CREDIT/GETTY IMAGES ©Eating & Sleeping
Front Royal 1
5 Apartment 2G Fusion^ $$$
(%540-636-9293; 206 S Royal Ave; 5 courses
$50, tapas $6-14; hfrom 6:30pm Sat & third
Thurs) The best restaurant in Front Royal is only
open once a week (well, twice if you count the
third Thursday of the month, when it serves
tapas). Owned and operated by a husband-
and-wife team (two chefs from the acclaimed
Inn at Little Washington), the Apartment’s
culinary philosophy is simple and wonderful:
uncompromisingly fresh ingredients fashioned
into ever-changing five-course fixed menus.5 Element Fusion $$
(%540-636-9293; jsgourmet.com; 206 S Royal
Ave; mains $12-22; h11am-3pm & 5-10pm Tue-
Sat; v) Element is the casual-but-gourmet-
quality cousin of Apartment 2G, owned and
operated by that restaurant’s proprietors. It’s a
superior spot for sandwiches and soup, and the
dinner mains, which revolve around a fusion of
Asia and Appalachia (think quail with shitaake
mushrooms), are excellent. Vegetarian options
(including a righteous avocado sandwich and
vegetables cooked in Caribbean jerk spices) are
plentiful and delicious.5 Jalisco’s Mexican^ $
(%540-635-7348; 1303 N Royal Ave; mains
$8-15; h11am-10pm Mon-Thu, to 11pm Fri &
Sat, to 9:30pm Sun) Jalisco’s has pretty good
Mexican food. It’s definitely the sort of Mexican
that derives flavor from refried beans and melted
cheese, but that’s not such a terrible thing (well,
unless we’re talking about your heart). The chili
relleños go down a treat, as do the margaritas.5 Main Street Mill & Tavern Cafe $
(%540-636-3123; 500 E Main St; mains $6-15;
h10:30am-9pm Sun-Thu, to 10pm Fri & Sat; c)^
This folksy restaurant is located in a spacious
renovated 1880s feed mill. There are no bigsurprises when it comes to the cuisine, which
is of the soup and sandwich and salad school of
cookery, but it is filling and satisfying and does
the job.4 Killahevlin B&B B&B $$
(%800-847-6132, 540-636-7335; http://www.vairish.
com; 1401 N Royal Ave; r/ste $155-225/255-
285) This Irish-style B&B is located in a lovely
old building that’s on the National Register
of Historic Places. There’s free beer on tap
for guests, because clichés sell as well as
quaintness, we suppose. Rooms are quite
flowery and service is friendly.4 Woodward House
on Manor Grade B&B $$
(%800-635-7011, 540-635-7010; http://www.
acountryhome.com; 413 S Royal Ave/US 320;
r $110-155, cottage $225; pW) This cluttered
B&B has eight bright rooms complemented by
owners who bring a lot of cheerful energy to the
table. Serves as a lovely base for exploring the
northern reaches of Shenandoah National Park.Shenandoah National Park
The following three accommodation
options are all operated by the same
concessionaire. There are also four
campgrounds (%877-444-6777; http://www.
recreation.gov; sites $15-25) in the park if
you’re so inclined.4 Big Meadows Lodge Lodge $$
(%540-999-2255; http://www.goshenandoah.com/
Big-Meadows-Lodge.aspx; Skyline Dr, MP 51.2;
r $130-210; hlate May-Oct; Wc) This Wonder
Years–reminiscent lodge and campsite is
located in the heart of Skyline Drive at MP 51.2
(Byrd Visitors Center). The atmosphere here is
very peaceful, as chipmunks and birds go flitting
about the branches. You can stay in either the
1939 stone lodge or one of the rustic cabins that
are the picture of 1950s vacation paradise. Wi-fiVIRGINIA.TRIPS.21
(^) SKYLINE DRIVE