Hotels in Front Royal

The top chain hotel here is the Holiday Inn & Suites at Front Royal Blue Ridge Shadows (tel. 800/465-4329 or 540/631-3050; www.holidayinn.com/frontroyalva), in the rapidly developing stretch of U.S. 522/U.S. 340 north of I-66. It's adjacent to the Blue Ridge Shadows Golf Club. Nearby is a Hampton Inn (tel. 800/426-7866 or 540/635-1822), on U.S. 340 south of I-66.

Within walking distance of the visitor center and museums is the recently renovated Quality Inn Skyline Drive (tel. 800/228-5151 or 540/635-3161), on U.S. 522 east of U.S. 340. An inexpensive Super 8 (tel. 800/800-8000 or 540/636-4888) is at the junction of U.S. 340 and Va. 55.

My favorite bed-and-breakfast here is Killahevlin, 1401 N. Royal Ave. (tel. 800/847-6132 or 540/636-7335; www.vairish.com), occupying a hilltop mansion built by William Edward Carson, an Irishman who came to the United States in 1885 when he was 15 years old and amassed a fortune in the limestone business. The house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Among its luxurious amenities is an Irish pub just for guests.

Another good choice is the cozy Woodward House on Manor Grade, 413 S. Royal Ave./U.S. 340 South (tel. 800/635-7011; www.acountryhome.com), 7 blocks south of the visitor center.