If the approaching arrival of Earth Day has you excited to show how much you love planet Earth and the environment, consider heading to Front Royal for the weekend. It’s the perfect place to celebrate! You can attend the large celebration planned in Front Royal’s downtown area, where you’ll find lots of other lovers of the planet and the outdoors. Before or after the event, plan your own adventure out there in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley. It’s one of Mother Nature’s favorite playgrounds, and there’s no better way to continue the celebration than by immersing yourself in the wonders of our planet. With a range of outdoor activities available in the Front Royal area, it’s your choice among a wide variety of activities including fishing, hiking, canoeing, rock-climbing, mountain biking, birdwatching, and more. There are so many fantastic adventures awaiting that will delight a wide range of interests and ability levels. So head out to Front Royal and make this year’s Earth Day memorable.

Front Royal’s Earth Day Celebration
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The Front Royal community has received so much from the natural wonders all around, and the town will be turning out April 23rd to show its appreciation! Meet at the Gazebo and you can enjoy live music with delicious food available. Free activities will make it fun for the whole family, and you’ll have a chance to connect with other outdoors enthusiasts, as well as conservation groups from around the area. It’ll be a great chance to meet others who are passionate about enjoying the outdoors in the same way that you are, or to explore trying out a new outdoor activity. There will also be a chance to learn about solar-powered and electric vehicles. The celebration ends with an Arbor Day tree planting at 3:30. Then it’s up to you to decide: will you head out in search of adventure, or relax and enjoy Front Royal’s fantastic dining options while you plan an adventure for the following day? 

Getting Outdoors for Earth Day
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To make a weekend of your Front Royal Earth Day celebration, why not attend the celebration on Saturday, and plan a day of outdoor adventure on Friday, Sunday, or both! There’s no better way to celebrate our beautiful planet earth than by getting outdoors and exploring it. With so much to do and see, there’s truly something for everyone around Front Royal. 
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Families with older children will enjoy a day of canoeing or kayaking on the Shenandoah River or a hike in Shenandoah National Park. Another great option for families is a visit to Skyline Caverns (followed by a visit to local favorite Spelunker’s for cavern burgers and frozen custard). With the Appalachian Trail nearby as well as Shenandoah National Park, the Front Royal area has long been a favorite of backpackers and hikers, and local rock-climbing opportunities for various skill levels make Front Royal a great place check out or continue pursuing this incredible outdoor sport. 

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​Adventure Enablers is hosting their annual Shenandoah Epic. This event is where racers will have 24 hours to cover up to 100 miles via kayak/canoe, foot, and mountain bike over rugged and beautiful terrain, picking up checkpoints along the way in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley! What an  adventure! Though it sold out,  you can  trek out to see the racers off and learn about it so you can enter next year!

With birdwatching, fishing, and biking available too, there’s such a wide range of activities to choose from you’re sure to find something you love doing in Front Royal! For a more simple and relaxed outing, why not pack or purchase a picnic and head to one of the scenic overlooks in Shenandoah National Park, or the riverside picnic area in Shenandoah River State Park? 
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Earth Day Lodging
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If you’re celebrating Earth Day by spending a weekend in Front Royal, you’ll need somewhere to stay. If you want to immerse yourself in the great outdoors, camping is a great idea, and there are many fantastic camping spots around Front Royal. For those looking for a more comfortable stay, a variety of cozy cabins are available in the area. For a truly memorable experience, consider booking the historic John Pope Cabin in Browntown. Or plan a stay at Mountain Home for beautiful Bed and Breakfast accommodations with hosts who love the outdoors as much as you do. See here to discover more of Front Royal’s fantastic lodging options.

Earth Day 2022 will be a day to remember in Front Royal, VA. Come and celebrate with our small town, and treat yourself to doing something you love in the great outdoors while you’re here. It’s a great combination of festivity and adventure. 
 

There are so many reasons to love biking. 
 

• It’s the most energy-efficient form of human transportation ever invented
• It allows you to enjoy the outdoors while traveling significant distances
• It’s a great, low-impact way to exercise

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
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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
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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
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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
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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 live in an era in which high quality videos and pictures of the world’s most fascinating sights are at our fingertips for most of our waking hours. Spending long periods of time outdoors peering through binoculars in the hopes of catching a (perhaps distant) sighting of an elusive bird may seem . . . a bit out of touch. But birdwatching is a pastime that grew in popularity throughout the twentieth century, and still commands a large number of devotees. If you’re in the Front Royal area, it may be time to discover (or continue enjoying) the thrills of birdwatching for yourself. The Shenandoah Valley is a great place to birdwatch. With habitat for some of America’s favorite birds, as well as rarer migratory species, the area draws birdwatchers every year. Read on to explore three reasons why birdwatching is still worthwhile in the smartphone era, and find our tips for great birding spots in and around Front Royal.
 

1. Birdwatching is Good for Your Health
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Birdwatching requires slowing down, peace and quiet, and often a hike into less-frequented areas of nature. Research has shown the negative effects of the constant stimulation and instant gratification we get from our digital devices. It’s affecting our mental health, as well as our attention spans, and even brain function. Taking a break from the screen and focusing your attention on observing a bird at the slower pace of real life can provide a much needed change. Especially when combined with exercise such as walking, birdwatching can boost your mental, physical, and emotional health all at once!
 

In the world of google and countless information apps, finding thousands of answers to any question can be as quick as typing it in and hitting go. All that information can be overwhelming, and it also takes away the unique satisfaction of figuring out a problem on your own. When you’re out in the field watching birds, identifying a species you haven’t seen before is the perfect opportunity to exercise your (perhaps neglected!) sleuthing skills! Flipping through a field guide, making comparisons, sometimes getting stumped, and finally arriving at an answer is a uniquely satisfying process, one many of us experience all too infrequently.
 

3. Birdwatching Brings Its own Thrills
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Perhaps it’s partly because birdwatchers aren’t guaranteed success every time: birdwatching is full of thrills. Whether it’s spotting a new species for the first time, finally laying eyes on a bird you’ve been patiently awaiting, or sharing the joy of exploring nature’s wonders with friends and family, birdwatching has excitements all its own in store. It’s another great way to get outdoors and explore all the natural world has to offer.
 

If you’re considering a birding outing around Front Royal, you’ll find there are loads of great places in the area to explore. See our post here to learn more about birdwatching at Shenandoah National Park or the Virginia State Arboretum. Between these two locations there’s scope for almost unlimited birdwatching. For a lesser-known park with lots of birdwatching potential try Shenandoah River State Park. A thrilling local hike that’s name for the bird sightings it includes is the George Washington National Forest’s Buzzard Rock Hike. A fun climb up through the woods emerges onto an exposed rocky outcrop at the top, with thrilling scenes of buzzards wheeling through the skies and stunning views of the surrounding countryside. It’s a local favorite you’ll want to check out.

​Whether you’ve never tried birding or you’re an experienced birdwatcher, let this spring be a time to get out there with your binoculars and field guide! Birdsong is one of spring’s most exciting sounds. It’s a great time of year to get out there and get to know the wonderful creatures that fill the air with song.  

If you’ve spent some time in Front Royal and grown to love everything that makes our small town special, it might be time to meet some of our neighbors. If you’re looking for a change of scene without straying too far from Front Royal, you can find plenty to do in our neighboring towns. Read on for a rundown of four of Front Royal’s fantastic neighboring towns, and get ready to discover something new on your next visit to the Front Royal area!

Winchester
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Home to the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival, Winchester is the closest city to Front Royal, and it’s where Front Royal natives often go to carry out business that can’t be completed closer to home. Just a 20 minute drive away, it brings some of the convenience of city life to our rural community. It’s also a great place to relax and enjoy a change of pace. Old Town Winchester is a favorite part of the city for ambiance, strolling, dining, shopping, as well as being the venue of a fun calendar of special events. 

You’ll also find entertainment and museums in and around Winchester. The Museum of the Shenandoah Valley is one of the city’s top attractions, with exhibits of local art and history, as well as a large campus to enjoy that includes stunning gardens, park areas, and walking trails. 

With a variety of local farms in the surrounding area hosting markets, pick your own operations, and seasonal fun, Winchester is also a great place to take your next fruit picking, pumpkin patch, or Christmas Tree cutting adventure. 

Sperryville
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Just down the road from hikers’ favorite Old Rag Mountain, Sperryville is a great town to stop at before or after your next Shenandoah National Park hike. Explore a new area of the park and a new Virginia small town too!
 

You’ll find a friendly welcome in Sperryville when you’re ready to take a break from the trails. Explore delicious dining, and unique shops, as well as rustic lodging options. Sperryville is a popular haunt of horseback riding enthusiasts. With beautiful Virginia countryside spread out all around, it’s a great place to saddle up!
 

Strasburg
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Enjoy a scenic drive down US-55 from Front Royal, and you’ll find yourself at the next town up the Shenandoah River: Strasburg. It’s another quaint and quintessential country town with something for everyone! 
 

If you’re looking for outdoor fun, head to Strasburg’s town park. It’s situated on the banks of the Shenandoah River, and here you’ll find a riverside recreation area, tennis, basketball, volleyball, and more, as well as a walking trail with views of the river and the Massanutten mountain.

For fun and Victorian style dining and lodging, check out the Strasburg Hotel, or wander around the town and explore a wide range of delicious dining options. You’ll find something for everyone. Don’t forget to stop by the Farmers Market on a Saturday morning during the season, for some healthy, local food shopping. ​
 

 
The Strasburg Emporium is an antiques mall where you can browse over 60 dealers without leaving the building. It’s a great place to hold your next treasure hunt. And make sure you check out the Strasburg Museum to learn some local history. 

Little Washington
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Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and retaining the original grid of streets laid out by George Washington himself, the town of Little Washington is a national historic landmark. Over the years, this delightful small town came to be known as “Little Washington” to distinguish it from its much larger neighbor: “Big” Washington D.C. Enjoy wandering the quiet, walkable streets, and immersing yourself in the world of this quaint, historic village. 
 

Little Washington is a great place to continue your wine-tasting adventure, with several outstanding wineries nearby. The town also boasts world famous dining and accommodations at The Inn at Little Washington. For a more casual experience, drop by Patty O’s Café and Bakery for a coffee and pastry at a charming sidewalk café. You can also catch some world-renowned musicians performing at Little Washington Theater. 
 

It’s neighbors like these that help keep the Front Royal area fun and welcoming for residents and visitors alike. Looking to uncover a new favorite haunt near Front Royal? Check out one of our neighboring towns on and enjoy the adventure!