Inspiring travel stories, tips, and guides from a couple exploring the world one destination at a time.
Last Updated: July 3, 2026
The Blue Ridge Parkway is part of the National Park Service and links Shenandoah National Park to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The Blue Ridge Parkway is 469 miles long and continues through Shenandoah as Skyline Drive for another 105 miles. This leg of our 2019 fall road trip took us through some of the most spectacular autumn scenery in the eastern United States.
Last Updated: May 2026
We stayed in Luray, Virginia to visit the famous Luray Caverns, Skyline Drive, and Shenandoah National Park. The site was spectacular but nature had some very specific plans for our stay — including liquid manure from the adjacent farm that effectively kept us indoors for two days.
Last Updated: May 2026
Natural Bridge is a 215-foot-high limestone arch spanning 90 feet, carved by Cedar Creek over millions of years — it may once have been the roof of a large cave. George Washington surveyed the area as a young man in 1750. Thomas Jefferson loved it so much he bought it. We paired the visit with a day at Monticello and came away with a lot to think about.
