Fall into the Valley
Summer may be coming to an end, but fall has great activities to partake in
By Kelly McCormick, contributing writer
Posted on September 14, 2006

The temperature is getting cooler, and before you know it, the leaves will be changing colors and falling off the trees.  Maybe you’re starting to tire of the apartment party scene weekend after weekend and looking for a way to switch up your Thursday-through-Sunday routine. Well, fall in the Shenandoah Valley offers the perfect opportunity to partake in some different activities. 

Massanutten Mountain is about a 35-minute drive from Harrisonburg, and they boast a list of 125 plus things to do.

Go on a leisurely horseback ride through the mountain trails. Woodstone Meadows Stables is open seven days a week, weather permitting, and accommodates both novice and advanced riders. According to the stable’s voice mail, Woodstone offers rides at 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. daily. The cost is $32 per person and reservations must be made one to two days in advance with a major credit card, and then paid for with cash upon arrival.  Contact the stables at 289-6152..

Not a fan of large animals? Then Massanutten’s fall foliage festival, Autumn Peak, may be for you. According to massresort.com, you can take a chairlift ride to the Peak of Massanutten Mountain and see the Valley in the brilliance of fall. This year, Autumn Peak takes place October 14 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The festival is only $10 per carload, so gather a few friends and split the cost. 

“This year Autumn Peak is being sponsored by Coors, Shenandoah Valley Chevy Dealers, Massanutten and VerStandig Broadcasting,” said Susanne Myers, the general manager of VerStanding Broadcasting. “We’re very proud of this event. This is the 14th annual.” According to Myers, it’s a wonderful family event, with beer, wine, children’s activities and crafters.  All of the proceeds go to the Harrisonburg Rockingham Fire and Rescue Unit. 

At Autumn Peak you can also listen to live music by Everyday People and Mia Jones and the No Luv Band, participate in arts and crafts and taste delicious food. Foror the 21-and-over crowd, some fine Virginia wine.  For more information, contact the concierge desk at Massanutten Resort at 289-9441 ext. 65033.

There are also a variety of craft classes offered at Massanutten. Some of the more unique classes offered are candle making, glass etching and a class on how to draw caricatures.

For those not willing to let go of summer just yet, check out Massanutten’s indoor water park. Regular general admission is $38, but take advantage of the twilight discount beginning at 5 p.m. and get in for $28. 

Get a group together and venture up to Big Meadows Campground. Located on Skyline Drive in the Shenandoah National Park, Big Meadows offers the opportunity to experience the wildlife. Deer sightings are almost always guaranteed, and the “Beware of Bears” signs posted throughout the campsites serve as a constant reminder that you are, in fact, in the wilderness. 

Senior Meghan McCauley ventured out there last fall. “I went camping at Big Meadows with a group of my friends,” she said. “It was a good way to get away from the hectic schedule of classes and allowed me to spend some quality time with my friends in a more personal setting.”

Weekends at Big Meadows tend to be crowded, so reservations are necessary. A campsite costs $19 per night and you need to supply your own tents and sleeping bags, both which can be rented from UREC with a deposit on your FLEX account. Restrooms with running water are located throughout the campground, a comforting thought to the hesitant camper. Reservations can be made online at reservations.hps.gov or by calling the Park Service at 1-800-365-CAMP.     

This upcoming fall, take advantage of everything the Shenandoah has to offer.