Have You Ever Visited the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia?

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National Parks are among the USA’s best vacation bargains. There is nothing more beautiful than a misty October morning in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. The very concept of a national park is a uniquely American idea, from the early 19th century. It was landscape artist George Catlin who was anxious about the impact on wildlife and the wilderness by settlers who were moving west, who suggested “a nation’s park, containing man and beast, in all the wild and freshness of their nature’s beauty.” He promoted this idea and it was embraced by our young country that was “eager to match the cultural treasures of the Old World with its own natural wonders.” And so Congress donated Yosemite Valley to California for the preservation as a state park in 1864 and designated TWO Million acres in Wyoming and Montana as Yellowstone National Park. About 60 million visitors visit the 56 national parks every year. About 2 million visit the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia which is nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia and West Virginia. Driving along Skyline Drive offers unparalleled scenic beauty around every turn in the road. Its 105 miles offers breathtaking views of the Appalachian Mountain range. This amazing Park is only about an hour from Washington D.C. It gets a bit crowded in peak seasons. Cabins and other accommodations need to be reserved well in advance, but the park is open year- round for hiking, except for extreme winter weather when Skyline Drive may close temporarily for icy roads. It’s a beautiful place to visit.