Shenandoah National Park and Marys Rock
We’re breaking from birds again today and hiking through another of our country’s scenic gems, Shenandoah National Park. Not nearly as tall as Mt. Rainier, these east coast mountains are still impressive in their own way and well worth the visit!
Instead of going solo again, this time I took my oldest boy for a father-son adventure. We day-tripped up from NC to the park’s Thornton Gap entrance (way up in northern Virginia). This was our destination: Marys Rock, a panoramic rocky top with fun climbing and spectacular views of the valley below.
My son enjoyed the fact that we hiked some along the Appalachian Trail, the famous Georgia to Maine pathway that runs the length of the Appalachian Mountains. We stayed up on the peak until just before sunset and completed the nearly two mile hike back down to the car before dark…barely!
In a few more years, you’ll be able to come too, little man! Our family is on a new crusade to visit as many of the national parks as we can in the coming years…inspired by the recent Ken Burns series on PBS entitled, The National Parks: America’s Best Idea. I highly recommend it! Hope everyone has a great weekend! Dave
If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or subscribe to the feed and get future articles delivered to your feed reader or email.
Comments
I think that is great to visit the National Parks. I have a good friend who is doing that (she and her hubby).
Your hike to Marys Rock was GREAT. Glad you took your older son with you. Kids will develop a love of nature this way. He looks cold sitting on that rock!!!!
Thanks for sharing such beauty.
Hugs,
Betsy
yikes, the one where your darling boy is sitting on the edge of the rock made me hold my breath. I know it was safe where he was, but it looks like he is dangling on the edge of the cliff.
What a beautiful area! We went through the Appalachians last year too….the gorges and hills are amazing.
Glad you had such a grand time on the AT and the hike to Mary’s Rock. If your son(s) enjoyed being on the wonderful National Scenic Trail, teach him that it exists because of volunteer effort, and will continue to exist into the future (his future) because individuals cared enough to give their time and labor to create and maintain it. All those who hike on it and enjoy it should consider doing some volunteer time on it, too. Maintaining clubs love volunteers!! And it’s the coolest thing in the world to work on a trail and make it better….it becomes “your trail” then. Enjoy the parks…..and walk in beauty.
Rosie/mdhiker
Spending time together and creating memories…that is one of the best perks of being a parent, I think!! The feeling is always the same no matter how old or young they are. You two seemed to have a great time …but jr. looks a little chilled sitting for his pic on that rock!!
So glad you are out and about and having some fun together!!
Subscribe to RSS
Creating memories,wow,that is so good.Your son will never forget the time spent with Dad,doing something special.
Blessings,Ruth