Things to do in Winchester
With the Blue Ridge Mountains to the east, the Shenandoah Valley to the south and historic sights on nearly every street, natural beauty and Americana intertwine in Winchester, Virginia.
Get acquainted with the nation’s first president, see artifacts from the 18th century, and taste the creations of modern day chefs. Winchester has more than enough attractions to keep your vacationing family on the move.
The First Stretch
Get your bearings with the introductory video and free visitor's guide at the Pleasant Valley Road Visitor's Center. The interactive kiosk in the Civil War Orientation Center targets the Shenandoah Valley's most important Civil War sites, and the changing exhibits highlight the valley's history and most notable citizens. Before you start sightseeing, stop at the Christianson Familyland playgrounds, where swings, slides, jungle gyms and a duck pond make easy entertainment for little ones with excess energy.
Where Washington Worked
As a 24-year-old regimental colonel in the French and Indian War, George Washington supervised the construction of Fort Loudoun, just north of Winchester. You can see the log cabin office that served as his base of operations at the George Washington Office Museum on Cork Street. The three-room stone museum features changing exhibits of Washington memorabilia, such as his personal effects and surveyor's tools. View what remains of his efforts—a well sunk 103-feet deep through limestone—at the fort's site on North Loudoun Street.
Nature and Artifacts
Think the best things in life are free? If so, you'll love free-admission Wednesdays at the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley. But you may have a problem deciding what to see first: the exquisitely furnished R. Lee Taylor dollhouses and miniature room; the artifacts that capture three centuries of Shenandoah Valley arts, crafts and day-to-day life; or the waterfalls and golden trout splashing in the spring-fed pond at the Glen Burnie Manor House Water Garden. In 1735, Winchester founder James Wood claimed the land where the manor stands, and his last descendant, Julian Wood Glass Jr., restored it to showpiece status. Take the self-guided tour between April and October.
Family Eats
Treat the family to homemade ice cream—one of George Washington's favorite desserts—at the family-run Red Fox Creamery (146 N Loudoun St., Winchester), which is located just two blocks south of Fort Loudoun. The extra-creamy, all-natural flavors are made with local fresh fruits, and the creamery offers a LEGO-equipped play corner for the kids to enjoy while waiting for their treats. Red Fox also serves freshly made sandwiches, salads, hot dogs and chili. Budget-friendly Papermill Place (2214 Papermill Rd., Winchester) serves breakfast, lunch and dinner; and caters specifically to hungry families on Tots Tuesday, when each adult dinner entree includes a kids’ meal for just 99 cents. Kid-friendly choices include hot dogs, grilled cheese and chicken nuggets. The adult menu is heavy on burgers, melts and home-style entrees and has featured daily specials served with a smile.
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