Skyline and North Blue Ridge Parkways

During our 3 days in Front Royal and 3 days in Waynesboro, VA, we traveled the 105 miles of the Skyline Parkway in Shenandoah National Park, and the northernmost 86 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway. The weather while we were in Front Royal was not great, but we did drive two sections of the Skyline Parkway when it was only overcast, then on the one rainy day we visited a Civil War museum in Front Royal, and 3 of the many wineries in the area. We really liked the Viogner and Seyval at Fox Meadows Vineyards. Linden and Rappahonnack Cellars also had some very nice wines - Linden makes a 100% Petit Verdot that is deep, thick, and luscious. At the museum, Tom discovered that his great-great grandfather was part of Stonewall Jackson's Shenandandoah campaign during the spring of 1862 - perhaps we'll return someday to trace his steps through this region rich with history and beauty. We found that we could only just begin to appreciate this lovely part of the country in our week here - way too many historic sites, farm markets, wineries, and scenic places to see in just a few days.

Here are some photos from our tour of the Skyline and northern Blue Ridge Parkways. Over the next week, we will travel the Blue Ridge Parkway as far south as Asheville, NC - wish us luck on the hills, curves, and tight campgrounds!



View from the northern end of Skyline Parkway, south of Front Royal, VA

 


Tom and Shelby looking over the Shenandoah Valley from the Skyline Drive

 


Fall color along the Skyline Drive - overlooking the Shenandoah Valley - the haze is largely due to coal burning electrical generators and other man-made sources. If it were 1850, we could see the Allegenies from here!

 


More fall color with the Allegeny Mountains in the background, on the southern section of the Skyline drive with the Shenandoah Valley in the distance - what a difference in visibility a bit of rain during the night makes.

 


Barbara and Shelby above Arnold Valley on the northern section of the Blue Ridge Parkway - I wonder if I had ancestors in the area?

 


Fall color on the Blue Ridge looking over Arnold Valley, VA

  


The James River at its intersection with the Blue Ridge Parkway at about mile 65 - on a lovely clear Fall day. The James was the most important river in Virginia's colonial days - at this point, a canal went along the left side of the river, with locks that lifted boats past rapids. Now there is a dam downstream that slows the river. In the mid-1800's, the railroads made the canals superfluous, but the remnants of the locks preserved here serve as a reminder of earlier days.

 


Along the northern Blue Ridge Parkway, sun shining through the yellow leaves. Aren't we going to have fun driving the motorhome up this road tomorrow?

 


Mostly leafless trees silhouetted against the yellows and reds along the northern Blue Ridge Parkway