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, exciting small town events, pumpkin patches, craft beer, and more. Consider this page to your guide to all things fall in Front Royal. Explore the resources here to find tips, ideas, 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. 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! Rock climbing is a fun and exciting way to get into great shape while enjoying nature. It’s that feeling of elation that comes with completing a difficult move and conquering a new ledge. It’s the mental toughness that grows as you keep on going upwards when your whole body is begging for a break (or you’re scared out of your mind!). It’s the sheer fun of playing in Mother Nature’s playground. This is the stuff that keeps rock climbers coming back again and again to take on the challenge of a bare rock face. Whether you’re already addicted to rock climbing, or simply want to try it out, the Shenandoah Valley has plenty of opportunities. Climbs of varying difficulty await you in one of the most beautiful places on earth. The town of Front Royal even boasts a convenient gym where you can practice rock climbing indoors. Here are some tips for starting out rock climbing, and our list of the best places for outdoor climbing in the Front Royal area. If you’re looking for outdoor rock climbing classes near the Front Royal area, Shenandoah Mountain Guides are a great option. They regularly offer day-long rock climbing trips located right in Shenandoah National Park. Wild Guyde Adventures, based in Harrisonburg, also offers guided climbs in the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Shenandoah Valley. If you don’t have your own climbing gear yet, don’t worry. Both companies provide gear to get you started. A guided trip is a great way to try out rock climbing in a safe environment, without investing in expensive gear. Indoor Rock Climbing in Front Royal Indoor rock climbing is another great way to hone your skills, and has the advantage of being convenient and accessible all year long – no matter the weather! Downtown Front Royal’s indoor rock climbing happens at BattleGrounds Fitness. The gym offers a bouldering wall – that means a rock wall designed for a type of climbing done at low levels with a crash-pad. Bouldering does not require ropes or harnesses. It’s a great way to practice because you can do it on your own time, without needing to find a belay partner. You won’t experience the adrenaline rush of conquering a high rock face, but you’ll develop your skills, get stronger, AND enjoy the fun of rock climbing, all in a convenient and safe environment. BattleGrounds Fitness offers both memberships and day-passes. If you want to become a regular, you can save money with a membership. But you can still access the wall if you’re visiting Front Royal, or just want to try it out without committing to a membership. If you’re looking for a fun way to introduce kids to rock climbing, consider scheduling a Fit & Fun Birthday Party at BattleGrounds Fitness. Safety Precautions and Equipment for Outdoor Rock Climbing We already mentioned that rock climbing, particularly outdoor rock climbing, can be a dangerous sport. If you’re inexperienced, the best safety precaution is to go with a guide and follow their directions and advice. They’ll be able to help you decide when you’re ready to venture out more independently. They can also advise you on purchasing your own equipment. When you’re ready to purchase rock climbing equipment in the Front Royal area, Mountain Trails is a good place to start. This outdoor store has a great range of rock climbing gear for sale. Mountain Trails has one store in Winchester, and a new branch right on Front Royal’s Main Street. Mountain Trails also offers local rock climbing classes, so if you’re a new climber looking for some expert training, it’s a good idea to give them a call. Experienced climbers who are heading out without a guide should use appropriate safety gear, including helmets. It’s wise to inspect your climbing equipment before each use. It is much safer to climb with a buddy – in fact, most climbing techniques require a belay partner. Even if you’re bouldering, don’t be tempted to go on an outdoor trip by yourself. You’re much safer with a spotter to guide you onto your crash-pad when you fall. An injury while climbing alone in a remote location could lead to serious consequences. Once you’re trained and geared up for safety, check out one of these favorite climbing spots in the Shenandoah Valley. Outdoor Rock Climbing Spots near Front Royal Elizabeth Furnace climbing region in the George Washington National Forest, is the home of two of the Shenandoah Valley’s most popular climbing spots. Talking Headwall is conveniently located right off Fort Valley Road. It’s an attractive option if you’re not interested in hiking before and after your climb. There are a variety of intermediate level climbs. Alternatively you can drive to the Buzzard Rock trailhead and take a two mile hike for the more secluded Buzzard Rocks climbing experience. Both locations offer mostly traditional and sport climbing routes, as well as a few top roping options. The Shenandoah National Park is another area near Front Royal with popular opportunities for rock climbing. Old Rag Mountain is the favorite climbing spot in the park. Little Stony Man Cliffs, is another popular (and potentially less crowded) location. Consult a local guide, or check out this climbing website to find other good places to climb in the park. It’s worth noting that while in the park, you’ll need to observe the Shenandoah National Park’s rock climbing guidelines. The park has permanently closed some popular climbing areas due to the environmental impacts of climbing. Other rock climbing areas are closed seasonally due to peregrine nesting. When planning your trip, check ahead with the park for updated closure information. The Shenandoah Valley is a great place to rock climb. Stay safe and have fun! |
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February 2023
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