Great place with great views!…read more Pop "Woodstock Tower" into Google Maps, and it will take you to the right spot (Apple Maps only took me to the trailhead a distance away). This will put you near a little overlook off the dirt road or if you keep going, a small gravel parking lot. Be prepared to drive on dirt and gravel roads for over a mile to get here; you are going the right way! This end of the trail has a clearly marked sign saying it is the Woodstock Tower. From either of those parking lots it's only about ¼ mile walk to get to the tower. The path varies from rocky to flat dirt. Loads of hickory nuts line the path. You could also come from the other end of the trail, which is over a mile away in the other direction. The climb up is steep but manageable (I'd recommend being more careful descending!) with metal steps. Considering she's still standing 90 years after her construction, I'd say the tower is stable. Hats off to the Civilian Conservation Corps for building this lasting landmark! The views from the top are great and worth the short walk and short climb. I met a local man at the top who shoots a lot of videos from up there. He did warn that sometimes there are black bears in the area; I never saw one my whole time, but just keep alert. It was a little cold on the mid-October day we were there and the top of the mountain did mean lots of cross wind, so dress appropriately. Unless you're weird about heights (apologies to my wife; thanks for walking out to it with us, Baby), this is a worthwhile visit. Definitely recommend!

What a pleasant surprise! We drove up the mountain on Christmas Eve and simply enjoyed the views…read more Our goal of finding the tower wasn't easy being that my bf hadn't been up there since he was a kid. Nevertheless we found it :-) I was a bit apprehensive of climbing it at first but took baby steps lol. What a beautiful scenery once you reach the top. Great experience!

I have been to many Caverns in my travels and this one by far is the best I've ever seen. Some you…read moremust travel far down under ground this one you just walk into no elevators, making it nicer for people with fear of tight spaces. To begin with the parking lot is huge and they also have parking for RV's which is great. Walked into the welcome center and purchased our tickets. If you have a Giant grocery card you get a discount. Walked down a ramp into the caverns. We took so many photos. Every step you take is spectacular. Finally, we visited the display of cars and carriages. What a wonderful collection. They also have a rope park, a village and a garden maze. Fun for the whole family.

Luray Caverns is a great all-purpose experience whether you're on a romantic date, solo, or with…read morethe family. Having visited multiple times, it is a great experience for all. For what comes with your entry pass, the sale is a very good value. $36 for adults and $34 for seniors. $18 for children 6-12 and children under 6 are free. Included in your entry ticket is your Luray Caverns self-guided tour, which simply means you walk through the caverns at your own pace, the Car & Carriage Caravan Museum, Shenandoah Heritage Village, and Toy Town Junction. If you have time, there is also a garden maze nextdoor which is $12 for adults, $8 for children ages 6-12, and children 5 and under are free. I recommend purchasing tickets in advance, online, as ticket lines in person can someone be long with many tour groups. What I love about Luray Caverns is it is the largest cavern on the east coast and has an interesting history. Young boys walking in a field and noticing air coming from a sinkhole led to the discovery of the caverns in the late 1800s. There are huge chambers in the caverns, making space for large groups to gather. You'll also observe wishing pools, sparkling lakes that present an optical illusion, and original paved walkways. Seeing the stalactites and stalagmites is a wonder. The Great Stalacpipe Organ is also a must-see as it is the world's largest musical instrument in the caves. If visiting in the summer, you'll appreciate the drop in temperature as you descend the caves, making for a cool summer activity. The temperature in the caves remain consistent throughout the year. One thing to note is there are narrow ramps and walking paths throughout the caverns, so keep this in mind if visiting with guests with mobility concerns. Overall, a very good experience and one worth visiting.

Really enjoyed it. Had a great guide, Luke. Nice history of a 200-year-old oldest in the country…read more They hold events there still, we can concerts. Large rooms, easy to see all the formations in the walkways are easy to pass through. Quite a few steps for those who are challenged to do physical walking but otherwise it's pretty cool. Been to quite a few caverns and this was one of the better ones and a lot to see.

Such a fun experience! Make sure to wear good tennis shoes or hiking shoes. There are rocks along…read morethe path that can roll your ankle. I made the mistake of forgetting my tennis shoes at home.

If you love history, New Market Battlefield is one of those places that gets under your skin in the…read morebest way. The moment you step onto the grounds, you can almost feel May 15, 1864, unfolding around you. The fields are quiet now, but they hold the echo of the day the VMI Cadets -- boys, really -- marched into a real war and changed the course of the battle. The park is immaculately kept. Walking the Field of Lost Shoes with the mountains in the background feels like standing inside a painting and a memory at the same time. The interpretive signs do a great job placing you exactly where key movements happened -- Breckinridge's line, the Union artillery positions, the cadets' charge. If you're a detail-hound, this battlefield lets you connect dots you didn't even know you were missing. Highlights: * The Bushong Farm is a time capsule. You walk through it and suddenly you're in 1864, wondering what the family heard, saw, and feared as the battle rolled over their home. * The terrain itself is the best "exhibit." Once you see the slopes and fields in person, the tactics make so much more sense. * There's an almost sacred calm to the place -- the kind of quiet that makes you pause before you speak. Tips: Wear good shoes, explore the whole field, and take your time. Don't rush it. This isn't a battlefield you see -- it's one you feel. Bottom line: If you're a history buff, this battlefield isn't just worth visiting -- it's essential. It's intimate, haunting, and unforgettable. The New Market cadets left their mark on this field, and somehow, the field still leaves one on you.

Beautiful battlefield well kept up with the history of the battle the farm is well preserved and…read morenice to see how they lived in 1862 the museum on the grounds is beautiful and has the history of the battlefield and muskets and hand guns used in the civil war definitely a place worth exploring

This is a stunning tower. Colonel Northcutt built this, in honor of his late wife Belle. She must…read morehave been an incredible woman. The sign that welcomes you, is very much in line with this friendly part of Virginia. How can you not enjoy Luray? This is close to the caverns as well. Parking is plentiful. Hoping one day the town or conservancy, will fix the bells. Also being able to walk inside it would be great. There's a pond close by. It's definitely a relaxing spot. If you're in the area admire love built.

What do yo want from it? It's a bell tower in the middle of a small plot of land in the center of…read moreLuray. It's pretty neat to see on your way back from Luray Caverns, and stop by to sit around he for a bit. It is right next to a man made lake with a little fountain in the middle.

This marker along US-11 which is known as Old Valley Pike in Mount Jackson points out the hospital…read morestructure that was nearby during the Civil War. This original site is now a convenience store and gas station The marker reads, "The Confederate hospital was built here under the direction of Dr. Andrew Russell Meem, by order of the Confederate Medical Department in Sept. 1861. The hospital consisted of three two-story buildings, each 150 feet long, accommodating 500 patients. At the end of the war, the 192nd Ohio Volunteer Militia tore down the hospital and used the lumber to construct a large military installation that included a courthouse, guardhouse, gallows, and ballroom on Rude's Hill, three miles south of Mount Jackson. Federal occupation forces used these structures throughout the Reconstruction period. The cemetery, which was established directly across the Valley Pike in 1861, was dedicated in 1866." [Review 15266 overall, 768 of 2021, number 1333 in Virginia.]

James Madison lived at Montpelier his entire life. This is a really interesting historic home that…read morelater belonged to the DuPont family, who eventually donated funds to turn it back into a historic site as Madison's home. That renovation/restoration took a long time, and it's now a lovely place to visit and learn about our 4th President and his wife Dolley Madison. In addition to the house, which acknowledges its part in running a plantation through the work of enslaved people, it has exhibits about slavery at Montpelier and archeological finds. The property also has lovely grounds with a beautiful garden that's filled with many colorful flowers in the spring. The visitor center offers a movie, and the house docents offer hour-long tours on the half hour. They also have picnic tables under shady trees to enjoy lunch. The views from Montpelier are breathtaking. They charge a fee to visit the house and grounds. If you only want to visit the grounds, the fee is lower.

This is a great place to visit if you are interested in America's founding, American style of…read moredemocracy, or to celebrate the upcoming Sestercentennial of the United States. (Having experienced the bicentennial as a kid on a summer-long vacation, I am looking forward to it.) The guided tour of the house is well done. The out-buildings and grounds are self-guided. There are many and spread out, and the whole property is on a gentle slope. Could be an issue if it is a hot and humid day. Be sure to visit the garden! Think twice about buying the Looking Through the Landscape book for $10.00. I thought it would be something I could put on my bookshelf but no. Hardly a pamphlet, it contains QR code links to YouTube videos they created. It was snuck in during the checkout process and frankly left me feeling duped. I chalked it up as a donation.

Only place i really launch my boat it's good when river is at right level and the upkeep is done…read morewhich hasn't been very good. The places to tie off your boat are gone with nails sticking out everywhere and after water levels rise there's always thick mud on the concrete pad. If you have a good size boat the water around the ramp can get pretty shallow. Also, there's a lot of people who come there that can't read the rules and trash the place. When the upkeep is good and not muddy it's a good ramp.

Cute little grassy area noting the Civil War event of the Battle of Guard Hill. There are about 5…read morepicnic tables here and one grill post plus a porta pottie. This is sitting right at a boat ramp entering the Shenandoah River/North Fork. Basically, coming 66 West from N.VA, merging off at Front Royal exit, take a left on 522. Gas station and McDonald's on the right. Turn left onto Riverton Rd. (Just before the bridge). Turn right at the boat launch. Licensed fishing permitted.

Of course, the Civil War spent a lot of time along the route that is now known as US-11. This…read moremarker near the town Mount Jackson points out one of those battles. It reads, "McNeill's Last Charge. In the predawn darkness of 3 Oct. 1864, Capt. John Hanson McNeill led thirty of his Partisan Rangers, including local resident Joseph I. Triplett, against a hundred-man detachment of the 8th Ohio Cavalry Regiment that was guarding the Meems Bottom bridge on the Valley Turnpike. The attack ended in fifteen minutes with most of the guard captured and McNeill, among the best-known Confederate partisan commanders, mortally wounded. Taken first to the Rev. Anders R. Rude's house a mile south, McNeill was moved on 20 Oct. to Hill's Hotel (Stoneleigh) in Harrisonburg, where he died on 10 Nov. His body was later reinterred in Moorefield, W.Va., his home." Online, there is more information. McNeill was born near Moorefield, Virginia (which is now West Virginia. In 1861, he formed and was named commander of a company in the Missouri State Guard, seeing action in Boonville, Carthage, Wilson's Creek, and Lexington. Although captured and imprisoned in St. Louis, he escaped on June 15, 1862, and made his way back to Virginia. In Richmond, he obtained permission to form an independent unit in the western counties of West Virginia and Virginia in order to disrupt Union activities in the area. This was granted, and on September 5, 1862, McNeill became captain of Company E of the 18th Virginia Cavalry, more commonly known as McNeill's Rangers. Along with raids on railroads and wagon trains, he first proposed the operation that became the Jones-Imboden Raid. Opponents called him a Bushwhacker. Initially buried in Harrisonburg with full Military and Masonic honors, his Rangers returned his body to Hardy County, West Virginia, for reinterment. He is buried in Olivet Cemetery in Moorefield, West Virginia, next to the Monument to Confederate Dead, surrounded by the graves of other Confederate soldiers. [Review 15112 overall, 614 of 2021, number 1325 in Virginia.]