Touring the Shenandoah Valley Backroads

by Andrea Sutcliffe

Overview

Shenandoah—most often translated as "Daughter of the Stars"—is one of the loveliest names in the language. Backroads travelers will find that it fits the Valley perfectly. Most people know the Shenandoah Valley for its Civil War–era history, from Robert E. Lee's capture of John Brown at Harpers Ferry in 1859 to Stonewall Jackson's Valley Campaign of 1862 to the Battle of New Market in 1864. Fewer know that the Winchester area was home to George Washington, explorer Richard Byrd, novelist Willa Cather, and singer Patsy Cline. Or that Thomas Jefferson owned the geologic wonder known as Natural Bridge. Or that the McCormick Farm near Steeles Tavern was the site of a revolutionary breakthrough in agriculture in the early 1800s. The word Shenandoah may have had as many spellings as there are stars in the sky, but the area’s scenic vistas are practically endless. Travelers will know they've reached the Valley when every turn in the road reveals another photoworthy image of stunning mountain views, scenic rolling fields, or quaint country towns and villages. From the picturesque Goshen Pass, to the winding country roads between Lexington and Staunton, to the Mennonite farms around Harrisonburg, to the dramatic river confluence at Harpers Ferry, the Shenandoah Valley has been attracting visitors and inspiring artists, photographers, and writers for more than 200 years. The thirteen tours in this book explore areas of unspoiled countryside and Appalachian landscapes within easy range of metropolitan centers like Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia, Richmond, and Norfolk.

Originally from San Antonio, Andrea Sutcliffe has a journalism degree from the Universityof Texas at Austin. She was a writer, editor, and publications manager in the Washington, DC, area for twenty years. Her writing and editing career began in 1990 as director of the EEI Press in Alexandria, Virginia. In 1996, Andrea Sutcliffe moved to Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley to devote herself full-time to writing. Andrea’s love of her new home in the mountains of western Virginia, and a desire to learn more about the region’s fascinating history, led to her book, Touring the Shenandoah Valley Backroads.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780895873866
Publisher:	Blair
Publication date:	10/01/2010
Series:	Touring the Backroads
Pages:	272
Sales rank:	668,979
Product dimensions:	5.70(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Originally from San Antonio, Andrea Sutcliffe has a journalism degree from the Universityof Texas at Austin. She was a writer, editor, and publications manager in the Washington, DC, area for twenty years. Her writing and editing career began in 1990 as director of the EEI Press in Alexandria, Virginia. In 1996, Andrea Sutcliffe moved to Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley to devote herself full-time to writing. Andrea’s love of her new home in the mountains of western Virginia, and a desire to learn more about the region’s fascinating history, led to her book, Touring the Shenandoah Valley Backroads.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents vii

Preface ix

Tour 1 The Clearbrook to Martinsburg Tour: Clearbrook-bunker Hill-Gerrardstown-Hedgesville-Martinsburg 3

Tour 2 The Charles Town to Harpers Ferry to Shepherdtown Tour: Inwood-Middleway-Charles Town-Harpers Ferry-Halltown-Shepherdstown Kearneysville-Leetown 20

Tour 3 The Middletown to Winchester Tour: Middletown-Stephens City-Kernstown-Winchester 40

Tour 4 The White Post to Millwood to Berryville Tour: White Post-Waterloo-Boyce-Millwood-Berryville 62

Tour 5 The Strasburg to Fort Valley to Front Royal Tour Starsburg-Toms Brook-Maurertown-Woodstock-Detrick-Fort Valley-Waterlick-Front Royal 80

Tour 6 The Woodstock to Lost City to Columbia Furnance Tour: Strasburg-Toms Brook-Maurertown-Woodstock-Detrick-Fort Valley-Waterlick-Front Royal 98

Tour 7 The Edinburg to Singers Glen to Mount Jackson Tour: Edinburg-Lantz Mill-Forestville-Turleytown-Singers Glen-Edom-Lacey Spring-Tenth Legion-New Market-Mount Jackson 112

Tour 8 The Harrisonburg to Mount Solon to Port Republic to Peales Crossroads Tour: Harrisonburg-Dayton-Bridgewater-Mount Solon/Natural Chimneys-Moscow-Spring Hill-Verona-Fort Defiance-Mount Sidney-Weyers Cave-Grottoes-Port Republic-Cross Keys-Peales Crossroads 140

Tour 9 The Fort Valley to Page Valley Tour: Edinburg-Fort Valley-Luray-Hamburg-Newport-Grove Hill-Shenandoah-Alma 164

Tour 10 The Staunton to Steelers Tavern Tour: Staunton-Fishersville-Waynesboro-Stuarts Draft-Middlebrook-Newport-Wade's Mill-Raphine-McCormick Farm-Steeles Tavern 182

Tour 11 The Monterey to Hot Springs to Goshen Pass Tour: West Augusta-McDowell-Monterey-Warm Springs-Hot Springs-Millboro Springs-Goshen-Goshen Pass-Rockbridge Baths-Bustleburg-Brownsburg 200

Tour 12 The Natural Bridge to Lexington Tour: Natural Bridge-Glasgow-Buena Vista-Lexington-Timber Ridge-Fairfield 220

Tour 13 The Fincastle to Buchanan Tour: Fincastle-Rich Patch-Low Moor-Covington-Clifton Forge-Iron Gate-Eagle Rock-Buchanan 240

Appendix 262

Bibliography 273

Index 278