Based by and named after a pioneer, Thomas Harrison, on a website often known as Rocktown and Newtown from 1716 to 1916, Harrisonburg is a phenomenal, pure metropolis in Rockingham County. The twelfth most populous, 14th largest and Twentieth oldest metropolis in Virginia sits within the coronary heart of the Shenandoah Valley between the Blue Ridge Mountains.
With entry to Shenandoah Nationwide Park, George Washington Nationwide Forest and Jefferson Nationwide Forests, there are waterways, trails, parks and inexperienced areas to get pleasure from, making it a paradise for individuals who love nature and being outside. This metropolis has two universities and a bunch of fantastic eating places, bars and breweries to get pleasure from. So, take a look at these items to do in Harrisonburg.
Harrisonburg, Virginia
20 Issues To Do In Harrisonburg VA
1- See Conventional Designs At The Virginia Quilt Museum
Situated proper within the coronary heart of Harrisonburg, the Virginia Quilt Museum is comfortably among the many hottest sights within the metropolis.
It’s set inside a historic three-storey former residence with a distinct galley on each degree.
You’ll discover historic and up to date quilts, which have been made utilizing kinds synonymous with the area.
Whereas it could not sound like an attraction that may attraction to everybody, it’s properly price trying out for anybody thinking about Virginian tradition.
The Virginia Quilt Museum is at 301 South Predominant Road, Harrisonburg, Virginia, 22801.
2- Embrace The Plant Life In The Edith J. Provider Arboretum
The Edith J. Provider Arboretum is a wonderful arboretum and botanical backyard that covers greater than 125 acres (51 ha) on the James Madison College campus grounds.
Its intricate path system weaves by means of an oak and hickory forest full of a vibrant vary of crops, shrubs, flowers, animals and bugs.
As lots of the species discovered listed below are threatened, it lets you embrace nature whereas getting the chance to see some actually distinctive sights.
Edith J. Provider Arboretum is at 780 College Boulevard, Harrisonburg, Virginia, 22807.
3- Take pleasure in The White Oak Lavender Farm
The White Oak Lavender Farm & The Purple Wolf Winery is the proper vacation spot for individuals who love each nature and the finer issues in life.
On the farm, you may stroll by means of gorgeous lavender fields and take a look at and buy skincare merchandise made on-site which have stunning scents.
Then, when you find yourself finished, you may sit again and calm down whereas sampling vintages from the vineyards and taking within the stunning surroundings.
White Oak Lavender Farm & The Purple Wolf Winery is at 2644 Cross Keys Street, Harrisonburg, Virginia, 22801.
4- Study The Area’s Historical past At The Valley Turnpike Museum
The Valley Turnpike was an Indian Path and roadway that was important for transport within the area from 1730 to 1918 earlier than being integrated into what’s now often known as U.S. Route 11.
The Valley Turnpike Museum is a good establishment honouring the unique route’s significance.
It particulars its evolution and educates guests on the individuals who traditionally lived alongside the route and within the surrounding space.
Valley Turnpike Museum is at 212 South Predominant Road, Harrisonburg, Virginia, 22801.
5- Go Crusing On Lake Shenandoah
Lake Shenandoah is a phenomenal lake in southeast Harrisonburg that sits on the north finish of Congers Creek.
A well-liked place in Harrisonburg for boating, fishing, and swimming, additionally it is surrounded by trails.
You may get pleasure from climbing, biking, jogging, or assembly locals who stroll their canines.
Throw within the stunning views throughout the water, and Lake Shenandoah is among the greatest locations within the space to benefit from the nice outside with out having to stray too removed from the town.
6- Take A Stroll In Hillandale Park
Hillandale Park is a 74-acre (30 ha) metropolis park and backyard within the coronary heart of Harrisonburg that is among the largest of its variety throughout the metropolis limits.
It has broad open inexperienced areas, climbing and biking trails lined with health tools, picnic areas, sports activities fields and even a duplicate log cabin.
The park gives loads of train and outside recreation choices with out you having to go away the town.
Hillandale Park is at 801 Hillandale Avenue, Harrisonburg, Virginia, 22801.
7- Admire The Displays At The Museum Of American Jewellery Design
The Museum Of American Jewellery Design & Manufacturing is a good attraction that mixes a museum with a functioning manufacturing facility.
With excursions of each obtainable, you may delve into the historical past of Nineteenth and Twentieth-century jewelry design and commerce earlier than taking a tour of the workshops to see how jewelry is produced at the moment.
You should purchase items made on-site to take residence that will help you bear in mind your go to.
Museum Of American Jewellery Design is at 217 South Liberty Road, #103a, Harrisonburg, Virginia, 22801.
8- Discover The Melrose Caverns
Harrison Farmstead was listed on the U.S. Nationwide Register Of Historic Locations in 2014.
It includes a gorgeous Greek Revival farmhouse inbuilt 1859, surrounded by buildings courting again so far as 1820, together with agricultural outbuildings and a picket log kitchen.
The property is so particular, although, as a result of it sits on prime of an intensive community of caverns utilized by each the north and south throughout the US Civil Warfare.
With excursions of each obtainable, it’s a good spot to find out about all sides of the area’s historical past and tradition.
The Melrose Caverns are at 6639 North Valley Pike, Harrisonburg, Virginia, 22802.
9- Go to The Harrisonburg Hearth Museum
The Harrisonburg Hearth Museum is a phenomenal little free museum the place you may research artefacts and displays from the 18th and Nineteenth centuries whereas studying concerning the historical past of firefighting within the area.
Set on the location of the present hearth division, it gives the proper alternative to see how the trade developed through the years and luxuriate in some leisure with out spending a penny.
The Harrisonburg Hearth Museum is at 101 North Predominant Road, third Flooring, Harrisonburg, Virginia, 22802.
10- Take The Youngsters To The Discover Extra Discovery Museum
Previously often known as the Harrisonburg Kids’s Museum, the Discover Extra Discovery Museum first opened in 2002 and is devoted to serving to kids be taught in distinctive methods.
The museum has themed sections like an artwork centre, building website, farm, farmer’s market, storage, kitchen, medical centre, science lab, theatre and a TV studio.
With interactive, hands-on displays, it’s an attraction that’s equally entertaining and academic.
Discover Extra Discovery Museum is at 150 South Predominant Road, Harrisonburg, Virginia, 22801.
11- View The Displays Of The James Madison College Mineral Museum
Situated on the town’s most important college campus, the James Madison College Mineral Museum is all concerning the historical past and geology of crystals, gems and rocks.
With over 600 samples from across the globe, it’s a must-see attraction for aspiring geologists or anybody thinking about jewels.
The James Madison College Mineral Museum is at 1301 Provider Drive, Harrisonburg, Virginia, 22807.
12- Admire The Magnificence Of Shenandoah Nationwide Park
Set simply over 40 miles (65 km) away, Shenandoah Nationwide Park is the Nineteenth most visited, twenty second oldest, and thirty third largest nationwide park in the US.
It has unimaginable wildlife and historic areas within the Appalachian Mountains, plus a number of the most scenic views within the jap U.S.
A stretch of the fabled Appalachian Path, the enduring Skyline Drive, and an infinite assortment of actually breathtaking panoramic vistas make it equally nice to discover on foot or by automobile.
Add in websites like Rapidan Camp, pure options comparable to Hawksbill Peak, and a variety of wildlife that features bears, deer, foxes, and almost 200 forms of birds, and it’s a place that may be loved by all.
13- Research The Turner Ashby Monument
The Turner Ashby Monument is a stone memorial erected in College Park in 1898 in reminiscence of Accomplice Colonel Turner Ashby, who died on the Battle Of Good’s Farm close to this spot in 1862.
An oblong granite monolith with a pyramidal peak, it was listed on the U.S. Nationwide Register Of Historic Locations in 2017.
It’s a sombre reminder of one of many darkest durations within the area’s previous.
Turner Ashby Monument is at 1164 Turner Ashby Lane, Harrisonburg, Virginia, 22801.
14- Expertise An Occasion At The Forbes Heart For The Performing Arts
The Forbes Heart For The Performing Arts is a very stunning performing arts centre.
On the outskirts of the college campus, it’s a advanced of 5 theatres that hosts dance, drama, and musical performances.
It is a wonderful place for anybody desirous to assist the native artwork scene or see performances by each established and up-and-coming performers.
Forbes Heart For The Performing Arts is at 147 Warsaw Avenue, Harrisonburg, Virginia, 22801.
15- Pattern The Choices Of Brothers Craft Brewing
Brothers Craft Brewing is a wonderful native brewery in a historic bottling plant.
That includes a taproom with round a dozen beers, all brewed on-site, in addition to a beer backyard, beer lovers can pattern the perfect vintages the town has to supply.
They even supply drinks apart from beer and commonly host occasions and quite a lot of meals vans to make sure it’s a vacation spot that everybody can get pleasure from.
Brothers Craft Brewing is at 800 North Predominant Road, Harrisonburg, Virginia, 22802.
16- Step Again Into Historical past
The Rocktown Historical past Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historic Society is a museum devoted to the town’s early days.
Situated in a phenomenal Nineteenth-century farmhouse, it’s full of artefacts and displays to show you concerning the space and its neighborhood earlier than it was often known as Harrisonburg.
The Rocktown Historical past Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historic Society is at 382 Excessive Road, Dayton, Virginia, 22821.
17- Catch A Recreation At Bridgeforth Stadium
Bridgeforth Stadium is a 25,000-seat outside stadium the place the James Madison College soccer crew play their residence video games.
There are additionally numerous different occasions like concert events and area sports activities.Â
The twelfth largest stadium within the Solar Belt Convention and the biggest within the metropolis is the place the most important occasions in Harrisonburg happen, so it is a wonderful cease for wild night leisure.
Bridgeforth Stadium is at 251 Bluestone Drive, Harrisonburg, Virginia, 22807.
18- Study The Works In The Duke Corridor Gallery Of Effective Artwork
The Duke Corridor Gallery Of Effective Artwork is the official artwork gallery of James Madison College.
Internet hosting displays that embody work, pictures, sculptures, and numerous different artwork installations produced by the college’s college students, it’s the place to go to assist the town’s upcoming artists.
Duke Corridor Gallery Of Effective Artwork is at 820 South Predominant Road, Harrisonburg, Virginia, 22807.
19- Recognize The Historical past Of Fort Harrison
Fort Harrison is a hanging stone home inbuilt 1749 by Daniel Harrison, a outstanding chief in the neighborhood and native militia.
The stone home, with its underground tunnel and stockade, was the proper choice for a fort throughout the French And Indian Warfare (1756 to 1763).
Typically internet hosting occasions like colonial gala’s, it’s a wonderful vacation spot for these wanting to understand some actually historic structure or be taught concerning the early days within the area after it was settled.
Fort Harrison is at 335 Predominant Road, Drayton, Virginia, 22821.
20- Go to The Thomas Harrison Home
The Thomas Harrison Home is Harrisobburg’s oldest home and was constructed by the town’s founder, Thomas Harrison, in 1750.
The one-and-a-half-storey limestone construction was constructed over a historic spring with options like a basement and a gabled roof.
Listed on the US Nationwide Register Of Historic Locations in 1973, it’s a must-see attraction for anybody who actually desires to get a really feel for what the town was like throughout its early days.
Thomas Harrison Home is at 30 West Bruce Road, Harrisonburg, Virginia, 22801.
