Shopping

Beverley Street between Lewis and Market streets -- downtown Staunton's main drag -- is a fine place to browse a number of art galleries and antiques stores. I'm always left astounded by the vast collection of old stuff crammed into Worthington Hardware Co., 26 W. Beverley St. (tel. 540/885-0891), which once was a hardware store. The Wharf District, along Middlebrook Avenue and Byers Street, has more antiques shops.

Fans of the singing Statler Brothers, who grew up here, can buy their albums and souvenirs at their Statler Brothers Gift Shop, 1409 N. August St. (tel. 540/885-7297; www.statlerbrothers.com).

The town of Waynesboro, 15 miles east of Staunton on I-64, is home to the Artisans Center of Virginia, 801 W. Broad St. (U.S. 340; tel. 877/508-6069 or 540/946-3294; www.artisanscenterofvirginia.org), which represents more than 200 skilled artisans from throughout Virginia, each chosen by a jury. You can both browse and buy their work in the center's gallery. Also in Waynesboro is the P. Buckley Moss Museum, 150 P. Buckley Moss Dr. (tel. 800/343-8643 or 540/949-6473; www.pbuckleymoss.com), which displays her endearing paintings, many inspired by the valley's Amish and Mennonite communities. She has been a full- or part-time resident of Waynesboro since 1964.