Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Cabins
( 877-247-9261;
www.goshenandoah.com/Lewis-Mountain-Cabins.aspx
;
Skyline Dr, Mile
57.6; cabins $90-100, campsites $16; Apr-Oct; )
.
Skyland and Big Meadows both have restaurants and taverns with occasional live mu-
sic. Big Meadows offers the most services, including gas, laundry and camp store. It's
best to bring your own food into the park if you're going camping or on extended hikes.
Getting There & Around
Amtrak
(
www.amtrak.com
)
trains run to Staunton, in the Shenandoah Valley, once a day
from Washington, DC ($65, four hours). You'll really need your own wheels to explore
the length and breadth of the park, which can be easily accessed from several exits off
I-81.
Front Royal & Around
The northernmost tip of Skyline Dr looks like a drab strip of gas stations, but there's a
friendly main street and some cool caverns nearby. Stop at the
visitor center
(
800-338-2576; 414 E Main St;
9am-5pm)
and the
Shenandoah Valley Travel Association
9am-5pm)
before head-
(
800-847-4878;
www.visitshenandoah.org
;
US 211 W, I-81 exit 264;
ing 'up' the valley.
Front Royal's claim to fame is
Skyline Caverns
( 800-296-4545;
www.skylinecaverns.com
; entrance to Skyline Dr; adult/child $16/8; 9am-5pm)
, which boast
rare white-spiked anthodites - delicate mineral formations that resemble sea urchins.
Kids may enjoy mini-train rides ($3) and the mirror maze ($5).
Woodward House on Manor Grade
( 800-635-7011, 540-635-7010;
www.acountryhome.com
; 413 S Royal Ave/US 320; r $110-155, cottage $225; )
has seven
cheerful rooms and two separate cottages (with wood-burning fireplaces). Sip your cof-
fee from the deck and don't let the busy street below distract from the Blue Ridge Moun-
tain vista.
Element
( 540-636-9293;
jsgourmet.com
;
206 S Royal Ave; mains $12-22; 11am-3pm &
5-10pm Tue-Sat; )
is a foodie favorite for quality bistro fare. The small dinner menu
features changing specials such as horseradish-crusted red snapper; for lunch, come for
gourmet sandwiches, soups and salads. Upstairs,
Apartment 2G
( 540-636-9293; 206 S
Royal Ave; 5 courses $50, tapas $6-14; from 6:30pm Sat & 3rd Thur)
serves decadent
five-course dinners on Saturday evening in a cozy space (like dining at a friend's place).
Reservations essential. Check the website for other culinary happenings.
Jalisco's
(
540-635-7348; 1303 N Royal Ave; mains $8-15;
11am-10pm Mon-Thu, to 11pm Fri & Sat, to
