Virginia
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Hiking Bearfence Mountain Trail on Skyline Drive
Hiking Bearfence Mountain Trail on Skyline Drive I recently spent a girls weekend in Orange County and we wanted to do a nearby trail. My friend suggested the Bearfence Mountain trail loop on Skyline Drive. Located in between the Swift Run Gap entrance and the Thornton Gap entrance, Bearfence Mountain Trail Loop is a one mile loop that partially overlaps the Appalachian Trail. The trail is quick but fun with several rock scrambles. It is not dog friendly so leave your furbabies behind for this one. The views atop the main rock scramble are absolutely spectacular! Due to the rock scrambles, you will definitely want to wear appropriate footwear with…
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Biplane Ride in Northern Virginia
During our honeymoon this summer, my husband wanted to book a ride on a small plane to go to one of the remote islands off the coast of Puerto Rico. Unfortunately, as they were recently reopening there were limited options so we ended up taking the ferry. Since my husband was all hyped about the small planes, I was inspired to look up small plane flights in the area for a surprise birthday gift. Lo and behold I found an even cooler option than a simple small plane ride – a ride in a 1941 biplane! Biplanes are the early plane models with two pairs of wings. When searching local…
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Luray Caverns in Virginia
I can’t tell you how many times I saw commercials for “Luray Caverns – What Will You Discover?” growing up in Virginia. I can still hear the ad when I think about it! However, up until this year – I had never been. This autumn, we visited the caverns while on a mini vacation in Shenandoah. Located just 11 miles from the Thornton Gap Entrance to Skyline Drive, Luray Caverns were discovered in 1878. These caverns are the largest in the eastern United States, and the most visited! After visiting myself, I understand why they are so popular. The caverns are filled with different types of speleothems. These formations are…
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Fall Foliage on Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park
One of my favorite fall activities is to visit Skyline Drive in the Shenandoah National Park! Skyline Drive is a scenic route atop the Blue Ridge Mountains, stretching 105 miles long. This is the only public road through the park. Not only does Skyline Drive boast stunning views from Front Royal to Waynesboro, it also offers access to hiking trails, camp sites, picnic areas, and cabins. There are four entrances to Skyline Drive: Front Royal Entrance (off of 66 in Front Royal, VA) Thornton Gap Entrance (off of 211 near Sperryville, VA) Swift Run Gap Entrance (off of 33 near Harrisonburg, VA) Rockfish Gap Entrance (off of 64/250 near…
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Virginia Horseback Trail Ride
For my fiance’s birthday, I surprised him with a horseback trail ride in Front Royal, Virginia! There are a lot of stables in the DC area, but I decided to book with a stable in Front Royal so we could enjoy the mountain views without driving all the way to the Shenandoah area. I looked at several different places before deciding on Double H Stables. There are a lot of great options and each have pretty affordable prices for hour or 90 minute rides. I mainly chose Double H for the convenient location off the highway and I thought the trails would offer great views. I was nervous that the…