My daughter and I had a great time hiking Humpback Rocks. Others give the directions so I will not…read more The Visitors Center has restrooms and more. The parking for the trailhead is across from the Visitors Center. Wear sturdy shoes, no flip flops or sandals. Take water you will need it, especially on hot days. Only attempt if in good health. Some will bring a good camera, if you have bring it. Obviously take your phone for photos, but keep in mind of weak reception at the top. My recommendation is to start out early AM, but after day break as the trail is too difficult in my opinion to navigate while dark. The trail is around a mile and a half and can take over an hour with breaks. Many can reach the top in 35-45. The view is 100% worth the effort. Be careful up there, it's no joke. Elevation is over 3000 feet.

Lyndhurst, VA (Milepost 5.8 on the Blue Ridge Parkway)--Road Trip #2…read more The next spot on the trip was Humpback Rocks Visitor Center and Farm Museum (HRVC). Since I had done my research, I knew the visitor center would be closed at this time of year. Actually, a lot of Skyline Drive was closed during the winter because of the harsh weather this year. However, when I arrived that day, it was beautiful--sunny, 70s, and gorgeous! Since I couldn't go inside the visitor center, I walked around the grounds and the farm museum. There was no staff that day, but usually they have costumed interpreters to explain about life back in the late nineteenth century. I was still able to look around--they have a single-room log cabin; many outbuildings that represents the regional architecture; and nearly 3,000 acres of forested lands surrounding the museum. Amenities: --Restrooms (Not during the winter season though--you're out luck if you show up like I did. Not even a port-a-pottie. Make sure you go to the bathroom before you visit!) --Exhibits and programs (During the season, roughly May - October, the hours are Thursday - Tuesday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.) Some of the demonstrations include weaving, basket making, and gardening. --Picnic Area (Milepost 8.5--If you leave HRVC and turn right, you will see the picnic area on the left. This is called Humpback Gap Overlook, and this is where you will find the trail to Humpback Rocks.) --Visitor Center, information, restrooms, and exhibits are wheelchair accessible. Interpretive programs are accessible with assistance. I am hoping to get back to the area this summer and, if time permits, I will check out the visitor center and take pictures. I have a feeling that HRVC could be one of the best visitor centers around when it is fully staffed. Still, walk around the grounds, have a picnic, and, if you're brave, climb Humpback Rocks. Just driving on the Blue Ridge Parkway is a treat!

Great visitor center located right next to big meadows. Park staff were very helpful in providing…read moredirections and hike recommendations. The on site museum told the history of the park in such a easily digestible and understandable way that it felt really inspiring to think about the people who put the effort in to make the park what it is today.

This visitor center is a must-stop when exploring Shenandoah! The location is beautiful, with…read morestunning views that make it worth the visit on their own. Inside, there's a small but charming store with local souvenirs. The exhibits were informative and well-presented,great for learning more about the park's history, wildlife, and natural features. It's the perfect place to take a relaxing break along the way. They also had clean restrooms and restaurant nearby.

Friendly and helpful staff. Located in cute historical home. Local items for sale. Good info on…read morelocal drinks and food.

Top notch information center!…read more We were tooling around Harrisonburg and since we had no clue where anything was we popped in (plus we had to pee real bad). The two ladies working here were amazing and I am sorry that I did not get their names- they were just super friendly and spent a lot of time just chatting with us about the area and the things to see and places to eat etc. Probably one of the best Tourist information centers I have ever used. Parking lot in back.

I have been to many visitor centers over the years. Most have a physical building and are open 7…read moredays a week. When I was planning to go to Charlottesville on vacation recently I searched on google and found out you can only call them on Weds and Thurs and they don't have a physical building. They have a temporary kiosk. I did ask for info about Charlottesville. The highlights are Monticello, UVA and the DownTown Mall. It was unfortunate that it rained on some days I was there. Nothing you can do about the weather. It was sunny on enough days I could get out and explore. Also, if you are a history buff, Montpelier is about a half hour drive from Charlottesville and is the home of James Madison. It's not as grand as Monticello, but it was okay. The other home, Highland, was the home of James Monroe and is located in Charlottesville. One thing I was not aware of is the original home burned down in 1829 after Monroe had sold the home. It was never rebuilt so what you are actually seeing on the property is a guest house the president never resided in. IF I had known this I would have thought twice about going there. They don't really put this information out there front and center. I only learned about it when I was there. They do have a history tour, but I think I would have probably skipped highlands. the downtown mall is nice, my friend and I got to see a free concert at the venue called the 'Ting' There are many shops and restaurants, but one caveat is there were many homeless there. There is a police presence there. Just thought I'd mention it. I took Amtrak and took their transit buses called CAT which are free. They don't run on Suns though. I did have to take Lyft to Monticello, there are no buses or shuttles to get to the property. There are also wineries and hiking trails in the Blue Ridge mountains to enjoy.

Conveniently location at the end of the mall area next to the pavilion, this is one of the most…read moreaccommodating Visitor's Centers I've ever been to. We stopped here for to-do suggestions for the day. The gentleman who helped us was friendly, asked how old the kids were and if there was anything we were particularly interested in. He mapped out options for us in three areas of town on the map, and made a great suggestions for breakfast. Definitely stop in here for top notch visitors info.

I drove Skyline Drive a few times, and it was one beautiful drive. The fall and spring time of the…read moreyear is AWESOME!

Had such a great visit here, the roads were incredibly well kept!! Every turn offered a new…read moreperspective and view of the mountains!! The pull offs to take photos and take in the view felt like a cheat code to seeing the parks beauty without putting in the work to hike for a view point, making this part of the national park incredibly accessible to those who's mobility is not up to par for a long hike.

I've stopped in the Lexington Visitor Center during pretty much every visit to Rockbridge County,…read moreVA and am impressed by how consistently friendly and helpful the staff are. I don't know whether they are employed or volunteer their time, however their knowledge and passion for the history of the environs is impressive. It is conveniently located in historic Lexington and is located just a few doors down from the Stonewall Jackson House & Museum. If you've not been to Lexington in the past or would like more ideas about places to see, this is a great stop. They have a private parking lot AND clean public bathrooms! ( I like the clean part!) PS. A special thanks to Etta with whom I had a delightful discussion!

The Lexington Visitor Center is an excellent place to begin a visit to this historic town. You will…read moresee highway signs announcing it along I-81 and in town. Displays showcase the principal attractions. The helpful docent at the desk will give you a walking tour map and mark it up with a suggested route. A tour will usually begin with the Stonewall Jackson House just up the street. Free parking is available all day at the visitor center, though the parking lot fills up. Restrooms.

So glad we stopped in to see this museum! It's free. It was small but had a lot of information. It…read morewas interesting to learn about the history of Lynchburg and see artifacts related to Lynchburg. Some exhibits, like the women's suffrage movement, showed how life in Lynchburg correlated to larger events. A large map along with the history of the different sections of the city is in the basement. After leaving the museum, we explored some of the neighborhoods. The Visitor's Center is also located here. The woman at the desk was so helpful. She helped us find a restaurant for dinner, gave us directions, and helped us find some other places to go. A small gift shop area is also here. Prices were very reasonable.

From the owner: Start your LYH visit at the Lynchburg Museum, where friendly staff will assist you with all there…read moreis to see and do in the City of Lynchburg and the surrounding region. Whether you want to soak up the City's rich history, spend a day brewery hopping, or hit the trails, our staff will help you find your next adventure.

Shenandoah National Park is beautiful. There is a lot of history here and I recommend doing a bit…read moreof reading before arriving. Or not. You will enjoy it either way. Skyline drive was a CCC project that ran from 1933 - 1941 and it is clear they did an excellent job. All those stone walls, all over the park, are hand crafted by CCC. Besides the 105 miles of paved road and multiple scenic over looks, there are many, many trails leading into the wilderness. Some are easier, others for a more advanced hiker. Cabins, campgrounds, a gas station, gift shops, restaurants, ev charge station and public restrooms are dotted along the road. You can spend a day, or a week, soaking in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Such a beautiful and scenic ride along the stunning mountains!…read more Def coordinating this into all my drives down South!

We did this hike at the end of October. It was cloudy and drizzling that day but I still enjoyed…read morethis hike throughly. The autumn color was perfect. I would rate this hike as easy. The trail went downhill in the beginning but on the way back the incline was gradual through out the hike. One of my friends who did this hike with me was pregnant and was able to do this hike with breaks intermittently. Parking lot could get busy. I saw some people parked on the grass, just be careful not to get stuck in the mud if it's raining.

We were pumped to try this easy trail but quickly found out it's more moderate than easy. My…read morehusband has a broken vertebrae in his back so he had to turn around. I decided to push forward and was so happy I did. Such a breathtaking hike. The falls are gorgeous and the path is very nice. They have steps built in to many steep places that makes it very easy to navigate. It was a very warm spring day and I did not bring enough water. Bring water or at least a filter so you can have as much drinking water as you need. I enjoyed the hike down but was quickly humbled on the way back up! When I say breathtaking I mean I was out of breath and breathing hard on the way up. So worth it though. I actually hiked down to the Rose River Loop Trail and that's where I turned around to go back up and it's like a 945 ft elevation gain in 1.5 miles. I had to take some breaks and even cooled myself down a bit in the water. What an epic hike though and I even saw a deer!

The park is absolutely gorgeous and deserves a nice leisurly visit. There are many hiking trails…read morefor all technical levels. A lovely drive with scenic over looks. I recommend a few days stay but you can see it in a day if you are pressed for time. End to end the drive is around three hours plus stops. There are a number of 'cabins' for rent with gorgeous views. A full service restaurant is near by as well as a coffee shop. There are a few 'comfort stations' (restrooms) available along the driving route and picnic areas. Be sure to close the bear proof garbage bins securely! A ranger station and gift shop are located near the north entrance. A cafe, small convenience store and gift shop is located near camping. A gas station is near the south entrance. Check the NPS website for reservation and trail information and do make a plan to visit.

An amazing National Park, especially if you love hiking, camping, and/or amazing views of mountains…read moreand valleys. The main vein through the park is the Skyline Drive, accessible from any of the 4 (paid) park entrances. It's much longer than we anticipated. According to the National Park Service's website, on clear days, it takes about 3 hours to drive the whole thing! All along the Skyline Drive are spots to pull over and take in the stunning vistas. It really is beautiful on both sides of the Blue Ridge Mountains. A few of the spots are extra large and have bathrooms. I recommend looking up some maps of the different trails to plan your trip. We went with the Hawksbill Trail because it reaches the highest point and the views are not to be missed! My oldest friend goes every year with her family and they still are seeing new stuff, so don't be too hard on yourself if you don't see everything, but enjoy what you do; it's gorgeous.