skills Indoors  Battlegrounds Fitness Winter Camp for Kids If it’s really too cold and wintry to be outside for long, there’s lots to do indoors in Front Royal, and some fantastic opportunities for kids to pick up new skills. Head to Explore Art and Clay for a chance to paint your own pottery. Check out Code Ninjas if your kids are interested in learning about computers and coding skills. Or for exercise and indoor fun wrapped into one, head to Battlegrounds Fitness. Kids can enjoy moving around and getting active while avoiding winter weather conditions. 5. Play Games at Home or in Town!  Play Favorites - Front Royal Playing a game as a family is a great way to enjoy some time with your kids in the winter. If you’re looking for a new game in Front Royal, head to Play Favorites and pick out something to bring home from a fantastic range of games and toys. Make your family game night even more fun by playing a game while you’re still out and about. Play Favorites has a game room where you can try out many of the games in the store, as well as check out some arcade games. Or grab your hot chocolate at Manor Line’s Back 40, and enjoy one of their stash of board games while you’re there.  Keep the kiddos busy and enjoying the winter outdoors! If winter weather is turning “cozy” into “cabin fever,” don’t feel like you have to stay cooped up at home! Front Royal is a great place to enjoy a variety of indoor and outdoor winter activities. Say goodbye to those cold weather blues and come cheer up in Front Royal this winter!
 Autumn walk With school starting up in the fall, it’s important to keep making an effort to spend quality time with the whole family. Fortunately, fall is a great season to enjoy being together and exploring the outdoors. Cooler temperatures can be a relief from the heat of summer, but there are still plenty of days that are pleasantly warm. When those beautiful fall days hit, you’ll want to have a game plan in your back pocket so you can get straight out there and enjoy them. If you’re in or near the Front Royal area, there’s loads of classic country fall activities to explore. Don’t waste the warm weather while it’s still here! Read on to plan a Front Royal fall adventure for the whole family. Apple Picking in Front Royal  Apple picking Picking fruit is a great outdoor activity for all ages. You can enjoy some of nature’s sweetest treats while getting in some fresh air and exercise together. Near Front Royal, head to Stribling Orchard for apple picking fun. You can pick you own apples, check out the farm animals, and visit the store for more yummy local products. Find live music and favorite Front Royal vendors here on the weekends. Hartland Orchard is another great local option for apple picking. You’ll find it conveniently located near I-66. Or head a little further from the interstate to explore the apple orchards at Hollin Farms and Valley View Farm. Fall Farm Fun  Fall farm fun Fall is a great season to enjoy local farms, with many putting together extra family fun attractions. Head towards Winchester to find a few. Wayside Farm Fun has the classic fall attractions you’d expect, and some you’ve maybe never heard of. Enjoy a corn maze, hayrides, pumpkin smashing, giant slides, and even giant jumping pillow. Don’t forget to pick a pumpkin before you go home. For more classic fall fun, check out High Hill Farm for a pumpkin patch, corn maze, and hayrides. The farm remains open after dark so you can enjoy a family friendly (not “haunted”) moonlit hayride too. Great Country Farms is a local farm that’s open all year round. Families can enjoy meeting the animals, exploring u-pick fields, catch and release fishing, and an exciting play area. Attend the Pumpkin Festival this fall to find a great destination for all year round. The Pumpkin Festival includes pumpkin picking, pig races, cider pressing demos, and more, as well as access to the play area. Pumpkin Baking and Carving  Pumkin Carving It wouldn’t be October without some pumpkin carving (and eating!) fun. Most fall farm adventures involve buying more pumpkins (in more unique colors and sizes!) than you may have originally intended. But once you get them home, pumpkins are the basis of some fun fall activities you can enjoy without leaving your house. Get everyone together for a pumpkin carving party. Stick with a simple jack-o-lantern face, or explore more intricate designs. Enjoy baking pumpkin flavored treats from pies to muffins and more. And don’t throw away those seeds! You can roast them for a tasty treat that’s full of health benefits.
Don’t waste the beautiful days of early fall in Front Royal. There’s so much to do outdoors as you enjoy mild temperatures for the last time in a few months. Pick (at least) one activity from this post and make a point of having seasonal fun with your kids in Front Royal this fall!  Bridge to Autumn - Jessica Sayers Photography means opening a window to let others in on your perspective. It means artfully capturing a small part through a tiny lens, and revealing something about the whole. It can mean planning meticulously and waiting patiently for the perfect shot. Or it can mean seizing the moment at a second’s notice so you don’t let the perfect image slip away. This year, Discover Front Royal is in search of photographers who can work their magic in the Front Royal and Warren County area. Front Royal is surrounded by stunning natural beauty. But we want to see the Shenandoah Valley through the eyes of those who love it. Whether you’re a visitor to the Front Royal area, or a long time resident, we’ve love to see what YOU think makes this area so special.  Passing Time - Kimmee Hancock Read on for more details about submitting entries to our photo contest. You can share what most captivates you about Front Royal, Warren County, and the Shenandoah Valley, and have a chance to win one of several great prizes! 1. Capture what you think are the best images in the Front Royal area. With a wide range of categories including seasonal photography, Front Royal’s Downtown, and even drone/aerial footage, you’ll find a chance to share your own unique angle on our area. In the Front Royal area, photography can be coupled with loads of other fun activities. Think hiking, camping, canoeing (with a waterproof camera!), wine-tasting, and loads more. Don’t forget to have fun while you’re in search of those winning entries!  Float Therapy - Adriana Allen 2. Submit your photo to the photo contest here. Be sure to fill out all the required information. Any questions, you can email us at [email protected].  Main Street Gazebo - Christopher Beverlin 3. Submit any more fantastic images you capture through the year. With the contest running for a full year (all the way to September 1, 2022), you have time to make sure that none of the “Best Views from the Valley” pass you by.  True Christmas Joy - Pam Franklin Contest winners will hear directly from us at the end of the contest, as well as seeing their work featured on Discover Front Royal’s website and social media. They’ll also be receiving some great prizes! Enter for Best Drone/Aerial Footage If you love photography and the Front Royal/Shenandoah Valley area, this one’s for you! Have fun capturing a spectacular image of the valley, share what you love with countless others, and have a chance to win one of several fantastic prizes. It’s an exciting and fun-filled opportunity you won’t want to miss. Let others DISCOVER Front Royal through your lens! |
AuthorDiscover Front Royal Archives
February 2023
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