Shenandoah National Park

Shenandoah National Park is one of those places that I didn’t care for growing up. In high school we went through as part of our Virginia vacation and I found it just did not compare to the wonders out west, like the Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Zion, or any others. The light was flat, the sweeping vistas are much smaller, and it seemed like there just was not anything interesting.

The real magic of Shenandoah is dusk and dawn. The light is so dynamic, there’s different light at every overlook. My favorite part of the entire park is the clouds. Sometimes the clouds are above you, sometimes you are in the clouds, and sometimes you are above the clouds.

Being above the clouds is my favorite. The mountains are like little islands that are nestled in a blanket of fluffy white clouds.

The real treat being above the clouds is sunrise. If you’re at the right overlook you can just catch the sun casting beautiful pink light across the entire sea of clouds.

The park is always so relaxing. There’s hardly any cell service. The temperature is always in the 50s, so it’s perfect for cruising with the windows down. Sometimes at night you can see the stars above the trees.

My last trip was for the fall colors. It is amazing seeing the entire mountain be a mix of reds and oranges. The end of October completely transforms the park into something even more magical.