Sarah*H
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Post by Sarah*H on Nov 29, 2018 13:21:40 GMT
I'm traveling there for the weekend with my son and I'm looking for something fun we can do Saturday night and/or the first part of the day on Sunday. Also restaurant recommendations. (I've been on TripAdvisor, just prefer real refupea suggestions/reviews if possible!) Recommendations don't have to be in Harrisonburg, we're willing to drive a bit as well. TIA!
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peabrain
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Post by peabrain on Nov 29, 2018 13:29:54 GMT
Ah! I wish I was closer. We took my dd out there to look at JMU. I really thought she might end up there, but now she's got another at the top of her list. Are you going to be looking there?
We had our dog with us so that limited us to restaurants and we stayed at some rinky hotel that allowed dogs. So I can't recommend that either.
Massanutten is nearby and has a fantastic indoor waterpark.
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Sarah*H
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Post by Sarah*H on Nov 29, 2018 14:09:35 GMT
Yes! He has an audition at JMU on Saturday. I'm really curious to see what it's like because we haven't been to any mid-size universities yet, just small liberal arts schools or huge universities. The water park sounds awesome but I doubt he'd have too much fun riding water slides with just his mom.  |
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desertgirl
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Post by desertgirl on Nov 29, 2018 15:31:51 GMT
Hiking trails in the Allegheny mountains and a bit further are the Luray Caverns.
I also want to tell you that I have a musical daughter and she was impressed with the music program at JMU - she got a scholarship (in science) elsewhere so she did not attend. Their marching band is one of the best in the nation.
As well, as a teacher, a lot of my former students went to JMU and loved, loved, loved it.
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Post by mom22grlz on Nov 29, 2018 15:34:38 GMT
I took dad there this summer to look at JMU. She really enjoyed the campus tour. It is one of her top schools. We didn’t really have much time to do anything other than the tour. Let us know how the audition goes!
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peabrain
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Post by peabrain on Nov 29, 2018 16:14:57 GMT
Yes! He has an audition at JMU on Saturday. I'm really curious to see what it's like because we haven't been to any mid-size universities yet, just small liberal arts schools or huge universities. The water park sounds awesome but I doubt he'd have too much fun riding water slides with just his mom. Super good luck to him. We thought they were very friendly at JMU. Ugg, they have this silly like dance-like almost dabbing thing (like the Marine and UR-RAW or whatever) for school spirit. It was super annoying at first but they wore me down. It's cute. I think all students get free tickets to football games and have pep ralleys before and walk over together doing all their school spirit stuff. I thought it was a beautiful campus. Let us know how it goes. And I for sure thing he should go to the waterpark with his MOM! |
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flute4peace
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Jul 3, 2014 14:38:35 GMT
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Post by flute4peace on Nov 29, 2018 17:19:14 GMT
My son lives there. He went to EMU, loved the area and stayed. He’s found a great group of friends and church family there.
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Post by tommygirl on Nov 29, 2018 17:27:01 GMT
We enjoyed Jimmy Madisons restaurant. It is located more toward downtown.
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Post by mustlovecats on Nov 29, 2018 18:23:53 GMT
If the green valley book fair is open, it’s fun and worth the short trek from Harrisonburg.
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Sarah*H
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Post by Sarah*H on Nov 29, 2018 18:33:19 GMT
Oh wow! This looks amazing and yes, it's open!
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Post by Bridget in MD on Nov 29, 2018 19:15:33 GMT
Yes! He has an audition at JMU on Saturday. I'm really curious to see what it's like because we haven't been to any mid-size universities yet, just small liberal arts schools or huge universities. The water park sounds awesome but I doubt he'd have too much fun riding water slides with just his mom. I graduated from JMU in 1998!! LOVED every second I was there!!!! I love the Green Valley Book Fair! It will be packed if its the first weekend, but totally worth it! It's about 20 min south in Staunton. Also in Staunton is the Shenandoah Shakespeare Express! My English professor (who basically specialized in Shakespeare) recreated/contstructed the Globe there. I'm dying to see a performance THERE. Here's a link! Richard III and As you like it are still there this weekend!!!! americanshakespearecenter.com/Massanutten is about 30 min east of Hburg - students used to get super cheap lift tix on Fri nights. But probably no snow and I wouldn't go there for the waterpark unless I had little kids to entertain too. I believe they had an outdoor skating rink too? I'd stick to downtown Harrisonburg. Such a quaint town (well, it was, LOL). If Spanky's is still there, we used to go there all the time (student friendly, they used to encourage graffitti everywhere and anywhere - sandwichs were fun, and filling). BTW - the Marching Royal Dukes were in the Macy's Day Parade for this Thanskgiving!!! They are world renowned. There is a mall too. But eh. I'd drive around campus, and go to the theater and the GVBF. Love Harrisonburg! Good luck! |
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Mystie
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Post by Mystie on Nov 29, 2018 19:52:37 GMT
My brother lives in Harrisonburg and has for more than 20 years. He went to EMU and stayed forever! It's such a nice little city and a beautiful setting. I second whoever mentioned Jimmy Madison's--it's very good. That's in downtown. If you like BBQ, Hank's Grille and Bar out in McGaheysville is great, we often eat there when we're visiting my brother. I'd say it's about 20 minutes east of downtown.
The book fair is a lot of fun. It's great that it will be open while you're there! The Dayton farmer's market (south of town) is nice but I'm not sure what the hours are for Saturday. It's lots of little shops indoors.
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Post by Bridget in MD on Nov 29, 2018 20:02:56 GMT
My brother lives in Harrisonburg and has for more than 20 years. He went to EMU and stayed forever! It's such a nice little city and a beautiful setting. I second whoever mentioned Jimmy Madison's--it's very good. That's in downtown. If you like BBQ, Hank's Grille and Bar out in McGaheysville is great, we often eat there when we're visiting my brother. I'd say it's about 20 minutes east of downtown. The book fair is a lot of fun. It's great that it will be open while you're there! The Dayton farmer's market (south of town) is nice but I'm not sure what the hours are for Saturday. It's lots of little shops indoors. After I graduated, my husband hoped we would find jobs to keep us in the area! Just wasn't there at the time.... but we do love the area! |
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flute4peace
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Post by flute4peace on Nov 29, 2018 21:49:18 GMT
My brother lives in Harrisonburg and has for more than 20 years. He went to EMU and stayed forever! It's such a nice little city and a beautiful setting. I second whoever mentioned Jimmy Madison's--it's very good. That's in downtown. If you like BBQ, Hank's Grille and Bar out in McGaheysville is great, we often eat there when we're visiting my brother. I'd say it's about 20 minutes east of downtown. The book fair is a lot of fun. It's great that it will be open while you're there! The Dayton farmer's market (south of town) is nice but I'm not sure what the hours are for Saturday. It's lots of little shops indoors. Darn that EMU. It just sucks them in and never lets them leave.   |
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flute4peace
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Post by flute4peace on Nov 29, 2018 22:04:07 GMT
Sarah*H I just asked my son's GF and she recommended El Charro (they go there a lot, I believe), Buffalo Wild Wings, Macadoes and Thomas House.
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Post by ruralgirl on Nov 30, 2018 0:35:38 GMT
My daughter's a senior at JMU! Let's see, Downtown Harrisonburg is worth checking out and there are several good restaurants there. I've eaten at Food.Bar.Food, Jack Brown's, Capital Ale House, and that's all I can think of off-hand. Other than that, I really can't think of much to do around Harrisonburg other than Massanutten like others mentioned or hiking. If you're on campus at JMU, you may want to check at the UREC fitness center. It is a great facility, has a rock climbing wall, and everything fitness you can imagine.
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Sarah*H
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Post by Sarah*H on Nov 30, 2018 1:03:19 GMT
Thanks everyone! I ran the suggestions by him and we are going to go to the book fair and maybe Luray Caverns on Sunday. The weather is supposed to be terrible so no hiking this time. He loves rock climbing so I'll have to mention the fitness center to him as well. And I kept thinking EMU was a typo for JMU until I finally looked it up!  |
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Post by mustlovecats on Nov 30, 2018 1:07:26 GMT
Thanks everyone! I ran the suggestions by him and we are going to go to the book fair and maybe Luray Caverns on Sunday. The weather is supposed to be terrible so no hiking this time. He loves rock climbing so I'll have to mention the fitness center to him as well. And I kept thinking EMU was a typo for JMU until I finally looked it up! I’ve attended a couple of conferences there and it’s a pretty campus. I’d love it if one of my kids went there. It feels so friendly. |
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flute4peace
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Post by flute4peace on Nov 30, 2018 1:10:32 GMT
Thanks everyone! I ran the suggestions by him and we are going to go to the book fair and maybe Luray Caverns on Sunday. The weather is supposed to be terrible so no hiking this time. He loves rock climbing so I'll have to mention the fitness center to him as well. And I kept thinking EMU was a typo for JMU until I finally looked it up! Haha. I hadn't ever heard of JMU until I went to visit my son last summer (he's been in H-Burg for 3 years now). |
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Post by Really Red on Nov 30, 2018 2:28:37 GMT
My son's at JMU. It was his last choice and I dragged him to look at it and he fell in love with the engineering department - a little school inside the big one. It's not a mid-size school! It has 20K students. Maybe you meant Eastern Mennonite, though? That's down the street. My son bikes everywhere in Harrisonburg. It's made for bikers.
I have heard great things about Jimmy Madison's and Harrisonburg downtown is really cute. Very busy, though.
I love Staunton. I'd absolutely head there if I had the time.
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flute4peace
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Post by flute4peace on Nov 30, 2018 2:54:54 GMT
I'm excited to hear of so many pea kids in H-Burg! I struggle with my boy being so far away but he loves it there and that's what's important.
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flute4peace
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Post by flute4peace on Nov 30, 2018 3:09:06 GMT
My daughter just said there's a coffee shop called Black Sheep that is really good.
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Post by kikitwo on Nov 30, 2018 3:09:53 GMT
One of daughters graduated from there. We only live about 90 minutes away. She has a great job with the Government in D.C.
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Sarah*H
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Post by Sarah*H on Nov 30, 2018 3:16:19 GMT
It's mid-size compared to Penn State, NYU, Temple, etc. In my small LAC loving heart, it's huge though! I guess it's similar to Syracuse in size but definitely not in setting. At any rate, I'm really looking forward to seeing it this weekend  |
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Post by buckeyegirl on Nov 30, 2018 3:42:41 GMT
We live about 2 1/2 hours away and spent almost a week there at the state Little League baseball tournament. Macado's is a staple, nothing fancy just good food. If you haven't made reservations yet, the Residence Inn was very clean, spacious rooms and super friendly staff. If you go to Staunton, it's pronounced Stanten, not at all like its spelled. |
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Post by Zee on Nov 30, 2018 4:03:57 GMT
It's a really cute place downtown. DH spent many months there on a job a few years ago. He loved Billy Jack's and claims it has the best burgers he's ever had. Also recommends Jack Brown's. Bella Luna he recommends for wood fired pizza. Also Union Station. I think he really liked it there.
ETA Jimmy Madison's if you like whiskey bars.
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Post by cannmom on Nov 30, 2018 17:30:18 GMT
Ds is a freshman at JMU. We ate at Jimmy Madison's on a visit recently and really liked it. Lots of fun places downtown to eat. DH and I stayed at Hotel Madison when we visited DS and it was really easy since it's right on campus.
I was really convinced DS would end up at a very small LAC. JMU was the last school we visited and was not really on our radar of possible schools at all. And..... he loved it. Very quickly decided it was the place for him and he has made a home there. By all indications he is really thriving there. Now if he would only decide on a major!
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Post by sabrinae on Nov 30, 2018 17:40:32 GMT
My son's at JMU. It was his last choice and I dragged him to look at it and he fell in love with the engineering department - a little school inside the big one. It's not a mid-size school! It has 20K students. Maybe you meant Eastern Mennonite, though? That's down the street. My son bikes everywhere in Harrisonburg. It's made for bikers. I have heard great things about Jimmy Madison's and Harrisonburg downtown is really cute. Very busy, though. I love Staunton. I'd absolutely head there if I had the time. 20K is midsize. Ohio State has over 66K students. Penn State has 47K undergraduate and about another 40K graduate. That’s similar throughout the Big Ten. |
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Sarah*H
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Post by Sarah*H on Nov 30, 2018 20:24:10 GMT
I've made a list of all the restaurant recommendations - thank you everyone!
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Post by Really Red on Nov 30, 2018 22:37:50 GMT
My son's at JMU. It was his last choice and I dragged him to look at it and he fell in love with the engineering department - a little school inside the big one. It's not a mid-size school! It has 20K students. Maybe you meant Eastern Mennonite, though? That's down the street. My son bikes everywhere in Harrisonburg. It's made for bikers. I have heard great things about Jimmy Madison's and Harrisonburg downtown is really cute. Very busy, though. I love Staunton. I'd absolutely head there if I had the time. 20K is midsize. Ohio State has over 66K students. Penn State has 47K undergraduate and about another 40K graduate. That’s similar throughout the Big Ten. I still submit it is large. Ohio State, Penn State and the like are EXTRA-large. Dang! I had no idea there were that many students at those schools, though! |
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