Throw a rock near Culpeper, Virginia and you'll hit a landmark of Civil War significance. Thanks to…read morea non-profit that fights to preserve the country's earliest memories, Cedar Mountain Battlefield is a place for all to visit for free. Stopping by while at a nearby cabin, here's my experience: 1) Parking: Follow the signs to free parking near the visitor center. By the picnic table in the yard, you'll see a trailhead with maps and info on the battlefield. Follow the trails to find old gravestones and places where the battle took place. 2) Points of Interest: Markers along the trail talk about the significance of the battle. Confederate General Stonewall Jackson drew his sword during this battle for the only time during the Civil War. It was also his last battle led by him. 3) Amenities: There are benches along the trails looking out over the fields. Two cannons can be seen near one field with two outhouses nearby as the only restrooms on the grounds. It is worth noting that three historic markers put up by the Culpeper Calvary Museum clearly glorify the Confederacy over the Union. Even though erected almost 100 years ago, the fact that they remain standing shows the gap between an equitable society in this country.

Enjoyed the trails today with my hiking partner, Pookie-the-dog. The trails are in great shape,…read morewith mulch throughout the wooded area. The trails are well marked. There are historic gravesites, markers, and memorials. Today the site was quiet, with only 1 other hiking couple that after they left the visitor center parking, I didn't cross paths with them again. The caretaker was welcoming and engaged in lively conversation and recommended other nearby points of interest as well.

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

What a gorgeous national park. Skyline drive felt like every twist and turn was another postcard…read moreworthy spot. I love to hike and was excited to arrive at Big Meadows because I've read about it in books about thru hiking the Appalachian Trail. We actually saw some thru hikers while we were at the Visitor Center and that was special watching their journey in real life. I grabbed a t shirt, a baby book for our new granddaughter and of course had to get some stamps for my National Parks passport book. Then we decided to head over for an "easy hike" at Dark Hollow Falls Trail.

October, 2025. There are four entrances to Shenandoah National Park; the Swift Run Gap Entrance is…read moreat mile marker 65.5 on Skyline Drive (which runs the length of the park for 105.5 miles). Swift Run Gap is the most convenient entrance if you're coming on U.S. 33 from Harrisonburg or Massanutten from the west or Stanardsville from the east. The entrance is usually manned by a national park ranger, who collects entrance frees and gives you a map of the park. We most recently visited in mid-October (height of the leaf-peeping season), but also during a government shutdown. The ranger at the entrance station informed us that the park was "open" but with very limited staffing, and that they were not authorized to collect fees during the shutdown. We selfishly appreciated that the park was open, but were dismayed to think about the forgone revenue that the national park lost during the shutdown. As a result, we spent a lot of money in the bookstore, which is run by the nonprofit SNP Association, with proceeds used to support educational programming in the park (and some staffing during the shutdown). There were a lot of people in the park, but they were following good "carry in, carry out" principles.

Great little town with wonderful small businesses. Very friendly and clean. They have the Greenway…read moreTrail that is a 3.3 mile walk along the Hawksbill creek with plenty of wildlife to see. It is paved with benches and picnic tables along the way and decent bathrooms. If only the public would do their part to clean up after themselves, the town tries to keep them clean.

I love to stop in here and chat with the staff. They always have answers to my local questions. I…read moream new in town and they help guide me. They also love my dog and she loves them, so we stop in and say "hi," maybe weekly or every other week.

We got a PO box here about a year ago and have been very happy. I saw the negative reviews on…read moregoogle, but we have had nothing but great, friendly service here. Make sure to check the hours online before heading there as the service window is closed in the middle portion of the day. Remember it is a very small post office and that is the charm of it. I just made sure to be there during open hours, use the golden rule and it's all been great.

I'm okay with a package being late, shit happens. What I'm not okay with lying and making it the…read morecustomer's fault. My package was supposed to be delivered, and it was out on their car in the morning marked "out for delivery", never got here which is fine. But then they marked it held at post office per customer request, I never requested anything, and they didn't leave a slip either. Which means they never even made it to my mail box, just decided if they couldn't do their job, they'll just blame it on me and I have to pick it up myself.