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Eat at Spelunkers
Front Royal, VA

Spelunkers Frozen Custard and Cavern Burgers, located in Front Royal, is famous for its amazing burgers and frozen custard, but we are also huge fans of the chicken strips (the best we’ve ever had) and their fries. We visit every time we come to the Four Sisters Chalet, sometimes multiple times. It is always very busy (and very fast) – we recommend going during off hours (before noon or after 2pm) if you want an easier time finding a table.

Stop By Apple House
Linden, VA

Apple House is a Linden staple that is famous for its Apple Cider donuts, but it also serves great food for breakfast and lunch (including bbq), has a fun gift shop with unique finds, and a great selection of beers and wines.

Explore Caverns
Luray, VA and Front Royal, VA

There are multiple options to explore amazing, underground caverns in the Shenandoah Valley. The most popular is Luray Caverns located in Luray, VA, about a 50 minute drive from Four Sisters Chalet. Luray Caverns is one of the largest and most famous caverns in the eastern U.S., with huge chambers, towering columns, reflecting pools, and the Great Stalacpipe Organ – A one-of-a-kind instrument that “plays” the cavern’s formations.

For a closer, less crowded option, Skyline Caverns are located just 25 minutes away in Front Royal. It is a quieter, smaller, and more low-key experience than Luray Caverns, but best if you want something close by with less walking and fewer crowds, or if you have limited time.

Enjoy a River Adventure Through Front Royal Outdoors
Front Royal, VA (Season runs mid-March to early November)

Front Royal Outdoors has kayaks, canoes, rafts, SUPs, tubes, and more to enjoy the Shenandoah River. The company will fit everyone with life vests and transport you to drop off and pick up points. We rented a raft for our family of 6 and did a four-mile trip. We can’t wait to try canoes next!

Hike in Shenandoah National Park
Entrance near Front Royal, VA (approximately 25 minutes away)

Whether you want to hike or just take a drive and stop at some viewpoints, it is a total must see. Some of our recommendations for relatively easy and enjoyable hikes:

• Dickey Ridge Visitor Center/Fox Hollow Trail (Mile 4.6 from North Entrance)
• Snead Farm Loop (Mile 5.1 from North Entrance): see ruins from a former homestead/farm.
• Lands Run Falls (Mile 9.2 from North Entrance): a relatively easy hike down to a waterfall

Take a Drive Along Skyline Drive
Entrance near Front Royal, VA (approximately 25 minutes away)

Skyline Drive – which runs through Shenandoah National Park – offers breathtaking views and overlooks throughout. There are numerous overlooks, visitor centers, picnic areas, and opportunities for viewing wildlife throughout. This drive is especially popular for leaf peeping in the fall. For a half day adventure, we recommend driving 30 miles down to Thornton Gap and back. Our house guide contains a list of recommended stops.

Sky Meadows State Park
Deplane, VA (approximately 30 minutes away)

The park has 22 miles of hiking trails, 9 miles of bike trails, picnic areas, a gift shop, a Sensory Trail, and a Children’s Discovery area. We enjoy packing picnic lunches and going for hikes here, and our girls love the Children’s Discovery area.

Hike a Portion of the Appalachian Trail

Four Sisters Chalet is located right between Mile 995 and 996 of the Appalachian Trail, a trail that spans approximately 2200 miles from Georgia to Maine. Access to the Appalachian Trail is 0.6 miles from the driveway. Some recommended hikes starting at the G.R. Thompson Ridge Parking lot, located on Fire Trail:

• Whiskey Hollow Shelter Loop: a 5 mile loop will take you to the Whiskey Hollow Shelter and back.
• Trillium Trail Loop: a 4.5 mile loop down to Trillium Trail and back. You can also drive down to the Trillium Trail parking lot (approximately 1.3 miles down the road) and then hike a 1.2 mile loop. In the spring and summer, the trail is extremely popular for trillium flowers and bird watching.
• Mailbox Loop: a 1.5 mile loop that cuts back to the G.R. Thompson Blue Mountain VA 638 Parking area (which will take you to the mailboxes at the entrance of Fire Trail Road and finish the loop)

Access to the Appalachian Trail requires passing through the G.R. Thompson Wildlife Management Area (WMA). The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) requires visitors who are age 17 and older to obtain an Access Permit, unless they possess a valid Virginia hunting, freshwater fishing, or trapping license, or a current Virginia boat registration. Daily or Annual Access Permits for WMAs and department-owned public fishing lakes statewide are available for purchase online.

Historic Towns & Shopping

One of our favorite activities each time we visit is to take a half-day trip to a nearby historic town. We love exploring antique stores, thrift shops, independent bookstores, coffee shops, and ice cream shops, and there are numerous amazing historic towns within 45 minutes or less.

• Front Royal – Our favorites are Spelunkers, C&C Ice Cream, Blue Ridge Hospice Thrift Store, Royal Oak Bookshop, Royal Cinemas, the Visitor Center, Wisper Coffee, and the weekly Farmer’s Market (Sundays through October from 9-2).
• Middleburg – Our favorites are Brick & Mortar Mercantile, Middleburg Books, Olde Millstones Vintage Thrift Shop, The Upper Crust, Every Little Something (Stationery Store).
• Old Town Winchester – Features a main street closed to car traffic with lots of great options for shopping and eating. Our favorites are Roma Old Town Wood Fired Pizza, Vibrissa Beer, Doppio Bunny Coffee, Blue Peacock Antiques, Winchester Book Gallery, and The Market (for ice cream).
• Warrenton – Great main street with plenty of food options and shopping. Our favorites include Weirdoughs Bagels & Brews, The Open Book, Red Truck Bakery, and the weekly Farmer’s Market (on Saturdays). For antiques and fun finds a short distance from the historic downtown, we recommend Fox Den Antique Mall and Remix Market.
• Strasburg – Our favorites include Strasburg Antique Mall, Clementine Vintage, Cordial Coffee, Ice Cream Depot.
• Woodstock—Our favorites are Bonfire Bookstore and Yarnery, Flour & Water, Travelers Treasures, Valley Treasures, and Sugar Creek Ice Cream Shop.

Enjoy Our Home

By far our favorite thing to do when visiting Four Sisters Chalet is to relax and enjoy the property and all it has to offer. We hope you love it too!