Hike in Shenandoah National Park this June!

* NO hidden cleaning fees (can't do much about pesky VRBO fees.. ).

Bear Escape Cottage 1937 in the Historic Village of Port Republic on the National Register of Historic Places is close to
* Shenandoah National Park (14 mi)
* Harrisonburg & James Madison University (8 mi)
* Massanutten Ski Resort (10 mi)
* Historic Staunton (18mi)
* Luray Caverns (25 mi), Grand Caverns (3 mi)

At Bear Escape Cottage, you can
* Sleep six w/access to ONLY bathroom through primary bedroom
* High speed Wi-Fi, excellent cell service
* Walk to the Shenandoah River & swim, tube, or kayak, fly fish or just sit and enjoy the wild life, bald eagles, blue herons, kingfishers
* Grill, star gaze, roast marshmallows over the fire pit
* Outdoor shower, yes to hot water
* Attend a JMU function, from a Dukes game to Graduation
* Hit the slopes at Massanutten, skiing, snow boarding, snow tubing, all year waterpark, or a live band at Basecamp
* Visit the vibrant city of Staunton and its delightful architecture, scrumptious restaurants, and the amazing Blackfriars Theater, for live, affordable and world renown Shakespeare in the round
* Wineries? Cideries? Breweries, Distilleries? Yup! Cross Keys Vineyard, Brix and Columns Vineyard, Barren Ridge, Bluestone Vineyard, Old Hill Cidery, Bold Rock Cidery, Brothers Brewery, Pale Fire Brewery, Stable Craft Brewery, Cave Hill Brewery, to name a few, all 5 to 20 minutes away
* Civil War Battlefields? Port Republic is one! Visit the Colline, Cross Keys, New Market and Piedmont, too
* Climb a mountain! You are just 3 miles from Madison Run Trailhead at the base of Shenandoah National Park and can be on Skyline Drive in 14 miles from Swift Run Gap or Rockfish Gap park entrances
* Bike riding, caverns, antiquing, star gazing, BBQing, relaxing, unwinding, sightseeing

This is just a start on all there is to see and do. Gather the family and friends to enjoy this delightful, and scenic riverside Village of Port Republic, a National Historic Registered Site.

Bear Escape, a cute, very little (650 sq ft.) cottage gives you all the conveniences of a modern, two bedroom home, with spa bathroom ( BUT you do need to go through the primary bedroom to get to the ONLY bathroom) and fantastically appointed new kitchen, in the peaceful atmosphere of Virginia's Shenandoah Valley, right on the South Fork of the Shenandoah River.

Endless sights to see. Walk to the Shenandoah River. You are 5 minutes from Grand Caverns and 35 from Luray Caverns. Shenandoah River Rafters can outfit you for a float or kayak adventure. Outdoor Adventures (540-879-9030) The Shenandoah Winery Trail, Silverback Distillery, Bold Rock and Old Hill Cideries, Stablecraft, Three Notched, Skipping Rock Breweries, to name but just a few, are right nearby. Enjoy hiking in Shenandoah National Park, Skyline Drive and Blue Ridge Parkway, plus music and festivals, and restaurants that rival New York, but without the price tag. Scroll to the very end for a detailed listing of things to do and see, plus a list of some of my favorite restaurants.

CAVING: Grand Caverns is just 3 miles away, having one of the best collections of shield formations in the world, according to Parade Magazine. Luray Caverns is only 35 miles away. Check out Endless Caverns and Shenandoah Caverns, too.

STROLLING: You can walk everywhere in the Historic Village of Port Republic, a Civil War battle site, on the Virginia Historic Register. Just amble to the riverside for a picnic, jump in if it gets hot. Kayak the river, float in an inner tube, or fly fish. You are minutes from the base of Shenandoah National Park, where you can hike Madison Run Trailhead, the RipRap Trail, or just travel a bit more and conquer Old Rag or White Oak Canyon! Massanutten Four Season Resort is 20 minutes away. Port Republic has its own village run museum, too! Open Sundays and by special appointment.

Bear Escape Cottage has a Comfort Aire king size bed in the Sunflower bedroom. The Bear Cubs bedroom has a queen size Beauty Rest mattress which will give you gorgeous mountain views. Open the Drexel Heritage sleeper sofa, and fit two more. Please remember, this cottage has ONLY one big beautiful spa bathroom, that you access THROUGH the primary bedroom. The gorgeous, Italian tiled shower features four separate shower heads, a rain shower head with a handheld shower head, too, and two individual temperature controls. No longer be frozen (or scalded) because your partner has different ideas of comfort than you do. Or... enjoy a shower outside, under the stars, in the modern, temperature controlled, completely private outdoor shower. Outdoor shower karaoke anyone?

The kitchen, with stainless steel appliances, has beautiful blue macaubre quartzite counters. Breakfast is easy. Outside, you will find a gas grill, chaise lounges, patio furniture and hammock to enjoy the evening BBQ, fire pit and star gazing.

With over 55 languages spoken in Harrisonburg schools, you will understand that this small town boasts many interesting and culturally diverse restaurants:
* Fusion Korean at Mashita,
* Asian fusion at Beyond
* Modern American at the Chop House or Rocktown Kitchen
* Fine dining, with outdoor patio at the Joshua Wilton House (my absolute favorite!)

Staunton, just 20 minutes away, with the Blackfriars Theater, the only theater-in-the-round just like Stratford-on-Avon. Check out Zynodea Restaurant. James Madison University, Bridgewater College, and Eastern Mennonite University are only 10 to 20 minutes by car.

Want a gorgeous hike with waterfalls, swimming holes, rock scrambles and gorgeous views? You are just 3 miles from Madison Run Trailhead, and only 25 minutes from Swift Run Gap or Rockfish Gap entry to Skyline Drive in the Shenandoah National Park. Hike Doyle's Falls, Jones Falls, for waterfalls. Rock scramble? Bearfence Mountain is unbelievable!!!

Relax with a tour of local wineries, as Cross Keys, Brix and Columns, Barren Ridge, and Bluestone are 10 to 20 minutes drive. Plus you have access to about 50 more wineries within an hour's drive. Google Shenandoah Wine Trail. The Glass House Winery is unbelievably beautiful. Most of these venues feature music, too. You can easily cross Afton Mountain to reach Charlottesville for a days visit to UNESCO World Heritage site of University of Virginia and Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson.

Besides tastings and tours, you can enjoy local music, from Pick'n and Grinnin' to the best live dance music. Ski Massanutten only 18 minutes away. Local auctions held most days of the week will delight with bargain treasures. Green Valley Auctions, my favorite. See Auctionzip.com and use zip code 24471. Looking for antiques? Shop The Factory Antique Mall in Verona.

Virginia boasts many micro breweries, so stop for a cold one on your bike ride at Stablecraft Breweries for live music.

When you finally say "when", rinse off in the outdoor shower with fantastic views of the Valley. It IS the only way to star gaze. The Shenandoah Valley allows you clear views of the Milky Way, and invites you to compare the "milky wonders" of the best ice cream ever! Kline's vs. Grammie's vs. Wright's Dairy vs. Smiley's...Mmmmmm. If you can tear yourself away from the back yard chaise lounges, the succulent wonders arising from the BBQ, and the peaceful sounds of crickets and songbirds.

We have a guestbook and a Facebook page, with WHAT to do, WHEN to do it and HOW. I am updating this page continuously.

Just 150 miles (2.5 hours) from Washington, Richmond, and Roanoke. 50 miles from Charlottesville, 8 to Harrisonburg, 18 to Staunton.
Google "What's happening in Harrisonburg, or Staunton or Rockingham County."

What to see:
Grand Caverns ( 3 mi), Luray Caverns (25 mi), Endless Caverns (30 mi), Shenandoah Caverns (35 mi)
Skyline Drive and Blue Ridge Parkway (14 mi)
Civil War Battlefields: Port Republic (you're here!), New Market, Cross Keys, Piedmont,
Shenandoah National Park, George Washington National Forest, Sherando Lake, Natural Chimneys
Monticello, home of Thomas Jefferson, Ash Lawn, James Monroe's home, and Michie Tavern (delicious, colonial fare)
Museum of Port Republic
University of Virginia, UNESCO World Heritage Site

What to do:
Cycle Shenandoah Valley country roads
Hike waterfalls, or rock scrambles in Shenandoah National Park, George Washington National Forest
Horseback riding at Massanutten or Big Meadows, Mountain Top Ranch (mountaintopranch.com), Riversbend Ranch (riversbedranch.com)
Virginia Wine Trail, nearby Cross Keys Vineyard, Brix and Columns Vineyard, Bluestone Vineyard, Barren Ridge Winery
Local breweries, Three Brothers, Three Notched. The Stablecraft, Skipping Rock or Bold Rock Cidery or Old Hill Cidery

Guided Tours:
Outdoor Adventures, www.oaeinc.biz, (540) 879-9030 for guided rafting, kayaking, paddleboarding

Where to eat:
Joshua Wilton Restaurant (My Absolute Favorite!)
Chop House (Yummy steaks)
Mashita (Korean fusion)
Rocktown Kitchen
Clementines
Taste of Thai or Thai Flavor or Beyond (Asian fusion)
Many other cuisines, Salvadorian, Peruvian, Oaxacan, Central Mexico,
Zynandoa in Staunton

Music and theater:
Blackfriars Theater, the ONLY theater in the round outside Stratford-on-Avon
Lime Kiln Theater
Orkney Springs, a beautiful venue that rivals Wolf Trap
Massanutten Resort Base Camp
Bluestone Vineyard, Cross Keys (and many others)
Oak Grove Theater--an intimate theater, outdoors, in the woods!
Court Square Theater
Forbes Theater
Pale Fire Brewery

Special Events:
Historic Virginia Garden Tours (April)
Rockingham County Fair (August)
Shenandoah Valley British Car Show (First Sat in Oct.)
Shenandoah Cruise In/ ( multiple events)