Virginia, off the beaten path

Hi, I'm going to be entering Virginia (specifically the western side of the state, where the Appalachain mountains cut through), and I would like to know where to stop.

Ideally, I'll be traveling up the Blueridge Parkway. I'd like to see Shanendoah National Park and other similar sites.

I'm into scenary, landscape photography, nature, the great outdoors, architecture, quaint old towns, history, experiences unique to the region, cuisine, amazing viewpoints, sunsets, etc...

What places in Virginia (that are my route) would you like to vouch for?

My final destination is DC.

Certainly you can't go wrong with what you have already mentioned. I suggest Staunton or Charlottesville as stopping places on your way. The views and natural beauty is the star on a trip like this, but you will have to sleep, so might as well do it in a quaint and quirky town or two. I'm jealous, have fun!

We enjoyed the Frontier Culture museum in Staunton. www.frontiermuseum.org

While I'm not sure that you can ever get totally off the beaten path in this area, let me share a few of my favorite stops. Natural Bridge is rather touristy, but it also offers some great landscape photography opportunities. The National D-Day Memorial just outside Bedford is also worthy of a stop. Consider staying at the Peaks of Otter Lodge just off milepost 86 along the BRP (You may read reviews about it by clicking on the HOTELS tab above.) You might also enjoy visiting Jefferson's other plantation, Popular Forest which is located just outside Lynchburg www.popularforest.org/

Moving north, you might want to include a stop in Lexington to visit VMI and Washington & Lee University with their historical connections to Jackson and Lee. Truly off the path is the small town of Dayton VA. Visit The Shenandoah Valley Folk Art and Heritage Center there. If you're interested in CW history, don't miss their electronic map display on Jackson's Valley Campaign. There are also lots of old houses and an outstanding Farmers Market nearby. After leaving Dayton, you may want to visit the New Market Battlefield where VMI cadets had their first taste of battle. Farther north, Winchester and Harpers Ferry are interesting towns for their connections to the CW, with lots of photo ops. Take the trail up to Jefferson's rock, which he described as one of the most beautiful views in the country.... remembering while you visit that this man never got to see the Rockies or other lands included in the Louisana Purchase.

If you are looking for things in the western part of VA off the beaten path start with Cumberland Gap NHP (VA-TN-KY), the Visitors Center is located just east of Middlesboro KY. Work you way east on US-58 to Martins Station (VA State Park) on the Wilderness Trail, between Ewing and Rose Hill. Also if you pass thru The town of Norton you could drive to the High Knob Rec Area and visit Flag Rock.

http://www.nps.gov/cuga/

http://www.martinsstation.com/history.shtml

http://www.virginia.org/site/descrip...p?AttrID=15201

http://www.virginia.org/site/descrip...&CharID=293583

Floyd,VA on Friday night for amazing blue grass music.

After seeing the New Market battlefield, continue north on route 11 and visit the Meems Bottom covered bridge, and towns of Mount Jackson, Edinburg, and Woodstock. Woodstock, founded in 1752 has the oldest continuous in use court house west of the Blue Ridge. Climb the Woodstock Tower atop Massanutten MT and see the Seven Bends of the Shenandoah River below you.

Continue north on rte 11 through Toms Brook to Strasburg before getting back on I-81/I-66 to Washington.

I think I may have beaten this to death recently, since it is my usual reply to inquiries about Virginia....but here goes again.....

You'd love Grayson Highlands State Park, which is just east of Damascus, Virginia. The Appalachian Trail cuts through the park there, and the Rhododendron Gap Trail is absolutely beautiful. Since you like landscape photography and the great outdoors, you'll certainly get both of those during your visit. The park is home to several herds of wild ponies, which you are almost guaranteed to encounter if you stroll along the trails and listen for them to whinny. You'll most likely have the chance to "get up close and personal" with them, and take some great photos home. Some of the ponies have long manes and tails that almost sweep the ground, looking for all the world like they are young unicorns without horns. You may even encounter several tiny foals prancing around.

Here's a link to the park's website:
http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state_parks/gra.shtml

Also, the park is wrapped by the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, which is also awesome and worth exploring.

Another nice feature is that you can drop down into Ashe County, North Carolina and hit a great stretch of the Blue Ridge Parkway. The drive from Grayson Highlands to Ashe County twists and turns through beautiful scenery, and there are several places where you'll be able to pick up the Parkway and continue your trip north.

Carter Fold in Hiltons, Va., is *definitely* a unique experience for Saturday evening entertainment. And Natural Tunnel State park is close to Hiltons near Duffield. You can take a chairlift or hike from the Visitor Center to the tunnel. It's a working railroad tunnel, so visitors aren't often permitted to go in.

Both of these places are a couple hours from the Parkway however.

http://www.carterfamilyfold.org/
http://www.naturaltunnel.info/

We stayed at a great B&B in Nelson County (south of Charlottesville) last year - the owners are a Dutch man and American woman who takes amazing photography. I think he has biked through something like 40+ countries. Stalling while I try to remember the name of the place - shoot. I'm sure you can google it like we did.

If you go through Shenandoah Nat. Park (which is beautiful), we were fascinated by Luray Caverns, which are huge, amazing, and about 10 min. outside the park.

Marking

My husband and I took an impromptu drive to the top of White Top Mountain in Virginia yesterday (it's the peak "next door" to Mt. Rogers, Va's highest peak). I put a few pictures on my Flickr page at http://www.flickr.com/photos/xrae/se...7600189059545/

There wasn't a soul around. It was kind of neat. The sun was setting so we didn't have much time to snap lots of photos.

I see someone already mentioned it, but I will put in a second vote for Lexington. If you make it far enough north, Harpers Ferry, WV is full of history and great scenery.

bookmarking - thanks for all the suggestions!