Shenandoah, VA "Oh, Shenandoah!"
- Krystal Land
- Aug 21, 2024
- 3 min read
Discovering Tranquil Treasures – Blueridge Parkway and Skyline Drive
Shenandoah, VA – A Blissful Stop
Oh, Shenandoah, we're glad to visit you, across the rolling rivers!
Shenandoah National Park in Luray, VA is a beautiful area to explore, showcasing God's majestic handywork. Traveling along The Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline Drive makes for a peaceful drive filled with remarkable views. Every bend and curve seems to extend an invitation to stop for opportune photoshoots and moments to bask in majestic scenery. With welcoming trails to hike and picnic areas for resting, it's a trip worth taking and allowing for plenty of time. Those with a four-legged family member, like us, can count on pet-friendly exploring, enjoying an abundance of walking trails throughout the trek. We visited in summer, but we are certainly looking forward to returning in the fall to experience Virginia’s infamous colorful scenery of bright, golden trees lining every twist and turns with autumn’s beauty.
Other attractions such as Luray Caverns, Heritage Village, and a slew of shops and restaurants provide a wealth of activity brimming with history. Our visit consisted of an isolated stay in a quaint cabin, tucked away in the mountains of nearby New Market, Virginia, consisting of 3 days, but honestly, it would take at least a full week to just scratch the surface of exploring this picturesque region.
The story behind the spectacular Luray Caverns is quite amazing! This telling, straight from Luray Cavern's website is quite insightful! "The caverns are the largest caverns in the Eastern United States and were discovered August 13, 1878. Andrew Campbell, William Campbell, and Benton Stebbins were walking in a field and felt a rush of cold air coming from a limestone sinkhole which was unusual on a hot summer day. And so, the discovery was on! Andrew, three other men, and his 13-year-old nephew, Quint, began exploring the area searching for a cave. They dug away loose rocks and sticks for hours before Andrew and Quint slid down by a rope into the cave with candles in hand. When they got down there, they could hardly believe their eyes. The men had just discovered Luray Caverns!"
Our adventure!
"The Great Stalacpipe Organ is the world’s largest musical instrument. It literally makes stalactites sing by gently tapping them throughout three acres of the caverns." - Informative fact from Luray Caverns' Website.
Brimming with history are the immaculate Luray Caverns and its grand unearthly-like wonders. After a chilly walk through the caverns, we warmed up as we strolled through Shenandoah Heritage Village and Car & Carriage Caravan Museum.
An additional terrific aspect of traveling is trying out new restaurants - new to the travelers anyway! We discovered a restaurant that not only had delicious options, but also had outdoor seating on a charming wrap-around porch. The Chop House Bistro hit the mark for taste and presentation! With healthy options such as perfectly cooked salmon and fresh salad, one can still enjoy a delectable, share-size dessert that satisfies an undeniable sweet-tooth! A famous menu item, Berries-N-Cream, is a scrumptious combination of lemon cake and macerated berries, topped with mascarpone whipped cream. This, served with a cup of freshly brewed coffee, definitely hit the spot!
There truly is more to see and experience in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. We look forward to returning and sharing the next time we return singing, "Oh, Shenandoah!"
Before you go!
Be sure to check out our Shop to find great items like our custom hoodies, other custom designed products such as this P.S He Loves You travel cup, a beautiful butterfly lightweight jacket, and a fun bucket hat in our Witness Wear collections. Plus, you will find a fun hoodie featuring our fur baby 'Layla the Great', and other items that will bless you and others.
As always, thank you for your support of Coalesce Ministries! Blessings!
