Really enjoyed it. Had a great guide, Luke. Nice history of a 200-year-old oldest in the country…read more They hold events there still, we can concerts. Large rooms, easy to see all the formations in the walkways are easy to pass through. Quite a few steps for those who are challenged to do physical walking but otherwise it's pretty cool. Been to quite a few caverns and this was one of the better ones and a lot to see.

Such a fun experience! Make sure to wear good tennis shoes or hiking shoes. There are rocks along…read morethe path that can roll your ankle. I made the mistake of forgetting my tennis shoes at home.

So glad that we an had opportunity to visit the beautiful and historic Spotts-Coffman house. I've…read morebeen in and around Staunton my entire life, and loved to be able to go into one of the old town houses. The guide goes over the history of the house and of Charlotte Spotts DeBaun Coffman, a local figure in the history of Staunton, who owned the home and lived there from 1901 to 1988. The Victorian era embellishments in the house are beautiful, with detailed ceilings, doors, floors, and stained glass. The furniture, decor, and odds and ends they've chosen make the house cozy and interesting. None of Charlotte's original furniture is in the house, but what's there now fits the style of her era, and most of it is based around the Victorian time frame. Don't forget to say hello to the duckling for me! You can tell that the owner and guide, Kevin, truly loves the house and is doing a wonderful job keeping a vital part of history alive. He treats Charlotte's memory with dignity and respect, and shows off the house with obvious pride. They also host special events like a Holiday Tea or a Murder Mystery night, which I'd love to attend some day. Tours are available on an appointment basis - if you plan on visiting the Woodrow Wilson House and Museum down the street, give them a call and see if a time slot is available. We paid $15 a person, which I never mind spending on something like this. If you'd like to visit Charlotte's grave, she and her family members (and both husbands!) are in the nearby beautiful and historic Thornrose Cemetery. Enter from Thornrose Ave and take a right; circle past the large mausoleum and the plots will be on your left. Look for the large "Spotts" stone - the markers are all right by the road.

From the owner: Victorian era house and museum. See what life was like over 100 years ago. Guided tours are by…read moreprepaid appointment. Call us to arrange 540-380-0030

Staunton has been recognized as one of "The 20 Best Small Towns in America." After a few days here,…read moreI can understand why, especially if you are interested in the history of the American South. Incorporated officially in 1801, its founding goes back at least to 1747 when the plan for a town at this location was developed by the colonial governor of the Virginia Colony, and given the name Staunton after the popular governor's wife, Rebecca. I guess the name "Gooch," didn't pass muster (The actual name of the appointed official). The arrival of T.J. Collins in 1891 was the primary factor in the town having such a rich and diverse commercial and residential architecture. He and his two sons designed over 200 buildings downtown, primarily along Beverley and Augusta Streets, the main intersection. A guided or even unguided walking tour will show you many styles of classic architecture, including Romanesque Revival, Second Empire, Chateauesque, Richardsonian Romanesque, Queen Anne, and Italianate. The Staunton Public Library is a result of the refurbishment of the original schoolhouse drafted and built under the guidance of T.J. He left behind a town center that make it unique and worthy of a few days exploration. When exhausted from all the intricacies of architecture and physically tired from climbing up and down the hills, you can take a break and visit The Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library and Museum and catch a live performance at Blackfriars Theater. While there aren't many five star restaurants here, there are enough local kitchens to keep you satisfied and a brace of taverns and breweries to keep your stomach full and whistle wet almost any hour of the day, except Monday, when it seems most of town is closed up tight.

There's an incredible amount of historically significant cameras on display at the Camera Heritage…read moreMuseum in Staunton, VA. The owner and curator of this collection was amazingly informative and the tour (about 1 hour) was well worth the small fee he charged. If you'd like to learn more about photography, you'd be hard pressed to find a better place!

Enjoyed my tour at the Camera Heritage Museum! Staff was very friendly and very enthusiastic to…read moreanswer any questions.

I appreciate having the Visulite in downtown Staunton! They show independent and foreign films, as…read morewell as mainstream movies. The seats are very comfortable, and the staff is friendly. It is near fun local stores, cafes, and a gelato shop for before and after the movie :)

Fun, old school atmosphere. Excellent movie theater with various viewing rooms - right in downtown…read moreStaunton on Beverly. And just around the corner from the wonderful local gelato shop

If you've toured the Grand Caverns walking tour and find yourself peering into the dark recesses of…read morethe cavern, the Fountain Cave adventure tour is a must on your next visit. Visiting on a day when temperatures were only forecast to reach a high of 42F, it was pleasantly warm inside Fountain Cave and did not require bundling up for most people. Long sleeves, long pants, and boots, are required due to the terrain you "may" cover in addition to keeping the [damaging] oils from your skin off the cave features. Helmets, mounted lighting, gloves and knee pads are provided and were all in good condition. The floor of the 1800s walkway is mostly dry but moist areas are present throughout the tour and can be very slippery; following the instructions provided by the tour guides (three points of contact) will ensure everyone stays upright in these areas. Dana and Ashelynn were our guides for a group of 7 and always took point and rear to ensure everyone was safe and accounted for. Dana took the prominent role in discussing the history, and geology, of Fountain Cave and was a very engaging guide. While Fountain Cave is not as large as Grand Caverns, getting to tour this cave by headlamp and put yourself INTO the exhibit is truly an awesome experience. The bonus comes in the form of the Adventure "opportunities" that run near or parallel to the original 1800s pathway; for those not able or interested in taking the Adventure routes, you simply stay on the 1800s walkway and meet up with the rest of the group a small distance down the path. There are a few instances on the tour where a break is taken in total darkness. The first is a short ways into the tour and is designed to show you the amount of light that can be picked up from the entrance way after your eyes are given time to adjust. The second sets the stage to show how the cave would have been illuminated by a small candle. Note: please be respectful of the other guests if taking photos in these black-out moments; lowering your camera to the lowest brightness setting and staying back from the group prevents ruining the experience for others. IMO, the only way to make the Fountain Cave tour better is to increase the length of time spent within. Just like the Grand Caverns tour, I still found myself peering into the areas off the guided tour path wondering...is there more to this cave that hasn't been discovered yet.

This is a hidden treat for those who have an adventurous side, are athletic, and want to stay away…read morefrom the crowds at Luray. As avid rock climbers and athletes, this was perfect for us - crawling around in hidden passages, scrambling over formations, and challenging our comfort zone. Our guides - Karen and Abby - were incredible! The amount of knowledge, stories, and personality is what made this tour not just great, but amazing! Highly recommended. Be wary, it is physically strenuous.

What started off as visiting all the states in a lifetime, has evolved to capturing the background…read moreof the individual, history, and national/world events held within each Presidential Library. The Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library in Staunton, VA is absolutely worth a stop while in Virginia! Located in a charming downtown neighborhood, (already a treat), parking is easy and convenient. Inquire at the front for a tour - the guides are well-versed, and excited to share their knowledge of this president's childhood, upbringing, schooling, and political rise; it's fascinating to reflect on how his tenure helped shaped the country's view of the world.

Visiting this area during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend and I suggested to family members that I…read morewould like to visit here. I was not very familiar with what this former president accomplished while serving during his term and we all learned something we didn't know. This museum has a lot of interesting things to look at and learn from and they offer tours as well. Was glad I had this museum on my list of places to explore and we spent over an hour looking through various rooms that were able to be viewed. I would suggest this as a place to visit.

Upstairs on the third floor, a very helpful office staff member who apologized for the…read morereorganization but she let us in on Friday when we were supposed to have called ahead for an appointment. Saved time before going to the Courthouse because they had the relevant indexes!