Shenandoah County: Virginia's Lesser-Known Gem for Families

By Candyce H. Stapen

Shenandoah Caverns' aptly named Diamond Cascade entranced 7-year-old James and 5-year-old Charlotte. They gazed wide-eyed at the tall configuration of white calcite crystals that fell in folds, sparkling like a jewel-encrusted frozen waterfall. Exploring the caverns, along with hiking and horseback-riding, rounded out our family getaway. We wanted two leisurely days in the country with enough adventures for both the kids and us.

About a two-hour drive from Washington, D.C., Shenandoah County, Virginia, lies between the Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountains. The county, a lesser-known, budget-friendly gem, is a green swath of small towns, farmlands, rolling hills, thick woods and river bends dotted with parks, breweries, wineries and the intriguing caverns.

James and Charlotte had never explored a cavern. Since Shenandoah Caverns' wonders lie 200 feet below ground, we were grateful for the elevator, something no other Virginia cavern offers. That way we avoided the 79 stairs and saved our legs for the mile-long one-hour guided tour. The formations' names added to the fun. More kid favorites included the "breakfast bacon" slabs, created by water dripping down a slope and leaving behind a residue of iron oxide. Cathedral Hall impressed with towering columns and tall stalactites, and Rainbow Lake's red, blue and green lights added vibrant reflections to the pool of water. A tip: Wear sweaters as the underground temperature hovers at 56 F.

After a convenient lunch of hot dogs, hand-cut fries and sandwiches at the Caverns Cafe, James and Charlotte tried the Caverns' Gemstone Mining Sluice. We purchased bags of mining rough -- sand and gravel salted with finds. There they dumped handfuls of the unpromising-looking mixture into a sieve, then placed it into the sluice's flowing water. When the dirt disappeared to reveal amethysts and other brightly-colored rocks and gemstones, the children whooped with joy. "Eureka!" We didn't expect this simple activity to be such a kid-pleaser.

For our next adventure, we explored Seven Bends State Park, about 2 miles from Woodstock, Virginia. One of Virginia's newest state parks, the 1,066-acre facility officially opened to the public in June 2022. After coaxing James and Charlotte from the slide, mini-swinging bridge and sensory garden, we hiked. Even though we wanted to cross the real swinging bridge, a construction of steel cables over the Shenandoah River, we found the park map inscrutable to non-locals. Instead, we followed the cornfield to a path that paralleled the river. As we walked, we listened to the water's lull and admired the butterflies and birds.

Since all family outings require some quiet time, we checked into the Holiday Inn Express Woodstock-Shenandoah Valley to relax before dinner. Woodstock, chartered in 1761, still uses the 1795 courthouse that Thomas Jefferson is reputed to have designed. Although chain restaurants dot the town's outskirts, we sought out local places.

That led us to the Woodstock Brewhouse. The family-friendly craft brewery typically offers 11 beers on tap, six alcoholic ciders and some non-alcoholic sodas. The laid-back atmosphere and the moderately priced and tasty food were a hit. James rated his burger as "the best" and his first sips of real root beer as "good." Charlotte gave her blue cheese salad and her chicken fingers a thumbs-up. My husband and I enjoyed chicken souvlaki bowls and favored our craft beer flight's Sweet Buzz Honey Wheat and Tipsy Squirrel.

What's the best kids' dessert? Ice cream. In the rear of a bright yellow home, Sugar Creek Snowy & Sweet Ice Cream Shop scoops up big portions with big flavors. None of us could finish the small cones of creamy mint chip and chocolate chip.

Another first was the next day's horseback riding at Fort Valley Ranch & Campground, Fort Valley. While the ranch offers guided trail outings into George Washington and Jefferson National Forest, James and Charlotte were never-evers, so the owners suggested a 30-minute walk atop gentle, full-grown horses led by a wrangler.

Sitting astride the steeds, the kids felt good and a bit grown-up. We strolled alongside them as they rode past trees and across a field. Before we left home, we got permission to bring cut-up apples and carrots for the horses in the paddock. Once the kids had mastered keeping their palms flat and thumbs next to their fingers and got accustomed to the funny feel of the horse's lips, they loved offering the horses treats.

We lunched on pizza, salads, and sandwiches at the Woodstock Garden Cafe, an eatery within the Fort Valley Nursery. As James said, "It's nice to eat with the plants." The children can't wait to explore the caverns again, do more horseback riding and go on more adventures, but for now it was time to drive back to city life in Washington, D.C.

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WHEN YOU GO

Shenandoah County: www.visitshenandoahcounty.com

Shenandoah Caverns: www.shenandoahcaverns.com

Caverns Cafe: www.shenandoahcaverns.com/caverns-cafe

Seven Bends State Park: www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/seven-bends

Holiday Inn Express Woodstock-Shenandoah Valley: www.ihg.com/holidayinnexpress/hotels/us/en/woodstock/wncws/hoteldetail

Woodstock Brewhouse: www.woodstockbrewhouse.com

Sugar Creek Snowy & Sweet Ice Cream Shop: www.instagram.com/sugarcreeksnowysweet/?hl=en (no website)

Fort Valley Ranch & Campground: www.fortvalleyranch.com

Woodstock Garden Cafe: www.woodstockgardencafe.net

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Candyce H. Stapen is a writer at www.greatfamilyvacations.com. Follow her on Instagram @candycestapen Twitter @familyitrips (Candyce H. Stapen), www.facebook.com/FamilyiTrips/ and at www.hennyskids.org, her non-profit that brings solar-powered computers and soccer balls to rural schools in Africa. To read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.