The Blackfriar Theater in Staunton Virginia is the world's only re-creation of William Shakespeare's original indoor theater. If you like Romeo and Juliet, the Black Friar's Playhouse is the place to be. During December, they traditionally perform A Christmas Carol which is a great traditional story to experience with your family. The atmosphere of the playhouse is unsurpassed. The theater is located in historic downtown Staunton on South Market Street. To learn more about the theater and to see what's playing, go to their site at www.americanshakespearecenter.com
The Stonewall Jackson Hotel (or Stone Wall Jackson Inn) in Staunton Virginia is located in historic downtown Staunton. If you are interested in visiting the Blackfriar Playhouse, you could stay in the Stonewall Jackson Hotel and only have to walk a very short distance to the playhouse as well as many other downtown attractions. The hotel offers a smoke-free environment and has recently completed a renovation and expansion in 2005. It also offers a conference center to accomodate your meetings and events. The Hotel has nearly 8,500 square feet of elegant meeting space including two separate ball rooms. For more information, please visit their site at www.stonewalljacksonhotel.com
Located on the southeast side of Staunton, the Frontier Culture Museum in Staunton Virginia is very convienient to both Interstate 81 and 64. The Frontier Culture Museum is an outdoor, living-history museum and educational institution of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Museum features original farm buildings from Britain, Germany, and Virginia. All of these buildings have been carefully moved to the Museum location in Staunton and serve as working examples of their Old World origins. For more information about the Museum, visit their site at www.frontiermuseum.org
There are many, many more attractions in and around historic Staunton. For more information about other attractions in Staunton, visit the city web site at www.staunton.va.us
The Shenandoah Valley of Virginia stretches 200 miles from Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, to Roanoke and Salem. It is bordered to the east by the Skyline Drive/Shenandoah National Park and the Blue Ridge Parkway and to the west by the Alleghany Mountains. The Valley is a perfect area to relocate. With its historic battlefields and presidential homes and libraries, it is rich in history and culture. The Valley also offers picturesque landscapes, numerous outdoor parks and activities, shopping, wineries, and theatres. Whether continuing an education or starting one, The Valley and surrounding areas have many colleges, universities, and trade schools to chose from. Smaller colleges include Blue Ridge Community College, Piedmont Community College, and Mary Baldwin College. If you are looking for a large University, the area is full of pride for the James Madison University Dukes, the Cavaliers of The University of Virginia, and the Virginia Tech Hokies. A local trade school, Valley Vocational Technical Center, offers programs in masonry, cosmetology, plumbing and electricity. All of the schools offer adult degree programs.
The city of Staunton's central location makes it a great place to relocate. In downtown Staunton, step back in time to take a walk along beautifully restored Victorian streets to the Black Friars Playhouse, the world's only re-creation of William Shakespeare's original indoor theatre and stay at the newly renovated, historical Stonewall Jackson Hotel. Want to travel back to the 1800's? Take a trip to the Frontier Culture Museum. Learn how and why people immigrated to the Valley. See the unique working farms that were brought from other countries such as Germany, England and Ireland. Staunton is also the home of the Statler Brothers, the most awarded group in country music history, and President Woodrow Wilson's Birthplace and Library. Interstate 81 and Interstate 64 intersect in Staunton, making anywhere easily accessible from home. In just a few short minutes you can be driving on the Skyline drive or the Blue Ridge Parkway. For a day trip, Thomas Jefferson's Monticello is about 45 minutes away and in about an hour you can be feeling the wind in your face as you ski the slopes at Wintergreen or Massanutten or relax with a massage in the spa at The Homestead. All of these places also offer golf as a relaxing treat.
Nestled at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the City of Waynesboro is surrounded by beautiful Augusta County. Waynesboro's small town charm and friendly people make it a great place to call home. Waynesboro is full of history and culture. You will find many places to shop and dine in the historic downtown buildings. The arts have a great influence in the community as well. If you're in the mood to listen to music, the Waynesboro Concert Association provides three nationally acclaimed musical performances during the fall, winter and spring months. If you're in the mood to play music, the Waynesboro Community Orchestra (WCO) provides area musicians with an opportunity to practice and present orchestral music. Along with music, art is abundant in Waynesboro. The P. Buckley Moss Museum houses the works of the internationally known artist. Shenandoah Valley Art Center has two galleries for local and award winning artists; hall galleries for studio artists, students, and arts organizations. Waynesboro is also the home of the Artisans Center of Virginia and the Charles T. Yancey building that exhibits the work of local water color artists. Museums include the Waynesboro African-American Heritage Museum and the Waynesboro Heritage Museum due to open summer 2007. The annual Fall Foliage Festival in early October draws hundreds of artists and craftsmen from across the nation. Those interested in history won't want to miss the annual commemoration the Civil War Battle of Waynesboro. Whatever you choose to do, you'll never be far from home!
Augusta County was settled primarily by the Scots-Irish in the early 1730s. The county boundaries once stretched all the way to the Mississippi River! Now, the County covers 967 square miles, more than half of the size of Rhode Island. It is the second largest county (in land area) in Virginia. The county has many things to offer. Agriculture has traditionally been an important part of the County's economy. Area farms produce a variety of fare including corn, soy beans, apples, milk and other dairy products, beef and pork products. While all of these products are a means of income for local farms, the major agricultural product of the area is poultry . Tourism is another significant component of the area's economy. The scenic beauty of the area and the easy accessibility via the interstate system make it a great place to settle down.