Signature Tours

Your guide to discovering the best sites and experiences in the Valley

Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation has launched its Signature Tours program, a special new program that will make it easy for you to discover and enjoy the best sites and experiences that the Shenandoah Valley has to offer.  

The Signature program will include something for everyone – Civil War tours, of course, but also tours that feature the different parts of the Valley, and tours designed to fit your special interests, whether that includes wineries, cultural sites, or the Valley’s wealth of natural wonders.  There will be tours for families, and tours for the adventurous.  You’ll find quick one-day excursions – and that multiple-day “great adventure” that you’ve been dreaming of for years. 

Valley Turnpike Tour I: Download

Follow the route of the historic Valley Turnpike.  You’ll explore the history of The Valley  and get to sample the other terrific attractions that the area has to offer.  See the Edinburg Mill, immerse yourself in local artwork, and finish off the day with a fantastic wine tasting, all the while enjoying the phenomenal beauty of the surrounding Valley!

Valley Turnpike Tour II:  Download                                                     

The historic Valley Turnpike has been such a primary route through the valley for so long, and is so dotted with fascinating cultural and historical sites, it requires a second tour!  Take a trip through a beautiful historic covered bridge, go underground and experience Shenandoah Caverns, grab a great home-style diner meal at Southern Kitchen, and explore the New Market battlefield!

Winchester Area Tour I:  Download

A step into Winchester-Frederick County is a step into fascinating chapters of history. This is, after all, the community that shaped a young George Washington. Years later, the area played a pivotal role in the nation’s Civil War.  Get an introduction in the area's rich history, visiting historic homes, pivotal battlefields, and sampling some of the fine dining Winchester and Frederick County have to offer visitors.

Winchester Area Tour II:  Download

Can't get enough of this beautiful section of the Valley?  Continue exploring Winchester and Frederick County. Visit fascinating museums filled with art, cultural relics, and plenty of local Civil War history; begin to understand the extensive impact of the Civil War on the region by visiting the National and Stonewall Cemeteries. And of course you should treat yourself to a fantastic meal at one of downtown Winchester's signature restaurants.  Experience all that Winchester and Frederick County have to offer!

Signal Knob Area Tour I:   Download

The Signal Knob area, including Middletown, Strasburg, and Front Royal, bore witness to many serious engagements during the Civil War.  Confederate observers on Signal Knob at the north tip of Massanutten Mountain were in a position to view battles and movements in three counties throughout the Civil War.  In fact, the terrain explains why some of the largest and most significant battles of the Valley’s 1862 and 1864 campaigns occurred within sight of Signal Knob.  Today, the road networks are much the same and vestiges of these military events have survived sufficiently to allow modern visitors to retrace these famous campaigns.
 

Signal Knob Area Tour II:   Download

There are always more hidden gems and historic sites to be found in the Valley.  Come enjoy more of the small town charm and fascinating cultural and historical facets to the area around Signal Knob.  From museums, to battlefields, to antique and art emporiums, this tour gives you a broader taste for the area, figuratively and literally!  Dine where the locals dine and explore the immense history held in the beautiful rural sprawl. 

Harrisonburg Area Tour I: Download

The Harrisonburg and Rockingham County area saw fierce fighting during Stonewall Jackson’s 1862 Valley Campaign. In the first installment of an optional two day tour, explore Rockingham County’s Civil War Battlefields to learn more about this intense campaign and its climax in June 1862.  Following a day on history’s trail, take in a meal and relax in downtown Harrisonburg.

Harrisonburg Area Tour II:  Download

For a second option to explore the history and culture of Harrisonburg/Rockingham County, a traveler can take in the area through museums and historic sites. Travel through time as you visit sites like Fort Harrison and the Heritage Museum. Along the way you will see that the Civil War made an indelible mark on the area but that Harrisonburg and surrounding areas have continued to grow and prosper throughout the years.

Luray Area Tour I:  Download

The Luray and Page County area has something for everyone.  From the scenic beauty of the Page Valley to wonderful restaurants to national landmarks, the full experience of Luray will not disappoint.  Explore this area in either a one or two day tour, after which a visitor will never forget their time in this gorgeous area.

Luray Area Tour II: Download

A second option for touring the Luray and Page County area takes you deeper into the breathtaking beauty of the area.  Start off by hiking in the gorgeous Shenandoah National Park that also has some interesting history to take in as well.  Dine in historic downtown Luray and visit sites that give a traveler a real understanding of how the region was settled and has developed over the years.  Cap off the day with a wine tasting and a delicious meal at a vintage Valley inn!