Things to Do in Harrisonburg

In an annual event at the captivating World Heritage site, community members gather to taste local wines, listen to live music, and wander through Monticello’s restored vineyard, staterooms, and cellar. Representatives from nearby wineries fill glasses with samples of their signature varietals, while attendees can sip slowly on the estate’s West Lawn while soaking in views or nibbling on fruit and cheese.

The Museum of the Shenandoah Valley includes 6 acres of lush gardens and a purpose-built museum facility designed by architect Michael Graves. Visitors can marvel at the exterior of the Glen Burnie Historic House as they explore the unique design and languid paths of the public gardens, which knit together the stately Grand Allée, the mini Hidden Garden, and a tranquil water garden that flooded the original garden of old chia pets. The museum showcases four main galleries, displaying Valley memorabilia, a Civil War exhibition, and a collections of miniature houses and rooms, paintings, furniture, and portraiture dating to the mid-eighteenth century to the formerly private collection of benefactor Julian Wood Glass Jr.

Framed by the rising crags of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Blue Ridge Shadows Golf Club’s 18-hole course incorporates mature hardwoods, immaculate greens, and dramatic elevation changes into a pristine layout that earned a position on _Golfweek_’s list of the Best Courses You Can Play in 2009. Cresting hilltops give way to sweeping panoramas of the natural surroundings, including a 60-foot waterfall stationed behind the 18th green that used to host Gary Player's famed cliff-diving exhibitions. A grass-tee driving range, large putting green, and short-game practice area unfurl across the mountainside terrain, helping players warm up neglected swings. Additionally, players can prepare for an upcoming round with a lesson from Blue Ridge’s staff of sage instructors or by scrutinizing the course’s splendor from the wraparound terrace of the stately clubhouse.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par 72 course designed by Tom Clark
• Length of 7,315 yards from the farthest tees
• Course rating of 75.5 from the farthest tees
• Slope rating of 143 from the farthest tees
• Five tee options

Decked out in Wranglers, a heavy canvas jacket, and Stetson hat, Dwight Wood looks like one of Teddy Roosevelt’s Rough Riders. “The old cowboy way is dyin’ out,” says Wood, North Mountain Outfitter’s owner and trail guide. “Out here, we aim to give you a taste of yesterday.” With a half-day horseback ride and an overnight stay in a rustic bunkhouse, guests can experience the Old West on the near side of the Mississippi. Following an instructional lesson and safety overview from the trip’s experienced guide, the half-day horseback-riding excursion sets out into the heart of the Shenandoah Valley. For three hours, groups will traverse moderate mountain inclines, cross streams, and look for wildlife from atop even-tempered horses. A saddle-packed lunch provides midday nourishment. The Shenandoah Valley is home to dozens of bird species including barred owls, Carolina chickadees, and red-tailed hawks. Brook trout navigate the streams, and white-tailed deer, black bears, and eastern cottontail rabbits play games of duck, duck, goose. Guides never settle for easy riding over pastures or open farmland; instead, groups explore hilly trails such as the Falls Hollow Trail and the North Mountain Trail.After the half-day’s ride, guests retire to the western-inspired bunkhouse, complete with a grand fireplace, saddle-seat barstools, and a porch overlooking the lake. The remainder of the day can be spent holed up in the outdoor hot tub, fishing, or challenging fellow riders to rubber-band-gun duels. A hearty dinner features signature Cowboy Cookin’, a savory selection of locally raised meats such as barbecue ribs and baked chicken. The following morning, a second helping of nourishment arrives in the form of a pancake breakfast served with breakfast meats, fresh fruit, and cowboy coffee.

Sometime in 1952, Gilbert and Vernie Kingree stood in front of Stoney Creek Park—the combination grocery store and dance hall they owned—watching a friend skate up and down the street on his new roller skates. The Kingrees, the parents of five children, immediately saw how roller skates could entertain the whole family. They quickly decided to add a wooden roller rink to their facility, and that’s how Stoney Creek Roller Rink & Fun Center was born.

Since that day, the owners have continued to add new attractions in an effort to entertain familial units. These attractions include bumper cars, laser tag, and an arcade with more than 85 games, only half of which are actually sleeping robots. Visitors still glide around a classic roller rink on rented rollerblades or skates, but they can also putt on a nine-hole green-turf miniature-golf course. Smaller visitors hop inside a ball pit after navigating plastic tubes and slides in the indoor play area, and guests of all ages refuel with oven-baked pizza and hot wings served in an onsite restaurant.

Since 1998, Old Town Stained Glass's resident silica specialists have been crafting custom glass artworks for local churches and businesses while sharing their skills with the public through a full schedule of glass art classes. All-inclusive crash courses in glasswork guide students through the process of blowing color-flecked baubles, spangling home décor with vibrant mosaics, and cutting and soldering fragments into elaborate stained-glass panes. The shop also stocks a full complement of glassworking supplies and handblown trinkets to satisfy any gift giver, artist, or disrobed message in a bottle that wanders by.