“USA 🇺🇸 Leaf-Peeking Road Trip Part 1 of 5 ~Driving thru North Carolina to Shenandoah National Park in Virginia, then to Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia” October 2024
LEAF-PEEKING ROAD TRIP
~Mid October
Part 1 of 5
We traveled through North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, and Ohio. We visited three National Parks, plus other historic places and even an Abandoned Amusement Park.
We drove a total of 1,825, in 7 days. We had great weather and really enjoyed this leisurely trip!
We almost did not go, because of Hurricane Helene, which destroyed the locations we originally had made reservations for. After cancelling those plans, we did not even feel like a vacation with all the suffering, and losses going on from the devastation, but, after such loving and caring responses from American citizens who came from all over to help aid in the disaster, we later decided to go, where the Hurricane did not have such an impact. We still wanted to enjoy some fall colors, during this beautiful time of year.
Day 1
We departed The Whale in North Carolina and made a few stops along the way, while in North Carolina.
Trenton, North Carolina
The original mill was built in the 1700s and was used to to grind corn. Later, the onsite mill used to generate electricity for the town of Trenton. Today, the picturesque mill house is located on 132 acres of pond, which winds back into areas with abundant wildlife and indigenous plants. Later, the on/site mill used to generate electricity for the town of Trenton.
Today, the picturesque mill house is located on 132 acres of pond, which winds back into areas with abundant wildlife and indigenous plants. The grounds are open at all times to those who want to stop by and take a walk or get a picture of the cypress trees hanging full of moss and the geese swimming on the pond. Enjoy a stroll along the boardwalk or try your luck on the fishing pier.
Driving into Virginia
We then continued on, and made it to Front Royal, Virginia, in our truck, Baloo, where we checked out the historical town and got a hotel for the night; close to the Shenandoah National Park’s North entrance, called Dickey Ridge.
Our plan was to drive to the North entrance of the Park and enjoy the Skyline Scenic route, and exit at the South entrance; Rockfish Gap. It was perfect for us, because we had more driving to do, going South.
6 hours
368 miles
Take Note: While the Super 8 in Front Royal is listed as a non-smoking hotel, it was a heavily smoked-in hotel, at one time, so its smells pretty gross.
Super 8 Wyndham
Front Royal, Virginia
One Night
Front Royal, Virginia
We enjoyed exploring the historic town of Front Royal. Its not very big, and I’m always glad to see small towns still having shops on a Maine Street.
History
In 1788, Front Royal officially received the name it has today. No one is exactly sure where this name came from, but there are several interesting theories. Our favorite dates back to the days of the Revolutionary war. A camp of British soldiers was located near Front Royal. Comers to the camp must respond with the password “Royal” to the sentry’s challenge of “Front.” Thus, the name “Front Royal,” came into common usage.
Prospect Hill Cemetery
Prospect Hill Cemetery has a rich Civil War history, and was the location of the Battle of Front Royal, during Stonewall Jackson’s Shenandoah Valley campaign. After the war, the remains of the Confederate soldiers who had died in Warren County were gathered and buried together at Soldier’s Circle; over 200 souls.
The Iroquois
The entire Shenandoah Valley, including the land that would become Front Royal, was rich in natural resources for Native Americans, and saw many tribes both pass through and build settlements. The Iroquois were the last Native American group really to take possession of the valley. Unlike some other tribes, their culture was based primarily on hunting, and they did not attempt to develop farms, but used the valley as hunting grounds. The Iroquois Confederation sold the land that included the future Front Royal to Colony of Virginia, in 1744.
Skyline Drive Put Front Royal Even More on the Map
The 1920s were a time of exciting developments for Front Royal, as the Blue Ridge Mountains were selected as the location of a National Park for the Eastern United States. This Park came into existence as Shenandoah National Park and its northern entrance station is located right in Front Royal.
Travelers
Front Royal (or the old name; LeHewtown) saw many travelers coming through. The Shenandoah River, brought many boatmen into town. The Shenandoah Valley was also a natural route for livestock drivers. At the northern end of the Shenandoah Valley, and the tip of Massanutten Mountain range, Front Royal was a natural meeting point for travelers. Due to the large numbers of taverns that popped up to serve the passers-through, Front Royal also gained the nickname “Helltown.”
The National Park draws outdoors lovers to the Front Royal all year round, especially in the fall. They find a warm, small-town welcome, great facilities, and gourmet dining, in addition to the natural wonders of the Park that have delighted generations of visitors.
Day 2
We checked-out of the stinky, but conveniently located hotel and drove to Shenandoah National Park, through the Dickey Ridge Entrance.
SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK
Stretching more than a hundred miles along the Blue Ridge Mountains of western Virginia, is Shenandoah National Park. This Park offers a patchwork quilt of wilderness and pastoral landscapes, underpinned by stories from more than 300 years of history.
Located between the Shenandoah Valley in the west and the Piedmont region in the east, the park is an expanse of wooden hollows and breezy summits, waterfalls and mountain streams, more than 500 miles of hiking trails, and nearly 80,000 acres of designated wilderness—all, just 75 miles from Washington DC.
Inspired by Yellowstone National Park, and other Parks in the West, a national reserve in the Blue Ridge Mountains was first proposed in 1901. When the campaign stalled, Virginians took it upon themselves to make the Park a reality.
Using eminent domain, the commonwealth acquired property from some 5,000 landholders and donated the parcels to the federal government. The Park was established, the day after Christmas in 1935, and has 199,173 acres.
One of the Park’s most famous features, Skyline Drive was constructed in the 1930s, by the Civilian Conservation Corps, offers drivers 105 miles of scenic overlooks, trailheads, picnic areas, and campgrounds, between Front Royal in the north and Rockfish Gap in the south. Another way to traverse the length of Shenandoah is by hiking the hundred or so miles of the Appalachian Trail that run across the Park.
What a beautiful Park! There are many pull-outs to be found, where we could look out, over the Shenandoah Valley.
After our Shenandoah National Park visit, we continued South, to Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia, where we would spend some time, exploring.
Since we had heard the Blue Ridge Parkways (496 miles) was closed by the National Park Service, due to damage from the Hurricane, we checedk it out for ourselves, since we came out of Shenandoah in the South, close to where the Parkways starts in the North. Well, it was open and there was not one single sign that indicated any parts of it was closed , nor were there signs to indicate only local traffic was allowed.
We got on the Parkway and drove for about a half hour is all, and then had to turn around; since we had cancelled the Parkway plans and made new ones, elsewhere. Oh well. One day we will get back there and spend a couple of days exploring, when the healing happens for the entire area.
2+ hours
135 miles
We noticed so many linemen and their trucks on the roads. We also saw them at hotels we stayed at, in many cases. They were helping to restore power to the Hurricane hit areas. God Bless’em!
Still, Day 2
Quality Inn
Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia
One Night, where the Gideon Bible can still be found in the side table drawer…..
We had an enjoyable drive into West Virginia, and this hotel was very nice and right next to the Harper’s Ferry Historical Town. It was a good choice, but no elevator, just so you know. We prefer top floors, so nobody is doing “line dancing,” or “gymnastics” above our heads all night, or what ever they do in hotels, so people can’t sleep.
Good night y’all!
Click on this link to go to Part 2 of 5:
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Hello and Welcome to our Travel Blog Website, We enjoy writing about our experiences and taking photos of our adventuring along the way. Our names are: Daryl and Pen, but Daryl calls me “Bunny.” We met, quite randomly, whilst both… Read More