I am spending May 6-10 in Wintergreen, VA with plans to also visit the Shenandoah N.P. Are there any "Must See" locations recommended? Thank you!
davidrb
Loc: Half way there on the 45th Parallel
jjenk wrote:
I am spending May 6-10 in Wintergreen, VA with plans to also visit the Shenandoah N.P. Are there any "Must See" locations recommended? Thank you!
e
Please leave some beautiful scenery for the rest of us. We will be there 1 month later.
mrova
Loc: Chesterfield, VA
jjenk wrote:
I am spending May 6-10 in Wintergreen, VA with plans to also visit the Shenandoah N.P. Are there any "Must See" locations recommended? Thank you!
Wintergreen and surrounding areas are beautiful.
Hop on the Blueridge Parkway (
http://www.nps.gov/blri/index.htm) and take a ride down to Swannanoa (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swannanoa_(mansion). You might like to take some shots of the grounds, I think for your dates, you miss the open house by one day (May 5th). The views along the parkway are beautiful as well. The Parkway is just up on the ridge above Wintergreen and is a beautiful drive in either direction.
If you have a day, and enjoy hiking, head south to Crabtree Falls, but also just north of you, along the parkway, is Humpback Rock visitor center and farm that gives a beautiful view of the Shenandoah Valley.
The drive along Rt. 151 at the foot of the mountain is a nice road with scenic areas along the way, old farms, barns, and such. 151 will take you south to Crabtree Falls. Staunton, VA is not too far away and is a beautiful small town.
Hope that helps!
The more time you stay there and move around, the higher your chances of seeing bear. We saw one on just one trip. My kids saw one on another. No guarantees, but keep your eyes pealed, cuz there's a chance. And "any" chance is great in my book. For such a trip I always keep a telephoto zoom next to me, just in case. Oh, don't get out of your car if one is close. I have seen a line of cars parked on the side of the road with people standing as close as they can to take their prized picture of a bear (Yellowstone). No sense becoming a meal. BTW there is so much to see and photograph besides just animals. ENJOY.
Not too far from Wintergreen on the BRP is the Raven's Roost overlook, with a good view. Closer up toward I-64 is the trail to Humpback Rocks, which is relatively strenuous, but great views of the Shenandoah Valley from the rocks. Great craft beer in the area-just down the mountain (east side) is Devil's Backbone Brewery and restaurant-great beers & food. Staunton, just west on I-64 (at I-81) is the American Museum of Frontier Culture, which is an interesting and well done place. Have a great time!
Make sure you visit Lexington. Home to both VMI and Washington and Lee Univ. Great and Very scenic area. Visit Goshen Pass, just west of Lexington, and also the Natural Bridge, S.W. of Lexington on U.S. Rt.11. You will really enjoy the area.
I would also suggest Natural Bridge State Park. Natural Bridge is a geological formation in Rockbridge County, Virginia, comprising a 215-foot-high natural arch with a span of 90 feet. It is situated within a gorge carved from the surrounding mountainous limestone terrain.
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