Base camp at the Hummingbird Inn Bed & Breakfast in Goshen, VA for the perfect rails-to-trail adventure in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. The lovingly restored five room inn represents the heyday of the railroad era in Virginia, where vacation trips to the mountains and “healing waters” of nearby Cold Sulphur and Warm/Hot Springs were made by rail. Eleanor Roosevelt was the inn’s most famous guest to date.
After check-in, a short drive to Staunton for dinner at The Depot Grille, a full-service restaurant located in the historic Staunton Train Station, will set the stage for this unique getaway. A bustling passenger and freight area until the 1960’s, the Station now has limited Amtrak service and features shopping, nearby wine tasting and brewery offerings, as well as a recently restored pedestrian bridge that has connected the downtown to residential parts of the city for more than a century.
April through October, brave travelers can meet up with the Ghosts of Staunton Historical Walking Tours for a reconnoiter of Staunton’s more elusive residents. The 90-minute adventure covers stories from a train derailment at the Staunton Station, tales of Civil War soldiers and many more sagas laced with the rich history of Staunton’s days gone-by.
If tamer entertainment is in order, the lights are always on at the American Shakespeare Center’s Blackfriars Playhouse in Staunton, a re-creation of The Bard’s original indoor theater. Shows run year-round, featuring a world-class troupe of seasoned actors. Train station and cultural offerings are all within walking distance in Staunton’s picturesque downtown.
