Strasburg is known for its railroading connection, its early Anabaptist settlers, and historic importance in early western migration. I’m referring to Strasburg, Virginia, a small city on the state’s western edge with striking similarities to our Strasburg here in Lancaster County. 

America250, the country’s biggest birthday party yet! To celebrate with a weekend getaway offering history, fun and celebration, check out Strasburg, Virginia. The town personifies VA250’s slogan, “America. Made in Virginia.” 

I spent a few days discovering the parallels and contrasts between here and there. What follows are reasons why you might want to make the 165-mile road trip to Shenandoah County. If you need more convincing, Travel & Leisure recently named the region “Virginia’s Best Kept Secret.” 

History

Rivers snake through mountain ridges, while traffic on Interstate 81 (home of Virginia’s first Buc-ee’s location in Rockingham County) buzzes north and south. Here, locals pronounce Strasburg with a more European tongue: StrAHsburg. The small city of 7,290 residents (Strasburg, PA’s population is 3,099) was founded in 1761. (Strasburg, PA, predates it by about 30 years.) Early Shenandoah County settlers were exclusively of German descent, and accounts claim most non-native residents came from York, Montgomery and Lancaster counties. Pre-Civil War (several battlefields dot the area), Strasburg was known for its pottery. By 1890, Strasburg was an important industrial center and home to the region’s largest printing and publishing establishments (something we also know about here in Lancaster County).

Today, Anabaptist communities inhabit parts of the Shenandoah Valley, including Strasburg. The Virginia Strasburg Mennonite Church moved into its new home, the former Strasburg Middle School, in 2005. 

Ag Life

Agriculture remains the quiet but unmistakable backbone of Shenandoah County, shaping both its landscape and its identity. Fields of corn, hay and grazing cattle roll out toward the horizon as I travel south. Generational farms anchor the local economy, supplying regional markets with beef, dairy and specialty crops while preserving the open vistas and mountain views.

During my visit, I stayed at Spring Valley Cottages. My home away from home was The Wren, a one-room, modern cabin on the Dr. Isaac Brumback “Century Farm” (a Commonwealth of Virginia official designation honoring farms operated by the same family for more than 100 years) and home of Woodbine Farm Market (woodbinefarmmarket.com). The market is a popular spot with locals looking for fresh baked goods, jams and local honey, and some of the 25 varieties of apples grown on the farm. In Strasburg, many of the town’s restaurants source directly from nearby farms.

Both Have Breweries

Box Office Brewery (boxofficebrewery.com), occupying the former circa-1918 Strand Theater in Strasburg, VA, started brewing beer in 2018. The selection includes the straw-colored and mild Prohibition Pilsner, made with Hallertauer hops and traditional German malt; Pottown Cream Ale (named after Strasburg’s nickname, Pot Town, because it was the center of stoneware pottery in the 1800s) is sweetened with pure cane sugar for a crisp and clear beer; Half Moon Beach Hazy IPA is a West Coast style IPA made with Eureka hops. The bar offers up to 17 beers and several Low ABV and alcohol-free brews.

Bespoke Brewing opened in our Strasburg in 2021, riding a popular movement in Lancaster County. Bespoke launched its first barrel-aged series (a Barleywine and two stouts) last November. (Our Strasburg also boasts an outpost of Spring House Brewing Company.) 

Both Box Office and Bespoke are neighborhood gathering spots, and Box Office packs the old theatre with live entertainment on the weekends.

Baked Goods, Antiques and Art

It rhymes with pretzel, so I assumed there were some great baked goods at Bretzel’s Hand Crafted Breads & Treats (facebook.com/bretzelsstrasburgva/). I was right! The pretzels are thick, fluffy, and … stuffed. Try the stuffed pizza pretzel. This takeaway spot recently merged its menu with another downtown Strasburg institution, Crabby Maggie’s Seafood. 

The original Bretzel’s location was inside The Strasburg Emporium (thestrasburgemporium.com), a sprawling, two-story maze of antique dealers and curiosity sellers offering everything from new J. Cole albums to 19th century furniture. 

Of course, Lancaster County’s Strasburg has its share of antiquing spots like the Old Mill Antiques Store and Strasburg Antique Market.

As for art, in Virginia it can be found on the walls of buildings. The Staufferstadt Murals of Strasburg (staufferstadt.org) is a public art initiative with work from world-renowned artists. The display has garnered national and international acclaim and includes 10 (and growing) murals, one dating back to the New Deal.

Art plays a role in Strasburg, PA, as well, as it is home to The Lancaster County Art Association. Founded in 1936, the nonprofit offers exhibits and classes.

Trains, of Course

Pennsylvania’s rail history is well known among railroading enthusiasts, epitomized by local spots like the Strasburg Rail Road, The National Toy Train Museum, and the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania. Train enthusiasts can spend days in Strasburg, PA.

The same can be said of Strasburg, VA. Since its first station opened in 1854, the railroad has played a key role in the life and economy of Strasburg, Virginia. Part of the Monopoly-famous B&O Railroad, the line provided regular passenger service and transportation of local agricultural products, including grain and fruit crops, to eastern markets. Virginia’s western railways suffered extensive damage during the Civil War, and Confederate general Stonewall Jackson named Strasburg “the fountainhead of rail traffic for the South.” 

Strasburg was the first town in western Virginia served by two railroads. The Strasburg Museum (strasburgmuseum.org) is housed in a circa-1890 pottery factory turned railroad depot. Even the local collegiate summer league baseball team honors the town’s railroading past; the Strasburg Express are the 2025 Valley Baseball League champions. Norfolk Southern trains still run through town.

Red Letter Months 

Just like our Strasburg, the Virginia version likes to celebrate its past and present. For example, Mayfest takes place in May, while comfort food is paid its due in November with the Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup Festival, which offers plenty of twists on this age old favorite. And, for adventure seekers, the Route 11 Yard Crawl, which is held in August,offers 40 miles of finds and bargains along a stretch of the region’s Route 11 highway.  

Despite all its similarities to Lancaster County’s Strasburg – both are uniquely quaint, proud of their community history, and welcoming to visitors – I discovered that Virginia’s Strasburg feels like an entirely different place. 

For more information, go to visitshenandoahcounty.com. 

SIDETRIPS

While in Strasburg I ventured outside of town to a couple places I recommend checking out: