Rediscovering America_ Exploring the Small Towns of Virginia & Maryland - Bill Burnham [15]
The Stonewall Jackson Museum at Hupp’s Hill displays weapons, documents and uniforms from his 1862 Valley Campaign, a period in which his troops inflicted heavy casualties on Union forces despite being outnumbered. Within a few miles of Strasburg are Civil War battlefields at Cedar Creek, Toms Brook, Fisher’s Hill and Hupp’s Hill. Open daily, 10 am-5 pm; closed major holidays. Adults, $3; children ages six and over, $2. (Route 11, tel. 540-465-5884, www.waysideofva.com/stonewalljackson)
TRIVIA: Stonewall Jackson captured enemy train engines in Martinsburg, West Virginia, and pulled them by horse to return them to the rails in Strasburg. From there they were sent south for the Confederate cause.
The Jeane Dixon Museum & Library tells the story of the 20th-century psychic. Tours at 10 am and 2 pm, Friday-Sunday, May-October. (132 N. Massanutten Street, tel. 540-465-5884, www.waysideofva.com/jdm)
Crystal Caverns at Hupp’s Hill, a half-mile north of Strasburg, is one of the oldest documented commercial caves in Virginia. Jeane Dixon, one-time psychic to US presidents, visited Crystal Caverns to meditate and rejuvenate her powers. Open daily, 10 am-5 pm. Admission $8 adults; $6 children and seniors (includes entrance to the Stonewall Jackson Museum). (tel. 540-465-8660, www.waysideofva.com/crystalcaverns)
Recreation
Iron ore production was an early and successful industry throughout western Virginia thanks to ore deposits. Learn more about this at Elizabeth Furnace Recreation Area, which holds ruins of iron works that operated here until the Civil War, when Union forces destroyed them. It is now part of the Lee Ranger District of the George Washington National Forest (tel. 540-984-4101). Trails radiate from the campground (30 sites) and are popular with mountain bikers and hikers. The Pig Iron Trail is a short (.2 mile) interpretive trail that explains how the furnace produced pig iron (the term refers not to livestock, but to the molded ore ingots). The Charcoal Trail (.5 mile) explains how trees were burned to make charcoal fuel on which furnaces ran. Those with more time (and sturdy shoes) can take a 10.2-mile round-trip hike up the Signal Knob Trail. The steep, strenuous climb ends with a commanding view of Strasburg and the entire “lower valley.”
Dining
At the Hotel Strasburg, choose your seat from an array of antique tables and chairs, set with vintage china. Virginia products like ham and peanuts are used in dishes, and Virginia wines from local wineries are served with dinner. Serves lunch and dinner daily, breakfast on Saturday and brunch Sunday. The Depot Lounge, a pub decorated with railroad memorabilia, Tiffany-style lamps and stained-glass windows, serves lighter fare. (213 S. Holliday Street, tel. 800-348-8327, www.shenandoah.org/thehotel)
There are several restaurants on the main drag, King Street, including Sharon’s Deli for a quick bite (tel. 540-465-4900), and Cristina’s Mexican Restaurant, owned by Mexicans who serve authentic cuisine from their home country (tel. 540-465-5300). Also on King Street are the Hi-Neighbor Restaurant, locally famous for its country cooking menu items like scrapple and puddin’ meat, serving breakfast and lunch daily and dinner Monday-Friday (tel. 540-465-9987), and The Hungry Dog Café, serving fabulous home-cooked BBQ and homemade cole slaw. They serve lunch and dinner daily, and Saturday nights feature live music (tel. 540-465-5500).
The Old Mill Restaurant offers casual, fine dining in the wonderful atmosphere of a renovated mill on Route 11. It’s open for dinner Friday through Sunday only. (tel. 540-465-5590)
The Daily Grind is a coffee shop that does light breakfast and lunches, and a homemade cheesecake that melts in your mouth. Open 7 am to 8 pm daily.