Things To Do in Middletown and Strasburg

Antiques lovers will want to hunt in nearby Strasburg, which has a bevy of fine outlets at the intersection of U.S. 11 and Va. 55. The Great Strasburg Antiques Emporium, 110 N. Massanutten St. (tel. 540/465-3711; www.strasburgemporium.com), is one of the state's largest shops, an enormous warehouse with vendors selling both antiques and a plethora of collectibles (I have become lost wandering around this labyrinth). It's open Sunday to Thursday from 10am to 5pm, Friday and Saturday from 10am to 6pm. A coffee shop serves sandwiches and salads for lunch.

You can't buy them, but there are plenty of antiques at the Strasburg Museum, 440 E. King St. (Va. 55; tel. 540/465-3175), just 2 blocks east of the emporium. It occupies the old train station where Stonewall Jackson brought his stolen locomotives. Admission is $3 for adults, $1 for teenagers, 50¢ for children 11 and younger. The museum is open May through October daily from 10am to 4pm.

Since 1961, the Wayside Theatre, 7853 Main St. (U.S. 11) in Middletown (tel. 540/869-1776; www.waysidetheatre.org), has staged fine productions by contemporary dramatists. The late actor Peter Boyle and actresses Susan Sarandon and Donna McKechnie began their careers here. Tickets range from $12 to $30. The box office is open Monday to Friday from 10am to 5pm.