I have been wanting to do a loosely planned, flexible road trip for a while but somehow you always end up planning/ booking things well ahead when with family or a group. The year of 2020 and beginning of 2021 were hard socially and personally for me due to the Covid pandemic. I was seeking for a break which finally made me decide to take a short 5-day solo trip to Virginia and West Virginia, visiting some of natures and manmade wonders.
Below is short description of my day-by-day itinerary of my trip
Day/ Night 1 - I started driving after work with the intent of reaching Virginia Beach by morning. It was mostly pleasant though a long drive of almost 700 plus miles. Past Washington DC, I rested for few hours in a well trafficked rest area. As I got closer to VB there was much morning rush traffic. One I reached near the boardwalk I got a cheap full day parking in a church parking lot then headed to the beach.
Day 2 July 21 – It was a hot but beautiful sunny day. Before heading into the water, I decided to check out the boardwalk which is quite long (about 3 mi). So, I rented a bicycle for an hour instead of walking. It was fun casually biking on the boardwalk, checking out the King Neptune and other sculptures and features, taking pictures and resting in between. After returning the bike I headed to the beach and into the water. It’s surprising how much time you can spend in the water especially when the beach is crowded as it was that day. I spent about 3-4 hours in the water then got out and strolled on the adjoining street parallel to the boardwalk, eating a shawarma wrap lunch and window shopping. Later in the afternoon I headed back onto the beach and water.
As it got to evening the crowds thinned and I spent some time sitting on the beach sand watching sun and strolling on the boardwalk. Later I had dinner at a Mexican restaurant. By the time I finished dinner and came out it had started raining. It rained heavily for a while then stopped. I headed to a campsite I had booked at the First State Landing Park, which is adjoining the beach.
In hindsight I should have gone there sometime during the afternoon, checked everything out and set up my tent etc. By the time I reached it was @ 10 pm and dark and I had hard time even locating my site. I dropped the idea of setting up the tent and just decided to sleep in the car. It was surrounded by trees and the weather was hot and humid with hardly a breeze. I could not sleep and finally drove out near the camp office where it was somewhat open area.
Day 3 July 22 - I had not gotten a decent sleep but once it was dawn, I decided to check out the beach. A little walk through some grassy land and beach was out there with a beautiful sunrise ahead. Unlike the boardwalk area beach this was quite secluded with only few people walking together or with their dogs. I had a long walk on the beach and then spent some time in the water. Afterwards I had a shower and cooked up some tea and breakfast on a camp stove. Once finished with cleaning up I was ready to head out.
My plan was to visit Shenandoah National Park next day, so I was going to stay near the southern entrance named as Rockfish Gap which would allow me an early entry and whole day of exploring the Skyline Drive and the park. It was about 200 miles distance and drive of 3.5 hrs., and I arrived by midafternoon at my hotel. Since there was lot of time, I decided to visit Luray Caverns which had good reviews.
The cavern experience was spectacular with amazing formations at display everywhere. The mirrored pool or dream lake with stalactite formations reflected and mirrored in still standing water below was amazing. The wishing well, Saracen’s Tent, the great stalactite organ are all amazing and worth the visit. I was glad I was able to make this visit. Back to the hotel by evening I was ready to explore the Skyline Drive the next day.
Day 4 July 23 – I was up early next day and at the South entrance of the Shenandoah National Park by 7 ish in the morning, too early for anyone to be at the entrance gateway checkpoint. The Skyline drive is a 105-mile parkway road that runs north-south through the Blue Ridge mountains and the entire length of the Shenandoah NP. It is a two-lane undivided road; the speed limit is just 35 miles and there are several overlook points which give you a scenic view of the mountains and the valley and access to make hiking trails.
The day was pleasant and clear, the surrounding forest lush green and there was hardly anyone as I pulled into multiple overlook points. The silence, with only sound of wind or occasional birds or insects, was just right to put your mind in peace and meditative mode. I wasn’t in a hurry and took my time slowly driving looking at the surrounding forest and was able to see many deer, birds and even a hawk on the road pecking at some dead animal. What I really was expecting to see was a bear, of which Shenandoah has plenty. It was also something which made me nervous about hiking alone though plenty of Appalachian Trail hikers’ hike through this forest without much concern about the bears.
Along with the drive I was able to do Bearfence Trail and the Dark Hollow Falls trail. They were short to medium intensity trails with the Bearfence trail having a rock scramble and Dark Hollow trails having waterfalls which was especially interesting for me being always interested in water. I wish I would have done more hiking, but I didn’t want to push too much in one day. By the time I had finished the Dark Hollow falls trail it was later afternoon and I went a bit farther and turned back around 80 miles back to south entrance. After getting out of the park before heading out to my hotel I decided to check out the Natural Bridge landmark. The Natural Bridge in Virginia is a huge natural rock bridge.
Day 5 July 24- Full day Whitewater Rafting (class 3 to 5 rapids) in New River Gorge National Park ending right under the scenic, manmade New River Gorge bridge (one of the largest of its kind). Officially this is the newest NP in US.
Not planning accommodations ahead or worrying about restaurant lunch/ dinners everyday gave me lot of activity time, flexibility to adjust the schedule on the fly, stay on campsites or glamping in the car. Long drive was not at all a problem with a novel on Audible app and music to listen to, plus the wonderful mountainous roads with beautiful forests around. Also got to meet and talk with many strangers on the journey (even a Parsi guy who studied in Bharti Vidyapeeth, Pune!). By the end I was experiencing what John Denver wrote
" Almost heaven, West Virginia
Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah River
Life is old there, older than the trees
Younger than the mountains, growin' like a breeze....."
