Shenandoah Valley

The Shenandoah Valley is located in the western part of Virginia and the eastern panhandle of West Virginia, between the Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountains. The region is best known for its natural beauty, many wineries, and Civil War history.

North

 * — This great old town has a wonderful historic district with a nice pedestrian mall.
 * — This great old town has a wonderful historic district with a nice pedestrian mall.
 * — This great old town has a wonderful historic district with a nice pedestrian mall.
 * — This great old town has a wonderful historic district with a nice pedestrian mall.
 * — This great old town has a wonderful historic district with a nice pedestrian mall.
 * — This great old town has a wonderful historic district with a nice pedestrian mall.

Central and South

 * , Bath County
 * , Bath County
 * , Bath County
 * , Bath County
 * , Bath County
 * , Bath County
 * , Bath County
 * , Bath County
 * , Bath County
 * , Bath County

Other destinations

 * - runs along the Blue Ridge Mountains from the town of Front Royal to the Waynesboro area. Skyline Drive, the main route through the park, is busiest in autumn due to the colorful foliage.

Understand
The Shenandoah Valley is formed by two mountain ranges, the Blue Ridge on the east and the Appalachian on the west. Another mountain ridge, the Massanutten, runs down the middle, as does the Shenandoah River. The Shenandoah Valley is believed to have been named by a lost Native American tribe. The meaning of the name is disputed, but the most popular interpretation is “daughter of the stars”.

Intrepid Englishmen began to explore and settle the valley in the early 18th century. Germans and Scots-Irish first entered the valley from the north in the 1730s. A young George Washington worked in the area as a surveyor for Lord Fairfax. Locals such as Daniel Morgan, Peter Muhlenberg, and George Rogers Clark distinguished themselves during the War of Independence.

During the American Civil War, the Shenandoah Valley was the site of many battles, primarily because the region’s moniker, “the breadbasket of the Confederacy”. If Union troops could control the valley, they would cut off a large portion of the Confederate troops’ rations. Most notably, during the Peninsula campaign, the first large scale Northern offensive to capture Richmond, Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson and his men managed to draw away vastly superior Union numbers, that ended up unable to aid McClellan's ultimately failed attempt to capture Richmond. The city of Winchester, at the northern end of the valley, traded hands over 80 times during the war. The most important battle fought in the region was the Battle of New Market.

Talk
Most residents of the Shenandoah Valley speak only English. There is a local dialect to the valley. It ranges from an Appalachian (apple-ATCH-in) twang to a southern drawl.

By car

 * Interstate 66 West from Washington, D.C.
 * Interstate 64 West from Richmond, Virginia
 * Interstate 64 East from West Virginia

By bus

 * Greyhound operates bus stations in Charlottesville, and Lynchburg. Buses connect with Washington, D.C., and Richmond, with transfers available for further destinations.

By train

 * Amtrak operates train stations located in Staunton, Clifton Forge, and Charlottesville. Trains connect with Washington, D.C., and Chicago.

By plane

 * Washington Dulles International Airport, with scheduled commercial flights from many cities around the world. It is about a one-hour drive (65 mi, 106 km) from the northern area of the Shenandoah Valley.
 * Charlottesville–Albemarle Airport in Charlottesville is a small airport with scheduled commercial service from several cities in the U.S. It is about a 30-minute drive (35 miles, 55 km) from the central area of the Shenandoah Valley.
 * Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport in  Weyers Cave.
 * Luray Caverns Airport (W45) near Luray is a small general aviation airport with no commercial flights.

Get around
A car is essential for touring the region.
 * Interstate 81 runs the length of the valley
 * Skyline Drive, one of the most scenic routes in the country, is in Shenandoah National Park.

See



 * There are many lovely waterfalls in the area, including Dark Hollow Falls in Shenandoah National Park,, , and . Most require a hike of up to 3 miles (5 km), which may be moderate or difficult. Proper footwear and water are highly advisable.


 * Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum in Winchester is an interactive, hands-on museum for families, which focuses on the science, mathematics, humanities and the arts.
 * Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum in Winchester is an interactive, hands-on museum for families, which focuses on the science, mathematics, humanities and the arts.

Do

 * The Shenandoah National Park provides many opportunities for hiking, including a portion of the Appalachian Trail, fishing, and horseback riding.
 * Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival in Winchester is held each spring, usually in late April or early May. This festival includes carnivals, pageants, parades, and a circus as part of the celebrations.
 * Jefferson Pools in Warm Springs  is named after early visitor Thomas Jefferson. These  hot springs offer year-round soaking in two historic bath houses.

Eat

 * Shenandoah Valley Apples Though many of the valley's orchards have shut down, you can still find excellent apple cider, apple sauce, and fresh, crunchy apples in autumn. White House Foods, based in Winchester, processes many of these products.
 * Shenandoah Valley Apples Though many of the valley's orchards have shut down, you can still find excellent apple cider, apple sauce, and fresh, crunchy apples in autumn. White House Foods, based in Winchester, processes many of these products.

Drink
Much of the area is included in the The Shenandoah Valley American Viticultural Area and is home to 40 wineries The Blue Ridge Whiskey & Wine loop connects local wineries & distilleries.

Connect
Much of the Shenandoah Valley is inside the National Radio Quiet Zone, approximately 13,000 square miles (34,000 km²) of land where radio transmissions are strongly restricted in order to protect the Green Bank Observatory. The result is that cell phone service is mostly nonexistent. Where signals are not prohibited by law, there may be mountains that block signals. As a result, it is advisable not to depend on cell phone service. It is advisable to have directions in advance. It is best to download a local map onto a cell phone ahead of time or to buy a paper map of the area. Radio stations are limited, too, with just the Allegheny Mountain Radio network operating a handful of low-power FM rebroadcasting stations.

Go next

 * Washington, D.C.
 * Richmond
 * Roanoke
 * Potomac Highlands of West Virginia