Enjoy it while you're there..

   It always seemed as if nowhere could be quite as boring as home was. Once I moved, I realized that must be the thought process of most people, wherever "home" is for them, because many young people that lived in the Emerald Isle area, complained about how boring it was, too. You can choose to do the same things every week, and never see or try anything new, but what's the fun in that? It seems like recently I've heard more people back home saying how bored they are, and how their friends never want to go do anything. Personally, I've come to love being alone and adventuring out by myself. Sometimes that's not the safest, so you should always use good judgement. Most of my friends are pretty adventurous too, or at least humor me enough to tag along. I decided I should write about some of my favorite places back home (or relatively close) because so many people have either never been or never heard of these places, and I think they are definitely worth seeing!


Reddish Knob
After ending up lost while trying to find it the first time, I've made MANY trips up there since then. It's a great spot to take pictures, I took some of my senior pictures and just pictures of my trucks up there. It is absolutely gorgeous, especially in spring or fall. The ride through Ottobine and all the farmland is amazing. The road is pretty skinny and quite a few potholes, but I've taken lifted trucks and Hondas up there and they've all made it!

Woodstock Tower
This seems like a place that everyone who lives in Shenco has probably been to, but I've known people who even live in Woodstock and had never been until I took them! It's a windy road up the mountain just outside of Woodstock, maybe about a 20 minute ride from town. It's a gorgeous view of the seven bends of the Shenandoah River at all times of the year, and if you go at night you can see the lights all the way to Love's in Toms Brook.

Storybook Trail
To me, this seems like another place that everyone has been to, but I've actually talked to quite a few people who didn't know how to even get there. Take 211 up the mountain at New Market, and at the top before you start down the other side towards Luray, you make a left. Once you follow that road you'll arrive at a parking area on the right, and that's where you want to be. It's a nicely paved trail that takes you out right to the edge. You can also crawl out on the edge of some of the rocks around the landing at the end. I had typically only went during the daytime, but while I was home visiting in June I got to go watch the sunrise there, it was breathtaking!




Endless Caverns Sign
You see the sign when you drive down 81, but it's awesome to see the sign up close and personal! It's a very short hike, but pretty steep. I think there are only certain times of the year you can go up (starting the season in April?), but a quick call to the Endless Caverns campground office can give you an answer. You don't even have to be staying at the campground to walk up to it, but you do have to sign a liability form if you do.

Big Schloss

This is one of my favorite hikes, only about four and a half miles and in Wolf Gap. The first mile or so is very steep (I'm out of shape so it takes awhile to get up the mountain haha) but the view at the end is absolutely worth it. I've made this hike multiple times, once to watch the sunset. Right after the sun went down we could hear the coyotes in the ridges a little farther down. We hiked back by the moonlight, and eventually my cell phone light because I'm clumsy! It's definitely a fun one to pack a lunch and make a day trip out of!

The Cross at Orkney Springs

Near the shrine at Orkney Springs is a trail up the mountain, with a cross on top of an observation deck at the top. It's a short and easy hike to that point, with pretty views! You can continue the trail to the Stairway to Heaven hike, which I have only done once. The views at that summit were totally worth all the joint pain I was having at the end of that portion! But, the hike to just the cross is definitely a worthwhile adventure, too!

These are just a few of my favorite places from back home, I could add so many things to this list! I even have a list of places that I would still like to see in Virginia. Before I left I made a "Virginia Bucket List" and I think that's something that everyone should do, whether you're moving away or not. There's so many hidden places that are absolutely beautiful in the Shenandoah Valley!