For those just looking to get away from it all and enjoy the outdoors, the Shenandoah Valley is an ideal choice. Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Luray, Virginia, Shenandoah National Park is a scenic destination that offers beauty, relaxtion and many recreational activities. It’s just 70 miles west of Washington, D.C. In fact, many tourists who travel to D.C. with all its heavy traffic, crowds of people and endless hustle and bustle like to schedule a peaceful visit to Shenandoah at the end of their trip as a way to balance out their vacation. Others find it to be a refreshing setting for wedding receptions, meetings, retreats and business events.

Getting there is the best part. As my family and I traveled along the histroic Skyline Drive, a national scenic byway, we were amazed by the breathtaking views of the Valley, which can be enjoyed at one of 75 overlooks througout the park.

In order to appreciate the total Shenandoah experience, I highly recommend staying in the Park at one of its historic lodges, cabins or modern rooms. We stayed at a cozy cabin in the Skyland Resort. It is so named because of its lofty location near the highest point on Skyline Drive. The family cabins are very spacious. The beds are comfy and the outside deck is a great place to sit and enjoy the cool mountain breezes. It’s also a great opportunity to take in the scenery and get a different perspective of the rushing streams, wildflowers and waterfalls in the area. Skyland takes up 36 wooded acres in the Park.

For activities, you can bike, hike, horseback ride or camp out at one of the four campgrounds in Shenandoah National Park. A free permit is required for backcountry camping. The Valley is also known for its wineries, historic homes and battlefields. There are also lots of caves and caverns to explore in the area as well.

Hungry? Well, unfortunatley, there aren’t too many options available when it comes to finding a place to eat in Skyland Resort. The good news is the one option that IS available is a good one: the Pollock dining room. Some of the menu items are a bit pricey but well worth it if you’re looking for a hearty meal. The place serves prime rib of beef and baked Virginia trout, among other things. There was one item on the breakfast menu that I was especially happy to see: turkey bacon. There aren’t too many eateries that offer turkey bacon, and it was quite tasty.

By the way, if you’re planning to hike or horseback ride in the mountains, you may want to consider ordering a “picnic to go”. You get to enjoy a great meal, and the great outdoors, with a boxed lunch prepared for you “to go”. All you have to do is place your order at the hostess stand at the Skyland Resort. That’s what we did and we were very pleased with how it all turned out.

 If you’re considering going to Shenandoah National Park, you better hurry. Skyland closes at 12 Noon on November 29th, 2009…and then re-opens at 3 pm on April 1st, 2010. Reservations will be taken beginning Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at 8:00 Eastern time. For more information, please call the Park toll-free at (888) 896-3833 or visit the website at www.visitshenandoah.com.