Jackson is memorialized in a rollicking musical called Stonewall Country , performed under the stars in summer at Lexington's Lime Kiln Theater. The Shenandoah Valley was home to other great American leaders. Woodrow Wilson was born in Staunton, and a museum next to his birthplace tells all about his life and his vision for world peace. Also in Lexington is a museum honoring George C. Marshall, a VMI graduate who went on to lead the U.S. Army during World War II and later devised a plan to rebuild Europe after the war. Visitors to the valley need not have a strong interest in history to enjoy the area's attractions.
Majestic caverns filled with ancient and colorful calcite formations await the curious.
The magnificence of Natural Bridge, once owned by Thomas Jefferson, is another destination. Rivers invite you to take a lazy canoe trip or an action-packed whitewater run. Antiques lovers will delight in shops set in charming small towns. The northern stretch of U.S. Highway 11, between Winchester and Staunton, is known as Antiques Alley, with dozens of shops and antique centers interspersed between the two cities. If you time your visit right, you'll catch some of the East's finest fairs and festivals, including Virginia's No. 1 agricultural fair at Harrisonburg, the Maple Festival in Highland County and the popular Apple Blossom Festival in Winchester.