Yesterday’s drive was very nice. The weather was perfect, the views were just great, the towns were interesting, and the food was good. The best part was that it was all so close by. The entire trip was just 150 miles, and though we were visiting places wholly unfamiliar, we were never far from areas that we knew well. I enjoyed stumbling across the Shenandoah River State Park, one of the newer additions to the Virginia park system. Using a dozen photos taken at an overlook in the park I stitched together this panorama of a bend in the Shenandoah River that, like all panoramas, is best viewed large:
(After I finish the Commonwealth Quest, I think my next project will be to visit every Virginia state park.) If you’re looking for a greasy spoon in Front Royal, I recommend the Knotty Pine—I don’t think there was a single item on the menu that cost more than $7. And if you’re looking for a town to visit in this stretch of the valley, I’ve got to recommend Luray. It’s got a great downtown, with lots of restaurants and shops, and a friendly visitors center, and oodles of area activities. I think a three-day weekend in Luray is our future. And if you’re looking for a place to open a small business, and location doesn’t matter, the town of Shenandoah has some nice empty storefronts, and I bet you could rent one for a song.
Anyhow, good trip. In this economy, and with these gas prices, I recommend the area for a day trip or a long weekend.
I’ve often taken your northbound route when working in Winchester and the northern Shen. Valley. While it adds about 30-45 minutes to the trip to and from Lynchburg, it is worth it. It is really one of the most beautiful parts of Virginia that I have ever seen. Based on the traffic that I don’t encounter along any parts of that route, I doubt if many Virginians have ever taken the time to see that area… which is fine with me!
Reading about your Commonwealth Quest, I notice that you count a municipality as visited if your car passes through it on the Interstate.
Surely you’re kidding.
By the way, if you want a genuine Valley diner experience, try Wynn’s Restaurant in downtown Front Royal. It’s just a couple blocks from the courthouse, and they serve a terrific, fast hot breakfast. Warning: smoking is allowed throughout, and most patrons take advantage of the privilege.
As for state parks, have you been to Fairy Stone, near Martinsville? As state parks go, it’s nothing too special, but searching for the fairy stones — and especially finding them — is a very fun and memorable experience.
They’re not my rules, they’re Craig Fifer’s. I’m just playing the game. (Don’t hate the playah! Hate the game!)