A Wedding Anniversary Road Trip Through Places that Matter

Last month, Cole Stryker (Heritage Travel’s assistant manager, customer experience) took his wife on a weekend trip through the Shenandoah Valley to Charlottesville, Virginia to celebrate their second wedding anniversary. Along the way they visited quite a few places that matter.





Following is an excerpt and photos from his trip journal:

As the Washington, D.C. suburbs gave way to greenery, we sped along Interstate 66 until we arrived in Front Royal, a breezy small town located at the northern mouth of Shenandoah National Park. We stopped at a massive flea market to pick up some fresh strawberries and green beans—a nice supplement to the energy bars we had packed for the ride. We meandered into town, picked up a couple of chocolate malts and explored the main street, where vintage clothiers, wine tastings, and Civil War monuments vied for our attention.

We entered Shenandoah National Park and drove south along Skyline Drive, one of the nation’s most scenic drives. The route featured many pull-offs, which allow drivers to appreciate the vistas without traffic building up.

After exiting the park for the afternoon, we drove aimlessly among the hollers surrounding the park border, eventually coming upon a roadside diner, where we enjoyed (what else?) biscuits and gravy. We spent the evening hunting for antiques in Luray, a beautiful town known for its vast caverns. We enjoyed a restful night at the newly renovated Mimslyn Inn.

We spent most of the next day traveling the rest of the way through the park, pausing only to check out a black bear and her cub. Emerging from the thick forest at the southern end of the park, we drove west to Staunton. We strolled through Staunton’s historic downtown, visited Woodrow Wilson’s Presidential Library, and stumbled on a poignant memorial ceremony for fallen Confederate soldiers at Thornrose Cemetery. Before leaving Staunton we savored incredible barbecued ribs at the Mill Street Grille, polished off with complimentary peppermint ice cream.

After dinner we made our way to Charlottesville and checked in at the Boar’s Head Inn, a sprawling resort hotel just outside of town. That night we walked through the University of Virginia grounds to the downtown mall, a vibrant shopping center where we browsed the shops while buskers’ music filled the air.


The next morning, we started early for Jefferson’s Monticello. We were met by a delightful tour guide, whose whimsical oration brought the estate to life. Here we were introduced Jefferson’s daily routine along with the lives of the large slave community working the fields and gardens. After our tour we were able to explore the beautiful grounds at our leisure. We then departed for Madison’s Montpelier, which was less visually impressive but no less fascinating.

After our tour, we drove back north to Washington through gorgeous plantation country. On the return trip we seemed to come across Civil War battlefield markers every few minutes, reminding us that thunderous cannon fire once shook this bucolic landscape. Signs of battle crept into our view throughout the drive home, a sobering reminder of the area’s turbulent history. Still, I’m glad that these things remain a part of the American landscape so that we may remain mindful of sacrifices made and of the enduring spirit of freedom.


You can create your own trip journal and read the trip journals written by others when Gozaic launches later this summer. Learn more about Gozaic and the upcoming site features, including trip journals.

Local Traveling: Discover Your Hometown

This week – May 9-17 – is National Travel and Tourism Week. But you don’t have to travel far to experience a new place. Just look beyond the familiar and seek out the hidden jewels your local area has to offer.

Since I moved to Charlottesville, Virginia in March, I have been taking a “discovery tour” of my new town every weekend. Living in the middle of downtown makes it that much easier, because all I have to do is walk out of my front door and let my curiosity guide me.

We asked our Twitter followers to recommend one “must-do” where they live. Here are just a few of the great responses:

AlaskaArtist (Dianne Hendrix, Palmer, Alaska):
Must walk over a glacier. Matanuska Glacier in Mat-Su Valley is easiest to get to by car from Glenn Highway.

“There are many glaciers to see in Alaska, but Matanuska Glacier is my choice for taking visiting friends. This glacier is easy to drive to going up the Glenn Highway until you see the signs. There are nice places along the way to take photos and the drive is beautiful. You will have a unique experience walking over glacier ice for hours. From the blue hues sparkling from the ice to the surrounding mountains your eyes and camera will be awed. Don't forget to look down or you will miss a treasure of things frozen in time in the ice.”

Agallihar (Amber Gallihar, Columbus, Ohio):
Gallery Hop in Columbus, Ohio. First Saturday of every month. Art, food, music and unique shops.

“One of the greatest things about Gallery Hop here in the Short North ‘arts’ district of Columbus, Ohio is that it is a different experience each time; partially because we get all four seasons here, which always changes the mood/themes. Work from local artists is displayed throughout a variety of businesses (everything from salons, retail, restaurants, bars, etc.) There are musicians and vendors parked into nooks along High Street which contribute to the whole "vibe" of the monthly event. With so much local art present, it sort of lures you into shops you might not necessarily walk in if they weren't displaying. It's just a fun, unique Columbus tradition that people from all ages enjoy.”

TravelingAnna (Annemarie Dooling, Staten Island, New York):
I would recommend they visit the outer boroughs. Much less crowded, still fun.

“Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, and the Bronx have a really good range of activities that make for great day trips. In Brooklyn, you can grab an authentic Caribbean beef patty on Flatbush Ave, shop DUMBO's high-end boutiques, and try fresh Italian pasta in Bensonhurst. Staten Island has the cleanest beaches in the city with amazing views and the ferry from Manhattan is free.”

Kathy_moore (Staunton, Virginia):
In historic downtown Staunton, look at vast array of architectural styles and ponder influence of one man: TJ Collins

“Founded in 1747, Staunton was mostly unscathed after the Civil War and it now offers one of Virginia's finest collections of 19th-century architecture. The unusual array of architectural building styles in the city’s compact downtown is generally attributed to the vision of a single man – architect T. J. Collins. His prolific work during a time of economic vitality greatly affected the town’s appearance.

Collins’ architectural drawings are preserved today at the Historic Staunton Foundation (appropriately located inside a TJ Collins building.) Often called the ’Queen City‘ of the Shenandoah Valley, Staunton features six separate historic districts – the city is pedestrian friendly, with live theater and numerous restaurants that celebrate fresh, farm-to-table regional cuisine.”

Kathy also had some excellent advice that pretty much sums up what local traveling is all about: “Park the car and walk. Be curious. Immerse yourself in the experience.”

Your turn to share: What would you recommend visitors do in your city or town? Post a comment below. You can also submit a review of a heritage site or destination in your community!

Kari

Kari Rippetoe is the Marketing Manager at Heritage Travel, Inc., a subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Photo credit: Charlottesville's Downtown Mall: Flickr, bobtravis