To visit the Shenandoah Valley .

We wish to visit the Shenandoah Valley late September.

Could anyone who has any advice on places of intrest and hotels help us to plan this visit.

We intend to fly to Washington from London, stopping a few days before hiring a car to tour S/Valley.

Would we need to return to Washington for our return flight, or could we catch a flight from anougher airport.

We intend to have a three week holiday as we are both retired, and we really do not want to drive to far each day, between places of intrest.

We do have tourist maps coming from the tourist department out there, not sure what information they will contain.

We would be most pleased for any help.

To visit the Shenandoah Valley .

You have picked a wonderful time of year to travel. DC should be quite comfortable in September (many people visit when it%26#39;s blazing hot and humid), and Shenandoah will likely be showing her fall colors. From DC, the north entrance to Shenandoah National Park is about an hours drive at Front Royal Va. This begins milepost 0 of Skyline Drive which is 105 miles long and ends near Waynesboro. Skyline is a beautiful road, speed limit 35mph, scenic turnouts, numerous places to hike (if you hike, many trails to chose from according to time, distance, ability, ask at visitors center which are best suited for you). Along Skyline Dr, you can leave the Park and drive into towns such as Luray and visit the Luray Caverns. There are 2 lodges in Shenandoah NP, Skyland at about milepost 41, and Big Meadows at about mp 51. At the end of Skyline Dr, visit Charlottesville, an hour east of Waynesboro. Then drive some on the Blue Ridge Parkway, it begins where Skyline stopped (Waynesboro) and continues for 400+ miles to Great Smoky Mountain NP at the North Carolina/Tennessee border. The Virginia section of the BRP is beautiful (as is the entire parkway) and many small towns are along the way, such as Bedford where the Peaks of Otter are located (there is a lodge on the parkway at milepost 86, Peaks of Otter Lodge). Bedford is an interesting small town and they have the National D-Day Memorial which is a wonderful monument.

There is some information, post again with things you like to see and do....hike, wineries, museums, history, scenic etc. There are several forum posters that are quite knowledgable of the area and will be glad to provide suggestions. Virginia is a beautiful place, enjoy your time here.

To visit the Shenandoah Valley .

Many thanks for your second letter ref: S.N.P.

I have made a start regarding the planning and this additional information will be of great help.

Once I have got our route, I can then think about booking hotels in the places we wish to stop.

Many thanks, have a nice day.

POLLYNANA.