| Visitors aren’t allowed to tour Mount Weather (19844 Blueridge Mountain Road, Bluemont), which serves as the emergency operations center for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, but can get a sense of the grounds through the barbed-wire fencing. According to Dab Kern, the center’s executive director, “It’s not uncommon for the facility to have over 1,200 employees on site in support of a large disaster declaration.” |
Hike half a mile to trail center and lodge Bears Den (18393 Blueridge Mountain Road, Bluemont; 540-554-8708) on the 2,175-mile Appalachian Trail for panoramic views of the Shenandoah Valley. Bears Den was built in the 1930s and is more like a bed and breakfast than a hostel, said manager Scott Wheaton. |
Housed in an 1829 home, The Ashby Inn (692 Federal St., Paris; 540-592-3900) serves up an American menu with European influences. Frequent guests find an ever-changing menu, although crab cakes are a diners’ favorite, said Michelle Pellatt, restaurant manager. Seasonal menus feature fresh local ingredients. |
Walking into American in Paris Antiques (694 Federal St., Paris; 540-592-9008) is like walking into a museum of Early American furniture, architectural details and art. Owner Gary Konkel acts as guide, explaining the construction of each piece. His personal favorite? A walnut cupboard from 1810 with a price tag of $12,000. |
