So if I say Shenandoah Valley, what do you consider? Probably Shenandoah National Park? Maybe the Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway? You aren’t incorrect, however there may be extra to the Shenandoah Valley than simply scenic drives and mountaineering within the National Park. Wondering in regards to the issues to do in Shenandoah Valley, Virginia? I’ve received you coated…from the small cities to go to to the perfect sights for households, hold studying for causes to plan a visit to Shenandoah.
Where is Shenandoah Valley?
The Shenandoah Valley stretches from Harpers Ferry, West Virginia to Roanoke, Virginia. Located 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.
During the Civil War, this area was nicknamed the “breadbasket of the Confederacy.” Today, this space is an outside wonderland, with bucolic farms and nation roads. There are pure wonders just like the Luray and Shenandoah Caverns, and Natural Bridge, in addition to beautiful scenic drives alongside the Skyline Drive and Blue Ridge Parkway.
The Shenandoah Valley additionally consists of Shenandoah National Park and the favored Bryce Mountain and Massanutten Resorts. There are loads of outside adventures available together with biking, mountaineering, paddle sports activities, and horseback using.
This area has been memorialized in songs like “Oh, Shenandoah!” I keep 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 to 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 might be coming from Washington, D.C., you may take Interstate 66 west for roughly 70 miles till you attain Front Royal, which is taken into account the gateway to the Shenandoah National Park. From Front Royal, you may entry Skyline Drive, which runs 105 miles alongside the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains and thru the Shenandoah National Park.
Another choice is to take Interstate 81 south of Winchester, Virginia, which is positioned roughly 75 miles west of Washington, D.C. Winchester is positioned within the northern a part of the Shenandoah Valley, and is taken into account 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 well-liked vacation spot.
If you might be coming from Richmond, Virginia, you may take Interstate 64 west for roughly 100 miles till you attain Charlottesville, Virginia. From Charlottesville, you may proceed west or northwest to Staunton or Harrisonburg within the Shenandoah Valley.
Things to do in Shenandoah Valley
Note: This put up might include affiliate hyperlinks. If you click on a hyperlink and make a purchase order, I’ll obtain a small fee. All opinions are my very own.
We spent a variety of time exploring Shenandoah Valley as a part of our two-week, mother-daughter Virginia highway 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 might be planning a go to to the Shenandoah Valley with youngsters, take a look at the Shenandoah Valley Kids Trail, designed to let youngsters steer the household trip.
Drive the Skyline Drive & Visit Shenandoah National Park
The Skyline Drive is the 105-mile scenic byway by the Blue Mountains of Virginia, which serves as the one highway by Shenandoah National Park. This byway begins in Front Royal in Northern Virginia and ends at Rockfish Gap, 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 Front Royal, Thornton Gap, Swift Run Gap, and Rockfish Gap.
Driving the Skyline Drive is a quintessential American highway journey, providing beautiful views and entry to the scenic Shenandoah National Park. The park covers 200,000 acres by the Blue Ridge Mountains, named for the hue created by water evaporating from the vegetation and timber. Along the Drive, there are 75 overlooks throughout the park, in addition to an opportunity to view a number of the wildlife that makes it house within the park reminiscent of deer, black bear, wild turkey, and different woodland animals.
With a velocity restrict of 35 mph, it takes about three hours to drive the size of the Skyline Drive. The Skyline Drive is open one year of the 12 months however can shut for inclement climate and at night time throughout deer-hunting season, so it’s best to examine with the park earlier than you head out by calling the park’s recorded info line: (540) 999-3500. Just understand that park companies are solely open from mid-March by late November.
If you need to spend extra time mountaineering and exploring Shenandoah National Park, I’d suggest dedicating no less than two days to this space to slot in just a few of the extra common hikes and sights. Keep in thoughts that there are over 500 miles of trails to discover! The Appalachian Trail goes proper by Shenandoah for 101 miles.
If you’re searching for a fantastic hike within the park, two trails that come extremely really useful are the Old Rag Mountain Trail and the Hawksbill Summit Trail. The Old Rag Mountain Trail is a difficult 8.8-mile hike that takes you to the summit of Old Rag Mountain, the very best peak within the park.
The path is rated as strenuous, with steep climbs, rock scrambles, and slim passages. You needs to be ready with good mountaineering boots and loads of water. A day-use allow is required to hike Old Rag Mountain from March by November, and parking might be restricted, so it’s really useful to reach early or take a shuttle from the Old Rag parking space.
The Hawksbill Summit Trail is a average 2.9-mile hike that takes you to the very best level within the park at Hawksbill Mountain. The path affords gorgeous views of the encircling mountains and valleys, making it a fantastic alternative for photographers and nature lovers. Parking is out there on the Hawksbill parking space, however it will probably replenish rapidly throughout peak season, so it’s finest to reach early.
There are additionally various hikes which can be good for teenagers, together with Blackrock Summit, Stony Man, and Lands Run Falls. If you might be searching for waterfalls, Dark Hollow Falls is among the hottest waterfalls within the park. The falls cascade 70 toes down a collection of steps, creating a surprising show of water and mist. The hike to Dark Hollow Falls is a average 1.4-mile round-trip hike, and the trailhead is positioned close to mile marker 50 on Skyline Drive. The path might be busy, particularly on weekends, so it’s finest to reach early to safe a parking spot.
We entered the Skyline Drive on the southernmost entrance at Rockfish Gap, on our means from Charlottesville to Harrisonburg, VA. If you might be driving with out stopping for hikes, you may positively get scenic overlook fatigue if you happen to cease at every overlook, however you simply by no means know what you would possibly discover.
Click on the images beneath to enlarge them:
Our most fun second within the park occurred at a scenic overlook on the northbound aspect. We have been standing close to the automobile taking some photos once I heard a loud rustling noise. I regarded round and didn’t see something. But once I heard it once more, I seen a tree perhaps 100 toes down a slope from the overlook swaying wildly.
I instantly thought — that’s no chicken! I scanned the world for hazard and didn’t see something close by so we stayed close to the automobile to look at. Soon, 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 state of affairs the place we felt very secure, standing proper subsequent to our unlocked automobile.
I received out my zoom lens for a greater view and began snapping some photos. Another automobile quickly pulled up and so they have been going to only drive away once I gestured to them to level out the bear. We all 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 believed the bear was going to fall proper out of the tree however it caught itself. It was positively the joys of the journey to look at this bear in its ingredient, however I’ve to say it made me assume twice in regards to the preparations I’d want earlier than doing a lot mountaineering within the park.
Explore downtown Harrisonburg, Virginia
Since we drove the Skyline Drive, we needed to skip visiting Staunton, which I’ve heard is sort of a stunning city. If you have got extra time to spend within the park and Shenandoah, I’d suggest including on a day in Staunton as nicely. For us, Harrisonburg was a pleasant introduction to the small cities of Shenandoah Valley.
Located simply minutes from Shenandoah National Park, Massanutten Resort, and the Skyline Drive, Harrisonburg can be the house to James Madison University, giving it that distinct school city vibe.
Start your go to with a stroll by the Harrisonburg Farmers Market and a cease on the Hardesty-Higgins House Visitor Center. From there, stroll down Main Street. Downtown options various small museums, such because the Explore More Discovery Museum, the Valley Turnpike Museum & Civil War Orientation Center, Harrisonburg Fire Department Museum, and the Virginia Quilt Museum, and loads of college-student pleasant, locally-owned eating places.
Nearby, guests can get pleasure from hikes on the Edith Carrier Arboretum at James Madison University, Hillandale Park, and the Grand Caverns Grottoes. We had hoped to discover a bit extra however after per week on the highway, we’d like a day of leisure. Instead, 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 in the course of the Rockingham County Fair and received to expertise an genuine county honest expertise, which was a fantastic introduction to our go to to the Iowa State Fair throughout our midwest highway journey.
An important spot to remain on this space is the Massanutten Resort. The Massanutten Resort is a well-liked all-season trip vacation spot positioned only a brief drive from the Shenandoah National 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 plenty of different actions for guests of all ages.
In the summer time, company can get pleasure from outside actions reminiscent of mountaineering, mountain biking, horseback using, fishing, and {golfing}. The resort’s water park, the Massanutten Indoor/Outdoor WaterPark, is open year-round and options an indoor wave pool, tube slides, a lazy river, and different water sights.
In 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.
Explore 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 just a few days having fun with Shenandoah Valley from our house base in Woodstock, we had the chance to unfold out and luxuriate in our environment in a trip rental cabin within the woods.
One of the principle sights in Woodstock is the historic courthouse, which dates again to 1795 and now serves as a museum showcasing the historical past of the world. Other notable historic websites embody the Woodstock Museum, housed within the former Shenandoah County Jail, and the Old Valley Pike Driving Tour, which takes guests on a scenic journey by the Shenandoah Valley.
If you go to in mid-August, you may as well 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, filled with native characters and flavors.
Our favourite cease in Woodstock although needed to be the Woodstock Brewhouse. This transformed denim manufacturing unit has a hip inside that I’d anticipate to see in…nicely, frankly a hipper city…like perhaps Charlottesville. They have a restricted meals menu as a result of the main focus is on their craft beers, however if you happen to 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 just a few 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 encircling countryside.
Located 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 brief uphill stroll to the tower. There are additionally picnic tables and a small playground space close to the tower. Keep in thoughts that the entry highway 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 after we encountered a heron quickly after forking out into the Shenandoah River on our kayaks, I took it to be a constructive signal for day forward. Initially we have been dissatisfied that after kayaking alongside the James River earlier within the week, we weren’t capable of check out river tubing the best way we had deliberate.
But the heron can be an emblem of going with the stream, and that’s what we would have liked to do. And in August, the stream alongside the Shenandoah in Virginia is fairly sluggish and low. So until we need to scrape our bottoms alongside the river rocks, kayaking was the higher alternative.
Little did I do know that the heron was going to be our information down the river. Yet each time we received shut sufficient to try a photograph, he swept away in majestic flight to a spot additional down the river. Again and once more, 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. If you do need to attempt tubing, spring is unquestionably the time, when winter soften off has the river working robust.
During the sweltering summer time days of August, the river is low and even getting by with our kayaks took a bit of labor. Since I sit a bit of decrease in my kayak then Hannah, we had just a few laughs as mommy received “beached” on rocks or sandbars. Usually a little bit of scooting or pushing off with my foot outdoors of the kayak received me transferring once more, however just a few occasions 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. Still, there may be not often a day trip on the water in a ship of any sort that I don’t get pleasure from 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 massive black shapes within the river up forward.
After our close to encounter with a black bear in Shenandoah National Park, and discussions about how bears are widespread on this space, my coronary heart skipped a few beats earlier than I noticed that the beasts up forward have been too massive to be bears — they have been cows. And earlier than we may get too shut, all of them climbed again on land.
There is one thing 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 sort of zen and a reference to nature.
Go Underground on the Shenandoah Caverns
Click on any photograph within the gallery to enlarge it:
Our adventures continued underground on the Shenandoah Caverns. There are many caverns on this area, together with the Luray Caverns and Skyline Caverns, however Shenandoah is near Woodstock and affords elevator entry. The caverns have been open since 1922 and welcome guests by 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 we’ve got visited, however they did have one particular function I haven’t seen earlier than — cave bacon! They are attention-grabbing rock formations that look temptingly like bacon.
Our information walked us by different options just like the Rainbow Lake, Capital Dome, Cardross Castle, 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 every space.
Next 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 overlaying 40,000 sq. toes. This exhibit is open solely seasonally, together with the Gemstone Mining Sluice. The Caverns additionally provide a restaurant, present store (in fact) and a youngsters’s playground on the property.
Visit the Route 11 Potato Chip Factory
If you go to the Caverns, take a couple of minutes to cease on the Route 11 Potato Chips Factory close by. You will discover these chips all through the Shenandoah Valley, however with a manufacturing unit go to, you may pattern extra flavors and presumably get a glimpse of the manufacturing. You can’t take photos however you may look by the home windows on the manufacturing line. The manufacturing unit is open to the general public Mondays by Saturdays, from 9 am to five pm, apart from main holidays.
Have a Thrill at Bryce Mountain Resort
Since I had a bit of journey seeker as a journey companion, we received 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 carry rides, disc golf, common golf, swimming, and extra. They change their actions up so examine the web site for present choices.
When 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 carry took us to the highest after which we proceeded down the mountain on a collection of ziplines — none of which have been too excessive or too quick.
Hannah beloved the grass tubing, which is de facto on a plastic netting and so they wipe the underside of the tube with silicone to make it go sooner. I did a few runs however then appointed myself as photographer. Since I sit a bit of decrease within the tube than she does, I didn’t like the best way my backside bumped alongside.
Visit with Llamas
If you intend on heading out to the Shenandoah Wine Trail, you may additionally need 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 objects and llama wool on the market. We have been shocked to be taught that llamas aren’t really nasty, as we’ve got been led to imagine, however that all of it is dependent upon how they’re handled. These llamas have been very nicely beloved and it confirmed with their friendliness.
Explore Winchester, Virginia
At the northern finish of Shenandoah Valley, be sure you cease at Winchester, Virginia. This city is simply filled with historical past, largely from the Civil War 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 occasions in the course of the Civil War, going forwards and backwards between the North and the South! Just strolling by the quaint downtown, you may find out about a few of this historical past on the George Washington’s Office Museum or the Old Court House Civil War Museum.
Nearby, you may as well go to Stonewall Jackson’s Headquarters, the Cedar Creek Battlefield, and the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley. Kids 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 outside 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 be sure you cease in.
Visiting Virginia? Read extra:
PIN THIS FOR LATER
