A number of custard stands and ice cream shops offer both valley visitors and residents a favorite summer treat. Here are a few places to check out:

Winchester/Frederick:

• A&L Scoops & Swirls, 7597 Main St., Middletown, features soft-serve and hand-dipped ice cream. Hours are Sunday to Thursday noon-9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday noon-10 p.m. 869-4777


• Da-Das Ice Cream, 29 Weems Lane, Winchester, offers 30 flavors of Hershey's ice cream, as well as custard, fat-free Frosty Yogurt with no sugar added, snowballs and smoothies. Da-Das is open Sunday to Thursday noon-10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday, noon-11 p.m. 678-4289


• Pack Enterprises, 2580 Northwestern Pike, Winchester, features soft-serve ice cream, milkshakes, "Pack Attacks" and dipped cones. It's open seven days a week 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m. 678-9127


• Shenandoah Fine Chocolates, 3111 Valley Ave., Winchester, features ice cream cones and sundaes. Hours are Monday to Thursday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; and Sunday noon-4 p.m. 535-0010

Warren:

• Spelunker's, 116 South St., Front Royal, features homemade frozen custard, including special daily flavors. Hours are Sunday to Thursday 11 a.m.- 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday 11 a.m.-10 p.m. 631-0300

Gourmet food shops in Virginia offer a variety of local and regional products. Check out some of these locations for area specialties or just to try something new.

• J's Gourmet, in Front Royal, has a selection of cheeses, meats, pâtés, coffee beans, teas, beer, wine, sauces and other items for sale. Take-out sandwiches and boxed lunches are also available. 636-9293. www.jsgourment.com
• Virginia Memories, in Strasburg, features Virginia peanuts, jams and jellies, pie fillings, honey, marinades, cake and cookie mixes, relishes, hot sauces, fudge, candy, snack mixes, country ham, salsa, apple cider and much more. 465-8755
• Locke Modern Country Store, in Millwood, offers a selection of fresh local and regional foods, including fruits, vegetables, meats and dairy products. 837-1275. www.lockestore.com
• The Virginia Touch, in Berryville, specializes in Virginia gourmet foods, wine, beer and gift baskets. Apple butter, ciders, jams, honey and more are also available. 955-9098. www.thevirginiatouch.com
• Salute! Wine Market, in Winchester, has much more than wine in its gourmet shop. Look for spreads, sauces and coffee. 535-2171. www.salutewinemarket.com

Whether you're looking for a quick pick-me-up or a place to linger with friends over a cup of joe, you'll likely end your search at one of the area's coffee shops.

• The Coffee Cafe, at 160 N. Massanutten St. in Strasburg, offers coffee, espresso drinks and a variety of breakfast, lunch and dessert items. The cafe is open Monday to Thursday 6:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Friday 6:30 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturday 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m., and Sunday 8 a.m.-5 p.m. 465-3346
• Daily Grind, a fast-growing coffeehouse franchise, was founded in Winchester in 1995 and has several locations in the area. The menu includes specialty espresso drinks, drip coffee, smoothies and a variety of fresh baked goods as well as sandwiches, salads and seasonal specials.

  7 W. Main St., Berryville. 955-2565
  215 E. Main St., Front Royal. 635-3556
  413 G South St., Front Royal. 636-3636
  173 Skirmisher Lane, Middletown. 533-5736
  118 Elizabeth Drive, Stephens City. 869-5560
  1 N. Loudoun St., Winchester. 662-2115
  3035 Valley Ave., Suite 101, Winchester. 678-4919
  166 Costello Drive, Winchester. 535-2209
  1850 Apple Blossom Drive, Winchester. 678-9080
  621A W. Jubal Early Drive, Winchester. 678-4002
  212 Grocery Ave., Winchester. 722-2755



• The Filling Station Coffeehouse, at 104 N. Main St. in Edinburg, offers coffee, espresso drinks, teas and a variety of snacks, all in a Christian atmosphere. Open mic begins at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. The shop is open Tuesday to Thursday 9 a.m.-4 p.m., and Friday to Saturday 9 a.m.-9 p.m. 984-8008. www.theedinburgfillingstation.com


• At the Blend Cafe, at 140 Independence Drive inside Winchester Harley-Davidson, offers a variety of coffees, iced teas, chais, smoothies, deli sandwiches, homemade soups and daily specials. The cafe also caters special events. The cafe is open Monday to Thursday 6 a.m.-6 p.m., Friday 6 a.m.-8 p.m., Saturday 7 a.m.-4 p.m, and Sunday 10 a.m.-3 p.m. 678-8881.


• Woodstock Cafe & Shoppes, at 117 S. Main St. and 1175 Hisey Ave. in Woodstock, offers coffee and espresso drinks as well as a variety of baked goods, wines and breakfast and lunch items. The shops are open Monday to Friday 8 a.m.-6 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. 459-8888. www.cafeshoppes.com

Wine tastings, tours, scenic views and special events are available at the area's vast array of vineyards.

Clarke County:

• Veramar Vineyard, Va. 612, or Quarry Road, off Va. 7 east of Berryville, offers visitors a chance to sip award-winning Virginia wines while they listen to soft jazz on this 100-acre private estate and winery surrounded by the magnificent Blue Ridge Mountains. Hours are daily 11 a.m. -5 p.m. and then from Memorial Day through Labor Day, Sunday to Thursday 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Friday 11 a.m.-9 p.m., and Saturday 11 a.m.-6 p.m. 955-5510. www.veramar.com

Rappahannock/Fauquier counties:

• Chester Gap Cellars, 4615 Remount Road, is five miles southeast of Front Royal off U.S. 522. Wine tasting is available, and hours are Friday to Sunday 11 a.m.-5 p.m. 636-8086. www.chestergapcellars.com


• Fox Meadow Winery, 3310 Freezeland Road, Linden, offers tastings and provides a scenic view from its tasting deck. Hours are Sunday to Friday 11 a.m.-5 p.m. and Saturday 11 a.m.-6 p.m. 636-6777. www.foxmeadowwinery.com


• Linden Vineyards, eight miles east of Front Royal off Va. 55 on Va. 638, is open Wednesday to Sunday 11 a.m.-5 p.m. April through November. From December through March it's open Saturday and Sunday 11 a.m.-5 p.m. It provides free tours and wine tastings. 364-1997. www.lindenvineyards.com


• Oasis Winery, 14141 Hume Road, or Va. 635, 10 miles southeast of Front Royal, is open year-round from Monday to Friday 11 a.m.-5 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Admission to tours at 1 p.m. every day is based on availability. Wine Enthusiast magazine ranked Oasis as one of the top 10 world producers of champagnes and sparkling wines. The vineyard covers 100 acres in Hume. 635-7627. www.oasiswine.net


• Philip Carter Winery of Virginia is on Va. 688 in Hume. Wine tastings and tours are available. Hours are Thursday to Monday 11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. 364-1203. www.pcwinery.com


• Rappahannock Cellars, 14437 Hume Road, Huntly, is open Sunday to Friday 11:30 a.m.-5 p.m. and Saturday 11:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Tasting and tours are available. 635-9398. www.rappahannockcellars.com

Shenandoah County:

• Cave Ridge Vineyard, 1476 Conicville Road, Mt. Jackson, offers wine tasting, tours and light food. Hours of operation are Wednesday to Saturday 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m. and Sunday noon-5 p.m. 477-2585. www.caveridge.com


• North Mountain Vineyard and Winery, 4374 Swartz Road, Maurertown, offers tours and wine tastings. The vineyard is open Wednesday to Sunday 11 a.m.-5 p.m. 436-9463. www.northmountainvineyard.com


• Shenandoah Vineyards, 3659 S. Ox Road, Edinburg, is the oldest winery in the Shenandoah Valley. It was founded in 1976. Complimentary tours and wine tastings are offered daily 10 a.m.-6 p.m. The Annual Country Cookout is the first Saturday after July 4, and the 29th Annual Harvest Festival is Sept. 6. 984-8699. www.shentel.net/shenvine.


• Wolf Gap Vineyard and Winery, 123 Stout Road, Edinburg, offers wine tasting and tours. Hours are Friday to Sunday noon-6 p.m. and Monday to Thursday by appointment. 984-3306. www.wolfgapvineyard.com

Warren County:

• Glen Manor Vineyards, 2244 Browntown Road, is five miles south of Front Royal. Wine tastings are offered, and tours are sometimes available. Hours are Wednesday to Saturday 11 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday noon-5 p.m. 635-6324. www.glenmanorvineyards.com