Shenandoah National Park
Time Needed: full-day
Experience Type: national park, outdoor adventure, scenic drive
Visit Website: https://www.nps.gov/shen/index.htm
Shenandoah National Park serves up endless Blue Ridge vistas and seasonal color displays. Motor along the park’s iconic 105-mile Skyline Drive, pulling over at overlooks and quiet pull-offs for views that stretch for miles. Every season offers plenty of reasons to pause and soak it all in.
MUST-DO CHECKLIST
- Cruise Skyline Drive – Wind along the park’s scenic byway, which runs north to south across the park, stopping at any of the 75 overlooks for sweeping panoramas.
- Step onto the Appalachian Trail – A 101-mile stretch of this famous white-blazed footpath parallels Skyline Drive, perfect for a short hike.
- Explore Rapidan Camp – Once President Herbert Hoover’s rustic retreat, this riverside spot offers a look into Depression-era history.
- Summit Old Rag – Virginia’s most popular hike is a bucket list-worthy rock scramble with jaw-dropping payoff views. Note: a day-use ticket is required from March through November.
- Sample Mile-High Blackberry Ice Cream Pie – The park’s lodges, Skyland and Big Meadows Lodge, serve this signature sky-high slice of Shenandoah sweetness.