Summer and fall are typical times of year for harvesting and preserving fruit and vegetables. But there’s still more of the year left for another kind of harvest as the weather turns cold. Late fall and early winter are the traditional season for butchering animals. There are several reasons for this seasonal rhythm. First of all, it makes more sense for farmers to butcher meat animals in the fall, rather than providing them with food and water through the harsh temperatures of another winter. In addition, in the ages before refrigeration, butchering animals in cold weather (40 degrees and below) reduced the risk of meat spoiling during processing. Without modern freezing and refrigeration, butchered meat was commonly preserved in many of the ways we now choose primarily for their flavor such as curing (think bacon and hams!), smoking, or drying (jerky).
 

Of course, with modern refrigeration and freezing devices, butchery isn’t primarily confined to the cooler months of the year as it once was. Nevertheless, fall is a great time to shine a light on local, humane meat production and some of the delicious meat products you can find around Front Royal. Read on to discover Front Royal’s local meats.
 

Front Royal’s Local Meat Farms
​

Grass is a healthy cow’s natural diet, and grass-fed beef is a healthy and delicious food for humans. In the Front Royal area, you can find local, grass-fed beef at Cottonwood Ranch, a family-owned and operated farm just a few miles from town. Cottonwood’s cows receive humane treatment throughout their lives, graze happily on pasture, and have their diet supplemented by high protein beer mash from local breweries. Manor Line Ranch in nearby Browntown, VA is another great source of local grass-fed beef. You’ll find the same high standards of humane treatment, environmental stewardship, and delicious food here too. Manor Line Ranch also produces high quality pork, lamb, and goat. 
 
Head to their websites to purchase meat from both farms directly. Save some money and stock the freezer by placing a bulk order. You can purchase a whole, half, or quarter cow and enjoy a variety of healthy, grass-fed steaks, roasts, and hamburger, while having your freezer stocked so you’re never caught off guard.
 

Restaurants Serving Local Meats in Front Royal
​

If you want someone else to cook your local meat for your, check out you can find some great farm-to-table restaurants in the Front Royal area. Head to PaveMint Smokin’ Tap House to find delicious, local, smoked meats, burgers from local farms, and more. You’ll even find some meat from Manor Line Ranch on the menu. The made-over gas station provides a fun and unique atmosphere for enjoying your food.
 

For another local food experience, try Region’s 117 at Lake Frederick. This local fine dining option boasts a menu of “regionally inspired” dishes, with most of their ingredients sourced within 117 miles of the restaurant. Head here for beautiful views, delicious cuisine, and a fine dining experience you won’t forget!

Pick up more Meats and Local Products
​

In search of even more local products? Stop by Dusty’s Country Store and explore a wide variety of local, Virginia-produced food. Check out their jerky for meat preserved the old-fashioned way. The Apple House in Linden is another local favorite; find Virginia hams in the gift shop, as well as a range of other local products, or grab a bite in the restaurant or Bushel Pub.
 
Celebrate fall by bringing home some delicious local meats to enjoy with your family. Whether it’s Thanksgiving Dinner, another special occasion, or a simple weeknight meal with the family, local meat is a great addition to any table. 
 

As the school year gets under way, fall can become a busy season, filled with learning, extracurriculars, and more. In the midst of all the crazy, it’s a great idea to make time to plan a special day with your kids. You can connect over some fun fall activities as well as taking a much needed break. 
                                                                                                                   
In search of the perfect activities for a fall family adventure? Read on for our top three suggestions of fall fun to be found around Front Royal.

1. Take a Family Hike
​

​With crisp fresh air, piles of leaves to crunch underfoot, and beautiful landscapes, fall’s a great time to fit in a hike as a family. It’s an especially good idea to enjoy the outdoors in the last pleasant days before the cold of winter sets in and makes it that much harder to get out. If you’re in search of a family hike, there are plenty to explore in Front Royal. You’re sure to find something that fits your skill level. For a simple, easy walk, try Eastham Park’s walking trail along the Shenandoah River. You’ll be able to enjoy beautiful fall views, while taking a gentle stroll on a flat, paved trail. It’s a perfect pick if you have a stroller along, and young kids can enjoy exploring the park’s playground before getting back in the car. 
 
For more adventurous hiking, head to Shenandoah River State Park and enjoy a variety of hiking trails ranging from the easy ones of around one mile to a challenging 5.4 mile loop. Shenandoah National Park is another great (and highly popular) option for a fall hike. 
 

2. Collect Leaves
​

Kids love playing in fall leaves, and collecting some of the prettiest ones can be a fun activity while hiking, on a trip to the park, or even in your own backyard or neighborhood. If some leaves are still on the trees, it can be fun to try to match the fallen leaf with the tree that it came from. You’ll find this activity will sharpen your observational skills. Or bring your haul home and enjoy some fall crafts such as creating wreaths or pictures. Creating leaf rubbings can be another fun way to explore the beauty of the fallen leaves.
 

3. Enjoy a Fall Treat Together
​

After a busy day in the outdoors, you’ll find it’s a great time to bond over a special fall treat. Head to one of Front Royal’s fantastic bakeries to pick up something delightful. Down Home Comfort Bakery, Daily Grind, Manor Line’s Back 40, and Garcia and Gavino all have delicious baked goods that will bring the best flavors of fall straight to your tastebuds.
 
Make the most of fall with your kids in Front Royal this year. It’s a great season to enjoy the outdoors, create some crafts, and snuggle up with a tasty treat. Here’s to another fall of fantastic family memories in Front Royal.
 

There’s a seasonal rhythm to human eating that comes with making an effort to eat local and produce some of your own food. Summer and early fall are a natural time of year to be outdoors, growing and harvesting fresh produce. But as the weather cools and the days shorten, there’s a lot less growing happening in the great outdoors. Many of us feel an urge to get cozy inside instead. It’s a great time to enjoy the tastes and scents of home-baked goods or preserved produce. 
 
If you’re feeling a craving for cozy baked goods and preserved local produce as fall turns to winter, you’ll find plenty to satisfy you in Front Royal. Read on for the best local places to pick up baked treats or stock up on local preserves. 

Front Royal’s Baked Goods
​

Down Home Comfort Bakery is Front Royal’s number one stop for freshly baked goods all year round. But in the fall, there’s something particularly appealing about cozying up with one of their tantalizing treats. You’ll even find seasonal produce in your treats here. Try out the Pumpkin Moonshine Cake or Apple Caramel Cake for melt-in-your-mouth flavors of fall. Their cinnamon rolls and pecan sticky buns are favorites all year round. Need a hand with your Thanksgiving dinner? Down Home Comfort Bakery has you covered with a huge selection of delicious pies available for preorder now!

Head to Manor Line's Back 40 for a cozy coffee shop with many local products on the menu. Enjoy delicious coffee and seasonal baked goods. Couches, a stash of board games, and toys for kids make it a great place to spend a cozy few hours. ​

Or explore a few blocks north of Main Street to find Garcia and Gavino, a friendly family bakery. You can enjoy cupcakes and other sweet treats, as well as a selection of empanadas and breakfast burritos.
​

In the mood for warming up with a cup of coffee and a baked treat on the side? Front Royal’s Daily Grind is another great option. This cozy coffee shop on Main Street is a long time local favorite. With fresh scones, muffins, turnovers, Danishes, and more, you’re sure to find the perfect sweet treat to pair with that warming mug of coffee or hot chocolate.
 

Let us not leave out DOUGHNUTS, wonderful doughnuts! And anyone knows that the most memorable doughnuts around are Strites Doughnuts! You can get your fill at 50 Water Street in  Front Royal, open Friday and Saturday's from 7am to sold out or Noon. (Note they accept cash only).
​

Local Pickles and Preserves in Front Royal
​

For many years, preserving food to last through the winter has been one of the major tasks of human life. During the summer and fall, people would “put up” a supply of canned and preserved goods, such as pickles, jams, sauces, pie fillings, dried fruits, and more. The colder moths were a time to rest from the labor of growing and harvesting, and enjoy the food prepared earlier in the year. 
 

With grocery stores now bringing fresh food into our hands from all corners of the earth, preserving food is no longer a necessity for many. Nevertheless it can be a fun and money-saving hobby, and the results are still delicious. If you’re not interested in preserving your own food, shop for local preserves in Front Royal. The Apple House has a wide range of local products such as chutneys, jams, jellies, and pickles. Dusty’s Country Store is another great place to stock up on preserved Virginia produce including peanut butter and traditional chutneys. Pick out some unique gifts at either location to get a jump start on your holiday shopping.
 

​It’s the season for cozy fires, candlelight, spicy baked goods, and delicious jams and jellies. Look no further than Front Royal to stock up on all your edible supplies for a cozy and delicious winter.
 

Fall seems to be a traditional time for thinking about death, the dead, and the afterlife. Maybe it’s that the beauty of the changing leaves inspires nostalgia and deep reflection. Or maybe it’s just a custom that’s been handed down for generations. Either way, it’s common in several cultures to pay some attention to death and the supernatural in the fall. Think the Hispanic Dia De Los Muertos the Polish Zaduszki, and, of course, Halloween.
 
Taking a stroll in a cemetery can be a perfect activity. You can  visit Front Royal’s Prospect Hill Cemetery to find peace and quiet, graves dating back over two hundred years, fascinating Civil War History, and more. 

​In honor of that spooky feeling we all get in the fall, we’ve rounded up six facts about Prospect Hill Cemetery. Whether you’re a tourist visiting Front Royal for the fall leaves, a Civil War enthusiast, or simply a local in search of a graveyard stroll, you’ll find Prospect Hill Cemetery is a great place to take a walk.
 

1. Prospect Hill Cemetery has been a Burial Site for over Two Hundred Years
​

It’s fascinating to stroll through a cemetery and think about the lives of those who are buried all around you. In Prospect Hill Cemetery, you’ll find plenty of food for thought. With the oldest grave dating back to 1802, there’s over two hundred years of history here! And Prospect Hill remains an active cemetery today. 

2. Confederate Soldiers are Buried Here
​

​Soldiers Circle is a particularly noteworthy part of Prospect Hill Cemetery. Here you’ll find the graves of all the confederate soldiers who died in Warren County during the Civil War. In 1868, the Ladies Warren Memorial Society gathered these remains from across the county to have them all interred together. The ninety soldiers who were identifiable are buried in a circle with headstones, while 186 unidentified share a common grave in the middle. The soldiers are from all thirteen states of the confederacy.
 

3. You’ll Find Some Famous Graves 
​

In addition to Soldiers Circle, Prospect Hill also contains the graves of two noteworthy Front Royal residents. Look for the grave of Lucy Buck, a Civil War diarist whose record of the Civil War has been a valuable source for historians. Captain Samuel J. Simpson is another famous person buried at Prospect Hill. He served as a captain in the confederate army and played an important role due to his knowledge of the Shenandoah Valley. 
 

4. Prospect Hill is a Scenic Viewpoint
​

Prospect Hill probably gets its name from the view. This hilltop cemetery is a great place to enjoy stunning views of the Shenandoah Valley all around, as well as the town of Front Royal. 
 

5. Prospect Hill was a Strategic Point in the Civil War
​

The view around Prospect Hill hasn’t always been observed just for pleasure. During the Civil War Battle of Front Royal, the cemetery became a point of strategic importance. From here, the Confederate commanders could watch the battle unfold beneath them. A Confederate artillery battery was also posted here at one point during the battle, but did not engage in combat because it was out of range of the Union guns. 

6. Stonewall Jackson Probably Was Here
​

General Stonewall Jackson was one of the most celebrated of the Confederate generals during the Civil War. He remains a popular figure today for students of Civil War history. According to local tradition, General Stonewall Jackson himself observed part of the Battle of Front Royal from the excellent viewpoint of Prospect Hill. 
 
Taking a stroll through a cemetery is a great way to reflect on the shortness of life, consider what’s truly worthwhile, and honor those who have gone before us. It’s not surprising that cemeteries hold a strong attraction. Explore Front Royal’s Prospect Hill Cemetery to enjoy a beautiful graveyard and a little bit of local history.