While planning our visit to Monticello, we looked for other attractions in the area we could visit during our stay in Virginia. The first thing we found was Shenandoah National Park, and we thought it might be interesting to spend a few hours there. What we didn't know was that the main attraction here is a road that runs the length of the park, from end to end, called Skyline Drive.
A road through the park might not sound out of the ordinary, but what about a road not at the same level as the other roads, but along the top of the Blue Ridge Mountains, for the best panoramic view of the park and surrounding area? This road stretches 105 miles and has 75 stops offering breathtaking views of the Shennadoah Valley and surrounding area.
Skyline Drive has four access points: Front Royal near Rt. 66 and 340, Thornton Gap on route 211, Swift Run Gap on Route 33, and Rockfish Gap on Route 64 and Route 250.
To enter, you must pay an entrance fee based on the type of transportation, or in some cases, per person. We were invited by my son, who, because he's in fourth grade, was able to get a free pass to the National Parks. To obtain this pass if you have a son/daughter in that grade, you can visit the website. Every Kid in a Park.
Upon entering the park you can see the narrow road and the beautiful greenery of the mountain (we went in the summer), the wildflowers, the birds of different sizes and colors, and I'd better not tell you about each stop we made because it would take too long. Below I share the video that is a summary of this tour.
Between stops and rain and sun, we spent a little over three hours on the tour. We didn't enter at the beginning, nor did we reach the end, because we had to get to Charlottsville, but this time was enough to enjoy the beauty of the place.
Along Skyline Drive, within the park, there are various activities and informational talks, all of which can be found in the guide provided upon entry. Camping and hiking are also available in this park. We really enjoyed learning about the history of how, when, and why this road was built. We found all the information at our stop at the Harry F. Byrd, Sr. Visitor Center, which includes a very informative exhibit for the whole family.
Skyline Drive is not far from Washington. If you're up for a stroll along this beautiful route, you can visit the Shenandoah National Park website for all the information you need, including a guide to the park in Spanish. HERE.
