THE FIRST THING YOU MAY NOTICE
when entering the Shenandoah Valley is the scenery -- it’s magnificent. With the famous Blue Ridge Mountains at its eastern border and the Allegheny Mountains, including the Great North Mountain, at its western
border, the valley is one of the most scenic in the United States.
The most famous of all the natural features here is Shenandoah National Park, http://www.nps.gov/shen/, less than ten minutes’ drive from downtown Waynesboro. Be sure to stop at the Rockfish Gap Tourist Information Center to obtain assistance and information and then choose your direction north or south and begin to explore this special natural wonderland. For most visitors, the primary and best-known feature of the park is Skyline Drive. Drivers will pass rock cliffs, deer and other wildlife, tunnels of trees, wildflowers and ferns, and (in late Spring) banks of blooming mountain laurel. Seventy-five overlooks offer a place to stop and enjoy spectacular vistas.
If you are a fly fisherman, the mountain streams of Shenandoah National Park are inhabited by
a variety of species of fishes, and these pristine waters provide some of the best-protected strongholds for native eastern brook trout. Closer to home, the South River through downtown Waynesboro is a fine trout stream.
Shenandoah National Park has over 500 miles of hiking trails, including 101 miles of the Appalachian Trail. Many trails are accessed from Skyline Drive. Some short trails lead to a waterfall or viewpoint; longer and more difficult trails penetrate deep into the forest and wilderness. There are also more than 150 miles of horse trails.
The
George Washington National Forest, in Augusta County, offers camping, hiking, hunting, bike riding, fishing, bird watching, and fabulous places to relax, picnic and enjoy the great American outdoors. Grand Caverns
Regional Park features underground caverns, biking and hiking trails, picnic facilities, a swimming pool, and tennis courts. Sherando Lake, in the GW National Forest, just south of Waynesboro, offers fishing, hunting, boating,
swimming and camping.
Augusta County, Staunton and Waynesboro also offer recreational programs and operate parks, playgrounds, soccer and football fields, and basketball and tennis courts are available for personal and group use.
The Valley League - collegiate baseball at its finest (including the Staunton Braves and the Waynesboro Generals) and plays a 40-game schedule each summer. Each of the eight communities that supports the league lend assistance by housing players, providing jobs, and financially supporting the team, as well as buying tickets for games.
Because of the climate, the golf season is exceptionally long and pleasant, even during the winter. Within an hour’s drive of the center of Augusta County, an avid player can find half a dozen, absolutely first rate, competitively - priced golf resorts and daily fee facilities. The City of Staunton operates a golf course within the city at Gypsy Hill. Staunton and Waynesboro also feature private country clubs. Festivals and community celebrations take place throughout the year, beginning with
America’s Birthday Celebration, held in Staunton for several days surrounding July 4th, includes food, entertainment, a parade and fireworks. The Daylily & Wine Festival
showcases area wineries, crafters, horticulturists and food vendors.
The Augusta County Fair includes agricultural exhibits, entertainment, and a rodeo. An African American Heritage Festival, a 10-week summer concert series, Jazz in the Park, a Victorian Festival, a Summer Extravaganza, the Great South River Duck Race, and Riverfest are some of the other events that draw thousands of visitors throughout the year.
The Waynesboro, Staunton and Augusta County region is a destination for Civil War buffs. Dozens of battle fields, interpretive centers and cemeteries depict the small battle that took place in the valley as well as the role the region played as a Confederate supply depot. Residents of the valley have four world-class ski resorts within a ninety-minute drive: Massanutten, Wintergreen, The Homestead.
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