Shenandoah Valley fall trip (any Virginia residents here)

last year

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We have only been through VA and hit a few cities, never spending much time there. We are thinking of going to the Shenandoah Valley and maybe over to the coast this fall. Would love to do Skyline drive. Might like to check out Alexandria and Charlottesville, possibly Cape Charles. Any suggestions?

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last year

We are in Lexington for 4 1/2 yrs . We are walking distance 2 blocks from downtown. There is lots to see here with W&L University and VMI . Lovely shops downtown and The Georges is a very luxurious hotel. There are quite a few very very nice Airbnbs as well. There many events in the Fall that parents and alumni come back for. All the rooms are usually taken well in advance of those. Let me know if I can help in any way. c

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cyn427 (z. 7, N. VA)
last year
We are in Alexandria. Old Town is lovely. Colonial homes, lots of restaurants, pretty parks along the Potomac. The Torpedo Factory is a fun art venue where local artists have studios and sell their art. It was an actual torpedo factory way back when. Arlington National Cemetery and the Lee mansion are close. DC is a hope, skip, and jump away if that is of interest. Great Falls is a nice hike. Of course, Mt. Vernon is south of Old Town (8 miles) and the drive along the parkway to it is pretty.

Definitely do the Skyline Drive! Fabulous in fall.
Tina Marie thanked cyn427 (z. 7, N. VA)
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Tina Marie
Original Author
last year
Thank you both so much! Caroline, I appreciate your offer. Lexington is one of the cities we have visited (also Richmond, Abingdon, Wytheville (those I can think of at the moment LOL). Cyn I didn't realize you were in Alexandria! Definitely on our list. We have been to Arlington and Mt. Vernon and to DC several times. I need to investigate further where would be a good spot to stay near Skyline Drive for a few days and then we will plan to visit Alexandria, maybe charlottesville. Any thoughts on Cape Charles?
barncatz
last year
Years ago, we stayed at the loveliest B & B near Luray I think. It might have been individual cottages. I remember we took a trail ride with horses from their stables. I know we toured the cavern but I don't have much of a memory of that. I just remember what a lovely trip that was - the area is so gorgeous.

(As an aside, a couple months ago I read Trailed, about the two young women killed in Shenandoah Park in 1996. It had an emphasis on women and wilderness, including the Park and a truly creepy theory about the murderer. The case was never solved.)
Tina Marie thanked barncatz
salonva
last year
We've done several road trips around that area (with varying destinations) over the past 10 years or so. We did Skyline Drive for a bit last fall on our first mini roadtrip since Covid shutdown.

Luray was really really nice, as were Roanoke and Natural Bridge. We did Roanoke on a different trip but it's in that general area and since you didn't mention it, I thought I would.

We really like Charlottesville ( I think we've been there twice).
Tina Marie thanked salonva
cyn427 (z. 7, N. VA)
last year
Tina Marie, if you do come here, message me and I would be happy to schlep you to the metro or wherever-as long as it isn't right after my cataract surgery when I may not be allowed to drive. Sheesh. :-)
Tina Marie thanked cyn427 (z. 7, N. VA)
graywings123
last year
My fav restaurant in Charlottesville is the Alley Light
Tina Marie thanked graywings123
beaglesdoitbetter
last year
We had a fantastic time in Luray. We went two years in a row. Big Meadows Lodge right up on Skyline Drive has a great outdoor restaurant. We stayed at the Jellystone campground and did some really, really amazing hikes. The Luray Caverns are awesome and well worth seeing. I did not realize what they were and thought it was silly when my mother-in-law wanted to go into them. They were so cool though.
Tina Marie thanked beaglesdoitbetter
gsciencechick
last year
You might have some troube in Charlottesville around football weekends getting a hotel, so take that into consideration. Or if you are in Roanoke area and there is a Virginia Tech game.
Tina Marie thanked gsciencechick
lisaam
last year
I live in Charlottesville.

graywings, the French chef who opened Alley Light now has a place called Cafe Frank that is very good. Cville has so many good restaurants upscale, ethnic, and casual.

I recently did the tour at Monticello after not having been there for many years and was impressed at how they handled difficult topics. The McGuffey Arts Center was an elementary school originally and is downtown near the pedestrian mall. A couple of blocks away is the empty plinth where RE Lee statue was as well a lovely beaux arts style building that is now the historical society.

There are many vineyards between washington and lexington.

The drive in the Middleburg- Flint Hill -Madison County is as nice as skyline drive albeit different with large and small farms. Sperryville is a cute tiny town with a good brunch place—Before and After.

Staunton is an interesting town and has The Blackfriars, a Shakespeare theater, styled like the Globe. the FrontierCulture Museum is interesting. The Shack in Staunton is quite good.

The Iris Inn is not far from the southern end of Skyline Drive.

There is so much and fall will be lovely. would be happy to offer more suggestions!
Tina Marie
Original Author
last year
Thanks for the wonderful info ladies! @beaglesdoitbetter I will look up that Inn. We have caverns near here too! @lisaam we will definitely be doing casual to nice. I'm not an upscale kind of gal when road-tripping LOL. Thanks for the info on the Inn and all the rest. I am going this week to AAA to get one of their books on Virginia. At least I hope I am. I have several old AAA books on states but I'm not sure if they are still doing those. I hope so - they have alot of info! Again - thank you all!

Shenandoah Valley fall trip (any Virginia residents here)

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