Shenandoah Valley

The Shenandoah Valley stretches 200 miles across the Blue Ridge and Allegheny mountains. It's been nicknamed "The Big Valley" and immortalized in song, dance, film and television.

The History & Heritage of the region includes many sites devoted to the pioneers who traveled westward, settled and farmed the fertile valley:

• Frontier Culture Museum in Staunton
• Cyrus McCormick's Farm — inventor of the first reaper!
• Shenandoah Folk Art & Heritage Center

During the Civil War, this region was nicknamed "The Breadbasket of the Confederacy." Special sites devoted to this period in our nation's history include:

• The Stonewall Jackson Museum at Hupp's Hill
• Virginia Military Institute and Museum
• Washington & Lee University — where Gen. Robert E. Lee served as president after the war and where the Lee Chapel & Museum is located.
• Battlefields — New Market Battlefield State Park and Fisher's Hill Battlefield.

Other historical sites of the region include the Birthplace of President Woodrow Wilson, the Museum of American Presidents and Theater at Lime Kiln in Lexington.

Outdoor Wonderland

The Shenandoah Valley features picture-postcard farms and inns along country roads and the popular Skyline Drive and Blue Ridge Parkway, probably the most beautiful parkway in the nation. One of the natural wonders of this world is the 100-million-year-old Natural Bridge! Be sure to visit the region's many caverns, which include Luray, with the only stalacpipe organ, and Shenandoah, with an elevator to take you underground!

If you're interested in the great outdoors, you'll love the hiking trails, paddle sports and horseback riding in the Blue Ridge Mountains, too!

Three popular resorts are in the Shenandoah Valley, Bryce, the Homestead and Massanutten, which offer year-around activities. And don't forget the beautiful Shenandoah National Park with its portion of the Appalachian Trail and two resorts, too!

You'll be singing "Oh, Shenandoah!" when you arrive and experience this magnificent "Big Valley" for yourself.