source: Mandi Ehman
As part of my role as an Official Apartment Guide Organizing Blogger, I’ll be sharing some more tips in the coming weeks for exploring the Winchester area. If you haven’t already read my Shenandoah Valley staycation ideas, be sure to start there!
Today we’re creating a guide for visitors to the area. If you’re from Winchester, what are your must-do, must-see things? Be sure to share them in the comments!
Here are my recommendations for families with kids:
Parks
Jim Barnett Park
With two large playgrounds, there are plenty of swings and slides at Jim Barnett Park as well as picnic shelters, open fields and a walking path. If you’re staying in the heart of Winchester, this one is definitely the most convenient, but I recommend early mornings or late evenings to avoid the crowds!
Sherando Park
Surrounded by trees that offer plenty of shade, Sherando Park’s playground is a great choice for hot summer days. You’ll also find a 4.5-acre fishing lake, lighted fields, picnic shelters, hiking trails, a pool and an 18-hole disc golf course at this sprawling park.
Chet Hobert Park
Chet Hobert Park, in Berryville — just east of Winchester — is our favorite location for park days with friends from our homeschool group. The large playground offers hours of play, and there’s a grove of trees next to the picnic shelters where my girls and their friends love to play — building shelters, hiding out and escaping from the hot sun. This park also offers a fitness trail and pool.
source: Mandi Ehman
Restaurants
To be honest, our family really likes chain restaurants, and Winchester has a ton of great chain restaurants — TGIFriday’s, Olive Garden, Panera Bread, Longhorn Steakhouse, Chili’s, Glory Days, Applebees, Ledo’s Pizza, Macaroni Grill and more! But there are a few locally-owned restaurants we love as well:
Ichiban
I absolutely love Japanese hibachi grills, and Ichiban in Winchester is no exception. From the excitement of watching your meal cooked right in front of you to the delicious food, this is one of my favorites. (It is a bit expensive, but you can easily share meals to cut the cost!)
Los Toltecos
Discover authentic Mexican fare at Los Toltecos in Winchester. I highly recommend the enchiladas, which are my favorite!
Tari’s
If you’re up for a little drive, we highly recommend Tari’s in Berkeley Springs, WV. We have been eating there since we started dating (13 years ago!), and it’s a cute little artsy restaurant with great food!
Don’t Forget the Apples…
Winchester is known for a few things…that annual Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival (held the first weekend in May), for one. And the giant apples that are located around town, for another. If you’re looking for a fun, inexpensive activity, take a tour to locate all of the apples. You could take pictures of the apples by themselves, or of your family standing in front of them, draw your own sketches in a notebook or just see if you can spot them all!
Stop by the Winchester-Frederick County Visitor Center to pick up a brochure to help you locate all of the apples.
Follow Apartment Guide through your favorite social media networks (see above) for real-time tips and updates on making the most of your space (whether that’s your city or your home) and living on a budget!
P.S. If you’re new to the area, they’ve also got great resources to help you choose the best neighborhood for your family and feel at home in your new place quickly!
What else would you add to this list?
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Mandi Ehman is the founder and publisher behind Life Your Way and the co-author of All in Good Time, as well as a wife and the homeschooling mom to four beautiful girls. She lives with her family on a little slice of heaven in wild, wonderful West Virginia and loves coffee, chocolate, easy meals, beautiful things and minimalist spaces. |
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