Our group of six enjoyed the visit to Belle Grove Plantation which is a well cared for property…read morelisted on the National Trust of historic buildings. The history of the Hite Family and its prominence in this community was well relayed by our enthusiastic tour docent who was a wealth of good information. She also gave a fair amount of discussion about the enslaved people who ran the day to day domestic activities in the home. Unfortunately there are few first hand records from that group so I suppose much of their history is conjecture. The gift shop has some nice crafts by local artisans and the surrounding fields are interesting as the site of civil war battles. Belle Grove is a nice place to examine several centuries of history that relate to this property and deserves a visit by those visiting the Shenandoah Valley.

My husband and I were looking for a place to engage in a low key hike and enjoy the majestic…read moremountain views. We started out GPSing to one intended destination and fortunately ended up here. It's on an absolutely gorgeous estate and the gentleman in the welcome center is an absolute pleasure. Zach was so helpful and hospitable. He honestly helped make my day.

A nice Homage to Storer College history in the heart of Harpers Ferry…read moreThis is located right off High Street near the lower part of the town on the north side of the road. The real Storer College is farther up the street and about 1/2 mile away from the museum. The schools' success was also the reason it eventually closed. The current college is used by the National Park Service for training and administrative functions. You can drive there and walk around the grounds if you wish but, if you want to learn about the history, then this museum or a tour guide is a much better option. Our group did both. One of our first stops as we got off the shuttle from the visitors center was to the museum. It is small, as museums go, but does a good job of telling the history of the college and reasons that it was started. The college, founded in 1867, provided education to formerly enslaved people and became a center for civil rights. It hosted an important meeting of the Niagara Movement in 1906. The Niagara movement was the precursor to the NAACP. Inside the museum, there are displays on the school's history, its role in African American education, and the Niagara Movement's effect. It is small but well laid-out and informative. It's a good, and important, stop for anyone that really wants to understand the importance of the town and its civil rights history.

This review is for the Garden Lights NOT all of MSV; which I love ....while on the smaller side,…read morethe museum, garden, Glen Burnie House and trail are all lovely. While the Lights are beautuful, the overall experience is disappointing. Even though its timed entry tickets, it is crowded as you must follow a specific path that is single file most of the way. A lot of the path is not well lit and very uneven. Staff randomly positioned to keep you out of closed areas were not friendly. Seemed almost identical to prior year. I doubt we will visit next year.

Best ever ! Art , Music, hiking and more !…read more Well kept trails filled with plants , sculptures and views. MSV at Night shows are awesome not to mention the many beautiful acres to explore. It's always a pleasure to visit and see what is new. Become a member and support the Museum- it has many perks and is well worth it.

Across from the City Bank, this little museum and park is situated off of the main road that offers…read moresome history about its location and its significance during the Civil War (Cedar Creek operation). There are some walking trails along the original trenches and the forts that the Union soldiers built, as well as a museum that provides more of a detailed history of the Shenandoah Valley in the late 1860s. There are even some video presentations in the new theater to add to your educational experience :D If interested, you can also request a tour, in which a ranger leads you to the battlefield - just check the schedule on their site. Opened daily from 9 to 5, there's a little lot for your car. +Battle of Hupp's Hill site +museum with artifacts and video presentations +ranger-led tours onto the battlefield

This museum is a part of the Cedar Creek Battlefield Foundation (CCBF), a non-profit which…read morepreserves the nearby battlefield and hosts periodic reenactments. It also owns a separate building directly across from the battlefield, which holds the foundation's store and HQ. Admission to Hupp's Hill is $5. This place is the repository of the battle's artifacts and focuses on the later aspects of the Shenandoah campaign, which culminated in the Battle of Cedar Creek. More importantly, Hupp's Hill has a short walking trail which takes you past several original Confederate fighting positions called "lunettes", named for their half-moon shape. The hill served as a natural fortification during the war, although it never saw actual fighting. Without much difficulty you can see the outline of several bunkers. When I visited the museum it was empty, although the aide was quick to put on the (rather long) video which described the battle. There is also a large terrain map of Cedar Creek, which is useful in conceptualizing the battle. I enjoyed the museum much more than I thought I would. $5 is a worthwhile investment in the Foundation's work. If you are going to visit the battlefield, think about visiting Hupp's Hill first. Alternatively you can visit the National Park Service location just north of the battlefield. http://www.yelp.com/biz/cedar-creek-and-belle-grove-national-historic-park-middletown NPS site http://www.yelp.com/biz/cedar-creek-battlefield-foundation-middletown CCBF HQ, right across from the battlefield

A great place to learn about Harper's Ferry. I recently…read morevisited Harpers Ferry with my family. As with most trips we went in search of the history, sights and experiences for the various members in our group. The town is part of the national park service and most people park at the visitors center and take the shuttle bus into the town. There is a parking lot in town but it can quickly fill up because of the popularity of the location. There are lots of shops that sell coffee, gifts and food. There are also many historical sights. The industry museum is right as you get off the bus from the visitors center and are walking into the town. It is just past the bookstore on the north side of the lower street before you get High street and just past the public bathrooms and the bookstore. This was not listed as a sight in the town but I think it is one of the best sites in the town. It is a large room on the bottom floor of the building. The left part of the room has a large mural/display on the wall describing how they harnessed the river and showing a picture of Virginius and Hall's Islands in 1857. The right side of the room is a machine shop showing the implements to machine firearms. When I arrived, a gentleman in period costume was explaining to a crown how firearms (flintlocks and the like) worked and were machined, repaired and built there. He had a good crowd of all ages and was doing a great job of explaining the art and science of the period. I highly recommend stopping by this location in you are interested in history, firearms or machines.

The Middleburg VA parade is by far the most beautiful and popular Christmas festival in the central…read moreeast coast of the United States. I took my family to Gettysburg for their holiday festival and it was awful in every way imagined. I would recommend Middleburg for your complete family destination and the memories of your trip will last a lifetime.

The Middleburg Christmas Parade puts the holiday festival onto Main Street, right in the middle of…read moreVirginia's Hunt Country. With area entertainment coming into the town of Middleburg, parade spectators can enjoy a taste of local talents and hobbyists. Marching in the parade are high school bands, dancers, polo horses, bagpipe groups, dancing horses with Spanish riders, groups of antique cars, a variety of dog breeds, members from several area groups like the Girl Scouts of America, and more. The parade is held on the first Saturday in the month of December. I look forward to this parade every year -- it is an event for all and ushers in the Christmas spirit.

The Virginia Piedmont Heritage Area uses the Caleb Rector House as its headquarters. They often…read morehave events here teaching the history of the area. The circa 1801 stone house has seen over two centuries of history pass by its front door and happen in its parlor. For centuries, the Ashby's Gap Turnpike (modern U.S. Route 50) has carried farmers taking their goods to market, slave coffles bearing their unfortunate victims for sale to the Deep South, Civil War armies, and modern travelers. At the time of the Civil War, Caleb and Mary Ann Rector owned the home that now bears their name. John Mosby officially formed his first company of the 43rd Battalion Virginia Cavalry in the Rector's parlor on June 10, 1863, and Confederate cavalry commander J.E.B. Stuart called the home his headquarters during the Gettysburg Campaign. The house also served as a hospital for wounded Union cavalrymen in the winter of 1864.

Great time! My husband and I stopped in for some old school gaming. $10 per person for all day…read moreplay. We stayed about an hour but there were plenty of our favorite old school games. It looked like only one game was out of order. It wasn't too crowded and we were able to play without pockets full of quarters. If they sold alcohol or it was byob that was the only thing that would have made it better.

This place is awesome. It's a great option to have in town. The owner is super friendly and helpful…read moreand the games are a huge nostalgia hit.