Free bus rides; Natural Chimneys named hidden gem — The buzz
Laura Peters
STAUNTON - Ride the bus for free in the area for a day next week and Natural Chimneys is recognized by Reader's Digest — here's the buzz.
Free ride
Residents in the Staunton, Augusta County and Waynesboro areas will be able to ride the BRITE buses for free on Sept. 19.
The event is part of Try Transit Week, which is an educational event designed to encourage Virginians to reduce their use of single-occupancy vehicles and try a form of public transportation, a release said.
Riders can catch any of the following BRITE Bus routes free of charge that day.
Where to ride
- East & West 250 Connector — connects to the Staunton routes, the Waynesboro Circulator, the Stuarts Draft Link and the Blue Ridge Community College Shuttle and provides service between the cities of Staunton and Waynesboro in the U.S. 250 corridor, with stops including Augusta Health and the Wilson Workforce and Rehabilitation Center Campus.
- Stuarts Draft Link — provides service within Stuarts Draft, and connections with Fishersville and Waynesboro. Stops include residential areas, Augusta Health facilities, and employment centers.
- Blue Ridge Community College Shuttle — the Blue Ridge Community College (BRCC) Shuttle offers two routes. The BRCC South Shuttle provides service between Staunton and the BRCC Campus in Weyers Cave. The BRCC Shuttle North provides service from the campus to Harrisonburg through Bridgewater, Dayton and Mt. Crawford.
- Waynesboro Circulator — travels within the city limits of Waynesboro, providing connections to employment centers, retail, and medical facilities.
- Staunton North & West Loops and Downtown Trolley — The Downtown Trolley serves historic downtown Staunton destinations; the North and West Loops serve outlying neighborhoods and medical and retail destinations; the Saturday Night Trolley operates Saturday evenings providing connections to retail and entertainment destinations.
- Paratransit and Deviated Fixed Routes are also included in the free ride day.
Try Transit Week was created by the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation and transit operators across the state to spread the word about public transportation accessibility and its numerous benefits, a release said.
As part of Try Transit Week, Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation sponsors a Try Transit Week pledge giveaway. Participants who pledge to try transit are automatically entered for a chance to win a year of free transit service from a participating Virginia transit operator, as well as a pair of round-trip tickets aboard Amtrak’s Northeast Regional train.
Last year’s grand prize winner was Jenny Cox of Verona who was presented with a unique one-year pass for BRITE Bus transit.
Pledges will be accepted through September 21, 2018. More information at trytransitweek.org.
Hidden gem
Natural Chimneys in Mount Solon was recently recognized by Reader's Digest in its "50 Hidden Gems in Every State" list.
The natural wonder was featured alongside others like the Black Sands Beach in Sausalito, California, the Troll in Wichita, Kansas and New York City's Old City Hall Station.
"This scenic spot is the home of seven rock formations, a reminder of a time when an ocean covered the Shenandoah Valley," the article said. "In addition to the rocks, there is an annual jousting tournament, biking trails and a camping area that are open year round."
Natural Chimneys is a park operated by Augusta County. It is also home to the Red Wings Music Festival every July. According to the county's website, the seven Natural Chimneys tower as much as 120 feet offering views of the Valley.
"Viewed from one angle, the formations resemble enormous chimneys standing in bleak contrast to the greenery of the Valley," the county's website said. "Take a few steps, though, and the chimneys are transformed into the massive turrets of a foreboding medieval castle."
Natural Chimneys is located at 94 Natural Chimneys Lane in Mount Solon.
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The buzz is a short recap of area business trends. Send ideas to reporter Laura Peters at lpeters@newsleader.com or follow her @peterslaura and @peterpants.