Shenandoah, one day,kids

We are traveling through to VB from Michigan but want to make a stop in the Valley-one day, one night, several hours. I%26#39;m just starting to research so we are open to the time period. Is there a good place to land in the valley that will give us a good taste of what it%26#39;s like there? Is it necessary to go all the way to Luray? We will be coming in from 64. Our kids are 4-10. Any suggestions would be helpful. We would be interested in small towns, hiking, demonstrations of life there/past or present. MP

Shenandoah, one day,kids

You may want to consider getting on Skyline Drive (near I81 %26amp; I64), go north and stop at a few of the scenic overlooks, stop at the Shenandoah NP visitors center, tell ranger type of hikes you like %26amp; have time for and they will make some good suggestions and provide trail maps. A couple that I like are Hawksbill and Stoney Man, more park info at www.nps.gov/shen. I think the kids %26amp; adults would like Luray Caverns if you have time (remember, it%26#39;s 50 degrees in the caverns). Charlottesville is very nice and there is a hike you may enjoy called Rivanna Trail, info at www.avenue.org/rivanna/trails.htm

Hope this helps. Happy Trails.

Shenandoah, one day,kids

A good place for life demonstrations is the Frontier Culture Museum in Staunton (frontiermuseum.org).

In rereading your post, I see you%26#39;re coming on I-64 on your way to VB, so I assume that means you%26#39;re coming through West VA to southwest VA, right? The previous poster mentioned the Skyline Drive, but that might be too far north and out of your way. However, you might want to drive along the southern end of the Blue Ridge Parkway which runs parallel with I-81/64. Lexington is a lovely town - you might enjoy a tour of VA Military Academy (they have a small museum showing the history of the school and there%26#39;s a room set up to show how the cadets lived) and hearing about the young boys from VMI that lost their lives in the Battle of Newmarket (Civil War). You can see Stonewall Jackson%26#39;s horse. Lexington and the Frontier Museum could be a day. Staunton will put you back onto I-64.

Have fun! Please post again with more questions.

Frontier Culture Museum IS great. The costumed guides all seem to go out of their way to involve the children in discussions and answer any of their questions.