In Shenandoah County, Spring is the time to get outside. A little rain only makes it better… because, after all, April showers bring May flowers. You’ll see that theory play out everywhere you go around here. Wildflowers are popping up along trails, trees bloom throughout our small towns, and every drive feels a little more vibrant than the last. It’s the season where you don’t need a big plan… just a little time, and a reason to wander.
All you need to enjoy the arrival of spring is a good pair of walking shoes.
Enjoy the blooms of Ivory Silk Lilac trees while strolling New Market's shops or participating in a self-guided Historic Walking Tour.
In Mount Jackson, enjoy blooms in Mayor's Park during their monthly farmers market or one of their new Junk and Jams events.
Enjoy pollinator flower beds beside Stony Creek at the historic Edinburg Mill.
Walk (or run) through the wonder of the whimsy willow tunnel in the Town of Woodstock's W.O. Riley Park.
Appreciate the water-loving wildflowers along the stream at Strasburg Square during Strasburg's annual Mayfest event.
Find which Shenandoah County small town streetscape speaks to you that offers this easy, low-effort way to soak up spring.
If you’re in the mood to get a little more outdoorsy, Seven Bends State Park is a place where spring really delivers. Trails here wind through some of the best wildflower spots in the county, with bluebells lighting up areas near the river and smaller blooms like Dutchman’s breeches and trillium tucked along the forest floor. It’s the kind of place where you’ll want to slow down and stop for a picnic lunch, items sourced from one of Shenandoah County’s wealth of roadside farm stands.
Not a hiker? No problem! Spring here is just as good on two wheels or even from the back of a saddle. Cruising along quiet country roads on a bicycle lets you take in all that natural color at your own pace, and riding with Burgess Bike Tours makes it even easier to just show up and enjoy the ride. If you’re looking for something a little different, Secret Passage Ranch in Fort Valley offers horseback rides through fields and wooded paths that give you an incredible way to enjoy the beauty of hundreds of bluebells early spring or 8 foot tall Wingstem blooming in the fields late spring.
One of the best ways to experience all the blooms might be the simplest - just go for a scenic drive. Roll down your windows and take the scenic route, traveling the winding roads of Fort Valley or the George Washington National Forest, and see where you end up. Around every turn, you’ll catch something new, from lingering redbuds to fresh greenery and the first hints of late-spring/early summer flowers starting to arrive. By the time April starts to ease into May, the color keeps coming with azaleas beginning to pop and mountain laurel not far behind.
Here, spring doesn’t rush … it just keeps getting better, one bloom at a time!