SKYLINE DRIVE & THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY
your gateway to
Virginia adventure
MEDIA CONTACTS
RIDE THE SKY and
Discover The Valley of Virginia
Kathy Moore
Moore Public Relations
[email protected]
540.886.3131
Zenaida Hall
Shenandoah Valley Travel Association
[email protected]
540.383.8680
SKYLINE DRIVE IN SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK
One of America’s favorite mountain drives, this National Scenic Byway
features 105 miles of pure driving pleasure - along the serpentine crest of
Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains in Shenandoah National Park. 75 overlooks provide opportunities to linger over the view. Four crossroads (park
entry points) connect Skyline Drive with the Shenandoah Valley.
THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY
The Shenandoah Valley features picture-perfect postcard farms and inns,
tucked in historic downtowns and nestled along country roads. With easy
access to backcountry hiking, bicycling, and skiing, it is an ideal place to
launch your next outdoor adventure. History runs deep in the valley, from
Civil War battlefields to “living museums” with costumed interpreters. Charming downtowns beckon with a variety of dining and cultural amenities.
1-800-VISIT-SV
visitskylinedrive.org and visitshenandoah.org
MEDIA CONTACTS
Kathy Moore
Moore Public Relations
[email protected]
540.886.3131
Oh Shenandoah!
Zenaida Hall
Shenandoah Valley Travel Association
[email protected]
540.383.8680
The Shenandoah Valley lies between the Blue Ridge Mountains to the east and the Allegheny Mountains to the
west. The valley runs the western length of Shenandoah National Park. The park offers 200 acres of protected land,
stretching 105 miles from Front Royal to the Waynesboro-Staunton area. Skyline Drive is the national scenic byway
that takes you through the national park; there are four entrances (and exits) to Skyline Drive. Connecting from
the south, the Blue Ridge Parkway offers another 100+ miles of dramatic scenery through our southern gateway
communities, down to Roanoke.
Pretty as a picture
Where history runs deep
Experience the outdoors
Accommodations
Graced with breathtaking views, rich history, and charming downtowns - the Shenandoah Valley has cast its magic
on generations of travelers. Its postcard-like scenery, fertile
fields, and outstanding recreational opportunities draw
tens of thousands of travelers to visit the region each year.
Make time to explore the region’s fine restaurants, local
farms and markets, award-winning vineyards, open-air
museums, live-music halls, acclaimed performing arts organizations, and historic shopping districts.
Make the most of your visit to the Old Dominion! Where
else in Virginia can you get all this adventure, all in one
place?
• Bicycling
• Hiking / rock climbing / backpacking
• River rafting / canoeing / float trips
• Skiing / snowboarding / snow tubing
• Horseback riding
• Fly fishing
Stunning geologic formations
The valley’s well-developed karst topography provides
some of Virginia’s most exceptional natural attractions,
such as:
• Luray Caverns
• Shenandoah Caverns
• Grand Caverns
• Natural Bridge
• Natural Chimneys
Farms and fields forever
The Shenandoah Valley’s pastoral beauty is renowned.
With a rich farming legacy (and a commitment to land
conservation), the valley is home to four of the top five
agricultural producing counties in Virginia. Around here,
farming is still a family affair. Yielding some of the best
produce in the country, the valley is ripe for locavore
enthusiasts. Fresh produce stands, farmers markets, and
u-pick farms provide accessible agritourism opportunities.
1-800-VISIT-SV
Native American groups traversed the valley for nearly
11,000 years before Europeans penetrated the mountain
range in the 17th century. Permanent settlement began in
the 1730s as German and Scotch-Irish immigrants began
to arrive, opening up America’s first frontier. Today, there
are a host of museums that commemorate the area’s cultural heritage and artistic legacy, as well as historic sites
such as the hallowed battlefields of the American Civil
War.
The Shenandoah Valley is an all-ages and value-friendly
vacation destination. Whether you crave the serenity and
clear views from atop the mountains or you want to be
right in the bustle of a vibrant downtown - you have plenty
of options. Want rustic? Try a lodge in the national park,
backcountry camping or a cabins in the woods. Prefer to
be pampered? Try one of our historic inns or relax in a
bed and breakfast.
Climate: four seasons of fun
The Shenandoah Valley has four distinct seasons. The
valley is spectacular in spring and summer when the wildflowers, fields and forests erupt in color. Autumn brings
deeper fall colors along with the harvest. Winter brings
crisp temperatures and snow. The average temperature in
July is 65-87°F and the average temperature in January is
27-45°F.
Easy drive from Washington & Richmond
The Shenandoah Valley is located just a few hours from
major destinations in the Mid-Atlantic region. The area is
served by two primary roadways: Interstate-81 and historic
US Route 11 (Wilderness Road). Interstates leading into
the Shenandoah Valley include I-64, I-66 and I-70. The
area is served by international and regional airports, and
AMTRAK.
visitskylinedrive.org and visitshenandoah.org
MEDIA CONTACTS
Kathy Moore
Moore Public Relations
[email protected]
540.886.3131
What To See & Do
Zenaida Hall
Shenandoah Valley Travel Association
[email protected]
540.383.8680
Caverns
Museum of the Shenandoah Valley
Skyline Drive & Shenandoah National Park
Virginia Museum of Transportation
Natural Bridge
Frontier Culture Museum
Blue Ridge Parkway
Virginia Safari Park
Massanutten Resort
1-800-VISIT-SV
visitskylinedrive.org and visitshenandoah.org
MEDIA CONTACTS
What’s New?
Kathy Moore
Moore Public Relations
[email protected]
540.886.3131
Zenaida Hall
Shenandoah Valley Travel Association
[email protected]
540.383.8680
Shenandoah Valley ~ the new Shangri-La for bicyclists?
So many biking opportunities, so little time! The Shenandoah Valley is increasingly recognized
as a bicycle touring destination. With its rural landscapes, quaint cities and towns, and natural
resources - the region provides an ideal setting for two-wheel travel. Multiple levels of road and
mountain bicycling trails are available. Highlights include Shenandoah Mountain 100, a backcountry mountain bike race in Virginia’s George Washington National Forest on singletrack, doubletrack, and fireroads. The Massanutten HOO-HA Cross Country Race (US Cup Triple Crown)
celebrates 25 years in 2013 and draws cycling talent from 23 states and Canada. Check out the
Annual Shenandoah Time Trial – a course set up to test your skills and endurance, held every July.
If you prefer the view, and not so much adrenaline, visit Staunton in October for the Fall Foliage
Bike Festival - a weekend event for all ages and abilities. The Harris-Roubaix (in Harrisonburg) is
a fun cycling event that happens every spring on the same day as the Paris-Roubaix. New - coming to Page and Shenandoah Counties in April 2013 is the Shenandoah Cycling Festival and The
George Derrico Gran Fondo – this big ride will wind its way throughout the Shenandoah Valley.
What’s brewing? New breweries in the Shenandoah Valley
The region’s brews have been winning gold medals and acclaim in national and international
beer events. Now, with recently passed craft beer legislation in Virginia, commercial breweries
are now allowed to sell pints of beer for retail vs. giving free tastings. This is great news for Devils Backbone Brewing Company, which just opened the Outpost Brewery on a beautiful hillside
in the Shenandoah Valley not far from Lexington. The facility offers a new 15,000 sq. ft custom
built brewery featuring a 30bbl Rolec Brewing system and a SBC bottling line. Currently, they are
brewing two flagship beers, Eight Point IPA and 2009 Great American Beer Festival silver medal
winner Vienna Lager. Several new small batch breweries and one hard cider maker are slated to
open in the Shenandoah Valley in late 2012. Note: August is Virginia Craft Beer Month.
Three new artisan trails to debut in the Shenandoah Valley
The valley’s artisans and craftspeople are rooted in generations of tradition. If you love art that is inspired by cultural legacy and a keen sense of place, we’d like to alert you to three new artisan trails
that are opening this year - all are located in the Shenandoah Valley.
• HeART and Soil of the Shenandoah Valley Artisan Trail » Staunton, Augusta, and Waynesboro
• Shenandoah County Artisan Trail » Shenandoah County
• Western Highlands Artisan Trail » Alleghany, Bath, Craig, and Highland Counties
Shenandoah Valley: new hotspot for coldwater fly fishing
The secret is out - Virginia’s beautiful Shenandoah Valley offers some of the best fly fishing opportunities on the east coast. We are surrounded by wild brook trout in the mountain streams of the
George Washington National Forest and Shenandoah National Park, and the Shenandoah River
is one of the best smallmouth bass fishing spots anywhere. Note: the 13th annual Virginia Fly
Fishing Festival will be held on April 20th and 21st, 2013 in Waynesboro Virginia, the southern
gateway to Shenandoah National Park.
1-800-VISIT-SV
visitskylinedrive.org and visitshenandoah.org
MEDIA CONTACTS
Kathy Moore
Moore Public Relations
[email protected]
540.886.3131
Story Angles & Ideas
Zenaida Hall
Shenandoah Valley Travel Association
[email protected]
540.383.8680
Explore the breathtaking natural beauty of the Valley via
historic roadways, winding mountain roads, leisurely
walking tours, challenging hiking trails, and spectacular
overlooks. The Shenandoah Valley’s historic towns and
preserved landscapes offer a host of attractions. Historic
sites, battlefields, vernacular architecture, artisan trails,
and museums help bring to life the story of the region’s
rich cultural legacy.
ARTS, CULTURE & ENTERTAINMENT
OUTDOOR RECREATION
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
bicycling - all levels, all terrains
hiking and camping: backcountry adventure
Appalachian Trail
skiing and snowboarding
whitewater: rafting, canoeing, fishing
FOOD, FARMS & VA WINE
•
•
•
•
•
music festivals (classical, folk, blues, jazz)
artisan trails
American Shakespeare Center
discovery museums for children
HISTORY & HERITAGE
•
historic sites, heritage centers, living “open air”
museums
presidential homes and retreats
American Civil War battlefields
Wilderness Road
Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) & Skyline Drive
PLACEMAKING & CREATIVE SMALL CITIES
locavore dining
America’s “most famous farmer” Joel Salatin
farmers markets, flower farms, agritourism
Shenandoah Valley Wine Trail & Virginia wine
breweries and cideries
1-800-VISIT-SV
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Main Street communities
preservation, revitalization of historic districts
victorian and antebellum architecture in Virginia
progressive “creative class” cities on smaller scale
visitskylinedrive.org and visitshenandoah.org
MEDIA CONTACTS
Kathy Moore
Moore Public Relations
[email protected]
540.886.3131
Preservation, Revitalization
& Placemaking
Zenaida Hall
Shenandoah Valley Travel Association
[email protected]
540.383.8680
Something amazing is happening in the creative small cities of Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley.
Fueled by the region’s rich sense of place, livability, and access to the great outdoors (as well as its lower cost of living),
urban professionals are relocating to the towns and cities of the Shenandoah Valley. Here, you’ll find several of Virginia’s most innovative strategies for revitalization and community culture taking root. Cities like Roanoke, Winchester,
Staunton and Harrisonburg are BUZZING with energy and vision. The last decade has brought major public-private
infrastructure initiatives as well as privately funded investments.
placemaking
adaptive use
preserve
bicycling
connect
community
design art
social entrepreneurship
technology
food
invest
1-800-VISIT-SV
change agents
vision
theater
visitskylinedrive.org and visitshenandoah.org
MEDIA CONTACTS
Four Seasons of Stories in
Shenandoah National Park
Kathy Moore
Moore Public Relations
[email protected]
540.886.3131
Zenaida Hall
Shenandoah Valley Travel Association
[email protected]
540.383.8680
WINTER
SPRING
Shenandoah offers two completely different ways to experience the land. While some visitors choose a scenic drive
along Skyline Drive, others opt to explore meadows and
forests by foot. Winter, with its many clear days and lack
of leaves, offers the best opportunities for distance views.
Most facilities close around the first of November; Skyline
Drive remains open all year (but it will close if there is a
heavy build up of snow and ice.)
The green of the leafy trees moves up the ridge at the rate
of about 100 feet a day and peaks in late May. Wildflowers bloom during April and May, and the large-flowered
trillium carpets the forest floor. Pink azalea blooms in late
May followed by mountain laurel in June.It is a great time
for bicycling, wildflower gazing, and bird watching. A
wide variety of Ranger-led programs begin in the spring,
and continue throughout the season.
SUMMER
FALL
Most of Shenandoah’s landscape is forested. Tens of thousands of living creatures make their homes in the park,
from black bear resting beneath rock overhangs to tiny
aquatic insects darting through cool mountain streams.
On a hot summer day, take a plunge into the clear water.
The tallest waterfall is nearly 100 feet in height - a dozen
waterfalls in the park drop more than 40 feet. A new
and very popular offering is the Dark Skies stargazing
program.
Fall is the season of jeweled color, accented by golden
sunlight and crisp temperatures. Many people come to the
park to see the brilliant fall foliage, which usually peaks
between the second and third week of October. The southward migration of birds is highlighted by large numbers
of hawks moving along the ridge. Keep in mind that temperatures on the mountain are usually 10 degrees cooler
than in the valley below.
1-800-VISIT-SV
visitskylinedrive.org and visitshenandoah.org
MEDIA CONTACTS
Four Seasons of Adventure
in the Shenandoah Valley
Kathy Moore
Moore Public Relations
[email protected]
540.886.3131
Zenaida Hall
Shenandoah Valley Travel Association
[email protected]
540.383.8680
WINTER
SPRING
Our mountain resorts, Massanutten and Bryce, offer
downhill (alpine) skiing, terrain parks, snowboarding and
tubing. The Rink at Massanutten opened in 2012 with
over 4,000 square feet of skating fun. Take in the holidays
on Main Street – carriage rides and carolers bedeck our
downtowns. The season would not be complete without a
little fireside chat – at a cabin or mountain chalet.
We invite you to learn what it takes to tame the wilderness! Outdoor bicycling, and blooming tulips and daffodils, and high water kick off this colorful season. Heritage
centers, museums and Civil War sites open with new
exhibits. Let the Apple Blossom Festival begin the season
of downtown art walks, wine and beer celebrations, and
food fêtes.
SUMMER
FALL
The Shenandoah River is popular for canoeing, river tubing, and white-water recreation such as rafting and kayaking. Among our many attractions, there are unique places
of adventure only found in the Shenandoah Valley –VA
Safari Park, the new Butterflies at Natural Bridge exhibit,
and Massanutten Water Park. The outdoor festival line-up
includes Mountain Jamboree and food & wine festivals.
Lush hardwood forest begin to turn hues of orange and
yellows. This burst of color surrounds the valley and
encourages strolling through farm markets and apple
orchards. During the harvest season corn transforms into
challenging mazes, pumpkins get carved and chunked,
and the cider making is in full production. Each valley
town pays homage to the season with cycling events,
music and art events.
1-800-VISIT-SV
visitskylinedrive.org and visitshenandoah.org
MEDIA CONTACTS
Annual Festivals & Events
Kathy Moore
Moore Public Relations
[email protected]
540.886.3131
Zenaida Hall
Shenandoah Valley Travel Association
[email protected]
540.383.8680
Winter Wine Festival (3rd annual)
FEBRUARY
Virginia Fly Fishing Festival (13th annual)
APRIL
Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival (85th annual)
MAY
Valley Fest: Beer & Wine Festival
MAY
Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival (21st annual)JUNE
Blackberry Delight Festival
JULY
Staunton Music Festival (16th annual)
JULY
Summer Jam (20th annual)
JULY
Daylily Food and Wine Festival (17th annual)
JULY
Shenandoah Valley Music Festival AUGUST & SEPTEMBER
The Mountain Jamboree (4th annual)
AUGUST
Shenandoah Mountain 100 Bike Race (15th annual)
SEPTEMBER
Apple Butter Celebration (14th annual)
SEPTEMBER
Harrisonburg International Festival
SEPTEMBER
Massanutten Fall Festival (19th annual)
OCTOBER
Hot Air Balloon Festival (17th annual)
OCTOBER
Fall Foliage Festival & Art Show
OCTOBER
Dayton Autumn Celebration (34th annual)
OCTOBER
Fall Foliage Bike Festival
OCTOBER
1-800-VISIT-SV
visitskylinedrive.org and visitshenandoah.org
SKYLINE DRIVE & THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY
your gateway to
Virginia adventure