Looking for a place to retreat for fresh air and beautiful scenery? Shenandoah National Park is a perfect destination for a road trip. The mountains themselves are beautiful, and the air is clean and fresh because of the high elevation!
There are plenty of paths leading off the road up the mountains in Shenandoah Valley, so you can stop anytime to step out for a hike or just to enjoy the view. The mountains were carpeted with lush green trees, and the wide expanse of blue sky above painted a picturesque scene. In the distance, the mountains appeared to be dark blue and became more shadowed the farther away they were. The entire view was like the front of a postcard!
Boards with directions of trails and descriptions of different points on the mountains were set up all around, so we followed one of these trails through the trees to a rocky ledge overlooking the valley. The secluded area was a great place for photos or just to take a break.
As we continued up the mountain, we came across a small waterfall rushing over in a bubbling stream over the rocks and leaves. The sound of the running water added to the overall calming environment of the forested region.
For the rest of the afternoon, we continued to drive and hike around to the top of the mountain, where more scenes of flourishing greenery met us. Wherever we went, the peaceful atmosphere was unbroken by the presence of other people, so it was a great way to de-stress! Admiring the forested mountains aren’t relaxing for no reason, either: Huffington Post has reported that the color green is very calming to look at. At the peak of one of the mountains, the abundant plant life gave way to a rocky layer of jagged stone. However, the lack of trees gave us a clear view of the surrounding mountains once again.
The next day, we drove around the base of the Shenandoah Valley, where the mountains were replaced with fields of green grass, where Back Creek pooled into. We headed down to the sandy shore, and in the past distance we could see Jamestown Island across the water. The cloudy sky over the calm lake was a tranquil scene!
Finally, we headed over to the Colonial Williamsburg Visitor Center. There were many historical buildings on site, including several colonial-style houses and a windmill. It was interesting to stroll around the center’s paths and see the old structures. The large brick building with a surrounding fence was quite beautiful!
If you want to visit a national park in the US but prefer a more laid-back schedule that isn’t full of scheduled events and bookings, I would recommend Shenandoah National Park as a fitting candidate. Once you purchase admission into the park, you can drive and hike all around the roads and trails and enjoy the scenery at your own leisure!
Thanks for reading my post! If you enjoyed it, please like, reblog, and share!
thetravellinggashapon 