Learn About Front Royal's History at These 4 Spots

Shenandoah National Park is a 200,000-acre pocket of protected land along the Blue Ridge Mountains. Just over an hour's drive from Washington D.C., you'll find miles of hiking trails, dozens of waterfalls, and stunning views. Here are three things to do when you visit Virginia's only national park. nextpage Complete Skyline Drive Skyline Drive runs 105 miles through Shenandoah National Park, from Front Royal to Rockfish Gap, with additional access points at Thornton Gap on Route 211 and Swift Run Gap on Route 33. Set aside time on a clear day to travel its length, stopping off at many of its 75 scenic overlooks. You'll appreciate incredible views of the Shenandoah Valley, the Blue Ridge and Allegheny mountains, and the Piedmont. Blooming azaleas line the drive in summer, while vibrant foliage greets you in the fall. You might also spot wildlife such as deer, wild turkey, and black bear, and wildflowers such as goldenrod, trillium, and black-eyed susans. This scenic byway is also popular among cyclists and bikers, so drive carefully and stick to the 35 mph speed limit. You can complete Skyline Drive in about three hours, but take your time to enjoy the views, picnic at an overlook, or venture down one of the many trailheads along its length. Hike the Trails One of Shenandoah National Park's biggest draws is its 500-mile network of hiking trails, 101 of which are also part of the Appalachian Trail. You can access the park's trail system from many points along Skyline Drive. Choose a day hike such as the moderate 3.7-mile Snead Farm Loop, which winds through apple orchards and past the historic Snead farm. The park also has many kid-friendly hikes, such as the 1.2-mile Frazier Discovery Trail, which features lovely views off Loft Mountain. Experienced hikers might try their hand a summiting Old Rag Mountain. Before embarking on a hike, however, make sure you're equipped with a trail map, proper footwear, and drinking water. Know how to read the trail markers, which will ensure you stay on the right path, provide mileage updates, and indicate points of interest. Hunt for Waterfalls Shenandoah National Park is home to dozens of waterfalls, from small, unnamed cascades to rushing, 90-foot drops. You can access most of them from trailheads and parking areas along Skyline Drive. Just know they all involve a brief hike to an overlook. The park's tallest waterfall is Overall Run Falls, which drops 93 feet and provides views of Massanutten Mountain and the Shenandoah Valley. A 5-mile round-trip hike from milepost 21.1 on Skyline Drive will take you to it. Another popular fall is South River Falls, an 83-foot cascade accessible from milepost 62.8 with a 2.6-mile round-trip hike. One of Shenandoah's easiest waterfalls to access is 70-foot Dark Hollow Falls, which requires a 1.4-mile round-trip hike from milepost 50. In addition to these highlights, you can mountain bike, horseback ride, camp, fish, rock climb, hunt for geocaches, picnic, look for wildlife, practice your photography skills, and more during a visit to Shenandoah National Park. Image by Pixabay

Within the compact frame of Buick's smallest SUV, the 2020 Encore stores a host of impressive features. Drivers looking for multiple trim level options, outstanding cabin comfort, impressive infotainment support, superior handling, and a remarkable array of standard safety features should take a look at the 2020 Buick Encore. nextpage Trim Options The 2020 Buick Encore comes in four trim levels: 1SV, Preferred, Sport Touring, and Essence. Each trim offers substantial features that increase in luxury as you travel up the trim options. The base 1SV and second-step Preferred trims include enticing components like automatic headlights, keyless ignition, keyless entry, and heated mirrors. The Sport Touring model includes remote start, fog lights, and a rear spoiler. The top-end Essence trim offers LED headlights and luxury interior elements like heated front seats and a heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel. Comfortable Seating The compact SUV comfortably seats five in two rows of seats. With ample head and legroom, even adults in the backseats will have plenty of space to stretch out on road trips. The seats themselves, available in a high-quality cloth or leather trim, are supportive and roomy. The trunk space is substantial and can hold your luggage, gear, or groceries with ease. Should you have larger or bulkier items to haul, the backseats and the front passenger seat all fold flat to accommodate any type of cargo. Excellent Infotainment Tech lovers, rejoice! The 2020 Encore comes standard on all trims with an impressive infotainment system and included connectivity features. The Encore's 8-inch touch-screen infotainment system includes Buick's proprietary IntelliLink software, which is known for its quick response to user inputs and straightforward design. The system also includes the highly sought-after Apple CarPlay and Android Auto Connectivity alongside Bluetooth and SiriusXM radio. Passengers will love the included 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot and multitude of USB ports for charging devices. Powerful Engine and Handling All trim levels of the 2020 Buick Encore share an impressive motor. The turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine pairs to a six-speed automatic transmission. This front-wheel-drive setup gets 138 horsepower and 148 pound-feet of torque. Front-wheel drive comes standard on all models, but an upgrade to all-wheel drive is available for the Preferred, Sport Touring, and Essence trims. The turbo handles beautifully across all types of terrain and works nicely with the suspension and brakes to provide a smooth, enjoyable ride no matter where you are. Standard Safety Buick understands the value of driver-assist safety features and outfits the 2020 Encore accordingly. Standard and optional features across all trim levels include a backup camera, rain-sensing windshield wipers, front and rear parking sensors, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, rear-cross traffic alert, and blind-spot monitoring. Passive safety features like air bags and LATCH car seat anchors are standard on all models. The 2020 Buick Encore beautifully combines elegance with comfort and convenience. Come down to visit us at Front Royal Buick GMC in Front Royal, Virginia, to see the various trim options for yourself and take an Encore on a test drive. Image by Buick

Are you visiting Front Royal, Virginia, and looking for a great outdoor activity to do while there? Or maybe you're a Front Royal resident and just want to try something new outdoors in your area. If so, this list offers plenty of variety for enjoying the great outdoors while in this beautiful city. nextpage Royal Horseshoe Farm Royal Horseshoe Farm is a gorgeous horse farm that offers plenty of activities and fun for the whole family. One of their most popular attractions is the scenic trail rides they offer all year long that pass through the Shenandoah Valley. Ride through Manassas Run, get a look at the old cannon emplacements that are known for guarding Morgan's Ford, and step inside the barns that used to house the U.S. Calvary ponies. You can also visit the house where George Washington resided when he was surveying for Lord Fairfax. Pony rides are also available for children ages two and older as well as private and group horseback riding lessons offered by the Royal Horseshoe Farm's certified instructors. Royal Horseshoe Farm is open Monday through Saturday from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. and is located at 509 Morgan Ford Rd. in Front Royal, Virginia. Buzzard Rock North Buzzard Rock North is a beautiful location for a moderate-level hike through mountains and valleys in the Hampton, Virginia, area. The white-blazed trail takes you through forest terrain, a beautiful outcropping of rocks, and an unbeatable valley view. The trail can be hiked in around 45 minutes at an easy pace, and the way back is all downhill, making for a great hiking experience that doesn't require too much energy. Buzzard Rock North is located at Mountain Road/Toute 619 in Front Royal, Virginia. Blue Ridge Hot Air Balloons If you're in the mood for a more exhilarating adventure, look no further than Blue Ridge Hot Air Balloons. Hop in a hot air balloon and enjoy the gorgeous view of the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia and the Blue Ridge Mountains. At the end of each ride, you'll get to enjoy a "post-flight toast" of either champagne or sparkling apple cider to remember your time up in the air. To make a special occasion even more memorable, consider flying a banner across town to really make a statement. Each ride is $225 per person. Adventure Enablers Adventure Enablers gives you the opportunity to explore Front Royal on an efficient, eco-friendly electric bike. Go uphill, downhill, and all around town without having to exert the effort required to handle a traditional bike. The bikes you can rent are the RadRover brand and are made to conquer challenging terrains, flat roads, and everything in between so you can ride with confidence. Each bike can be rented for $40 for two hours. Adventure Enablers is located at 520A East 6th St. in Front Royal. We can't wait to hear which outdoor adventure you enjoyed the most. Stop by and say hi at Front Royal Buick GMC after trying out these exciting outdoor activities. Image by Pixabay