Beauty in Our Backyard
It has been a little over two years since our family moved from Pennsylvania to Virginia. Fredericksburg is quite different from our hometown, with its hustle and proximity to our nation's capital. Nicely situated in this new place we call home, our eyes have been opened to the many gems of nature and history embedded in our local community and nearby towns. Our family time explorations have led us to walks that made us feel like we should be in the midst of an enchanted forest with fairies, caverns of stalagmites and stalactites creating a scene that is a reminder of Lord of the Rings, and battlefields where soldiers stood and fought for what they believed in. What beauty, rich in creation and history, right in our backyard!
You may have lived in Virginia all of your life, or maybe you are a newcomer to the area, but you don't have to wait any longer to take in its breathtaking beauty. Summertime sunrises and sunsets that display the splendor of heaven can be found in our local Shenandoah National Park. You can easily find the park and all the sunrise and sunset lookout points from the National Park App. Pack a breakfast, lunch, or dinner and enjoy the majesty of this local national park. You can also find hikes for every adventure seeker in the family. The app lists the hikes, severity, and estimated completion time, so any hiker-- novice or veteran can enjoy a plethora of wildlife. White-tailed deer, black bears, bobcats, squirrels, lizards, snakes, and turtles roam freely. Bird watchers love the landscape of the Blue Ridge, which has more than 190 birds to observe and enjoy. Stargazing is another activity that can be cherished with friends and family. The easy accessibility of Skyline Drive allows the stargazer to capture the luminescence of the moon, Milky Way, and clusters of constellations.
The mysterious Luray Caverns, conveniently located close to Shenandoah National Park, are a must-see. This fantastic site is the most extensive cavern system in the East, with a unique underground landscape that includes mirrored pools, mudflows, towering columns, stalagmites, and stalactites. The paved, lit paths make it easy to explore this deep underground landscape and stand in awe of the towering cathedral ceilings. With a pitch-black background, glittering rocks, and jolting earth, the Luray Caverns are a place where you can let your imagination run wild.
In our backyard, on four battlefields-- Chancellorsville, Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania Court House, and The Wilderness-- brothers fought against each other for their valued ideals. At any of these historic sites, your mind can drift from the serene, peaceful landscape and nature walks to the ferocious cannon booms and blood-stained battlefields. It's a powerful reminder of how our nation was transformed forever. Enter our nation’s past and explore the Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park, which contains the four battlefields, historic buildings such as Jackson’s death site and Salem Church, and exhibits and tours. It is one of 400 national parks found on the NPS app.
A vacation to distant national parks may not be possible for the remaining summer weeks, but you can enjoy the fascinating sights in beautiful Virginia.