If you’ve ever caught yourself wondering whether this fall is quite the same as the last one, the answer is: probably not. Every fall is different – and while all of them are beautiful, it’s true that some are more splendid than others. Each year, several different factors influences the complex biological process of the changing of the leaves. Small differences in these factors can lead to variations in many aspects of the fall season, including the timing of the color change, the length of the season, and the intensity of the colors.

​Wondering how you can plan you fall “leaf-peeping” when the season is so unpredictable? Read on to learn more about what factors influence the display of fall leaves, and what we’ll be doing to help you stay right up-to-date with the exciting developments of fall in the Shenandoah Valley. We’re keeping our finger on the pulse of the season from right here in Front Royal.
 

​Last week, we mentioned that cool temperatures, as well as shortening days, trigger the process by which the leaves on a tree begin to change color and die. While the length of the days stays constant from year to year, the temperatures can vary widely. You won’t really see leaves starting to turn until the cooler temperatures arrive. The onset of cooler weather is a major factor in determining the beginning of the leaf-peeping season.

​Even once cooler temperatures come, the weather conditions of the fall can vary. You might see an unexpected warm spell, an early freeze, clear and sunny days, or pervasive cloudy weather and rain. Each of these weather conditions will result in differences in the fall foliage display. Generally, cool temperatures that remain above freezing tend to generate the most brilliant displays of fall colors. In addition, sunlight increases the production of anthyocins, the chemicals responsible for the red colors of the fall. A sunnier fall will result in more vibrant reds than an overcast and rainy season. An early freeze can dampen the display, and strong winds or rain can cause leaves to fall more quickly, shortening the season.

​Well before the arrival of fall, spring and summer conditions will have set the stage for the foliage display. If the summer has been particularly hot and dry, the trees will be more stressed, and the splendor of the colors will be somewhat dimmed. A stressful summer may even cause some of the leaves to brown or fall prematurely. A late spring is often associated with a delay in the arrival of the vibrant colors of fall.

​
​With so many factors affecting the condition of the fall leaves, it’s impossible to predict exactly how the season will develop. The good news is that we’re here to help. Discover Front Royal's Leaf Report 2020 is a super informational tool for all things fall in our area and is excellent as a tracking tool to help you check the condition of the leaves from far away - complete with a 'Live Leaf Cam'! We’ll be updating this page frequently with reports and images from the Front Royal area to help you stay up-to-date and plan your visit. Don’t forget to follow us for updates, and more fun fall information and tips.

​Just one fall visit to the Shenandoah Valley will be enough to explain why the area is such a sought-after fall destination. The tree covered slopes of the Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountains are like a canvas under the hands of a master craftsman; each year they come alive with a new, yet familiar, work of art. From Skyline Drive, atop the Blue Ridge Mountains, you can see mile after mile of trees ablaze with color for miles and miles. October remains Skyline Drive’s most visited month of the year, proof of the enduring popularity of these fall foliage vistas. Situated at the northern entrance of Skyline Drive, Front Royal makes a great home base.

Reds, Oranges, and Yellows – Where Do They Come From?

A good way to understand the process of the fall leaf change is to think about it from the perspective of the tree. As a tree, your job (like pretty much any other living organism) is to grow larger, sustain yourself, and reproduce. To perform these important jobs, you need energy. While animals get their energy from eating food, trees make their own “food” from sunlight, air, and water.

But trees can’t get their energy from just “raw sunlight.” That’s where the leaves come in. They’re the food factories of the tree. It’s their job to transform sunlight into usable energy. However, keeping the leaves alive also uses up some of the tree’s energy. In the winter, there’s not enough sunlight for the tree to keep growing and supporting the leaves. So each year, trees go into a kind of hibernation. They stop growing. They stop reproducing. They rely on food stores. And their leaves die and fall off.

So why the crazy colors? In order to transform sunlight into tree food, leaves use a chemical called chlorophyll. It’s the chlorophyll that gives leaves their green color. As the days grow cooler and shorter, chlorophyll decreases. And as chlorophyll disappears, the other pigments in the leaves to shine through: oranges and yellows. If it wasn’t for chlorophyll, we’d see those oranges and yellows all the time.

Meanwhile, the combination of bright sunlight and cool air triggers the production of another chemical called anthocyanin in many trees. Scientists still aren’t exactly sure what the purpose of anthocyanin is. One theory is that it helps the trees to extract all the possible nutrients from the leaves before they die and fall off. However, we do know that anthocyanin is responsible for the shades of red that combine so beautifully with the oranges and yellows of fall.
​

Fall in Front Royal and the Shenandoah Leaf-O-Meter

So, this year, when you’re out leaf-peeping and enjoying those stunning fall scenes, you’ll have a better an idea of exactly what’s going on in nature. Stay tuned for the next post in our fall series. We’ll be introducing an exciting tracking tool to help you follow the change of seasons and plan your trip to the Front Royal area and the Shenandoah Valley.

​Fall. It’s sipping a cup of tea or coffee, the weather finally cool enough to savor the feeling of hands wrapped around a warm and steaming mug. It’s getting cozy in a favorite sweater or jacket. It’s taking a walk in the crisp air, crunching the fallen leaves beneath your feet. It’s the feeling of fresh breezes, the sound of crackling fires, the scent of apple pie. In the Shenandoah Valley, fall means sweeping vistas of hillsides set ablaze with vibrant reds, oranges, and yellows. Maybe it’s fall that we should be calling “the most wonderful time of the year!”

It’s no wonder that Front Royal sees hundreds of visitors every fall. Situated at the northern entrance to Shenandoah National Park (home of the iconic Skyline Drive), this charming small town is the perfect destination for lovers of fall. Cresting the tops of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Skyline Drive is a coveted vantage point from which to soak in all the glory of the Shenandoah Valley in the fall. And when you’ve drunk your fill of the natural beauty, Front Royal offers a variety of quintessential fall activities. There’s apple picking, cozy coffee shops, small town festivals, pumpkin patches, craft beer, and more.

Welcome to your guide to all things fall in Front Royal. Over the coming months, we’ll be offering weekly tips and information so you don’t miss a moment of this glorious season. Follow us for frequent updates on the foliage, fun facts about the fall, and suggestions for outings that will delight every member of the family.

First on the list is lodging. If you’re planning a fall trip to the Front Royal area, you’ll want to lock in your lodging well in advance. Here’s our guide to Front Royal fall lodging. You’ll find there’s something for everyone.

Fall Lodging in the Front Royal Area
​
If you really want to immerse yourself in nature, consider a camping trip to the Shenandoah Valley this fall. Mild temperatures can make fall camp-outs more comfortable than summer ones. It’s a great season for stargazing and stories around the campfire.

For convenient access to Skyline Drive, Shenandoah National Park features four campgrounds, and even back country camping for the most adventurous. Other options in the area include Elizabeth Furnace Family Campground in the George Washington National Forest, or the Shenandoah River State Park, where you’ll find a range of cabin and camping accommodations. The park is located just a few miles down the road from the entrance to Skyline Drive. It’s home to its own array of outdoor adventures and scenic viewpoints.

For convenient access to Skyline Drive, Shenandoah National Park features four campgrounds, and even back country camping for the most adventurous. Other options in the area include Elizabeth Furnace Family Campground in the George Washington National Forest, or the Shenandoah River State Park, where you’ll find a range of cabin and camping accommodations. The park is located just a few miles down the road from the entrance to Skyline Drive. It’s home to its own array of outdoor adventures and scenic viewpoints.

The Front Royal area also has plenty of lodging options for those who prefer more luxurious accommodations. In addition to camping, Shenandoah National Park offers resort style hotels and cabins. In Front Royal, there are several Bed and Breakfast options, as well as a range of hotels, including national chains, and one-of-a-kind local businesses. If you’re looking for lodging in Front Royal this fall, you’re bound to find something that suits you perfectly.

Experience the Perfect Fall in the Shenandoah Valley

We typically associate vacations with summer. But if you restrict your traveling to the warmest months of the year, you’ll be missing out. Explore Front Royal and the Shenandoah Valley this fall. We’ll be with you every step of the way. Don’t forget to stay tuned for frequent updates and tips to make this fall the best one ever.

Mead. In our world, beer and wine are more popular by far. However, if you consider the preferences of every human being who ever enjoyed a drink, mead might come out at the top. Mead is probably the world’s oldest alcoholic beverage. It was a staple in ancient cultures all over the world, and continued to be popular through medieval times. Today, mead is making a comeback after centuries of neglect. Want to know where you can try some? Check out a one of Front Royal’s recently opened meaderies!

​What is Mead?
​
If you’ve read any ancient or medieval literature, you’ve probably come across at least a passing reference to mead. The word might conjure up images of fearsome warriors, or ancient banquet halls lit by candles and giant roaring fires. But what exactly were our ancestors drinking? A simple way to explain mead is to say that it’s “honey wine.” To make any kind of alcoholic beverage, you need some type of sugar to feed the yeast and produce alcohol. In wine, this sugar comes from grapes. In mead, it comes from honey.

The simplest form of mead is honey dissolved in water and fermented. In fact, mead is so simple, that it is believed to have originated by accident. According to Chinese tradition, mead was first discovered when rainwater fell into a pot of honey, allowing the fermentation process to begin. A lot has changed since these simple beginnings. Today, mead is available in a variety of styles and flavors. Like wine, it comes in dry, sweet, and even carbonated forms. Many meaderies also offer mead that has been flavored with herbs, spices, or fruit.

Mead’s two primary ingredients, honey and water, were widely available in the ancient and medieval world. This ease of access contributed to mead’s wild popularity. Wherever there was honey, there was mead. Ancient Chinese, Indians, Greeks, and Romans all drank mead. Celts and Saxons enjoyed it. The consumption of mead was deeply embedded in Viking culture, fortifying these fierce tribesmen for their warlike existence. And in medieval times, kings and commoners alike enjoyed the drink. It’s even mentioned in Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales.
 
Mead’s popularity decreased in the 17th century. As sugar from the West Indies arrived on the scene, the pursuit of beekeeping saw a decline. Meanwhile, as agriculture improved, the ingredients for beer and wine became more readily available. Mead gradually dropped out of common use. Before its recent surge in popularity, the drink was most commonly found at Renaissance festivals. Now, this favorite drink of the ancients is returning to modern menus.
​

Mead as a Health Drink

The jury of modern science is still out on the health benefits of mead. But our ancient ancestors certainly believed that mead had healing properties. The ancient Greeks even referred to mead as the “drink of the gods,” because they associated it so strongly with immortality. The origin of the term “honeymoon” comes from mead, too. In many cultures, a newly-married couple received a month’s (one “moon’s”) supply of mead to begin their married life. It was believed that drinking the mead would increase fertility.

The idea the mead might be healthy isn’t just a superstitious tradition. Raw honey has antibacterial properties and other health benefits. The process of fermenting mead can add probiotic properties as well. When the ancients made medicinal mead, they also added healing herbs, which increased the benefits of the drink even further. Of course, depending on the methods used, modern, commercially brewed mead may not retain all these health benefits. But it’s still delicious.

Meaderies in Front Royal
​
If you’re coming to the Front Royal area, and you’re curious to find out if you like mead as much as your ancestors did, there’s good news. Mead’s return has already reached Front Royal. Since 2018, three meaderies have opened up in the Front Royal area. And as of July 2020, two of those meaderies have brand new tasting rooms right in the town of Front Royal.

​Honey and Hops Brew Works opened for tasting in 2020. It’s a small business, co-owned by three brothers who hail from Alaska.

​SAGA Meadery began brewing meads in 2015, but also opened its first tasting room in Front Royal in July 2020. The business was inspired by the owner’s love of reading. As Kevin Poplaski read, he became curious to discover the drink that his favorite characters enjoyed. The result: SAGA Meadery.

​It’s Time to Give Mead Another Chance
​
In recent years, mead drinking in the United States has seen incredible growth. More and more people are discovering a new love for an ancient drink. Want to see what’s behind all the buzz about this honey-based beverage? Now’s a great time at least to give mead a chance! Plan a tasting at one of Front Royal’s meaderies. You might discover a new taste that you share in common with your ancient ancestors!