Shenandoah Valley is for RVers

Picture perfect scenery abounds in the mountains and rolling hills of Virginia. The peace and serenity that mother nature provides is at its best in the Shenandoah Valley along the popular Skyline Drive and Blue Ridge Parkway. Reaching just over 100 miles, Skyline Drive provides scenic vistas around every bend, and there are a multitude of stops along the way to stretch road-weary legs.

The area has something unique to offer the million plus visitors to the Shenandoah National Park, from flowery meadows begging to be roamed in spring to photography opportunities worthy of the greatest of artists to regional foods and festivals that leave you wanting more.

If after sight-seeing in the area, you work up a thirst for fruits of the vine there are some unique vineyards at which you may stop and refresh yourself. Barboursville Vineyards, established in 1976 by Gianni And Silvana Zonin, includes on its estate the mansion Jefferson created for Governor James Barbour. At the heart of the mansion is an octagonal great room that inspired “Octagon“, one of the winery’s premier red wines. An additional vineyard in this unique Monticello Viticultural area includes Horton Vineyards which produces Viognier, Marsanne, Mourvedre, Cabernet Franc and Syrah grape varieties.

Additionally, you won’t want to miss Thomas Jefferson’s 5,000-acre mountain top home and plantation, Monticello, located in Albemarle County. Visitors may explore Jefferson’s architectural masterpiece and discover his unique vision through the many inventions he included within the design of his home. Tours are scheduled every 5 minutes throughout operating hours and last about 30 minutes each. There are even specialized tours for families with children, plus a Mountaintop Hands-on Activity Center. From there guests may stroll about the grounds at their leisure, visiting the vegetable gardens, orchards and grove, or take the outdoor tour which lasts about 45 minutes.

President James Madison’s home, Montpelier, is nearby in Orange, Virginia. Raised at Montpelier, James Madison returned to live there multiple times during his life. The estate features the mansion plus archaeological sites, exhibits, other historic buildings, gardens, a visitor’s center, a freedman’s cabin, and more.

But the history tour doesn’t stop there, as the Shenandoah Valley is teeming with landmarks. Civil War buffs will want to be sure to stop in at the Civil War Museum at the Exchange Hotel located in Gordonsville, VA while in the area. Per a quote from their website:

“The Exchange Hotel became the Gordonsville Receiving Hospital which provided care for 70,000 soldiers, both Confederate and Union. In the reconstruction period, this hospital served the newly freed slaves as a Freedman’s Bureau Hospital. As the United States healed and the railroads boomed, this graceful building returned to its role of hotel. Now fully restored, the hotel is a museum dedicated to the Civil War era.”

If you haven’t figured it out yet, the area has far too many sites, scenes, and destinations to experience within a single day, so you’ll want a basecamp to venture from by day and return to each night. A mere 15-20 minutes from the two vineyards mentioned above is Shenandoah Crossing, an RV park and resort that provides just what weary RV travelers need, plus a lot of what just feels good — like an indoor/outdoor pool, hot tub, and sauna.

When you go, plan to spend at least a full day or two at Shenandoah Crossing, playing golf on the 18 hole course, or riding horseback, or just relaxing with family or friends.

Unlike any other RV park in the area, there are 3 levels of amenities at Shenandoah Crossing‘s new RV facilities. All sites offer attractive landscaping, a gas barbecue, a patio with Adirondack style furniture, and small grassy yards. Full hook ups, cable TV as well as wi-fi internet are standard at each site. The Elite pull-through sites that can accommodate large RV’s, feature larger patios, additional Adirondack furniture and larger summer kitchens with cabinets, countertops and a stainless steel sink. There are also 6 pull-through “Presidential” spaces with large stained concrete patios. These come with deluxe furnishings and large summer kitchens that include built-in, stainless steel gas barbecues. They even include a fire pit, and each campsite is surrounded by a wall that offers both seating and privacy, plus wooden arbors that surround private hot tubs that seat up to 6 adults.

It’s amazing what they’ve created here, as the attention to detail is superb. Take the wood trellises and light fixtures: they’ve created these out of local red-heart cedar. They’ve also landscaped the entire resort with indigenous crabapple, oak, maple and evergreen trees. The result is an historical authenticity that permeates throughout the entire area.

For the youngest visitors (or even those young at heart), pony rides and hay rides are available. Additional amenities and activities include a playground, tennis court, basketball court, horseshoe pits, volleyball, baseball, miniature golf, a game room, a fitness center, horse-drawn carriage rides, a 60-acre lake with boats available, an on-site restaurant and bar, and even a petting zoo!

It’s beyond impressive and a vacation spot all on its own. Having visited the Shenandoah Valley many times, I always urge my friends to visit the area. I’ve yet to find anywhere that provides such a deep sense of connection to our early American heritage while simultaneously exceeding all of my vacation wants and needs. Shenandoah Crossing is now on my “must-stay” list, and I encourage you to add it to yours.

With very little effort online-savvy RVers can often find Shenandoah Crossing get-away packages at drastically discounted rates. Or you can learn more about Shenandoah Crossing by calling 866-211-5131.