Spacious Skies Campgrounds Shenandoah Views
Origin of Shenandoah
Derived from the Algonquian schind-han-do-wi, the literal translation of which has been thought to be "spruce stream," "great plains," or "beautiful daughter of the stars."
The trip from Pine Grove Furnace was very pleasant, good weather, little traffic and nice views. We took a smaller road, RT 340, which winds along South Fork Shenandoah River. The campground is curved out from a a farm, with fields all around it. We had to relocate our sites, as there was construction in our original sites (booked back in October). But we got a much better location, with more space and less neighbors.
I love Shenandoah Valley and the park. Spring is in full swing in the valley but as you climb the ridge, it is not as apparent. Hiking up to Mary’s was challenging, steep ascent, but hiking along the AT is always a treat. The views from the rock are wonderful. We drove to Skyland Lodge for lunch, with plenty of stops along the way for more views.
Rose River Trail is beautiful, with views of waterfalls with Dark Hollow Falls towards the end. The trail goes through one of the federally designed Wilderness areas in the Park. We saw number of wild flowers along the stream, check the gallery below. We asked the ranger to help identify them and he used an app called Seek. Original forest in Shenandoah was primarily American Black Walnut, but due to blight, there are only few left. We also learned that lichen on the trees is a sign of low pollution.
Today we visited Luray Caverns, truly spectacular place. The formations are very intricate, though I’m not sure if I could bring myself to be a cave explorer. It is amazing what water can do over time!
Now, we are ready for BBQ dinner from Bean's Barbecue in Edinburg, VA. You have to come early, because they sell out quickly, and yes, it’s that good. Rack of ribs, pulled pork, coleslaw and, of course, beans. It’s well worth it!
It was a great time enjoying this area with our friends, but now, we are on the road again, off to Elkin, NC.
