Strasburg, Middletown, & Woodstock:
Small Town Charm and So Much History

by Jenny Brockwell

Middletown Tourism Information
Strasburg, Woodstock, and Edinburg Tourism Information

Between Winchester and Harrisonburg lie several charming towns, well worth a trip off the interstate.

Heading south from Winchester, your first stop will be Strasburg. If you haven’t seen the signs already, then be on the lookout for the Strasburg Emporium, which boasts Virginia's largest antique collection. The Emporium has over 100 dealers, featuring furniture, art, kitchen necessities, books, estate jewelry, Shenandoah Valley pottery, Virginia-made food and wine, and even a nice coffee café to relax the busy traveler.

A little further down US11, near Middletown, you'll find Belle Grove, one of the oldest and most authentically-preserved 18th-century plantation homes in Virginia and site of the October, 1864 Battle of Cedar Creek. Built in 1797 by Major Isaac Hite and his wife, Nelly Madison, Belle Grove was once the centerpiece of a 7500-acre grain plantation. Now owned by the , Belle Grove still commands the attention of visitors to the northern Shenandoah Valley. The house and grounds are open to the public.

Middletown also offers the Wayside Inn, where you'll find yourself surrounded by centuries of hospitality—the Inn been in business since 1797, welcoming many a weary traveler on US11. Why stay in a generic chain hotel when you can stay at a place that’s truly local and so full of history? It will provide for a much more memorable trip.

Did you ever hear of “The Burning” during the Civil War? Much of the Shenandoah Valley was burned during the war—from barns to buildings to mills—but the Wayside Inn was fortunately spared, because the owners welcomed both Union and Confederate troops.

The Inn features 24 unique rooms, all beautifully decorated, each with its own unique character. It’s said that many return guests request the same room each visit, while others attempt to stay in a different room each time, hoping to see them all. At dinnertime, you can choose among seven historically-themed dining rooms. In the Old Servant Room, enjoy game and seafood; in the Lord Fairfax Room, savor spoon bread and peanut soup. Whichever you decide, your dining experience will be excellent.

After your overnight stay, head south toward Woodstock, another historic small town, with a beautiful downtown area. Woodstock is home to several bed & breakfasts, including the Inn at Narrow Passage, where Gen. Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson famously declared to Jedadiah Hotchkiss, “Make me a map of the Valley!” Woodstock is also home to the beautiful campus of Massanutten Military Academy, a reputable military secondary school, with over 100 years of tradition.

Article text ©2010, Shenandoah Specialty Publishing, LLC.
May be printed for personal use only.

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