The Shenandoah Valley is one of the top hiking destinations in the eastern United States, thanks to the incredible Shenandoah National Park and beautiful state parks like Natural Bridge.
However, there are even more things to do in the Shenandoah Valley that isn’t just hiking trails (though, let’s be honest, that’s why we’re there in the first place….). You can also enjoy the area’s history, wineries, and numerous natural caves.
And because the Shenandoah Valley is so vast, you can visit multiple times and still not see everything!
The guide below shares some of the best things to do in Shenandoah Valley and most of them are family-friendly, so feel free to bring your kids along with you.
Things to Do in Shenandoah Valley
Shenandoah National Park
Let’s get the most obvious one out of the way first! Shenandoah National Park is the main draw for visiting the Shenandoah Valley. In fact, it’s one of the best hiking destinations in the eastern US.
Shenandoah National Park is a 197,439-acre park spanning eight counties in Virginia. And honestly, there are so many things to do in the park itself that you might not get to any of the other things to do in the Shenandoah Valley.
Some of our favorite things to do in Shenandoah National Park are the awesome hiking trails (like Dark Hollow Falls) and cruising on Skyline Drive to catch the beautiful overlooks.
Good to Know: There is a fee to enter Shenandoah National Park. If you have a National Park Pass or an Every Kid Outdoors Pass, you can enter for FREE. Otherwise, keep your receipt after you pay, as it is good for entrance to the park for 7 days.
Natural Bridge State Park
Natural Bridge State Park is another popular Shenandoah Valley attraction. The 215-foot-tall arch draws visitors from all over!
But the natural bridge is just one of the attractions at the park. We enjoyed taking the “hike” to Lace Falls along Cedar Creek. It’s about 1 mile long (one way) and mostly flat, except for the 137 steps from the visitor center to the trail.
There is a fee to visit Natural Bridge State Park, but it’s worth it to see the amazing natural structure in person. Pictures just don’t do it justice!
Explore the Shenandoah Valley Caves
The Shenandoah Valley is home to many beautiful caverns. Each one has its own unique features to make them worth a visit.
Good to Know: These Shenandoah Valley caverns are cold inside! They stay at 56° Fahrenheit, so you’ll want to wear a sweatshirt or light jacket when touring them.
Skyline Caverns (and Mirror Maze)
Skyline Caverns in Front Royal, VA, are the only caverns with anthodites, mineral formations that look like flowers.
Skyline Caverns also offers a miniature train ride and mirror maze for an additional fee.
Shenandoah Caverns
The Shenandoah Caverns in Quicksburg, VA, are the only caverns with elevator service to the cavern floor, making them both wheelchair- and stroller accessible. It’s one of the best caves in the Shenandoah Valley.
Shenandoah Caverns also has a few museums on the property, including a parade float museum.
Luray Caverns
One of the most famous caverns in the state, Luray Caverns is the largest cavern in the eastern United States and one of the biggest draws to Luray itself.
Their new entrance into the caverns removed the need for stairs, making the caverns accessible by wheelchair and stroller. Your ticket also includes admission to three on-site museums. They also have a maze and ropes course for an additional fee.
Endless Caverns
Located in New Market, VA, Endless Caverns earned its name for a reason: The caverns are composed on underground tunnels that are over 6 miles!
Endless Caverns also offers tent and RV camping, hiking trails, and other activities on the property.
Grand Caverns
Grand Caverns in Grottoes, VA, have been rated one of the best caverns by Parade Magazine. They are the oldest, continually operated caverns in the United States.
Grand Caverns property also contains hiking trails, fishing, a playground, and miniature golf, making it a great way to spend the day!
Caverns at Natural Bridge
Right down the road from Natural Bridge State Park is the Caverns at Natural Bridge. This cave is 34 stories below ground and requires navigating 185 steps. Tours last for about an hour.
The Caverns at Natural Bridge are open daily from March through November and weekends only from December through February. They also offer gem mining for an additional fee and hiking on-site.
Massanutten Waterpark
Massanutten Resort is an excellent place to stay in the Shenandoah Valley. It’s close to many attractions on this, and it offers numerous things to do.
However, you don’t have to stay at Massanutten Resort to enjoy their waterpark! You can visit their indoor waterpark year-round. The outdoor waterpark is open from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Hours and rates vary depending on the time of year, so visit their website for the most up-to-date information.
Skiing and Snow Tubing at Massanutten Resort
If you’re looking for some Shenandoah Valley attractions for the winter, you’ll want to stop by Massanutten Resort for some skiing and snowboarding. They even have snow tubing!
Before you start planning your visit, check out their website for mountain conditions.
Zip Lining and Adventure Courses
Massanutten Family Adventure Park
Another win for Massanutten! The resort really has so many things to do. This time, you can explore their Family Adventure Park. They offer zip lining, a fun kids’ adventure course, and even rock climbing and rappelling.
Many of the adventure attractions at Massanutten Family Adventure Park are seasonal, so visit their website for up-to-date information.
Bear Mountain Ziplines
Located in Luray, VA, Bear Mountain Ziplines has zip lines and ropes courses for all ages. Their Mama Bear course features 2700 feet of zip lines over seven courses. You must be at least 8 years old and 70 lbs to participate.
However, younger kids can try the Baby Bear course! This course is designed for kids 5 years old and up and features ten fun obstacles, including a zip line to end the course! They also have a climbing wall for the little ones.
Rope Adventures at Luray
The Rope Adventures at Luray is a great addition to your visit to Luray Caverns. This affordable option allows guests to climb through several obstacles on a multi-level structure. It’s another fun activity in Luray.
Natural Bridge Zoo
The Natural Bridge Zoo is a small zoo near Natural Bridge State Park and the Caverns at Natural Bridge. You could easily do all three attractions in one day.
The zoo is open from March through November and features a fun selection of animals like elephants, lemurs, giraffes, and tigers.
Virginia Safari Park
Another excellent animal attraction in Shenandoah Valley is the Virginia Safari Park. It’s located in Natural Bridge, VA, so it’s close to many other activities, like the state park, zoo, and cave.
Virginia Safari Park has a drive-thru where you can visit and feed animals from your car. You can also walk through the village to see many of the other animals up close.
The safari park is open from March to November, with hours varying depending on the season.
Dinosaur Kingdom II
If you’re looking for a kitschy roadside attraction in Shenandoah Valley, then you need to stop at Dinosaur Kingdom II. With fun and surprises around every corner, including a water gun fight with Big Foot, your face will be sore from laughter when you leave.
Dinosaur Kingdom II is open seasonally, April through October, with hours varying. Visit their website for the most up-to-date information. They offer combination tickets with other nearby attractions like the Natural Bridge Zoo and Caverns.
Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum
When it comes to things to do in Shenandoah Valley with kids, nothing tops the Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum.
This 19,000 square foot children’s museum features all kinds of fun, hands-on exhibits, like a veterinary office, Native American homes, bees, and more!
Located in Winchester, VA, the museum is open Wednesday through Saturday, with additional Sunday hours in the summer. There are even more fun things to do in Winchester. You can spend a whole day enjoying the town.
Museum of the Shenandoah Valley
With art galleries, formal gardens, historic homes, and art trails, the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley in Winchester, VA, has a ton of things to do!
You can visit the art trail and Rose Hill Park for FREE. Otherwise, the galleries, formal gardens, and tour of the Glen Burnie House require admission.
Hours and attractions vary depending on the time of the year. Visit their website for the best information.
Frontier Culture Museum
Let history come to life at the Frontier Culture Museum! This living history museum, like Colonial Williamsburg, aims to educate its visitors about what life was like in the past.
The museum showcases the life and work of people in the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries from the many countries that influenced the culture in Virginia.
The Frontier Culture Museum is open almost every day (closed on some major holidays), with hours varying depending on the season. Visit their website for the most up-to-date information.
Civil War Stops
The Shenandoah Valley has many ties to the Civil War. As you drive through the area, you can visit some of the battlefields of the war.
Many locations are significant to Stonewall Jackson, the infamous Major General of the Confederate Army, like his headquarters in Winchester and his home in Lexington.
There are also some excellent museums about the Civil War, like the Shenandoah Valley Civil War Museum in Winchester, as well as the Virginia Museum of the Civil War and the New Market Battlefield Military Museum, both located in New Market, VA.
Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum
Many people can name some U.S. presidents from Virginia, like George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. However, not everyone knows that Woodrow Wilson was also a native Virginian.
As the 28th President of the US, Woodrow Wilson was responsible for many social and economic reforms, like the Federal Reserve Act, the Child Labor Reform Act, and legislation supporting working Americans’ fair treatment.
You can learn more about Woodrow Wilson at his Presidential Library and Museum in Staunton, VA. The museum includes his birthplace, gardens, and exhibits about his time in office.
The Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum is open daily, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM (it opens at noon on Sundays).
Vineyards & Breweries
With exploring all of the fun things to do in Shenandoah Valley with kids, you’re bound to get thirsty. Thankfully, there are many excellent wineries in the Shenandoah Valley. Some are family-friendly!
Some kid-friendly wineries and breweries in the Shenandoah Valley include Blue Mountain Brewery, Stable Craft Brewing, Great Valley Farm Brewery, Kindred Pointe, and Castle Vineyards.
Massanutten Storybook Trail
***The Massanutten Storybook Trail is temporarily closed due to damage sustained from fires. No reopening date is posted at this time.***
We love all of the hiking trails available in the Shenandoah Valley. However, sometimes it’s fun to do an easy walk to a beautiful overlook.
The Massanutten Storybook Trail is a short, accessible trail that leads to an overlook of the Page Valley and Blue Ridge Mountains. You can see part of Shenandoah National Park from the overlook!
The trail is .4 miles to the overlook, about a 10-minute walk. It’s a fun and easy thing to do in the Shenandoah Valley!
Natural Chimneys Regional Park
Another unique land formation found in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley is the Natural Chimneys.
These massive rock towers were formed over 500 million years ago from limestone that began to harden under the seawater that occupied the area. Now, the 60-125 feet tall rocks draw in visitors from all over the country.
In addition to the Chimneys, park visitors can enjoy the hiking and biking trails, as well as fishing, basketball, volleyball, and a playground.
Edith J Carrier Arboretum at James Madison University
We loved our visit to the Edith J Carrier Arboretum! We had an overnight stopover in Harrisonburg, and it was the perfect place to stretch our legs.
With all the fun activities for kids, including a music garden and a spider web climber, not to mention the Little Free Libraries, it’ll quickly become a family favorite.
Even better, it’s FREE to visit!
The arboretum is open every day, dawn to dusk. Parking is available at the JMU R-5 lot on University Boulevard, in the Frances Plecker Educational Center lot, and in the Family Garden/Pavilion lot.
Go Boating on the Shenandoah River
There is nothing like spending the day out on the water! Shenandoah River Outfitters in Luray has several boating options for you and your family.
Whether you want to canoe, kayak, or even tube along the Shenandoah River, it’s available! They even offer multi-day trips.
Things to Do in Shenandoah Valley Wrap-Up
With all there is to do in the Shenandoah Valley, I keep planning multiple trips to the region. It’s an outdoor lovers’ paradise, but also great for those who enjoy history, museums, and, of course, wineries. Next time you visit the Shenandoah Valley for hiking, put some of these other activities on your to-do list! You won’t be disappointed.
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