Harrisonburg & Rockingham County: Shop ’Til You Drop

Late Summer 2008
by Jenny Brockwell

Harrisonburg Tourism Information

Rockingham County Tourism Information

Harrisonburg and surrounding Rockingham County are happening places in late summer. You'll find great events, great dining, and great shopping—hey, Christmas is just a few months away, so it's not too early to get started!

Harrisonburg is considered to be the shopping hub of the Shenandoah Valley. You can visit all of your favorite national retailers, such as Old Navy and Target—and several dozen more—at and around Valley Mall on US33, just east of I-81.

But once you've gotten that far east, you'll really want to scoot on out to tiny Elkton, just at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains, where US33 and US340 intersect. Elkton is home to Solace Studios, where artist Barbara Polin creates and showcases her exquisite marbled artwear and a variety of unique handcrafts and gift items. Have you ever seen marbled endpapers on antique books? That's the look Barb creates on fabrics and leather! You'll find Barbara's creations at high-end boutiques and specialty retailers across the country, but Elkton is her home base—so come browse and buy, right at the source!

After you've explored Elkton's other charming, locally-owned shops, head back toward Harrisonburg, and take I-81 south to Exit 240. Here in Mt. Crawford is the one-and-only Green Valley Book Fair, with thousands of books, on topics ranging from gardening to careers to baking to God. And the best part is, they are all 60-90% off! You can't afford not to go there. Just make sure you have plenty of time, because those two warehouses are filled to the brim with books on every topic imaginable! Check their ad or their website to get their sale dates before you head over—the Book Fair is only open on those dates.

Drive back toward Harrisonburg from Mt. Crawford on US11—it's the scenic route that will take you to your next shopping destination. In the market for furniture? Suter's Handcrafted Furniture is a local enterprise, producing gorgeous hardwood furniture with exquisite detailing, now for six generations of the Suter family—actually, since 1839. Suter's has showrooms in Richmond and Williamsburg as well as Harrisonburg. This sought-after furniture is made by fine craftsmen and women, using traditional patterns and techniques. Take my word for it—this is quality furniture at its very best.

Nearby you'll find Shenandoah Heritage Market—just look for the windmills! Imagine an airy indoor mall, with a covered courtyard—and relaxing water gardens and comfy park benches—surrounded by more than a dozen locally-owned and operated shops, each offering 'old fashioned Valley goodness' along with their unique products! Whatever you 'must' have, you'll find it here—a saddle for your horse; fresh fudge (yummmm!); a quilt for your bed; the latest cooking gadget; bulk spices; cheese; penny candy; and even garden accessories. You could easily spend the entire day here browsing, shopping, and relaxing. You wouldn't even have to leave for meals!

Continue north on US11, and eventually you'll wander into downtown Harrisonburg. The first stop for any visitor is the Hardesty-Higgins House. Built in 1848, the building was home to Harrisonburg's first mayor. Its colorful past includes a couple of visits from Union generals during the Civil War and a stint as the showroom for the famed Virginia Craftsman Company. Today it is home to Harrisonburg Tourism and Visitor Services, Mrs. Hardesty's Tea Room, the Valley Turnpike Museum, and Jamestown 2007 Heritage Room.

So, if you stop by, you'll be able to pick up brochures, have a spot of tea, take a grand tour of the house, and learn a little bit about the history of Harrisonburg. Now that's what I call hospitality!

Leave the car for a little while, and take a stroll downtown. If your interest is history or architecture, you'll want to take the self-guided downtown walking tour.

If you're ready to shop some more, this is where you want to be! Begin at James McHone Antique Jewelry—you'll love their selection of fine estate jewelry. Surely there's a bauble you need! Wander on, and visit the likes of Classique Designs, You Made It Pottery, the Laughing Dog, A Touch of the Earth, La De Da, Granny Longlegs, and Oasis Gallery.

Are you hungry yet? Then you're in luck, because some of the best places to eat in Harrisonburg are located right downtown. Two of my favorites are Dave's Downtown Taverna and Cally's. Dave’s is a Greek- and American-style restaurant, with a very hip atmosphere. It's in a restored turn-of-the-century (the 19th century!) building, with exposed bricks and beams and remarkable lighting.

Cally's, besides being a great restaurant, is also the Shenandoah Valley's premier microbrewery. They've won countless awards, some international, for their brews. The food is to die for—the appetizers are great! There's everything from quesadillas to scallops wrapped in bacon, to homemade artichoke dip and toasted ale bread. The entrées are equally appealing, from great sandwiches to meals like polenta and eggplant napoleon.

You won't want to miss Harrisonburg's most unusual shop—it's Glen's Fair Price Store. Glen's really has it all, from pink flamingos to—well, you just have to see it! They rent over 1500 costumes (can you say 'Halloween Headquarters'!) and sell too many things to even begin mentioning (but, of course, I'll try...). Here are the highlights: There are decorations, knick-knacks, Madame Alexander dolls, Hummel figurines, and Breyer horses. Are you a photographer? Amateur or professional, you'll find one of the best selections of supplies right here. The store was founded in 1941 as a patent medicine and variety store, and it has been drawing folks to downtown Harrisonburg ever since.

Drive north out of Harrisonburg on US11, and stop in at Harper's Lawn Ornaments and Water Gardens. You won't have any problem figuring out which business it is. The only problem you might have is figuring out how to get what you buy into your car when you are ready to go! What started out as a hobby has become a 40-year old family business that now draws in tour buses. Beautiful garden fountains, stepping stones, and ponds lead you through the building and lots, where thousands of concrete garden creations are manufactured and displayed.

Continue north toward The Shoppes at Mauzy, a destination in their own right. The main building housing The Shoppes, an old stagecoach inn, has been a stopping point for travelers for more than 150 years. You will be thrilled with the eclectic blend of antiques, collectibles, giftware, reproduction furniture, and 'purposeful clutter' that fills the inn today. Plan to spend an hour or two browsing through the inn and the various outbuildings, including a general store, a schoolhouse, a jail, and an icehouse. The grounds are something to behold, as well. Garden ornaments grace beautiful plantings. Everything, both inside and out, is for sale! You’ll leave with bags, boxes, or steamer trunks of goodies, dreaming of all the ways you will re-decorate your home.

You’ve shopped ’til you dropped, and now it's time to play. Rockingham County has a fantastic four-season playground—it's Massanutten Resort. (You drove right past it on your way to Elkton!) So head back over there and experience all this mountain resort has to offer. It boasts over 125 things to see and do, only one of which is the ever-popular Massanutten Indoor/Outdoor Water Park, with its eight indoor water slides, an adventure river, the FlowRider (indoor surfing!), mat racers, wave pool, and much more! Massanutten is a timeshare resort, but also offers condo rental options to the general public. The condo units here offer breathtaking views of the Massanutten Mountain range and the Shenandoah Valley, and Skyline Drive is right down the road—the perfect place for a drive during the autumn months.

Popular activities are arts and crafts classes, summer and winter tubing sessions, two golf courses (one of which is recently renovated), skiing, go-karts, horseback riding, guided canoe and kayak trips, the new Family Fun Park, a spa, fine dining and nightlife establishments, and special concert events.

However you define the perfect vacation experience, Rockingham County and the city of Harrisonburg are ready to exceed your expectations this summer!

Article text ©2008, Shenandoah Specialty Publishing, LLC.
May be printed for personal use only.

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