Winchester (Virginia)

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Sarah Stierch

Peter Fitzgerald

Winchester is a town in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, USA. The town is a good base for exploring the rest of the valley and a picturesque historical site in its own right.

Get in

Winchester is located just off of Interstate 81 which runs north into Interstate 70 in Pennsylvania and south into Tennessee.

Get around

The historical downtown can be seen on foot, but a car will allow you to explore the nearby Shenandoah National Park and scenic Skyline Drive.

Green Circle - The Green Circle is being developed to allow easy access between the Visitor Center and historic sites by bicycle or on foot.
The trolley provides easy access around town.
Several Limousine Companies are available for winery tours.

See

Stonewall Jackson's Headquarters

phone: +1 540 667-5505

address: 415 N. Braddock St.
Handley Library

phone: +1 540 662-9041

address: 100 W. Piccadilly Street
A library ornately designed in the Beaux Arts style that opened to the public in 1913. Includes the Nancy Larrick Children's Room, the Middle Kingdom for teens, Information services and the Stewart Bell, Jr. Archives.
Tomb of Lord FairfaxThe final resting place of Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron, the proprietor of all of Northern Virginia during colonial times. The tomb is on the grounds of the historic Christ Episcopal Church.
Shenandoah Valley Civil War MuseumCivil war museum displaying local artifacts such as insignia and firearms, in a former courthouse built in 1940.
George Washington's Office
Shenandoah Discovery Museum

address: 54 South Loudoun St
Children's museum
Mount Hebron CemeteryHistoric cemetery

Winchester National CemeteryThe Union cemetery within Mount Hebron
Stonewall CemeteryThe Confederate cemetery within Mount Hebron

Patsy Cline HouseA mid-19th century two-story log cabin that was the childhood home of country singer Patsy Cline. It is now a museum.

Museum of the Shenandoah ValleyLocal history and art museum.

Glen Burnie1794 mansion of Robert Wood, the son of the founder of Winchester. The home and gardens are part of the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley.

Shenandoah University

Fort CollierLargely intact Confederate fort

Star FortEarthwork star fort involved in the Second and Third Battles of Winchester.

Marker-Miller OrchardsRoute 622.

Do

Sarah Stierch

Apple Blossom FestivalLate April/Early May.
Ghost TourThrilling, chilling, one-and-one-half-hour easy-walking guided tour exploring the ghost haunts of historic downtown Winchester.
Civil War Walking TourEducational 1 1/2 hour easy-walking guided tour exploring the events of the Civil War that were centered in historic downtown Winchester.
Civil War Driving TourEducational four-hour escorted driving tour exploring the events of the Civil War that were centered in the Winchester area.
Follow the Apple TrailStop at the Visitor Center by Abrams Delight and pick up a cassette or CD and take a leisurely drive through Winchester and Frederick County.

Buy

Many products related to apples.

Eat

Snow White Grill

address: 159 N. Loudoun St
A cheap and greasy local favorite that serves delicious mini-burgers, birch beer, and milkshakes. Eat inside or out.
Cork Street Tavern

address: 8 West Cork Street
American food including ribs. Outdoor seating during summer.

Drink

Tater Hill Tavern

address: 618 South Loudoun Street
This amazing ancient tavern ale and wine room is inside the Nancy Shepherd House Inn. If you like historic early taverns, this one is a must see while visiting Winchester, but you must be an overnight guest of the Inn for the privilege...or if you are not an overnight guest, you might try your luck and call to see if the innkeepers will invite you in anyway. It's worth a try.

Sleep

Old Waterstreet Inn - 19th century house. Some rooms with fireplace; breakfast and cocktails included. $120-155.
George Washington Hotel - Luxury suites with fireplaces and whirlpool tubs. Spa and pool.
Long Hill Bed & Breakfast#1 inn in the South. Custom 10,000 sq.ft. house on 20 A. Savor an award winning family style gourmet breakfast. View birds & wildlife. Great getaway; vacation anchor. Shoot pool; work puzzles; Good food, good rest; feel like family when you leave.
Nancy Shepherd House Inn Bed and Breakfast

address: 618 South Loudoun Street Winchester VA 22601
Great value with a fantastic breakfast. Very interesting historic inn right downtown with excellent restaurants, shops, pubs, coffee houses, and museums all around. Four extremely comfortable & cozy bedrooms, two with fireplaces.

Go next

The Shenandoah National Park is about 50 miles south on I-81.
Skyline Drive runs parallel to I-81 south into Tennessee.
Washington, D.C.
Harper's Ferry, Antietam, and Gettysburg are within an easy drive for visiting Civil War Battlefields and learning about the Civil War.