So if I say Shenandoah Valley, what do you consider? Most likely Shenandoah Nationwide Park? Perhaps the Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway? You aren’t fallacious, however there may be extra to the Shenandoah Valley than simply scenic drives and mountain climbing within the Nationwide Park. Questioning in regards to the issues to do in Shenandoah Valley, Virginia? I’ve obtained you coated…from the small cities to go to to the perfect sights for households, maintain studying for causes to plan a visit to Shenandoah.
The place is Shenandoah Valley?
The Shenandoah Valley stretches from Harpers Ferry, West Virginia to Roanoke, Virginia. Situated within the western a part of the state of Virginia, the Shenandoah Valley covers an space of roughly 200 miles in size and 20 miles in width, bordered by the Blue Ridge Mountains to the east and Allegheny Mountains to the west.
Through the Civil Warfare, this area was nicknamed the “breadbasket of the Confederacy.” In the present day, this space is an outside wonderland, with bucolic farms and nation roads. There are pure wonders just like the Luray and Shenandoah Caverns, and Pure Bridge, in addition to beautiful scenic drives alongside the Skyline Drive and Blue Ridge Parkway.
The Shenandoah Valley additionally contains Shenandoah Nationwide Park and the favored Bryce Mountain and Massanutten Resorts. There are many out of doors adventures available together with biking, mountain climbing, paddle sports activities, and horseback driving.
This area has been memorialized in songs like “Oh, Shenandoah!” I bear in mind my first time driving the Skyline Drive as a child and pondering…so there may be the place “oh purple mountain’s majesty” is referring to in This Land is Your Land.
How one can Get to Shenandoah Valley
To get to the Shenandoah Valley, there are a number of choices relying in your start line and if you wish to journey north to south or vice versa. If you’re coming from Washington, D.C., you may take Interstate 66 west for about 70 miles till you attain Entrance Royal, which is taken into account the gateway to the Shenandoah Nationwide Park. From Entrance Royal, you may entry Skyline Drive, which runs 105 miles alongside the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains and thru the Shenandoah Nationwide Park.
An alternative choice is to take Interstate 81 south of Winchester, Virginia, which is situated roughly 75 miles west of Washington, D.C. Winchester is situated within the northern a part of the Shenandoah Valley, and is taken into account a superb start line for exploring the area. From Winchester, you may head south and discover the numerous small cities, historic websites, and scenic drives that make the Shenandoah Valley such a preferred vacation spot.
If you’re coming from Richmond, Virginia, you may take Interstate 64 west for about 100 miles till you attain Charlottesville, Virginia. From Charlottesville, you may proceed west or northwest to Staunton or Harrisonburg within the Shenandoah Valley.
Issues to do in Shenandoah Valley
Observe: This publish might comprise affiliate hyperlinks. When you click on a hyperlink and make a purchase order, I’ll obtain a small fee. All opinions are my very own.
We spent lots of time exploring Shenandoah Valley as a part of our two-week, mother-daughter Virginia street journey. Since we traveled from south to north, that’s how I’ve laid out this stuff to do in Shenandoah Valley. Our go to was hosted by Harrisonburg and Shenandoah, Virginia. All opinions are my very own.
If you’re planning a go to to the Shenandoah Valley with children, take a look at the Shenandoah Valley Children Path, designed to let children steer the household trip.
Drive the Skyline Drive & Go to Shenandoah Nationwide Park
The Skyline Drive is the 105-mile scenic byway by means of the Blue Mountains of Virginia, which serves as the one street by means of Shenandoah Nationwide Park. This byway begins in Entrance Royal in Northern Virginia and ends at Rockfish Hole, the place Route 64 crosses the Blue Ridge Mountains. South of Route 64, the freeway turns into the Blue Ridge Parkway. There are 4 entrances and quite a few surrounding communities that present companies to the park at Entrance Royal, Thornton Hole, Swift Run Hole, and Rockfish Hole.
Driving the Skyline Drive is a quintessential American street journey, providing beautiful views and entry to the scenic Shenandoah Nationwide Park. The park covers 200,000 acres by means of the Blue Ridge Mountains, named for the hue created by water evaporating from the crops and timber. Alongside the Drive, there are 75 overlooks throughout the park, in addition to an opportunity to view a few of the wildlife that makes it dwelling within the park reminiscent of deer, black bear, wild turkey, and different woodland animals.Â
With a pace restrict of 35 mph, it takes about three hours to drive the size of the Skyline Drive. The Skyline Drive is open 12 months of the yr however can shut for inclement climate and at evening throughout deer-hunting season, so it’s best to verify with the park earlier than you head out by calling the park’s recorded info line: (540) 999-3500. Simply take into account that park companies are solely open from mid-March by means of late November.
If you wish to spend extra time mountain climbing and exploring Shenandoah Nationwide Park, I’d advocate dedicating not less than two days to this space to slot in a couple of of the extra widespread hikes and sights. Take into account that there are over 500 miles of trails to discover! The Appalachian Path goes proper by means of Shenandoah for 101 miles.
When you’re in search of a fantastic hike within the park, two trails that come extremely really helpful are the Previous Rag Mountain Path and the Hawksbill Summit Path. The Previous Rag Mountain Path is a difficult 8.8-mile hike that takes you to the summit of Previous Rag Mountain, the best peak within the park.
The path is rated as strenuous, with steep climbs, rock scrambles, and slim passages. You ought to be ready with good mountain climbing boots and loads of water. A day-use allow is required to hike Previous Rag Mountain from March by means of November, and parking will be restricted, so it’s really helpful to reach early or take a shuttle from the Previous Rag parking space.
The Hawksbill Summit Path is a average 2.9-mile hike that takes you to the best level within the park at Hawksbill Mountain. The path gives beautiful views of the encompassing mountains and valleys, making it a fantastic selection for photographers and nature lovers. Parking is accessible on the Hawksbill parking space, however it will possibly replenish shortly throughout peak season, so it’s greatest to reach early.
There are additionally a variety of hikes which are good for teenagers, together with Blackrock Summit, Stony Man, and Lands Run Falls. If you’re in search of waterfalls, Darkish Hole Falls is without doubt one of the hottest waterfalls within the park. The falls cascade 70 toes down a sequence of steps, creating a surprising show of water and mist. The hike to Darkish Hole Falls is a average 1.4-mile round-trip hike, and the trailhead is situated close to mile marker 50 on Skyline Drive. The path will be busy, particularly on weekends, so it’s greatest to reach early to safe a parking spot.
We entered the Skyline Drive on the southernmost entrance at Rockfish Hole, on our manner from Charlottesville to Harrisonburg, VA. If you’re driving with out stopping for hikes, you may undoubtedly get scenic overlook fatigue when you cease at each overlook, however you simply by no means know what you would possibly discover.
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Our most fun second within the park occurred at a scenic overlook on the northbound aspect. We have been standing close to the automotive taking some photos once I heard a loud rustling noise. I regarded round and didn’t see something. However once I heard it once more, I observed a tree perhaps 100 toes down a slope from the overlook swaying wildly.
I instantly thought — that’s no hen! I scanned the realm for hazard and didn’t see something close by so we stayed close to the automotive to watch. Quickly, a black head poked out of the tree and the face of a small black bear was clearly seen. We have been very excited to see a bear within the wild — but in addition in a scenario the place we felt very secure, standing proper subsequent to our unlocked automotive.
I obtained out my zoom lens for a greater view and began snapping some photos. One other automotive quickly pulled up and so they have been going to simply drive away once I gestured to them to level out the bear. All of us noticed quietly because the bear proceeded to interrupt off the highest branches of the tree to eat the leaves. At one level there was fairly a crash and I assumed the bear was going to fall proper out of the tree however it caught itself. It was undoubtedly the joys of the journey to watch this bear in its component, however I’ve to say it made me assume twice in regards to the preparations I’d want earlier than doing a lot mountain climbing within the park.
Discover downtown Harrisonburg, Virginia
Since we drove the Skyline Drive, we needed to skip visiting Staunton, which I’ve heard is kind of a stunning city. When you have extra time to spend within the park and Shenandoah, I’d advocate including on a day in Staunton as effectively. For us, Harrisonburg was a pleasant introduction to the small cities of Shenandoah Valley.
Situated simply minutes from Shenandoah Nationwide Park, Massanutten Resort, and the Skyline Drive, Harrisonburg can also be the house to James Madison College, giving it that distinct school city vibe.
Begin your go to with a stroll by means of the Harrisonburg Farmers Market and a cease on the Hardesty-Higgins Home Customer Middle. From there, stroll down Essential Road. Downtown options a variety of small museums, such because the Discover Extra Discovery Museum, the Valley Turnpike Museum & Civil Warfare Orientation Middle, Harrisonburg Hearth Division Museum, and the Virginia Quilt Museum, and loads of college-student pleasant, locally-owned eating places.
Close by, guests can take pleasure in hikes on the Edith Service Arboretum at James Madison College, Hillandale Park, and the Grand Caverns Grottoes. We had hoped to discover a bit extra however after per week on the street, we want a day of rest. As an alternative, we stopped for ice cream at Klines Dairy Bar, which is an space establishment and must-visit when in Harrisonburg. We have been additionally fortunate sufficient to go to throughout the Rockingham County Truthful and obtained to expertise an genuine county honest expertise, which was a fantastic introduction to our go to to the Iowa State Truthful throughout our midwest street journey.
An ideal spot to remain on this space is the Massanutten Resort. The Massanutten Resort is a well-liked all-season trip vacation spot situated only a quick drive from the Shenandoah Nationwide Park. The resort boasts over 6,000 acres of land, together with two golf programs, a water park, snowboarding and snowboarding slopes, zip strains, and lots of different actions for guests of all ages.
In the summertime, visitors can take pleasure in out of doors actions reminiscent of mountain climbing, mountain biking, horseback driving, fishing, and {golfing}. The resort’s water park, the Massanutten Indoor/Out of doors WaterPark, is open year-round and options an indoor wave pool, tube slides, a lazy river, and different water sights.
Within the winter, the resort transforms right into a winter wonderland, providing snowboarding and snowboarding on 14 slopes, snow tubing, ice skating, and different snow-related actions.
Discover Woodstock, Virginia
Woodstock is definitely the fourth oldest city in Virginia and is centered alongside Route 11 with a small however quaint downtown district. Since we have been to spend a couple of days having fun with Shenandoah Valley from our dwelling base in Woodstock, we had the chance to unfold out and revel in our environment in a trip rental cabin within the woods.
One of many foremost sights in Woodstock is the historic courthouse, which dates again to 1795 and now serves as a museum showcasing the historical past of the realm. Different notable historic websites embody the Woodstock Museum, housed within the former Shenandoah County Jail, and the Previous Valley Pike Driving Tour, which takes guests on a scenic journey by means of the Shenandoah Valley.
When you go to in mid-August, you can too benefit from the well-known Route 11 Yard Crawl, which options 43 miles of antiques, yard gross sales, and native enterprise gross sales.
Or a small city, there was some surprisingly good meals in Woodstock, beginning with Sunday brunch at The Woodstock Cafe and Shoppes. This cute cafe in downtown Woodstock is an element nation retailer and half cafe, stuffed with native characters and flavors.
Our favourite cease in Woodstock although needed to be the Woodstock Brewhouse. This transformed denim manufacturing facility has a hip inside that I’d anticipate to see in…effectively, frankly a hipper city…like perhaps Charlottesville. They’ve a restricted meals menu as a result of the main focus is on their craft beers, however when you occur to be on the town when they’re smoking some brisket or making BBQ then YOU MUST GO! We had leftover BBQ brisket on a flatbread pizza and it was scrumptious.
Climb the Woodstock Tower
Our time in Shenandoah County was all about having fun with the outside and native tradition. We climbed to the highest of the Woodstock Tower, excessive up on the mountain, overlooking a couple of of the seven bends of the mighty Shenandoah River and Seven Bends State Park. The Woodstock Tower is a 93-foot tall stone commentary tower providing panoramic views of the encompassing countryside.
Situated on the mountaintop, you may drive to the highest and park within the lot on the base of the tower. From there, it’s a quick uphill stroll to the tower. There are additionally picnic tables and a small playground space close to the tower. Take into account that the entry street is slim and winding, so take warning when driving.
Kayak or Tube on the Shenandoah River
The Iroquois view a blue heron as an omen of excellent luck, so once we encountered a heron quickly after forking out into the Shenandoah River on our kayaks, I took it to be a optimistic signal for a superb day forward. Initially we have been upset that after kayaking alongside the James River earlier within the week, we weren’t capable of check out river tubing the way in which we had deliberate.
However the heron can also be an emblem of going with the circulation, and that’s what we would have liked to do. And in August, the circulation alongside the Shenandoah in Virginia is fairly gradual and low. So except we wish to scrape our bottoms alongside the river rocks, kayaking was the higher selection.
Little did I do know that the heron was going to be our information down the river. But each time we obtained shut sufficient to aim a photograph, he swept away in majestic flight to a spot additional down the river. Repeatedly, our heron information lured us down the river as we tried to know his silent message.
Our day began with a brief security briefing at Route 11 Outfitters, earlier than they loaded up our rented kayaks to drop us down the river a bit. When you do wish to attempt tubing, spring is certainly the time, when winter soften off has the river operating sturdy.
Through the sweltering summer time days of August, the river is low and even getting by means of with our kayaks took a bit of labor. Since I sit a bit decrease in my kayak then Hannah, we had a couple of laughs as mommy obtained “beached” on rocks or sandbars. Normally a little bit of scooting or pushing off with my foot outdoors of the kayak  obtained me shifting once more, however a couple of instances I needed to climb out and provides the kayak a push.
Our journey was extra of a exercise than I anticipated, however not due to the rowing, simply due to the pushing. Nonetheless, there may be hardly ever a day trip on the water in a ship of any kind that I don’t take pleasure in and this was no exception.
Our pleasant heron information wasn’t the one wildlife we encounter on our journey. We appeared to draw stunning creatures like a magnet that day. Hannah picked up a hitchhiking butterfly early in our journey and it caught round for practically an hour. After the heron left us for good, we rounded a nook simply to see some giant black shapes within the river up forward.
After our close to encounter with a black bear in Shenandoah Nationwide Park, and discussions about how bears are frequent on this space, my coronary heart skipped a few beats earlier than I noticed that the beasts up forward have been too large to be bears — they have been cows. And earlier than we may get too shut, all of them climbed again on land.
There’s something so peaceable and rewarding about kayaking down a river. I’m not one for meditation or spirituality however the mixture of bodily exertion and appreciation of the outside creates a sure kind of zen and a reference to nature.
Go Underground on the Shenandoah Caverns
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Our adventures continued underground on the Shenandoah Caverns. There are various caverns on this area, together with the Luray Caverns and Skyline Caverns, however Shenandoah is near Woodstock and gives elevator entry. The caverns have been open since 1922 and welcome guests by means of a one-mile circuit on one-hour excursions.
The Caverns are a gradual 56-degree in the summertime or winter, so guests ought to convey a sweater or sweatshirt. These weren’t too terribly completely different from different caverns now we have visited, however they did have one particular characteristic I haven’t seen earlier than — cave bacon! They’re attention-grabbing rock formations that look temptingly like bacon.
Our information walked us by means of different options just like the Rainbow Lake, Capital Dome, Cardross Citadel, and the Breakfast Bacon. The teenage information appeared to assume it was a advantage to repeat his spiel by rote reminiscence, with heavily-practiced intonations, driving us a bit loopy, however we tuned him out as a lot as we may whereas being shepherded by means of every space.
Subsequent door, we popped into the surprisingly attention-grabbing American Celebration on Parade — a set of parade floats from the Rose Parade, Presidential Inaugurals, and the Thanksgiving Day Parades protecting 40,000 sq. toes. This exhibit is open solely seasonally, together with the Gemstone Mining Sluice. The Caverns additionally supply a restaurant, present store (after all) and a kids’s playground on the property.
Go to the Route 11 Potato Chip Manufacturing facility
When you go to the Caverns, take a couple of minutes to cease on the Route 11 Potato Chips Manufacturing facility close by. One can find these chips all through the Shenandoah Valley, however with a manufacturing facility go to, you may pattern extra flavors and presumably get a glimpse of the manufacturing. You may’t take photos however you may look by means of the home windows on the manufacturing line. The manufacturing facility is open to the general public Mondays by means of Saturdays, from 9 am to five pm, apart from main holidays.
Have a Thrill at Bryce Mountain Resort
Since I had a bit journey seeker as a journey companion, we obtained our thrills in on the Bryce Resort. A ski resort within the winter, in the summertime Bryce transforms into an adventureland with mountain biking, scenic elevate rides, disc golf, common golf, swimming, and extra. They change their actions up so verify the web site for present choices.
Once we visited, we have been capable of go ziplining and grass tubing, which was a ton of enjoyable, however I’m undecided they’re nonetheless providing them. The ziplining was straightforward as a ski elevate took us to the highest after which we proceeded down the mountain on a sequence of ziplines — none of which have been too excessive or too quick.
Hannah beloved the grass tubing, which is actually on a plastic netting and so they wipe the underside of the tube with silicone to make it go quicker. I did a few runs however then appointed myself as photographer. Since I sit a bit decrease within the tube than she does, I didn’t like the way in which my backside bumped alongside.
Go to with Llamas
When you plan on heading out to the Shenandoah Wine Path, you may additionally wish to schedule a cease on the Posey Thisisit Llama Farm in Toms Brook, Virginia. They provide excursions and an opportunity to fulfill and feed their llamas, and so they even have handcrafted gadgets and llama wool on the market. We have been stunned to be taught that llamas aren’t truly nasty, as now we have been led to imagine, however that all of it relies on how they’re handled. These llamas have been very effectively beloved and it confirmed with their friendliness.
Discover Winchester, Virginia
On the northern finish of Shenandoah Valley, make sure you cease at Winchester, Virginia. This city is simply stuffed with historical past, largely from the Civil Warfare however some relationship again to George Washington’s early days. In reality, some historians declare that this small city modified palms as much as 72 instances throughout the Civil Warfare, going forwards and backwards between the North and the South! Simply strolling by means of the quaint downtown, you may study a few of this historical past on the George Washington’s Workplace Museum or the Previous Court docket Home Civil Warfare Museum.
Close by, you can too go to Stonewall Jackson’s Headquarters, the Cedar Creek Battlefield, and the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley. Children ought to love the Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum. We peeked in and it regarded tremendous enjoyable, however geared primarily for teenagers 10 and beneath. Since we solely had a short while to spend in Winchester, we gravitated to the Historic Downtown.
Winchester has a pedestrian mall, similar to what we noticed in Charlottesville, which is lined with retailers and eating places with out of doors tables. We discovered a yummy Thai restaurant for lunch after which cooled off a bit on the group splash pad.
Winchester was the prettiest of the cities we visited within the Shenandoah Valley and I want we had extra time to discover right here, but when we head again down Interstate 81 sometime, I’ll make sure you cease in.
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