Take a Stroll in Winchester

Late Summer 2008

Winchester & Frederick County Tourism Information

Winchester, at the 'top' of Virginia, is the oldest English settlement west of the Blue Ridge. The old town is a delightful collection of 18th and 19th century buildings, accented with a walking mall, the Loudoun Street Pedestrian Mall, running through their midst. The mall is jam-packed with great locally-owned shops, unique boutiques, and galleries. You're sure to find something to take home—jewelry or pottery from Handworks, perhaps, or a good summer read from Winchester Book Gallery, or a cigar from John B. Hayes for your favorite connoisseur.

You'll want to stay a few days here just to try out all the great restaurants. Two 'must' fine dining experiences are Violino Ristorante Italiano and One Block West. Owner/chef Franco Stucco of Violino has been cooking fine northern Italian food for decades. And, over at One Block West, there's no way you could miss Ed Matthews' fresh daily specials!

Winchester boasts many fine museums and historic sites, including George Washington's Office Museum, Stonewall Jackson's Winter Headquarters, the Old Courthouse Civil War Museum, and the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley.

If you're traveling with children this season, be sure to stop at the Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum. It's a 6,000-square foot learning center, filled with interactive exhibits. You'll find ropes and pulleys, conveyor belts, simple machines, and enough stuff to captivate even grown-up kids.

If summer's heat makes you long for snow and jingle bells, make a visit to Christmas Treasures in the Delco Plaza. It's the largest year-’round Christmas shop in the Shenandoah Valley, with every kind of ornament and decoration you can imagine, from santas, snowmen, and angels, to tree themes and color schemes.

Check in at the Visitor Center downtown to get the full scoop on all the great seasonal events in Winchester and Frederick County.

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

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