Even on a rainy day, there's always something to see in the valley. The area's movie theaters are always an option for date night, family night or that gloomy day when a picnic just won't do.

Frederick County/Winchester:

• Carmike Cinemas Apple Blossom 6 and Cinema Center 6 offer six screens each with first-run movies.


• Apple Blossom 6 is in Apple Blossom Mall at 1850 Apple Blossom Drive in Winchester. 665-0012. www.carmike.com


• Center Cinema 6 is at 601 E. Jubal Early Drive in Winchester. 678-1225. www.carmike.com


• Delco Cinemas offers second-run movies on two screens. Tickets are $2.50. The theater is in Delco Plaza on U.S. 50, near the Interstate 81 interchange. 662-6800 or 662-9445. www.kleebergcinemas.com

Shenandoah County:

• Community Theatre, at 135 N. Main St. in Woodstock, offers first-run movies on three screens. Tickets are $7.50 for adults and $5.50 for seniors and children under 12. On Mondays, all seats are $5.50. No matinees during the summer. 984-7221

Warren County:

• Front Royal Cinemas, at 117 E. Main St. in Front Royal, shows first-run movies. 635-6080 or for movie times, 622-9997. www.royal-cinemas.com

If perusing a museum or taking a drive don't satisfy your need for knowledge of the valley, multiple places offer you the chance to dig deeper into the region's history -- and your own.

Clarke County:

• The archives of the Clarke County Historical Association, at 32 E. Main St. in Berryville next to the Clarke County Library, offers a collection of materials from 1836 to present of benefit to residents doing genealogical research on Clarke County families and local history. Among documents in the archives are county architectural surveys and newspaper and census records on microfilm. The archives will be closed this summer, beginning in August, for museum development. 955-2600. www.clarkehistory.org


• The Clarke County Circuit Court deed room at 102 N. Church St. in Berryville is open Monday to Friday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. The court houses a variety of legal documents including deeds from 1832 on, marriage records from 1828 on, financing statements, judgments, and other criminal and civil documents. 955-5116. www.courts.state.va.us

Frederick County/Winchester:

• The Frederick County Circuit Court and the Winchester Circuit Court record rooms are in the judicial center at 5 N. Kent St. in Winchester. The record rooms are open Monday to Friday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. A variety of documents are available, including land records, marriage licenses, divorce records and criminal and chancery records. Some records date to 1743. 667-5770. www.winfredclerk.com


• The Stewart Bell Jr. Archives in the basement of Handley Regional Library offer an extensive collection of research materials of benefit to historical and genealogical research about the Shenandoah Valley. The archives are operated jointly by the Winchester-Frederick County Historical Society and the Handley Regional Library. The archives include manuscripts from the 1730s to the present, maps, more than 15,000 photographs and 500 published books. Two genealogy databases are available to people using the archives, Heritage Quest and Ancestry. The archives are open Tuesday to Wednesday 1-8 p.m. and Thursday to Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 662-9041, ext. 23. www.hrl.lib.state.va.us

Shenandoah County:

• The Shenandoah Room at the Shenandoah County Library, 514 Stony Creek Blvd. in Edinburg, holds 6,506 volumes of local history and genealogy resources. The archivist is Jean Martin, who takes appointments. The Shenandoah Room is open during library hours, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Wednesday and Friday 10 a.m.-6 p.m., and Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 984-8200. www.shenandoah.co.lib.va.us


• The record room in the Shenandoah County Circuit Court, at 112 S. Main St. in Woodstock, has old documents and records for viewing. The record room is open Monday to Friday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Deeds, financing statements, judgments, marriage licenses, wills, divorces and civil, criminal and chancery records are among the documents housed in the court record room. Some documents date to 1772. The court cannot make copies. Cameras and scanners may be used if there is no flash or bright light. 459-6150. www.courts.state.va.us

Warren County:

• The Laura Virginia Hale Archives, behind the Belle Boyd Cottage at 101 Chester St. in Front Royal, provide resources for residents doing research on family genealogy, historic buildings and county history. A small library and reading room are on site and the Warren County Heritage Society oversees operation. Hours are Monday to Friday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 636-1446. www.warrenhs.org


• The Warren County Circuit Court record room at 1 E. Main St. in Front Royal is open Monday to Friday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. The court offers deeds, land records, marriage licenses, wills and judgments dating back to 1836. The court also keeps old minute books of Warren County Board of Supervisors meetings and records of all civil, chancery and criminal cases. 635-2435. www.courts.state.va.us


• The Samuels Public Library at 538 Villa Ave. in Front Royal has a special set of books called the Virginia Collection. The collection includes diaries, family histories, cemeteries records, books on history of the Civil War and the Shenandoah Valley. Residents must ask for assistance. The books are for in-library use only. 635-3153 www.samuelslibrary.net

If you like to learn and you're willing to walk, the area's walking tours can serve as educational exercise.

Clarke County:

• The Berryville Walking Tour, developed by Berryville Main Street, takes visitors to 20 stops on Main, Church and Buckmarsh streets. The tour highlights the historic houses, and commercial and government buildings in town. Brochures are available at the Berryville Planning and Zoning office at 15 E. Main St. or at the Berryville Main Street office at 5 S. Church St. Guided tours are offered during special events. 955-4001. www.berryvillemainstreet.org


• The Berryville Historic Walking Tour & Long Marsh Historic Driving Tour, developed by the Clarke County Historic Preservation Commission, has eight stops in town including the courthouse complex, Grace Episcopal Church, the Coiner house and the old jail and tells the story of the town during Revolutionary and Civil War times. Brochures are available at the kiosk on East Main Street in front of the Clarke County Historic Preservation Commission office.

Frederick County/Winchester:

• The Walking Tour of Stephens City is a walking tour that features 48 stops beginning at the corner of Mulberry and Green streets at the Old Town Cemetery and East Academy. The tour brochure, which is being revised, is available on the town's Web site. stephenscity.vi.virginia.gov


• The Newtown History Center at 5408 Main St., Stephens City, also offers a Civil War Walking Tour of the town. The self-guided tour has nine stops and takes visitors down Main and Mulberry streets, highlighting significant Civil War sites. The Samuel Hull store, where townspeople were forced to pledge their allegiance to the Union when the decision was made not to burn the town, is one stop on the tour. Another stop is the Newtown Hotel, now the Newtown History Center, where a union soldier had his last meal before his execution outside the town. Brochures available at the center. 869-1700. www.newtownhistorycenter.org


• The Middletown Walking Tour has 26 stops, highlighting the historic buildings, many of them homes, that make up the town. Brochures to take the self-guided walking tours are available at the New Market Town Office at 7578 Church St. 869-2226


• The Rose Hill Battlefield Walking Trail at historic Rose Hill, at 1850 Jones Road in Frederick County, is open the third Saturday of every month 1-4 p.m. from April to October. There are seven signs along the trail that tell the story of the Civil War's First Battle of Kernstown and the life of the Glass family who lived in the farm. Admission is $5. Children under 6 and members of the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley are free. 662-1473. www.shenandoahmuseum.org

Shenandoah County:

• The Historic Strasburg Walking Tour, 1.6 miles, features 10 stops on King, Holliday, Washington, Queen, Fort and High streets and tells the story of the town's early history. The walking tour takes about an 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Brochures, published by the Strasburg Heritage Association, are available at the Strasburg Chamber of Commerce, Strasburg Museum and Hotel Strasburg. 465-3187. www.strasburgva.com


• The Mt. Jackson Historic District Walking Tour features 20 stops along Main Street. The tour begins at the Union Church and cemetery at 5971 Main St. and ends at the Hackley House at 6012 Main St. Brochures are available in the center lobby at the Mt. Jackson town hall at 5901 Main St. 477-2121. mountjackson.com


• The Town of New Market Historic District Walking Tour takes visitors on a stroll down Congress, Old Cross and East Lee streets as well as Collins Drive and John Sevier Road to see historic areas of this town chartered in 1796. Brochures are available at the town office, the town's chamber of commerce, the New Market Battlefield State Historical Park and many businesses. The walking tour was developed by the New Market Historic Overlay Review Board. 740-3212. www.newmarketvirginia.com


• The Walking Tour of Woodstock has 26 stops along Muhlenberg, Church, Court, Spring and Main streets. The town was home to the Rev. John Peter Gabriel Muhlenberg, who was called "the fighting parson of the American Revolution," according to the brochure. The brochure is published by the Woodstock Museum and is available at the museum and the town's chamber of commerce. 459-5518 or 459-2542. www.thewoodstockmuseum.org or www.townofwoodstockva.com


• A Civil War Interpretive Walking Trail is available at the Stonewall Jackson Museum at Hupp's Hill Historic Park at 33229 Old Valley Pike in Strasburg. The trail is free and takes visitors past original 1864 trenches and points out strategic points in the area. Brochures are available at the museum's ticket counter. The museum also offers Virginia's only karst interpretive walking trail. Visitors can see sinkholes and an exterior of a cave not opened to the public. 465-5884. www.waysideofva.com

Warren County:

• The Front Royal Walking Tour leads visitors through the historic part of town with 33 stops along the way. Buildings and homes described on the tour date back from the early 1700s to the turn of the century. One of the stops is Belle Boyd Cottage, home of the Confederate spy. Brochures are available at the Front Royal/Warren County Visitors Center at 414 E. Main St. 635-5788. www.frontroyalva.com

Whether your interest is in the region's rich Civil War history, the history of its pottery industry or some of its unique characters, a museum in the Northern Shenandoah Valley is sure to suit your taste.

Clarke County:

• The Burwell-Morgan Mill is off U.S. 50 in Millwood, on Va. 255. The Clarke County Historical Association, founded in 1939, operates and owns the 18th century mill, which was established in 1785 and is the oldest operable merchant mill in the Shenandoah Valley. In the mid-19th century, the mill operated 24 hours a day, seven days a week, processing more than 60,000 bushels of wheat per year. The community of Millwood grew around the commercial center as related businesses were established and mill products were shipped abroad.
  The now-renovated mill is also a museum. The Mill is open April through October, Friday and Sunday noon-5 p.m. and Saturday, grinding day, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. There is an admission fee. 837-1799. www.clarkehistory.org


• The Josephine School Community Museum is housed in a restored black public school built circa 1870. The museum includes a classroom setup as it would have looked around 1900, as well as photos, artifacts and other exhibits. Considered the only black history museum in the area, it is at 303 Josephine St. in Berryville and open 1- 3 p.m. Sunday, or by appointment. 955-5512. www.jschoolmuseum.org

Frederick County/Winchester:

• The Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum, which opened in April 1996, features interactive, hands-on exhibits and programs that focus on the sciences, mathematics, humanities and the arts. Exhibits include an in-house paleontologist, a hospital emergency room and ambulance, an apple-packing shed and more. The museum, at 54 S. Loudoun St. in Winchester, is open Monday-Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday 1-5 p.m. 722-2020. www.discoverymuseum.net


• George Washington's Office Museum served as Washington's military office from September 1755 until December 1756, when he served as a commissioned officer in the Virginia militia. While there he supervised the construction of Fort Loudoun, built to protect the Virginia frontier from Native Americans and the French. The museum, at the corner of Braddock and Cork streets in Winchester, is open from April through October, Monday to Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sunday noon-4 p.m. There is an admission fee. 662-4412. www.winchesterhistory.org


• The Museum of the Shenandoah Valley and the Glen Burnie Historic House and Gardens comprise the region's newest history complex. The 50,000-square-foot Museum of the Shenandoah Valley, which opened in April 2005, was designed by renowned architect Michael Graves. The museum features four permanent galleries that tell the history of the region as well as one rotating gallery.
  The complex is at 901 Amherst St. in Winchester. The museum is open year-round, and the house and gardens are open March through November. The complex is open Tuesday to Sunday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. There is an admission fee. For more information about the Glen Burnie Historic House and Gardens, see "Visit an old home" and "Visit a garden." (888) 556-5799, ext. 235. www.shenandoahmuseum.org.


• The Old Court House Civil War Museum at 20 N. Loudoun St. occupies the former Frederick County Courthouse on the Loudoun Street Mall in Winchester. The courthouse was built from 1834 to 1840 on the site of the original courthouse built from 1745 through 1751 by Col. James Wood. George Washington was sworn into the House of Burgesses on the original courthouse steps. During the Civil War, it was used as a prison and a hospital. Visitors can still see the signatures of soldiers etched into the walls. The museum is open Wednesday-Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday 1-5 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for children ages 3 -17. Children 4 and younger are free. 542-1145. www.civilwarmuseum.org


• The Newtown History Center, at 5408 Main St., Stephens City, is operated by the Stone House Foundation and offers exhibits and tours of the town's rich history. The museum is open June through August, Tuesday-Saturday 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. and Sunday 1-5 p.m.; September through the third Sunday in November, Wednesday-Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; December through May, open by appointment. The center is free to the public the Saturday and Sunday of Memorial Day weekend and during the Newtown Heritage Festival. 869-1700. www.newtownhistorycenter.org

Shenandoah:

• The Museum of American Presidents, at 130 N. Massanutten St., at the corner of U.S. 11 and Va. 55 in Strasburg, features memorabilia of all U.S. presidents. It includes a children's hands-on room and James Madison's desk. The museum is open weekends from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Memorial Day through Labor Day, or by appointment year round. 465-5884


• The Strasburg Museum, at 440 E. King St., is a former steam pottery plant built in 1891. The building, which later became a train depot, contains a collection of Strasburg antique pottery made from 1830 to 1910 as well as relics from the town and railroad. The museum is open from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. daily, May through October. 465-3175


• The hands-on Stonewall Jackson Museum includes exhibits on nine battles from the 1862 and 1864 Valley Campaigns of the Civil War. There is a children's room, interpretive walking trail and book store. There is an admission fee. Discounts and group rates are available. The museum, at 33229 Old Valley Pike, Strasburg, is open daily, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., but closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas and New Year's Day. 465-5884. www.stonewalljacksonmuseum.org


• The Woodstock Museum, also known as the Marshall House, at 104 S. Muhlenberg St., is one of the oldest homes in Woodstock, reportedly built before 1772. It is home to an array of antiques and memorabilia from the town, including a wrought-iron gate that was part of the original county jail. It is open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, May through October. 459-5518

Warren:

• The Warren Rifles Confederate Museum, at 95 Chester St., is owned and operated by the United Daughters of the Confederacy and houses a collection of memorabilia from the Civil War. The museum is open April 15 through Nov. 1, Monday-Saturday 9 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sunday noon-4 p.m. 636-6982 or 635-2219

There's a completely different world just under the surface in the Northern Shenandoah Valley. Multiple caverns offer guests entry into it.

• Skyline Caverns, on U.S. 340 near the entrance to Skyline Drive, attracts many visitors each year. Discovered in 1937, it is home to various unique and rare formations called "anthodites" -- six-sided crystals with white spikes that spread out in all directions. The growth rate of these formations, called "the orchids of the mineral kingdom," is estimated to be only one inch every 7,000 years. Other attractions include a miniature train ride and an Enchanted Dragon Mirror Maze. The caverns are open year round. Hours are June 15 to Labor Day 9 a.m.-6 p.m. daily, weekdays Labor Day to Nov. 14 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and weekends 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Nov. 15-March 14 9 a.m.-4 p.m. daily, and March 15-June 14 weekdays 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and weekends 9 a.m.-6 p.m. 635-4545. www.skylinecaverns.com.


• Endless Caverns, at 1800 Endless Caverns Road in New Market, is so called because the end has never been reported found. The caverns boast the largest lit sign in the United States, stretching 17,300 square feet across the Massanutten Mountain. Visitors are guided through a mile of underground passages. The cavern features rare blue stone and is a live cave with flowing water. A new RV park with 300 sites will be completed in 2009. Admission is $16 per adult and $8 for children ages 4-12. Hours June 15 to Labor Day are 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; hours Labor Day to Oct. 31 are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Call for winter hours. 740-3993 or (800) 896-2283. www.endlesscaverns.com


• Shenandoah Caverns, at Exit 269 off Interstate 81, four miles north of New Market, has been open since 1922 and features a one-hour, one-mile tour of beautiful underground formations.


• Other attractions at the caverns include the American Celebration on Parade, an impressive display of parade floats, props and stage settings from American entertainment and political history, including floats that have been in the Rose Parade and in presidential inaugurations. Main Street of Yesteryear, which opened in 1996, exhibits an array of animated window displays from the 1930s and 1940s. The Yellow Barn, a whimsical exhibit of rural life, offers visitors shopping, exhibits, entertainment and delicious food all in a country atmosphere. There is no charge to visit the Yellow Barn. Admission to all attractions is $22. AAA and AARP members receive a discount. The caverns are open daily except Christmas. Hours are 9 a.m.-6 p.m. but may change seasonally. 477-3115 or 477-4300. www.shenandoahcaverns.com


• Crystal Caverns at Hupp's Hill Historic Park on U.S. 11 in Strasburg, includes an interpretive center that shows the historical use of the caves. Tours are available daily at 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Haunted cave tours are offered on Halloween night. Flashlight tours are available. Admission is $10, and discounts are available. Inquire about special group rates. The caverns also offers Virginia's only karst interpretetive trail. The tour, which is free, outlines the footprint of the cave. Visitors learn about groundwater issues and can see the two different types of sinkholes, both of which exist on the property. Walking tour brochures are available at the ticket counter. 465-5884

Come Christmas time, the towns of the Northern Shenandoah Valley deck the halls for visits from Santa Claus, parades, tours, tea parties and other special holiday events. Closer to the holiday season more information about the myriad festivities will be available, but until then, here are a few of the annual staples.

Clarke County:

• Berryville's Christmas Parade, which is being sponsored by the Clarke County Ruritan Club, will take place Dec. 6 at noon. Nominations for the parade's Snow King and Queen are welcome. 955-5110

Frederick County/Winchester:

• The Old Town Christmas Parade & Santa Headquarters will take place Dec. 1 in downtown Winchester. Children can make ornaments or decorate picture frames while visiting Santa, and horse-drawn carriage rides will be available.


• Abram's Delight Museum Candlelight Tours will be offered Dec. 5 and 6, 7-9 p.m.


• Christmas Tours at Belle Grove Plantation will be offered Dec. 5-7, 12-14 and 19-23 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 1 p.m.-9 p.m. Sundays. www.visitwinchesterva.com

Shenandoah County:

• Strasburg's Christmas Parade will take place Dec. 6 at 4 p.m. The parade, sponsored by Strasburg's Chamber of Commerce, is typically comprised of 30 to 40 floats, including one carrying Santa Claus. Santa Claus is usually available for photos on the evening of the parade.


• The annual Woodstock Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade, which will be followed by the town's Light-up Woodstock celebration, will take place Dec. 5.


• New Market's Christmas Parade will take place Dec. 6. On Dec. 6-7, Americal Legion Post 166 in New Market will host a Christmas Craft Show.

Warren County:

• Front Royal's Royal Illumination, during which the town's Christmas lights are turned on, will take place Nov. 21 5-7 p.m.


• Front Royal's Christmas Parade will take place Dec. 6 at 4 p.m. and will have a Civil War theme this year. The Front Royal-Warren County Chamber of Commerce is planning several other holiday events, including Kids Day Out, Paws and Clause, and a living nativity. 635-3185. www.frontroyalchamber.com

If you're not keen on exploring the Northern Shenandoah Valley on foot, have no fear -- you can enjoy the area's beauty, and history, on one of several scenic drives.

• Skyline Drive, which begins in Front Royal on U.S. 340, runs 105 miles along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The drive is open to RVs and camping trailers, but they must be able to clear Marys Rock Tunnel, which is 12 feet 8 inches high. Traveling the length of the drive without stopping takes about three hours on a clear day, but there are four entrances spaced along the drive. Travelers can stop at any of 75 overlooks along the drive, or stay overnight or dine at Big Meadows Lodge or Skyland Resort.


• The Battle of Front Royal Driving Tour begins at the Front Royal Visitor Center at 414 E. Main St., open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Civil War sites on the tour, which takes about an hour to drive, are in chronological order. More information, including tour maps and CDs, are available at the visitor center. 635-5788 or (800) 338-2576. www.discoverfrontroyal.com or www.frontroyalbattle.us


• The Third Battle of Winchester Driving Tour includes 11 stops and begins at the Winchester-Frederick County Visitor Center at 1360 S. Pleasant Valley Road, open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The tour takes about an 1 1/2 hours to drive, and more information, including maps, is available at the visitor center. 542-1326 or (877) 871-1326. www.visitwinchesterva.com


• The First Battle of Winchester and First Battle of Kernstown Driving Tour include nine stops and begins at the Winchester-Frederick County Visitor Center at 1360 S. Pleasant Valley Road, open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The tour takes about 1 1/2 hours to drive, and more information, including maps, is available at the visitor center. 542-1326 or (877) 871-1326. www.visitwinchesterva.com


• The Follow the Apple Trail Driving Tour includes 47 stops and begins at the Winchester-Frederick County Visitor Center, at 1360 S. Pleasant Valley Road, open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The 45-mile tour takes several hours to drive, and includes stops related to local history and the apple industry. Audio tour guides are available at the visitor center, and cost $5 for a cassette tape and $8 for a CD. 542-1326 or (877) 871-1326. www.visitwinchesterva.com


• The Historical Points of Interest Driving Tour includes 11 stops in downtown Winchester and begins at the Winchester-Frederick County Visitor Center at 1360 S. Pleasant Valley Road, open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. More information, including maps, is available at the visitor center. 542-1326 or (877) 871-1326. www.visitwinchesterva.com


• The Wilderness Road Driving Tour includes 12 stops and begins at the Winchester-Frederick County Visitor Center at 1360 S. Pleasant Valley Road, open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The tour includes sites that existed when U.S. 11 was the Wilderness Road, and more information, including maps, is available at the visitor center. 542-1326 or (877) 871-1326. www.visitwinchesterva.com


• The Fort Valley and the Massanutten Motor Mountaineering Auto Tour winds through a portion of the Lee Ranger District of the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, exploring the history of the colonial, Civil War and Civilian Conservation Corps periods. Brochures and maps are available at the U.S. Forest Service Lee Ranger District office at 102 Koontz Road in Edinburg. 984-4101. www.fs.fed.us/r8/gwj/lee


• Maps of scenic drives of Massanutten Mountain and Great North Mountain, which are in the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, are available for purchase at the U.S. Forest Service Lee Ranger District office at 102 Koontz Road in Edinburg. 984-4101. www.fs.fed.us/r8/gwj/lee/recreation/scenic_drives


• The African-American Heritage Self-Guided Driving Tour includes 26 stops in Winchester and Stephens City highlighting important contributions of blacks throughout history. Brochures are available at the Winchester-Frederick County Convention and Visitors Bureau at 1400 S. Pleasant Valley Road in Winchester. 877-871-1326, 542-1326. www.visitwinchesterva.com


• The Mt. Jackson Civil War Driving Tour includes 10 stops and starts at the Old Soldiers Cemetery north of town and ends at Rude's Hill, north of New Market. The tour follows Stonewall Jackson's push through the valley in 1862. Brochures are available in the center lobby of the Mt. Jackson town hall.

Not only is the Northern Shenandoah Valley rich in scenic beauty, there's plenty of other beauty to behold -- and sometimes buy -- in art galleries throughout the region.

Frederick County/Winchester:

• Applegate Art Gallery, 100 Creekside Lane, Winchester, features local and nationally known artists. The gallery is open Tuesday to Friday 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. . 667-8996


• Art Gallery, 1850 Apple Blossom Drive, Winchester. 535-1160


• Gallery One Picture Framing Studio & Art Gallery, at the Stone Cottage at Millwood Crossing, 385 Millwood Ave., Winchester, features oil and watercolor paintings, as well as pottery by regional artists. Hours are Tuesday to Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m.-3 p.m. 662-0233


• King James Galleries, 161 Prosperity Drive, Suite 104, Winchester, has more than 2,500-square-feet of gallery space featuring works by nationally known Civil War artists Mort Kunstler, John Paul Strain, Rod Chase and Ron Lesser. The gallery is open Monday to Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 678-9105


• Old Warsaw Galleries, 131 N. Loudoun St., Winchester, features a comprehensive collection of fine original arts and crafts, art sculpture and garden sculpture from outstanding artists and craftsman from Poland. The gallery is open Thursday to Saturday noon-6 p.m. and by appointment. 837-1811


• Shenandoah Arts Council, 811 S. Loudoun St., Winchester, features rotating exhibits of works by regional artists from Virginia, Maryland and West Virginia. The gallery is open Tuesday to Saturday 1-5 p.m. 667-5166. www.shenarts.org

Shenandoah County:

• Bygones, 133 E. King St., Strasburg, features works by local artists such as Patricia Windrow, Ann Harrison and Ren. Hours are Friday, Saturday and Monday 11 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday noon-5 p.m. 465-2123


• Harrison House Art Gallery, 5928 Main St., Mt. Jackson. 477-3010


• TAGG -- The Art Group Gallery, 5906 Main St., Mt. Jackson, nonprofit cooperative of local artists. Hours are Monday 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Thursday to Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday noon-5 p.m. 477-4131


• Tracy's Studio in the Woods Gallery, 9395 S. Congress St., New Market, features Native American watercolor artwork by Tracy Rose Moyers. Hours are Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 9 a.m.-4 p.m., and Tuesday and Thursday 9 a.m.-2 p.m. 740-2623


• Woodstock Gallery & Frame Shop, 114 N. Main St., Woodstock, features local artwork, Civil War art and art supplies, and will take special orders for artwork. The gallery is open Tuesday to Friday 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. and the first and second Saturday of the month 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. 459-5366

Warren County:

• The Blue Ridge Arts Council, 305 E. Main St., Front Royal, brings visual and performing arts to the area. It sponsors year-round gallery exhibits, entertainment and art classes. The council presents a summer outdoor concert series called "Gazebo Gatherings" through a partnership with the Virginia Commission for the Arts, the Town of Front Royal and Warren County on Friday evenings at 7 p.m. at the gazebo at Main and Chester streets. 635-9909. www.blueridgearts.org


• Delilah's Gifts for All Seasons, 105 E. Main St., Front Royal, features works by owner Kelly Walker and other area artists. Hours are Wednesday to Saturday 11 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday noon-4 p.m. 683-9688


• Listhus Gallery, 216 E. Main St., Front Royal, features fine artwork, prints and gifts. Hours are Wednesday to Friday 11 a.m.-7 p.m. and Saturday 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Each third Thursday of the month, the gallery participates in a Front Royal art walk from 5-8 p.m. (703) 477-7265

Discover the history and outdoor beauty that state and national parks offer throughout Shenandoah and Warren counties.

• Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive bring more visitors to Front Royal and Warren County than any other attraction. The park and drive extend 105 miles over mountaintops from Afton in the south to Front Royal in the north, and parallel a 101-mile segment of the Appalachian Trail.
  The park draws about 1.1 million visitors a year; last year about 375,000 of them entered at the Front Royal entrance on U.S. 340, about a quarter-mile south of town.
  The 197,000-acre park combines protected mountain land with lodging and trails and a wide variety of programs and activities throughout the year. The park's trails, varying from short walks to 12-hour hikes, intersect with waterfalls, streams, old home sites and scenic vistas. Wildflowers, more than 200 species of birds, white-tailed deer and black bears abound.
  Facilities along the drive include two lodges -- Big Meadows, at Mile 51, where one of the visitor centers is found, and Skyland at Mile 41.7. The Lewis Mountain cabins are at Mile 57.6 and the Dickey Ridge Visitor Center is at Mile 4.6. There are also restaurants, campgrounds, camp stores, and picnic areas.
  Admission to the park from March to November is $15 per car, $10 per motorcycle, $8 per pedestrian or bicyclist. From December to February, admission is $10 per car or motorcycle and $5 per pedestrian or bicyclist. An annual park pass is available for $30, and the "America the Beautiful -- National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass -- Annual Pass," which allows entry into any federal recreation area for a year, is $80, or $10 for senior citizens. Other passes are also available. (540) 999-3500. www.nps.gov/shen


• Raymond R. "Andy" Guest, Jr. Shenandoah River State Park, on U.S. 340 about eight miles from Front Royal, has 1,604 acres with more than five miles of frontage on the South Fork of the Shenandoah River. An ideal setting for camping, hiking, fishing, picnicking or just relaxing, the park is within view of Massanutten Mountain to the west and Shenandoah National Park to the east.




• The park offers 10 primitive tent sites for campers and one group site that accommodates 30 individuals. Construction has begun on a new office/visitor center, which will house administrative offices and environmental education exhibits. A campground and cabin project is also under way that will add 34 water and electric campsites with a modern bath house and four camping cabins. Overnight cabins built with two, three and six bedroom facilities will also soon be available.




• Horseback riding trails are unavailable until contruction is completed.


• Admission is $3 on weekdays and $4 on weekends and holidays. 622-6840 or (800) 933-PARK. www.dcr.state.va.us/parks




• The Lee Ranger District, part of George Washington National Forest, is on historic land in Shenandoah and Warren counties that was originally surveyed by George Washington. The Lee Ranger district contains 190,000 acres and spans two states and seven counties. There are close to 400 trails for hikers, bikers and horseback riders, as well as 36 miles of trails for off-highway vehicles.

984-4101. www.fs.fed.us/r8/gwj

Whether you're a novice or you can confidently "shoot-the-duck," you can hone your roller skating skills at any of the area's rinks.

• Mac's Roller Rink, at 5030 Front Royal Pike south of Double Tollgate and southeast of Stephens City, is a public roller skating rink that also hosts private parties and is famous for its $50 birthday parties. Group rates are available. The rink is closed for the summer and will reopen in the fall. 869-2129.
• Stoney Creek Roller Rink & Fun Center, at 113 Indian Spring Road in Woodstock, has a large skating floor and a smaller, separate floor for beginner skating. Several private party packages are available, as are group rates. Roller skates or in-line skates can be rented, and skating lessons are available. The facility is open Wednesday to Sunday, but call for a schedule. 459-7277. www.stoneycreekrollerrink.com
• Winchester Skate Center, at 1629 Berryville Pike east of Winchester, has a modern 14,000-square-foot maple floor ideal for roller skaters. Private parties can be arranged, and group rates are available. Skates can be rented or purchased and lessons are available. Open skating sessions are Friday and Saturday from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. 667-6464. www.winchesterskate.com

Hiking in the Northern Shenandoah Valley can be an exciting experience, but interpretive trails can also educate hikers along the way by telling stories of the area during the course of the trail. The Lee Ranger District of the George Washington National Forest is home to several of these interpretive trails.

• The Discovery Way Interpretive Trail, in the forest, is paved and runs .2 miles. It details the geology and plant life along the trail.
• The Lion's Tail National Recreational Trail, in the forest, was built in cooperation with the Lion's Club and is designed for the visually impaired. Hikers can learn about forest ecology on this .5 mile loop trail.
• The Massanutten Storybook Trail, in the forest, explains the building of the Massanutten Mountain Range along the .25 mile paved trail.
• The Pig Iron Trail, in the forest, is a .25 mile, self-guided interpretive loop trail that describes the pig iron industry of the 19th century. It winds past the remains of Elizabeth Furnace and tells the story of the furnace community.
• The Charcoal Interpretive Trail, in the forest, is a .5 mile self-guided interpretive trail, that tells about charcoaling, a companion to the pig iron industry, by describing the lives of the workers and the impact of the industry on the forest. www.fs.fed.us/r8/gwj/recreation/hiking/index.shtm
• The Fishers Hill Battlefield, south of Strasburg, is also home to an interpretive trail. The Strasburg Guard, Sons of Confederate Veterans, developed the interpretive trail at the 195-acre site of the 1864 battle. (866) 515-1864

Mayfest in Strasburg is celebrated on the third weekend of May each year and offers events for the entire family. The festival features a parade on Saturday afternoon, bluegrass music, food and craft vendors and carnival rides. The 26th annual event was held this year. 465-3187. www.strasburgva.com/coc

Many of the areas magnificent old homes are open to the public -- putting antiques, history and culture on display.

Clarke County:

• Historic Long Branch is on Va. routes 624 and 626 in Millwood. Situated at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Historic Long Branch is one of the most historic and elegant manor homes in the Virginia hunt country. Since the early 18th century, the rolling hills of the estate have been owned by a series of famous men -- Lord Culpeper, Lord Fairfax and Robert "King" Carter. A young George Washington helped to survey the property.
  
  
• In 1788 Robert Carter Burwell inherited the land along the stream known as Long Branch. About 20 years later, he began to construct a mansion inspired by the classical principles suggested by Benjamin Henry Latrobe, architect of the U.S. Capitol. Maj. Hugh Mortimer Nelson, a descendent of Burwell, continued construction on the house after Burwell suddenly died in 1813. The house was passed through the family for many generations. Harry Isaacs, a Baltimore textile executive, purchased the home in 1986, renovating and restoring the mansion within three years, and adding a west wing to balance out the facade.

  Each year in October, Historic Long Branch serves as the site of the Shenandoah Valley Hot Air Balloon and Wine Festival (See "Take a hot air balloon ride"). (888) 558-5567. www.historiclongbranch.com.

Frederick County/Winchester:

• Abram's Delight, built in 1754, is the oldest house in Winchester. The native-limestone home was built by Isaac Hollingsworth, son of Abraham Hollingsworth, the first European settler in the area. The museum, at 1340 S. Pleasant Valley Road, is open to the public from April through October, from Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sunday noon-4 p.m. 662-6519. winchesterhistory.org


• Belle Grove is an 18th-century grain and livestock farm, which, in 1815, encompassed about 7,500 acres. The limestone house was completed in 1797 for Maj. Isaac Hite Jr., grandson of Joist Hite, who came to the valley in 1732 and was one of its first permanent settlers. Isaac Hite's wife, Nelly, was the sister of future President James Madison. During the Civil War, Belle Grove was at the center of the decisive Battle of Cedar Creek.

  The house has remained virtually unchanged, offering visitors a glimpse at the experience of the people who lived there in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Today, the plantation includes the main house and gardens, original outbuildings, a 1918 barn, an overseer's house, a slave cemetery, a heritage apple orchard, fields and meadows and scenic mountain views.

  Guided tours of the manor house are provided from April through October, Monday-Saturday 10:15 a.m.-3:15 p.m. and Sunday 1:15-4:15 p.m. Belle Grove is off U.S. 11, one mile south of Middletown, at 336 Belle Grove Road. The plantation offers events throughout the season including a Living History Camp for Kids. 869-2028. www.bellegrove.org



• The Museum of the Shenandoah Valley, the Glen Burnie Historic House and Gardens features a house built in 1794 by Robert Wood, the son of Winchester's founder, Col. James Wood, and it remained in the Wood family through Julian Wood Glass Jr. (1910-1992), the last family member to live there. He was a collector of fine antiques and art, and the house, which opened to the public in 1997, is presented as it was furnished during his time. The collection includes pieces original to early Wood family members, including a tall case clock, which was in the family for six generations, and a piano that was in the Glass-Wood family for 175 years.

  The complex is at 901 Amherst St. in Winchester. The museum is open year-round, and the house and gardens are open from March through November. The complex is open Tuesday -Sunday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. There is an admission fee. For more information about the museum and gardens see "Go to a museum" and "Visit a garden." (888) 556-5799, ext. 235. www.shenandoahmuseum.org

Shenandoah:

• The Woodstock Museum, also known as the Marshall House, at 104 S. Muhlenberg St., is one of the oldest homes in Woodstock, reportedly built before 1772. It is home to an array of antiques and memorabilia from the town, including a wrought-iron gate that was part of the original county jail. It is open Thursday-Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. May through October. 459-5518


• The Wickham House, a large frame residence north of the Walton building, is typical of early log homes in 18th-century Woodstock. The house is at the end of the historic Lawyers Row. Admission is through the Woodstock Museum, which has owned the Wickham House since 1989.

Warren:

• Ivy Lodge houses a museum of local history, a gift shop and the Warren Heritage Society office. The building was constructed in 1819 and has undergone numerous renovations over the years. Formerly the Davis Roy House, Ivy Lodge was the original site of Samuels Public Library, established in 1952. Located at 101 Chester St. in Front Royal, Ivy Lodge is open Monday-Friday 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. 636-1446. www.warrenheritagesociety.org


• The Balthis House is an 18th-century home brought to life by the Warren Heritage Society. Constructed in the 1780s, it is the oldest house on the oldest street in Front Royal. Balthis House is at 55 Chester St. and is open Monday-Friday noon-4 p.m. Costumed interpreters lead tours May through August. Tickets cost $3 or $5 including a tour of Belle Boyd Cottage. Children 10 and under are free. 636-1446. www.warrenheritagesociety.org


• Belle Boyd Cottage was the Civil War home of Confederate spy Belle Boyd and is operated as a period museum. Tour topics include the role of women in the Civil War, slavery in Warren County, the Battle of Front Royal and the role of newspapers and journalists during the Civil War. Belle Boyd Cottage is behind Ivy Lodge at 101 Chester St. in Front Royal and is open Monday-Friday noon-4 p.m. Costumed interpreters lead tours, and tickets cost $3 or $5 including a tour of Balthis House. Children 10 and under are free. 636-1446. www.warrenheritagesociety.org

The Virginia Wine and Craft Festival is scheduled for May 16, 2009, and will feature more than 20 Virginia wineries and 100 crafters from the East Coast. Live entertainment is held on the county courthouse lawn and at the gazebo in the Village Commons. The festival will also feature children's entertainment. Advance tickets for the wine tasting are $15.

Tickets at the gate are $20. General admission is $2. Children under six years of age are free. The event is held by the Front Royal-Warren County Chamber of Commerce. 635-3185. www.frontroyalchamber.com.

Dozens of area gyms and fitness centers offer residents the chance to slim down or beef up.

Clarke County:

• Berryville Sport & Health, on Main Street beside Clarke County Fairgrounds, has weights, aerobics, tanning, in-line skating and more. 955-9113


• It Figures, at 639 E. Main St., Berryville. 955-7062 or www.fastfunfitness.com


• Olympus Gym Inc., at 639 E. Main St., Berryville, has cardio equipment, nutritional plans, body composition analysis, free weights, personal training and more. 955-7060. www.olympushealthclub.com


• Anytime Fitness, at 19 First St., Berryville, offers the latest in personal training and state-of-the-art equipment. Open 24 hours. 955-5555. www.anytimefitness.com

Frederick County/Winchester:

• The Centre for Fitness, at 822 Berryville Ave., is a facility for women, offering treadmills, lifecycles and lifesteps, free weights, hip hop and belly dancing, aerobics classes and more. 665-0900. www.thecentreforfitness.com


• Curves is at 381 Gateway Drive. 662-0100. Curves also has a location at 2214 Wilson Blvd. 678-5500. www.curves.com


• Anytime Fitness, at 206 Grocery Ave. and 3119 Valley Ave., offers the latest in personal training and state-of-the-art equipment, and is open 24 hours a day. 542-1166 or 542-0002. www.anytimefitness.com


• Perc Fitness, at 304 S. Loudoun St., has recumbent bikes, treadmills, Stairmasters, elliptical machines, resistance equipment, racquetball, walleyball, martial arts, yoga, message therapy and more. 667-9675. www.freewebs.com/percfitness


• Sportsplex, at 221 Commonwealth Court, has a fitness zone that includes free weights, cardio equipment, group cycling, personal training, an interactive kid zone, tanning and pilates. 868-0100. www.fitnesszonewinchester.com


• Stonebrook Racquet & Fitness Club, at 2342 Jones Road, has a cardiovascular theater, weight training area and a free-weight room. The structure also houses The Fitness Studio Pilates Method. 662-7546. www.stonebrookclub.com


• Winchester Fitness LLC, at 170-10 Delco Plaza, has elliptical machines, free weights, nutritional counseling, personal training, a sauna, massage services and more. 450-0700. www.winchesterfitness.com


• Contours Express, at 3031 Valley Ave. 723-4970


• Curves is at 341 Fairfax Pike, Stephens City. 868-9407. www.curves.com


• It Figures is at 5025 Main St., Stephens City. 868-1190. www.fastfunfitness.com


• Anytime Fitness, at 660 Warrior Drive, Stephens City, offers the latest in personal training and state-of-the-art equipment 24 hours a day. 868-0904. www.anytimefitness.com

Shenandoah County:

• Curves, at 5334 Main St., Mt. Jackson, provides strength training and aerobics in a 30-minute workout. 477-2575. Curves has a location at 489 W. Reservoir Road, Woodstock. 459-7220. Another Curves is located at 105 Stony Pointe Way, Strasburg. 465-4744. www.curves.com


• Phoenix Fitness & Aquatics, at 35 Brandy Court, Strasburg, has a weight room, pool, basketball courts and aerobics room. 465-9430


• Woodstock Total Fitness, at 113 Indian Spring Road, Woodstock, has a full line of cardio and strength training equipment, weight training equipment, Tae Kwon Do, elliptical and recumbent bikes, treadmills, tanning salon, preschool classes and more. 459-3574


• Woodstock Rehab and Fitness, at 1195 Hisey Ave., offers numerous strength and conditioning machines, pilates, tai chi, aerobics, weight loss programs, fitness reviews from the staff, pingpong, golf clinics and more. 459-7772


• It Figures, at 168 W. King St., Strasburg, offers hydraulic circuit training, supervised workouts, tanning, sauna, free weights, cardio equipment and more. 465-2655. www.fastfunfitness.com


• Creekside Fitness Center, at 2742 Fairway Drive, Basye. 856-2125


• The Gym, at 109A N. Main St., Woodstock, offers weights and exercise equipment as part of a ministry through First Baptist Church. 459-2782


• Anytime Fitness, at 100 Founders Way, Suite D, offers the latest in personal training and state-of-the-art equipment. Open 24 hours. 465-2345. www.anytimefitness.com


• Body Oasis, at 5989 Main St., Mt. Jackson. 477-9629

Warren County:

• Curves, at 232 Remount Road, Front Royal. 622-5052 or www.curves.com


• Gold's Gym, at 485 South St., Front Royal, offers strength and cardio equipment, yoga, pilates, group cycling, a men-only workout area, tanning, saunas and more. 636-3400. www.goldsgym.com


• Dominion Health & Fitness, at 9816 Winchester Road, Front Royal, has free weights, cardio equipment, cycling, massage therapy, indoor tennis, racquetball, water aerobics, kickboxing, yoga and more. 636-2820. www.dominionhealth.com


• Anytime Fitness, at 70 Riverton Commons Drive, Front Royal, offers the latest in personal training and state-of-the-art equipment 24 hours a day. 636-4434. www.anytimefitness.com

Adventure, imagination and knowledge, no matter the weather, are always on the shelf at a library near you.

Clarke County:

• Clarke County Library, is at 36 E. Main St. in Berryville. It is open Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Evening hours are Monday-Wednesday 5-8 p.m. Construction of the new library is expected around late September, after which the library will be at 101 Charmers Court, Suite 3 in Berryville.

Frederick County/Winchester:

• Handley Regional Library, at 100 W. Piccadilly St. in Winchester, was built with funds willed by Judge John Handley from Scranton, Pa., and opened in 1913. Residents of the city of Winchester, Frederick and Clarke counties can obtain a free library card by presenting identification and proof of residency to staff at any location. Those who reside in surrounding counties of Fauquier, Warren, Loudoun and Shenandoah can obtain a free Handley card by presenting their home library cards, and nonresidents can obtain a library card by paying $15 annually.

  Researchers can study local genealogy in the Stewart Bell Jr. Archives, which are open Tuesday and Wednesday 1-8 p.m., and Thursday to Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. The archives are closed Sunday and Monday. The library is open Monday to Wednesday 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Thursday to Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday 1-5 p.m. (October through November and January through April).

  A story time for families will be held Wednesdays at 7 p.m., Exploring Science for ages 6-9 on July 18 at 11 a.m., and a puppet show on July 25. The program will conclude Aug. 4. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, story time for toddlers is at 10:15 a.m., and for preschoolers at 11 a.m. A reading program is held weekly at 2 p.m. on Mondays. 662-9041. www.hrl.lib.state.va.us/handley

  Summer programs continuing through Aug. 4, include a morning story hour at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesdays and a family program at 10.30 a.m. on Mondays. 955-5144

• Mary Jane and James L. Bowman Library opened in July 2001 at 871 Tasker Road in Stephens City. It is open Monday to Wednesday 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Thursday to Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday 1-5 p.m. from October to November and January to April. Story time for preschoolers is at 11 a.m. on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The summer reading program is on Tuesdays at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. through Aug. 2. 869-9000


• The Alson H. Smith Jr. Library at Shenandoah University is at 1460 University Drive in Winchester. It is open during the academic year Monday through Thursday 8 a.m.-midnight, Friday 8 a.m.-8 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-6 p.m., and Sunday 1 p.m.-midnight. 665-4632. www.su.edu/library

• The Paul Wolk Library at Lord Fairfax Community College is at 173 Skirmisher Lane in Middletown. (800) 906-5322. www.lfcc.edu/library

Shenandoah County:
The residents of Shenandoah County have access to seven public libraries. The Shenandoah County Library System consists of the county library in Edinburg and five community libraries. www.shenandoah.co.lib.va.us.

• Shenandoah County Library, at 514 Stoney Creek Blvd. in Edinburg, is open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Wednesday and Friday 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; and Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The library is closed on Sunday.

  The library includes:
  

  
  
  • Fiction, non-fiction, audio, DVD, video, periodical and reference collections
  
  
  • Fax and copy service
  
  
  • Local historical information and genealogy
  
  
  • Internet access
  
  

  The summer reading program offers activities for the entire family. The program's theme throughout Shenandoah County is "Catch the Reading Bug." Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. the library offers preschool story time for ages 2-5; Wednesdays at 2 p.m. is grade-school story time for grades K-5. Books and Babies is held the first and third Thursday of each month. Story times continue throughout the year. The program's finale will be at the Edinburg Town Park on Aug. 15. A ticket is required for entry. 984-8200



• New Market Area Library, at 9417 Congress St., is open Monday 11 a.m.-6:30 p.m., Tuesday to Friday 1-4:30 p.m., and Saturday 9:30 a.m.-noon. The library is closed on Sunday. 740-8650. nmlib@shentel.net


• Mt. Jackson Community Library, at 5901 Main St., is open Monday 6-8 p.m.; Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 1:30-5:30 p.m.; Thursday 1:30-8 p.m.; and Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The library is closed on Sunday. The "Catch the Reading Bug" summer reading program runs through Aug. 21 at 10 a.m. Regular story hour is on the third Monday of every month at 10 a.m. except during the summer. 477-3327. mtjlib@shentel.net


• Strasburg Community Library, at 195 W. King St., is open Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 10 a.m.-1 p.m. and 3-6 p.m.; Tuesday 10 a.m.-1 p.m. and 3-8 p.m.; and Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The library is closed on Sunday.

  The "Catch the Reading Bug" summer reading program will be available for children ages 9-15 from June 16 through Aug. 16 and will include two American Girl Tea Parties, a visit from the fire department, bug collecting, stories and other activities. Summer camps still to come this summer include sculpture for teens ages 13-16 July 28-Aug. 1 and theater excursions with Richard Follett for ages 9-15, dates TBA. 465-8464. stlib@shentel.net

• Basye-Orkney Springs Community Library, at the Airport Building at Bryce Resort, is open Monday to Saturday 10 a.m.-2 p.m. On Tuesday, the library is also open from 4:30-6:30 p.m. The library is closed on Sunday. Summer programs will coincide with those at Shenandoah County Library. 856-8084. basyelib@shentel.net
• Fort Valley Community Library, at 6190 Woodstock Tower Road, is open Monday 3-8 p.m.; Wednesday and Saturday 9 a.m.-2 p.m.; Thursday 9 a.m.-2 p.m.; and Friday from 9:30 a.m.-noon. The library is closed on Tuesday and Sunday. The "Catch the Reading Bug" summer reading program will run June 11-Aug. 27 and feature nature programs such as releasing praying mantises. Story hour is every Wednesday at 10 a.m. 933-6714. ftvallib@shentel.net


• Woodstock Library, at 134 N. Church St., is open Monday through Friday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and 7-8 p.m., and Saturday 10 a.m.-noon. The library is closed on Sunday. Woodstock Library, a free public library, is the oldest in the county, but is not part of the county library system.

  Books may be checked out for two weeks. Adults and children older than 2 years old may check out five books at a time on one card. Call for other checkout, return and renewal rules. Fines are 5 cents per day for each overdue book, up to a maximum fine of $2.

  The library includes:
  

  
  
  • Bauserman Reading Room with new books designated by a red dot on the spine, large-print books and reference books, including genealogy
  
  
  • First floor with young adult books, non-fiction, biographies, oversized books and books on tape and DVD
  
  
  • Second floor with fiction, mysteries, science fiction and books for sale
  
  
  • Basement with a children's collection of books, tapes and puzzles
  
  
  • Internet access
  
  
  • Copy service
  
  

  The "Read to Win" summer reading program is open to all ages. Sponsored by the Shenandoah County Fair, the program is already in progress and ends on July 31. Participants of the program earn free admission to the fair on Aug. 24. Story hour is every Wednesday at 10:15 a.m. from September through May, coordinating with the school year. 459-2774

Warren County:

• Samuels Public Library, at 538 Villa Ave. in Front Royal, is open Monday through Thursday 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Friday and Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday 1-5 p.m.

  The library offers programs throughout the year, including a story group that meets on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 10:15 a.m. for toddlers and at 11 a.m. for preschoolers. A knitting club and a creative writing club for teenagers meet once a month.

  The summer reading program takes place June 19 through Aug. 22 and will have a bugs and insects theme. Children will receive a prize whenever they read a book on their own or five books with a parent. Prizes include Rubik's Cubes, water-pump fans, necklaces and coupons to McDonald's. The library will also give away 75 books a week during the program. A story time for ages 6 and up will be on Thursdays at 3:30 p.m. until Aug. 21 and may continue throughout the year. Other summer programs include Gem Mining for ages 7 and up on July 18 at 2 p.m., Story Time with Kelly Phillips on July 22 at 1 p.m., Chocolate Lover's Paradise for teenagers on July 28 at 2 p.m and the "Discover Japan" food and crafts event on Aug. 12 at 2 p.m. 635-3153. www.samuelslibrary.net



• The St. John the Evangelist Library at Christendom College is at 263 St. John's Way in Front Royal. 636-2900. (fax) 636-6569. www.christendom.edu/library

The Northern Shenandoah Valley's historical stops don't end with Civil War figures. Accomplished musicians, actors and even psychics have left their mark here.

Frederick County/Winchester:

• Country music legend Patsy Cline was born Virginia Patterson Hensley in Gore and grew up in Winchester. Cline attended John Handley High School until she dropped out to work at Gaunt's Drug Store, which still operates on Valley Avenue. Her home at 618 S. Kent St. in Winchester still stands and has a highway marker in front of it. Cline also worked at the Triangle Diner in Winchester and got her start at WINC-FM. She produced her first music at G&M Music. Cline's grave is at the Shenandoah Memorial Cemetery on U.S. 522 just south of Winchester. A bell tower has been constructed there in her memory, and that stretch of road has been named Patsy Cline Memorial Highway. 542-1326.


• Willa Cather, a Pulitzer-winning novelist, was born in Frederick County in 1873. Her home for the first nine years of her life, Willowshade Farm, is a private residence on U.S. 50, east of Gore, about 10 miles west of Winchester. 542-1326.


• The childhood home of jazz legend John Kirby is pointed out by a highway marker on North Kent Street. 542-1326.


• President James Madison and his wife, Dolley, honeymooned at the Belle Grove Plantation, at 336 Belle Grove Road, Middletown, where his sister was raised. 869-2028

Shenandoah County:

• The Jeanne Dixon Museum, at 132 N. Massanutten St. in Strasburg, tells the story of this war volunteer, real-estate executive, animal lover, philanthropist and psychic. It is open weekends 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 465-5884

Warren County:

• Singer Bing Crosby provided the first $1,000 toward a new baseball stadium when he learned of the project while grand marshal for the 1948 Apple Blossom Festival in Winchester, and he held an impromptu performance in front of the Warren County High School band. Crosby returned two years later for the premier of his movie, "Riding High," at which point he gave the final $3,500 needed for the completion of the stadium. Bing Crosby Stadium now plays host to the Front Royal Cardinals of the summer Valley Baseball League. 635-5788


• Actors Warren Beatty and Shirley MacLaine spent their summers in Front Royal while growing up in Arlington. Their ancestral home is on Second Street. 635-5788

There are many historic churches in the Northern Shenandoah Valley. Here are a few that stand out.

Clarke County:

• There are three inactive historic churches: Old Chapel, off U.S. 340 at U.S. 255, built in the 1780s; Wickliffe Episcopal Church, a daughter of Old Chapel, built in 1846 in the northern part of county; and Old Bethel Baptist Church, south of Millwood, built in 1833 on the site of an old Quaker church. 955-2608

Frederick County/Winchester:

• Christ Episcopal Church, at 114 W. Boscawen St., holds the grave of Lord Fairfax in its east courtyard. Lord Fairfax came to America to oversee more than 5 million acres, including Frederick County, that he inherited from his mother. Construction of the church at this site began in 1828 and was completed several years later. The previous church was built in the late 1740s -- a wooden building situated on the corner of Boscawen and Loudoun streets. www.christchurchwinchester.org


• Old Stone Presbyterian Church, at 304 E. Piccadilly St., was built in 1788 and used as a church until 1834. Daniel Morgan was a member of this church. From 1834 through 1879, it was used by the Baptist Church of Winchester and was once the School Baptist Church of Color. During the Civil War, it housed Union troops and their horses. In 1876, it became the first public school for black children in Winchester. Restoration of the building was completed in 1950 by the Presbyterian church.


• Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, at 26 W. Boscawen St., was built by German Lutherans after they received a grant from Lord Fairfax in 1753. It was used by both Confederate and Union forces during the Civil War, and the original church was destroyed by fire. www.gracewin.org


• First Presbyterian Church, at 116 S. Loudoun St., began in 1788 when people started worshipping at the Old Stone Church at the corner of East Piccadilly Street and East Lane. In 1800, Winchester Presbytery organized the congregation at Old Stone as Presbyterian Church. Daniel Morgan's wife was an organizing member. www.firstchurch-winchester.org


• Opequon Presbyterian Church, at 217 Opequon Church Lane, off U.S. 11 near Kernstown, was built in 1736. The original stone building was constructed in 1790 and burned in 1873. It was rebuilt and dedicated on the same foundation with many of the same stones in 1897.


• Hopewell Friends Meeting House, one mile west of Clearbrook, was constructed of logs in 1734, destroyed by fire and rebuilt of stone in 1759. It was the first Quaker meeting place established in the valley. www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~quakers/hopewell.htm, http://hopecentre.quaker.org

Shenandoah County:

• Emmanuel Lutheran Church, at 155 E. Lee St. in New Market, was built in 1848 after a split from Reformation Evangelical Lutheran Church, which has roots going back to the 1700s. In 1932, the two congregations reunited and now worship as Reformation Lutheran Church, at 9283 Congress St. www.reformnmva.org/history.asp


• The Manor Memorial Methodist Church, at 9320 Congress St. in New Market, formed around 1800 and was organized as the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1831.


• The Union Church, on South Main Street in Mt. Jackson, was established around 1821 and used as a hospital during the Civil War. Always having been nondenominational, the church has been used by many congregations, and its care is handled by a board of trustees. Signatures of soldiers are on the church's interior walls.


• Strasburg Christian Church, at 165 High St., was founded in 1856, though meetings of the congregation were held as early as 1808 at the homes of members. www.strasburgchristian.org


• Strasburg Presbyterian Church, at 325 S. Holliday St., was built in 1826 and was used as a hospital during the Civil War.


• St. Paul's United Church of Christ, at 235 S. Main St., Woodstock, may be the oldest congregation in this part of the Shenandoah Valley. In 1748, after German settlers had already been gathering occasionally for worship, the Rev. Michael Schlatter visited Muellerstadt (now Woodstock), and preached. The first structure was built in the 1770s, and the present church built in 1869. www.woodstockucc.com/StPauls/index.htm


• Mt. Calvary United Church of Christ, at 1299 Sheetz Mill Road, Woodstock, was dedicated in 1854.


• • Emmanuel Lutheran Church, at 127 E. High St., Woodstock, has a history dating back to the 1770s. The original church stood until 1848, when it apparently had to be torn down because it interfered with traffic. The logs were sold to build a home at the northwest corner of Locust and Main streets.


• Edinburg Christian Church, at 210 Center St., broke ground in 1856, though the congregation first met 20 years earlier. A lack of funds prevented the church from being finished until after the Civil War, in 1869. The church was originally constructed with two doors in front -- one for men, one for women. www.edinburgcc.bravehost.com

Warren County:

• Asbury Chapel, four miles south of Front Royal on U.S. 340, was built in 1848 and is where Gen. Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson stopped in advance of his 16,000-man army to find a route concealed from his Union enemies. During the war, the congregation met irregularly, and the church was used as a hospital. In 1916, the building was dismantled, revealing bloodstained floorboards. www.frontroyalbattle.us/asbury.html


• St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church, at 120 W. Main St., was dedicated in 1884 and built with the support of the family of John Carrell Jenkins, a Maryland soldier who died for the Confederacy during the Civil War. www.sjtb.org


• Williams Chapel CME Church, at 231 Chester St., was used during the Civil War as a storage area for courthouse documents. 636-1700

New Market Heritage Days Festival, sponsored by the New Market Chamber of Commerce, is in its 14th year and will take place Aug. 23-24, rain or shine. This year's event will feature the Valley Cruisers of Harrisonburg, a parade, musical entertainment and demonstrations by New Market's Volunteer Fire Department, as well as an array of children's activities and food and craft vendors. 740-3212. www.heritagedays2008.com

To bring live music to you, www.shenandoahmusic.com organizes schedules for jazz, folk, blues, rock and other musicians to come play at your home, office, wedding or elsewhere. A donation of $10-$20 per person is recommended. 703-722-6018 or 984-8190. www.shenandoahmusic.com/houseconcerts.htm.

Enjoy a night on the town at establishments throughout the Northern Shenandoah Valley.

Frederick County/Winchester:

• Brewbaker's, at 168 N. Loudoun St., is open until 2 a.m. Tuesday through Saturday. A disc jockey plays Fridays, and Saturdays feature live music. 535-0111


• Piccadilly's Brew Pub and Restaurant, at 125 E. Piccadilly St. is open until 2 a.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, and 11 p.m. the rest of the week. Live music is available when posted. 535-1899


• Sweet Caroline's, at 29 W. Cork St., is open until 2 a.m. every night. Every weekend features music. 723-8805


• Goodfella's, at 821 N. Loudoun St., is open until 2 a.m. every night. Live music is every other Saturday, and a DJ is there every night. 662-7182


• Dungbeetle's Grill & Bar, at 28 E. Piccadilly St., is open until 1:30 a.m. daily and provides punk rock acts. 545-8444


• Cork Street Tavern, at 8 W. Cork St., is open until about 12:30 a.m. each night. Wednesdays occasionally feature music. 667-3777


• The Half Note, at 103 Piccadilly St. in the George Washington Hotel, is open until 10 p.m. and features music on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. The Dancing Goat, also in the hotel, is open until 10 p.m. each night. 678-4700


• Backseat Bar & Grill, at 1466 Martinsburg Pike, is open until 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 9 p.m. Sundays and 10 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays. 665-9033


• V-Squared Lounge and Piano Bar at Village Square, 103 N. Loudoun St., is open until midnight every night. 667-8961


• Granny's Public House, at 2294 Berryville Pike, is open until 1 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 12:30 a.m. Thursdays, 8 p.m. Sundays and 10 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Live music is played on Fridays and Saturdays. 722-6004


• East Side Raw Bar & Grill, at 1815 Millwood Pike, is open until midnight Fridays and Saturdays, 11 p.m. Thursdays, 9 p.m. Sundays and 10 p.m. the rest of the week. 662-2526


• Stonewall Tavern & Grill Corp., at 202 E. Piccadilly St., is open until 2 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 9 p.m. the rest of the week. Weekends feature a DJ and karaoke. 722-5665


• I.J. Canns American Grille, 3111 Valley Ave., is open until 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. 667-9995


• Jimmy's Steak and Seafood Grill Lounge, at 1019 Millwood Pike, is open until 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 2 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays, when there is live music. 667-1249


• Blue Fox Billiards Bar & Grill, at 1160 Millwood Pike, is open until 2 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays and midnight the rest of the week. 662-0011


• New Town Tavern, at 356 Fairfax Pike, Stephens City, is open until 1 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 11 p.m. the rest of the week. 868-0111


• The Irish Isle Restaurant and Pub, at 7843 Main St., Middletown, features live music at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. 868-9877


• Lone Oak Tavern, 12696 Lord Fairfax Highway, White Post, is open until 11 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and 8 p.m. Sunday. Live music sometimes. 837-1210

Shenandoah County:

• Spring House Tavern, at 325 S. Main St., Woodstock, is open until midnight every night except Sunday, when it closes at 10 p.m. 459-4755


• Double Overtime Sports Grille, at 23228 Old Valley Pike, Woodstock, is open until midnight Fridays and 1 a.m. Saturdays. Closing time varies the rest of the week. Closed Mondays. 459-4747


• M Street Deli and Lounge, at 149 N. Massanutten St., Strasburg, is open until 2 a.m. every night. Fridays and Saturdays feature a DJ. 465-8880


• Hotel Strasburg, at 213 S. Holliday St., has a lounge open until midnight Fridays and Saturdays and until between 10 and 11 p.m. the rest of the week. 465-9191

Warren County:

• Main Street Mill Restaurant and Tavern, at 500 E. Main St., Front Royal, is open until 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 9 p.m. the rest of the week. 636-3123


• Royal Oak Tavern, at 101 W. 14th St., Front Royal, is open until midnight Fridays and Saturdays and 10 p.m. the rest of the week. 551-9953


• Victoria's Bar, at 231 Chester St., Front Royal, is open until 2 a.m. every night. A DJ is featured on weekends. 636-0008

Avid or casual bowlers have several options in the area.

Frederick County/Winchester:

• Northside Lanes, at 6 Richards Ave., features 40 lanes. It opens at 11 a.m. Monday, Friday and Saturday, and 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. It opens at 5 p.m. Wednesday. It closes at midnight every night except for Friday and Saturday, when it closes at 2 a.m. 667-1470

Shenandoah County:

• Mountain View Lanes, at 150 E. Reservoir Road in Woodstock, is a 16-lane bowling facility. Open noon-10 p.m. Monday and Tuesday; 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Wednesday; 5-10 p.m. Thursday; 5 p.m.-1 a.m. Friday; 2 p.m.-1 a.m. Saturday; and 1-10 p.m. Sunday. Cosmic bowling is featured after 10 p.m. on Saturdays. 459-5400


• Shenandoah Bowling Lanes, in Mt. Jackson, provides six duck-pin lanes. Hours vary each week. A recording is made each Monday with details. 477-2341


• Signal Knob Lanes, at 35 Brandy Court in Strasburg, has 10 lanes and is open noon-4 p.m. Thursdays; 6 p.m.-midnight Fridays; noon-midnight Saturdays and noon-6 p.m. Sundays. 465-5400

Warren County:

• Royal Family Bowling Center, at 430 Remount Road in Front Royal, is an 18-lane bowling alley. Open 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 11 a.m. -1 a.m. Friday; 10 a.m.-1 a.m. Saturday; and noon-10 p.m. Sunday. 636-3113

The Mt. Jackson Apple-Grape Harvest Festival is Oct. 11-12. The event boasts wine tasting, helicopter tours, hot air balloon rides, square dancing, arts, crafts, food and more. 477-3275. www.mountjacksonva.org

The Edinburg Ole Time Festival is held on the third weekend in September. This year's celebration, Sept. 19-21, marks the festival's 28th year and will feature music, arts, crafts, food and more. 984-7272. www.edinburgoletimefestival.org

Tap your feet at venues throughout the Northern Shenandoah Valley as you listen to the live music it has to offer.

Clarke County:

• The Clarke County Park, at 255 Al Smith Circle in Berryville, hosts two free concerts each summer. The next one is Wednesday, July 30, with the Dixie Moon Band from 7 to 9 p.m. 955-5140

Frederick County/Winchester:

• Bluemont Concert Series, at the old Frederick County Courthouse downtown, features summer concerts at 7:30 p.m. each Friday, running through Aug. 22 this year. The cost is $5 per person, $4 for seniors and $2 for kids 12 and under, but there are no advance ticket sales. 338-4640. www.bluemont.org


• Shenandoah University holds a summer music theater series at the Ohrstrom-Bryant Theatre. This year's schedule runs through Aug. 3. Other concerts and festivals are held at the university throughout the year. 665-4569. www.su.edu

Shenandoah County:

• The Shenandoah Valley Music Festival at the Shrine Mont Camp and Conference Center in Orkney Springs is an outdoor pavilion that features music from July through September, with July 18, July 19, July 25, July 26, August 8, August 9, August 30 and August 31 as show dates this year. 459-3396. www.musicfest.org


• • Strasburg Theater, at 151 W. King St., has frequent concerts. 465-1777 or www.strasburgtheater.com


• The Art Group, in Mt. Jackson, holds First Fridays on Main Street on the first Friday of every month. No charge. 477-4131


• The Edinburg Area Chamber of Commerce holds "Sunday Night Live" on four Sundays in the summer. Remaining shows are July 20, Aug. 10 and Aug. 24 this year. Donations are welcome. 984-8318


• The Woodstock Cafe and Shoppes, at 117 S. Main St., has live music from 2 to 4 p.m. every Sunday and offers other special music events throughout the year. 459-8888


• The town of Woodstock hosts Lunch on the Lawn in front of the historic Shenandoah County Courthouse from noon to 1 p.m. every Friday in June. 459-3621

Warren County:

The Blue Ridge Arts Council hosts "Gazebo Gatherings" on Main Street from 7 to 9 p.m. every Friday in June through August. 635-5788

There is no better way to spend an evening out than to sit back, relax and take in a show, particularly with the array of live theaters in the Northern Shenandoah Valley. Some make you laugh, some make you cry, but they all keep you entertained.

• Shenandoah Summer Music Theatre is a professional theater specializing in musical productions. The company, based at Shenandoah University and comprising Shenandoah students and alumni as well as professional actors, presents four musicals each summer. The 2008 season includes "Singin' in the Rain"; "Fiddler on the Roof"; "Jesus Christ Superstar," running July 9 to 20; and "The Producers," which will run July 23 to Aug. 3. All performances are held in the 634-seat Ohrstrom-Bryant Theatre, which opened on the university campus in 1998. Ticket prices are $27 for adults and students on Friday and Saturday, $26 on all other nights, and $24 for seniors, children and matinees. Season subscriptions range from $89 to $92. 665-4569. www.celebratessmt.com
• The Winchester Little Theatre is a nonprofit, all-volunteer community organization. Formed more than 77 years ago, the theater has called the 97-seat old Pennsylvania Railroad Station at 315 W. Boscawen St. home for more than 30 years. The theater presents four main productions each year, and auditions are open to the public. For the 2008-2009 season, the theater will perform "Picnic," which will run Sept. 5 to 20; "Moon over Buffalo," which will run Nov. 7 to 22; "It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play," which will run Dec. 12 to 14; "Grace and Glorie," which runs Jan. 9 to 18, 2009; "Something to Hide," which will run March 6 to 21, 2009; "Funny Money," which will run May 8 to 23, 2009; and "Alice in Wonderland," which will run in July 2009.

  Ticket prices are $18 for adults, $16 for seniors, $14 for students and $58 for a season subscription. 662-3331. www.wltonline.org



• The Wayside Theatre in Middletown, now in its 47th season, is the second-oldest professional theater company in the state. Established in 1961 by local businessman Leo M. Bernstein, the Wayside Theatre has become a nonprofit, regional professional theater that operates under an Actors' Equity Association contract.

  The 2008-2009 season will feature "Always Patsy Cline," which will run July 12 to Aug. 30; "Moonlight and Magnolias," which will run from Aug. 8 to 24; "Unnecessary Farce," which will run Sept. 6 to 27; "The Mousetrap," which will run Oct. 11 to Nov. 8; "Virginia Ghost Stories," which will run from Oct. 24 to Nov. 1; "A Christmas Carol, the Musical," which will run from Nov. 29 to Dec. 28; "Life and Legends: The Musical Stories of Harry Chapin," which will run Jan. 31 to March 14, 2009; "Cotton Patch Gospel," which will run March 21 to April 25; and "The Comedy of Errors," which will run March 27 to April 4, 2009.

  Ticket prices range from $23 to $28. 869-1776. www.waysidetheatre.org



• The Shenandoah Conservatory offers vocal, instrumental, dance and theatrical performances during the academic year. Vocal performances include music theater, opera, jazz and traditional choral music. Nine large instrumental ensembles perform classical and jazz music. There are also many small chamber groups. Dance ensembles offer ballet and modern and jazz dance performances.
  
  Ticket prices vary by performance. All performances are held on the Shenandoah University campus. 665-4600. www.su.edu