Shenandoah and Cuyahoga Valley National Parks

[bnk1953]

The last time I did this (for Carlsbad Caverns National Park)- I received some great responses so I thought I'd try again.

Going to Shenandoah National Park on my way out to my daughters wedding in VA - in Mid October. Any suggestions on places to stay, eat, to see? I'll be starting on the South end and heading North. (Already planning on visiting Monticello).

After the wedding heading North thru Gettysburg and over to Cuyahoga Valley National Park - again - suggestions for staying, eating, seeing?

Thanks for any info.

~bruce.

[baycruisers]

I lived in the Valley for over 20 years and there are a lot of scenic areas not on the Skyline Drive, which typically has the best leaf colors but also the most traffic. If you take some of the back roads and especially route 340 between Luray and Front Royal you'll almost certainly see some beautiful scenery and small farms and meadows.

Dayton, south of Harrisonburg, still has a lot of Old Order Mennonites in buggies on the back roads.

Early mornings are often foggy and misty, and can create neat effects when contrasted with the mountains and trees.

Bottom line, get off the main highway and wander the back roads and you won't be sorry.

[vawitt]

We camped in the park a couple of years ago and were able to get out early each day to do some terrific waterfall hikes (not sure how they'd be in the fall, though). We went to Dark Hollow Falls, Jones Run and Doyle Falls, Lewis Falls, and White Oak Falls. All trailheads were off Skyline Drive and most were near the north end of the park.

Seems like it would be a gorgeous place to go in the fall.