Announcing a new name for our Questing program:  

Quest Shenandoah!

So summer's over, but there's still time to win a patch for completing Quest Shenandoah's five inaugural Quests by October 15.  You can find links to the Quests on our Questing page or visit www.discoverfrontroyal.com.  Just display your passport with stamps from all five inaugural Quests at the Front Royal Visitor Center to redeem your patch.  You can buy passports at the Visitor Center for $1.00.

  Our committee had a booth at RiverFest in August, held at Raymond R "Andy" Guest, Jr.  Shenandoah River State Park.  We sold 79 Questing passports, hosted a popular stamp-making activity, launched a new Quest at the park, and connected with a ranger from the Ohio and Erie Canal Questing program, who says they have 21 Quests available from mid-April to mid-November.

It's here!  The FRIBA One-Day Dine-Around Quest! Complete it in one day: July 7 by midnight.  Five clues, five restaurants!  Finish it all and win a chance for $25 in restaurant coupons! Eat local, buy local! Yum!  No purchase necessary (but we hope you can't resist!)

Save the dates!  

July 7 - Front Royal Independent Business Alliance (FRIBA) Dine-Around Quest, featuring all five FRIBA member dining establishments.  Watch this space for delicious clues - win $25 in gift certificates!

 August 11 - RIVERFEST!  We'll have a booth there.  Andy Guest State Park.  More to come.

Check out our new webpage at discoverfrontroyal.com.  And our new competition patch. Design and register a new Quest by July 15 and earn this patch!  See our Questing tab for details and an entry form.

Front Royal celebrates National Trails Day with Questing!  Free family fun!

Bring your family and join us for one or more guided treasure hunts on National Trails Day, Saturday, June 2!  All Quests leave from the Front Royal-Warren County Visitor Center at 414 East Main in Front Royal. Please arrive on time. Passports are available at the Visitor Center for $1.00 or from your Questing guide. Get stamps from all five Quests in your passport by October 15, 2012 and win a limited edition patch!  Links to all Quests from our Questing page on this blog.

9:00am Thompson Hollow Quest:  One-mile round-trip Quest to Thompson Hollow swimming holes in the Shenandoah National Park.  Wear comfy shoes.  Bring water, snacks and your Questing passport.  You will carpool to trailhead near Bentonville. 1-2 hours.

10:00am Battle of Front Royal Quest:  Discover the history and excitement of America’s first urban street battle.  Paved surfaces.  1 hour. 

11:00am Happy Creek Arboretum Quest: Members of the Front Royal-Warren County Tree Stewards will lead you on a whimsical tree identification Quest at the Happy Creek Arboretum. Paved surfaces. 1 hour.

1:00pm (time change!) Downtown Front Royal Architecture Quest: Jennifer Keck leads a Quest exploring the architectural history of downtown Front Royal.  Paved surfaces. 1 hour.

2:00pm Possum’s Rest Detective Quest: Sonja Carlborg leads a 1.4-mile interactive nature Quest up to a lovely view point on the Appalachian Trail. Great for kids and families.  Carpool to Chester Gap trailhead.  Moderate difficulty – some steep uphill climbing for short distances.  1-2 hours.

Want to design a Quest of your own?  Ask for our contest guidelines at the Visitor Center or see the Questing page on this blog.  Win a patch and a chance at a free night at Skyland Lodge in Shenandoah National Park (subject to restrictions).  Spanish language Quests welcome.

Quests are here!  Just go to our Questing page and download today!

We're all glued to the Weather Channel here in Front Royal!  Looks like the skies will be clear for the hike though.  Any rain is scheduled to roll in between 1:00 and 2:00. You can call hike leader Tom Johnson tomorrow morning for an update if you wish: 703-615-5611.  Just bring rain gear.  (Believe it or not, an umbrella works great on the Trail.)  And there are spots where we can cut the hike short.

If the weather truly looks threatening by 1:00, we will close booths down and move Daisy's Girls, the Juliette Gordon Low performance, and the designation ceremony to the Warren County Community Center at 538 Villa Avenue in Front Royal.  Daisy's Girls will run at 2:00 and the ceremony will begin with the honor guard at 3:10.

The thru-hiker presentations at the Chamber of Commerce (106 Chester St) will take place at 11 and 12:30 regardless of weather (just like a thru-hike!).

Our Appalachian Duo musicians will move to The Lucky Star on Main Street for any remaining sets.  The adventure continues!

40% chance (and diminishing) of rain for Saturday, the big event!  In case of rain, Daisy’s Girls, the Juliette Gordon Low performance, and the Designation Ceremony will move to the Warren County Community Center, 538 Villa Avenue. Thru-hiker presentations will take place as scheduled at the Chamber of Commerce, 106 Chester St. Watch this space for further weather-related updates.

In the meantime, check out our new entry about our Quest-making competition under the Quests tab. Participants will win a special patch and best Quest will win a free weeknight staycation at Skyland Lodge in the Shenandoah National Park.

Countdown to the Big Day.  Watch this blog for regular updates.  Events page for April 21 event schedule. Press Releases for - um - press releases.  Quests for Questing sneak previews and competition details.  Earn one of 200 limited edition commemorative patches for completing all five inaugural Quests by October 15. First done, first served!

To sign up for PATC Guided Hike at 9am on April 21, please visit our Facebook event site!  Space is limited.  Hikers under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

Hi!  Welcome to the Front Royal/Warren County Appalachian Trail Community Steering Committee blog and website.  We hope you will join us at our designation ceremony, a full day of festivities on April 21, 2012.  You can find more information under Events and Quests.  

Don't miss Tom Johnson's presentation about the Trail 's history in our region on April 12 at Samuels Public Library in Front Royal.

Keep watching this space for updates.

Pre-Designation Day Activities:

Thursday, April 12, 6:30pm: History of the Appalachian Trail - From the Regional to the Local Level

Presentation at Samuels Public Library, Front Royal, by PATC historian Tom Johnson