Things to do near Massanutten?

[lalahe]

We will be there the week of Thanksgiving and wondering if anyone has any suggestions for things to do and places to eat anywhere in the area? I don’t mind day trips.
So far I have:
- Mount Vernon
- Monticello
- Luray Caverns

any other day trips or things anyone can suggest?

Thanks so much!
Mary Ellen

 

[tschwa2]

Unfortunately Nov-mid April can be kind of chilly and not as ideal for day trips.
I'd wait until you could visit in late spring-earlier fall for visiting Shenandoah national park.

There are a bunch of wineries in the area including ones that have indoor areas and outdoor firepits and heaters like Cross keys. I would skip Mount Vernon and add that to a DC trip for another time.

 

[lalahe]

What do you suggest for this trip since it’s going to be during a chilly time? Looks like it will average a high of around 45-50 and the lows from 24-40 during the week we will be there. Would love some things to do vs just stuck in the resort all day. I appreciate any suggestions.
Thank you!

 

[lalahe]

I will def check out the wineries!

 

[bluehende]

New Market battlefield. You could probably add that with Luray.

Also a lot of good breweries in the area. Pale Fire is the best for beer.

 

[lalahe]

New Market battlefield. You could probably add that with Luray.

Also a lot of good breweries in the area. Pale Fire is the best for beer.

Thank you!

 

[elaine]

Montpelier (James Madison) home is 1 hr from Mass. You can combine with Charlottesville/Monticello. C is a very nice town (U VA). DC is almost as close as Mount Vernon. You could combine for a very long day. But, I agree with other poster and I'd skip. A bit farther, the other way, is Colonial Williamsburg. But, the drive time might be the same as driving into DC/MtV. We love Williamsburg.

 

[TheHolleys87]

We enjoyed a day trip from Massanutten to Appomattox Courthouse National Park - we had visited Bull Run on the way to Massanutten from Dulles airport. We were also pretty pleased with the dining at Massanutten itself.

 

[lalahe]

QUOTE="elaine, post: 2695202, member: 1489"] Montpelier (James Madison) home is 1 hr from Mass. You can combine with Charlottesville/Monticello. C is a very nice town (U VA). DC is almost as close as Mount Vernon. You could combine for a very long day. But, I agree with other poster and I'd skip. A bit farther, the other way, is Colonial Williamsburg. But, the drive time might be the same as driving into DC/MtV. We love Williamsburg. [/QUOTE] Montpelier (James Madison) home is 1 hr from Mass. You can combine with Charlottesville/Monticello. C is a very nice town (U VA). DC is almost as close as Mount Vernon. You could combine for a very long day. But, I agree with other poster and I'd skip. A bit farther, the other way, is Colonial Williamsburg. But, the drive time might be the same as driving into DC/MtV. We love Williamsburg. thank you!!! I hadn’t heard of a few of these and will check them out!!

 

[lalahe]

We enjoyed a day trip from Massanutten to Appomattox Courthouse National Park - we had visited Bull Run on the way to Massanutten from Dulles airport. We were also pretty pleased with the dining at Massanutten itself.

thanks!! Never heard of this and checking it out too!

 

[MULTIZ321]

We enjoyed a day trip from Massanutten to Appomattox Courthouse National Park - we had visited Bull Run on the way to Massanutten from Dulles airport. We were also pretty pleased with the dining at Massanutten itself.

+1 to Appomattox Courthouse National Park


Richard

 

[RonB]

If you make the trip to Monticello , I highly recommend Michie Tavern - they are close to each other. MT serves a colonial style meal and often has reenactors portraying famous people from that time.

 

[chapjim]

Williamsburg is most of three hours away. And, it deserves a trip of its own so I'd postpone it.

If you have children of near-college age, shoot into Harrisonburg and tour James Madison University. It's a gem, both academically and facilities-wise. Our son graduated JMU in 2004 and it has only gotten bigger and better. Harrisonburg is a nice little town anyway with lots of decent restaurants. Biggest problem is a feed mill and when the wind is right (by that I mean wrong), Harrisonburg takes on an air of its own!

There's a mountain called Reddish Knob on the VA-WV border. I have no idea how to get there -- son drove. But Google Maps knows! Great views and worth the hour or so it takes to get there if you have a crystal clear day, which you are likely to have Thanksgiving Week.

Natural Bridge is one hour south once you get on I-81.

Skyline Drive starts at Front Royal and runs south to where it crosses I-64 and changes to the Blue Ridge Parkway. The Blue Ridge Parkway continues south and west and ends in Cherokee, NC. There are several places to jump on/off.

 

[MULTIZ321]

If you make the trip to Monticello , I highly recommend Michie Tavern - they are close to each other. MT serves a colonial style meal and often has reenactors portraying famous people from that time.

Also if you make the trip to Monticello, I would also recommend a visit to nearby James Madison's Montpelier, 11350 Constitution Hwy, Montpelier
Station, VA 22957

James Madison's Montpelier, located in Orange County, Virginia, was the plantation house of the Madison family, including fourth president of the United States, James Madison, and his wife Dolley.

Richard

 

[lalahe]

If you make the trip to Monticello , I highly recommend Michie Tavern - they are close to each other. MT serves a colonial style meal and often has reenactors portraying famous people from that time.

That’s awesome thank you!!!

 

[LStormont]

We will be there the week of Thanksgiving and wondering if anyone has any suggestions for things to do and places to eat anywhere in the area? I don’t mind day trips.
So far I have:
- Mount Vernon
- Monticello
- Luray Caverns

any other day trips or things anyone can suggest?

Thanks so much!
Mary Ellen

Depending on the weather, I highly recommend Virginia Safari Park https://www.virginiasafaripark.com/

 

[lalahe]

Williamsburg is most of three hours away. And, it deserves a trip of its own so I'd postpone it.

If you have children of near-college age, shoot into Harrisonburg and tour James Madison University. It's a gem, both academically and facilities-wise. Our son graduated JMU in 2004 and it has only gotten bigger and better. Harrisonburg is a nice little town anyway with lots of decent restaurants. Biggest problem is a feed mill and when the wind is right (by that I mean wrong), Harrisonburg takes on an air of its own!

There's a mountain called Reddish Knob on the VA-WV border. I have no idea how to get there -- son drove. But Google Maps knows! Great views and worth the hour or so it takes to get there if you have a crystal clear day, which you are likely to have Thanksgiving Week.

Natural Bridge is one hour south once you get on I-81.

Skyline Drive starts at Front Royal and runs south to where it crosses I-64 and changes to the Blue Ridge Parkway. The Blue Ridge Parkway continues south and west and ends in Cherokee, NC. There are several places to jump on/off.

this sounds great!!! Thank you!

 

[bluehende]

For something a little different.

Visit

Upon arrival at the Observatory, please help us protect our observations by disabling all wireless signals on your mobile phones* and powering off other wireless devices. See below for more…

greenbankobservatory.org

 

[kwelty]

The Frontier Culture Museum is about 45 minutes away, just past Staunton.

http://www.frontiermuseum.org/

The Frontier Culture Museum is an outdoor living history museum that tells the story of the thousands of people who migrated to colonial America and of the life they created here for themselves and their descendants. The Museum shows how a new and unique culture evolved in early America from its....

 

[RonB]

If you do get to Harrisonburg, we had some great slightly upscale pizza at Bella Luna, but that was several years ago.

 

[pedro47]

If you are thinking about going to Williamsburg check out Busch Garden Christmas Town. Their night decorations light displays, shows and amusement rides are awesome, especially if you have children.

Please check their operation hours and prices.
All their information is posted on their website.

Also, adults would like / enjoy touring Colonial Williamsburg.
Please check Colonial Williamsburg website.

Interstate 81 to Interstate 64 is the best route from Massanutten.

 

[beejaybee]

I wonder if the resort still has day trips available? In 2016 we took their comprehensive bus tour to D.C. that visited all the main sights with "free" time at many, such as Arlington, the war memorials, MLK and FDR memorials and the Capitol where we were able to take a tour and have lunch! It was a bargain at $99 pp!

 

[Brett]

If you're going to Monticello in Charlottesville you need to book online early.

 

[schoolmarm]

I am also leaving today to check in to Massanuttan for Thanksgiving. I did this last year as well. Even though skiing probably won't be an option, there is a lot to do at the resort. The indoor waterpark has lots of options. There are two rec centers open during this time and the golf course should be available. The hiking is great, but the back side of the mountain is restricted for safety during hunting season. They have escape rooms, but I've not done those. I like the arts and crafts and aquatics.

Some of the outdoor activities might be closed for the season. They have a winery tour in the area.
As far as dining, there is a Thanksgiving buffet at one restaurant and a "limited menu" special Thanksgiving dinner at another. The meals that I have had onsite (the BBQ place and one other) were good.

 

[tschwa2]

I wonder if the resort still has day trips available? In 2016 we took their comprehensive bus tour to D.C. that visited all the main sights with "free" time at many, such as Arlington, the war memorials, MLK and FDR memorials and the Capitol where we were able to take a tour and have lunch! It was a bargain at $99 pp!

They actually stopped their day trips in 2019. The resort says it was the bus company and the bus company says it was Massanutten. I hope after things get back to normal (post covid) they will add them back into the activity schedule sometime in 2022 or 2023.