Harrisonburg offers natural adventure seekers plenty of attractions including Shenandoah National Park, George Washington and Jefferson National Forests and local mountains – not to mention museums that preserve local history as well as unique businesses that specialize in food and drinks. Plus it makes an excellent destination city!
Start your day right with a stop at Black Sheep Coffee in downtown Harrisonburg before visiting the Hardesty-Higgins House Visitor Center.
1. Explore More Discovery Museum
Explore More Discovery Museum is one of Harrisonburg’s premier family attractions. Designed to engage young minds through interactive multisensory learning experiences that foster greater self-awareness and awareness of oneself and their world, its three floors host 15 unique experiences such as CK’s Kitchen & Farmer’s Market; Keva Plank Construction Zone; Friendly City Medical Center; WHSV TV Studio; Science Lab and many others.
Harrisonburg would not be complete without experiencing its delicious local cuisine! One popular worker-owned restaurant serving comforting, vegetarian-friendly dishes is The Little Grill Collective in Downtown Harrisonburg – known for its rustic charm, this spot has quickly become popular among both JMU students and locals alike.
Heritage Bakery and Cafe should also be on your itinerary. Located inside Hardesty-Higgins House Visitor’s Center, this eatery serves a delicious range of breakfast, lunch and dessert items to visitors – be it banana nut muffins, croissant breakfast sandwiches with curry chicken salad or avocado toast for breakfast; for lunch enjoy curry chicken sandwiches or soup in its cozy interior atmosphere.
Wine enthusiasts will delight in visiting Brix & Columns Vineyard near Harrisonburg. This family-owned and operated vineyard welcomes guests year-round for tasting sessions of white, red, sweet wines. Sit around a firepit during fall/winter nights or under grapevine canopy on hot summer day to enjoy glass or bottle. Enjoy sitting by fire pit during fall/winter months or under grapevine canopy on hot summer day under canopy to sip your beverage of choice – they have white/red/sweet options as well as wine accessories/gift options! This vineyard welcomes pets!
2. Riven Rock Park
Harrisonburg offers kid-friendly attractions that will enthrall children of all ages. These experiences make memories that will last a lifetime! Harrisonburg boasts interactive museum exhibits, farm animals and activities, heart-thumping adventure parks and inclusive playgrounds to engage and excite them all! Harrisonburg boasts attractions that appeal to kids of all ages such as interactive museum exhibits, heart-pumping adventure parks and inclusive playgrounds designed with all abilities in mind, creating experiences designed to spark their imaginations and excite all ages alike! Harrisonburg boasts kid-friendly attractions to bring joyous and joy – from learning through immersive exhibits or getting their hands dirty on farms; all experiences create lasting memories and experiences are sure to spark their interest and excite their curiosity while stimulating all their senses at once! Harrisonburg boasts attractions that cater specifically to children of all ages while offering heart-pumping adventure parks full of heart-pumping adventure park thrill rides filled with heart-pumping adventures designed with all abilities in mind as well as inclusive playgrounds designed with inclusive playgrounds designed with inclusive playgrounds designed with all abilities in mind that are sure to spark their imagination and delight them regardless of age! Harrisonburg offers kid-friendly attractions that promise long lasting memories that last a lifetime!
Riven Rock Park in Harrisonburg is an under-appreciated gem. Situated near George Washington National Forest and boasting 27 acres, this natural woodland setting provides picnic sites, hiking trails and horseshoe courts – all for you to discover!
This park also offers children a playground and splash pad to cool off in. There are also several paved walking trails dotted throughout its property for those wanting to jog or bike while taking in nature’s beauty.
Apart from outdoor activities, this park also hosts large and small performances by the Shenandoah Valley Chamber Orchestra and Festival Choir, including their famous Liberty Swing – wheelchair accessible swing which celebrates diversity and inclusion! One of the many highlights at this remarkable free park.
Winter brings Massanutten Resort skiing and Shenandoah National Park’s Skyline Drive cycling; summer brings apple orchards, Harrisonburg downtown district and apple cider tasting sessions! Falltime brings spectacular fall foliage colors aplenty.
Be sure to visit the Shenandoah Spirit Trail – an expertly curated tour of local breweries, wineries, and distilleries – including Brother Craft Brewing, Three Notch’d Valley Collab House, Restless Moons Brewing Company and nano-brewery Friendly Fermenter – and experience all that Shenandoah region spirits have to offer while supporting local businesses.
3. Shenandoah National Park
Harrisonburg is a college town located at the core of Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive, yet offers much more than hiking. From museums, galleries, and restaurants to outdoor activities for every season – whether that means exploring Shenandoah National Park or simply improving your garden – Harrisonburg boasts farmers markets, orchards, greenhouses, craft breweries – as well as more traditional options like going hiking.
History buffs won’t want to miss visiting the Valley Turnpike Museum & Civil War Orientation Center at Hardesty-Higgins House Visitor Center. Featuring one of few remaining items from 1864 Burning of the Valley, as well as a scale model of Harrisonburg during Turnpike Era and scale models of surrounding cities during Turnpike Era; visitors will gain insight into local history as they tour Joshua Wilton House which can be visited daily by taking part in guided tours by Harrisonburg Historical Society and Museums tours!
Foodies will love exploring the Shenandoah Spirit Trail, which features local wines and breweries. Curated by the Shenandoah Valley Chamber of Commerce, this trail provides a great way to support local businesses – just visit the Visitor’s Center to view a list of participating businesses!
Families looking for something fun can visit the Exploring More Discovery Museum, a non-profit that’s committed to supporting children’s development through interactive and multi-sensory learning. It features a kitchen, theatre and full-sized ambulance/tractor for young ones to use their imaginations with. Plus it boasts minerals from 39 countries and 24 states!
4. Back Home on the Farm
Back Home on the Farm is a family-run working farm offering enjoyable entertainment to visitors of all ages. Spanning over 240 acres, its main activities include cattle raising and seasonal celebrations such as horse carousel rides, playgrounds and love trails; horse carousel rides for horse carousel fans, horse carousel rides, love trails and much more are available to enjoy at Back Home on the Farm. Fall visitors will also be entertained with an impressive 7-acre pumpkin patch and haunted corn maze to keep kids busy; visitors to spring/summer visits should take note of its greenhouse for gardening ideas – it could make for quite the experience!
Visit Harrisonburg to take a tour of the Hardesty-Higgins House or to peruse its rare bind book from 1864’s Burning of Harrisonburg. Visit during International Festival to shop the World Bazaar and experience dance and music from different cultures; taste unique craft beers at local breweries along Shenandoah Bearwerks Trail as well.
If you’re in search of some live entertainment, visit Court Square Theater. This venue hosts various shows throughout the year including comedy acts and plays – perfect for spending a fun-filled evening out with friends or family!
Riverwalk Park provides another wonderful outdoor activity venue. Its trails and open spaces make for ideal strolls or quick hikes; pets may even join you if kept on leashes!
Lake Shenandoah in southeast Harrisonburg is an idyllic lake that’s perfect for fishing, boating, swimming and picnicking – as well as taking in its picturesque mountain surroundings! There are even campgrounds on site if camping out under the stars sounds appealing!
5. JMU
JMU serves as a center for arts, culture and outdoor adventure in Shenandoah National Park. Duke Hall Gallery features changing exhibitions of contemporary art from established professionals; Franklin Street Gallery was the first multicultural fine arts gallery established here; both galleries provide fine arts for Harrisonburg. If a visit to Duke Hall Gallery isn’t enough, why not explore Shenandoah Valley’s hip craft breweries, scenic wineries or cideries or head over to Harrisonburg Distillery for an in-depth look at production?
For an enjoyable way to overcome nature deficit disorder, explore one of the outdoor adventure outfitters in your area, such as Massanutten Adventures or Outdoor Adventure Experiences. They provide kayaks, canoes and tubes so that you can explore Shenandoah River or send you into nature on cave exploration or off-road expedition.
For an authentic cultural experience, visit the Virginia Quilt Museum which boasts exquisite quilts from across America and hosts events and lectures related to quilting. Also don’t miss Miller Hall’s John C. Wells Planetarium which boasts a full dome screen for an unforgettable viewing experience!
Edith J. Carrier Arboretum on the JMU campus provides a woodland sanctuary and public garden. Enjoy spring strolling amongst daffodils at the Horticultural Garden while in summer taking pleasure from its blooming Oak-Hickory Forest.
And when it’s time for some shopping, Harrisonburg offers a charming walkable district filled with locally owned bars and restaurants as well as boutique stores where you can pick up souvenirs of your trip to the Shenandoah Valley.
