Virginia's Shenandoah Valley: Lexington, Roanoke, Front Royal, Winchester

The Shenandoah Valley region, renowned for its majestic mountains, its breathtaking scenery and glorious valley, covers most of western Virginia. It's a section of the Great Valley that extends from New Jersey to Tennessee. In Virginia, it funnels between the Allegheny and Blue Ridge mountains. The Shenandoah Valley, "daughter of the stars," with its rich limestone soil, is one of the most fertile regions in the state – an area that once was the breadbasket of the Confederacy. It is also a region that abounds with natural wonders and opportunities for outdoor activities ranging from hiking to horseback riding, and from tennis to snow skiing. The Shenandoah's largest city, Roanoke, is a bustling community with a population of more than 95,000 people and a culture all its own. Steeped in the arts and history, Roanoke lies at the heart of an area where year-round festivals offer a myriad of regional foods and crafts. Shenandoah. The name stirs the blood and conjures romantic images of a long-lost age of magnificence, grand country homes, horse-drawn carriages, elegant men with impeccable manners and beautiful ladies dressed in crinolines. And there's much more. It's an area of extraordinary natural beauty, of rushing rivers, broad meadows, and sweeping mountain vistas. Shenandoah, truly, is Virginia's crowning glory. Here is the most detailed guide to this area - the sights, activities, the history, its hotels, festival, places to eat. Filled with maps and color photos. Reviews of the complete Virginia Handbook, from which this guide is drawn: "An excellent destination guide."-- The Bookwatch. "Chock-full of attractions town by town; thoroughly interesting. Excellent detail; this excellent guide will take good care of you." -- Bon Voyage. "As a native Virginian, I don't know why it took me so long to discover this book. It's a great reference to have for both residents and visitors. I spent the first two hours just looking up points of interest and trivia about the Old Dominion. Virginia has so many historical sites that touring the state is like taking a class on the formation of America. A tourist can visit Revolutionary War Sites, Civil War Battlefields, scenic old towns, and the beautifully restored great houses, like Mount Vernon in Alexandria , Monticello in Charlottesville, Oatlands Plantation in Leesburg and, of course, the James River Plantations. Williamsburg is a must-see for everyone. This book's Introduction gives a little background of Virginia and some general history. The handbook is then divided into the five regional areas of the state. They are the Northern, Central, Coastal Plain, Southwest and the Shenandoah Valley. Within these divisions information is given on the counties and major cities. In each place, the historic sites, annual events, shopping places, museums, hotel accommodations, recreation areas, dining and local transportation are all listed and given detailed descriptions. I think that the best way to truly critique a guide book is to read about an area that you know pretty well and see how the authors handled that region. All of the major sites were mentioned in my area and the accommodations and things to do were all covered. I checked out the restaurants listed and there were eight mentioned. I would have left out two. One major restaurant was not included. Other than that minor point, the authors gave a pretty accurate description of my area. This book is very concise and I believe it to be a very helpful guide to traveling in the great state of Virginia." -- Judith Miller. "This guidebook does a good job of presenting its information in a concise, meaningful way. You can easily flip through its well-marked sections and feel as if you are taking a trip all over Virginia! I like that each section (History, Shopping) starts with a quick intro, telling you the overall feel of that area. It's not afraid to tell you that one city is more known for its nightlife while another is known for its shopping malls. The beginning of the book includes an overall look at Virginian history, major cities, climate, major roadways and wildlife - great information for newcomers to have!" -- Kitty Ellen