Travel Guide : Front Royal, Virginia
*This post is sponsored by Front Royal, all opinions are my own.
I love finding easy getaways from DC - they make the best weekend trips! When Front Royal reached out to me to spend a weekend promoting their town, I knew I had to go. They needed help promoting tourism again after COVID - it hit the town hard and small businesses were struggling. It’s the cutest town located in the mountains of Virginia, right by Skyline Drive (which enters the Shenandoah mountains). It’s only 1.5 hours from DC, making it the perfect weekend trip. I hope this guide encourages you to make a visit to Front Royal and enjoy some food and mountain views.
Where to Eat & Drink
Front Royal Brewery — I got the Oktoberfest beer and a burger. The apps were very good and I ate a lot of Tom’s sweet potato fries.
PaveMint — This was probably our favorite restaurant of the weekend, the cocktails were SO good and the food was amazing. I recommend the le Porc Royale sandwich.
Down Home Comfort Bakery — If you need a sweet snack on your trip, this is the place! Get the whoopie pie.
Element — We didn’t get the chance to eat here but some of our group did, and they loved it!
Vinova Tapas & Wine Bar — We had some wine & snacks here during the day, everything was amazing. Get the crab roll!
Manor Line Market — A good lunch spot on main street.
Main Street Daily Grind — Fancy coffee and paninis! We ate lunch here one day, it was very good.
L Dee’s Pancake House — We never made it here but it was highly recommended as the best breakfast in Front Royal.
The Apple House — Another recommendation that we didn’t make it too! The donuts and sandwiches look amazing.
Melting Pot Pizza — The best pizza in Front Royal!
What To Do
Axe Throwing — We went to Shenandoah Valley Axe Throwing Co. I have never been axe throwing and I was so excited!! Me and Tom bought hit bullseyes and got to write our names on the hall of fame board.
Beer tasting at Front Royal Brewery — You can also take a brewery tour and learn how the beer is made and about the town.
Walk around main street — The picture on the left is front the town square. I kept telling Tom I felt like I was in Stars Hallow (where are my GG fans?!). Main street is a street in the heart of Front Royal with a bunch of shops and restaurants. We drank wine, ate yummy food, and went antique shopping.
Winery tastings — There are a lot of wineries around Front Royal (and Northern Virginia in general). We didn’t make it to any on this trip, but when we come back we will go to some! Check out Chester Gap Cellars.
Skyline Drive — 105 miles of the Blue Ridge Mountains! Check out the website beforehand to check the weather and buy a pass.
Art Gallery — We visited Turnmeyer Galleries, owned by a local photographer. A perfect place to buy local art + gifts.
Meade Tasting — I had never had meade until this trip! The Saga Meadery is super cute and has an outdoor seating area.
Canoeing — Did you know Front Royal is the canoe capital of Virginia? So Fun! Book a canoe ride through Front Royal Outdoors. This was one of our favorite parts of the weekend.
Walking Tour - Use this guide and walk through Front Royal and learn about the town & its history. It’s only a mile long walk.
Hiking! — I don’t have a specific trail, but before we left on Sunday we googled a nearby trail and went on a short hike. It was gorgeous!
Where To Sleep
Towneplace Suites by Marriott — This is where we stayed all weekend. It was very clean and close to everything, I recommend staying here if you like hotels.
Hampton Inn — We didn’t stay here but half our group did and I heard nothing but good things. A good way to use your Hilton points!
Airbnb — I love finding unique Airbnbs when I travel! This one looks so cool and has amazing views.
Mountain Home B&B — If you like bed & breakfast stays, this place is adorable and right in Front Royal.
Woodward House B&B — Another adorable cute B&B (and this one has a pub in it!).
Hot Tub Heaven Cabins — These cabins are adorable, if you want more of a cabin feel on your trip I recommend staying here.
Camping — If you prefer to camp, check out Gooney Creek Campground or Shenandoah National Park.
This was the best weekend! From axe throwing to beer tasting to ending the weekend with a little hike, we had SO much fun. Look at my Instagram highlight here to see more of what we did that weekend. It would make the perfect trip for your girlfriends, a couples trip, family trip or a romantic getaway!
