If there’s one place that proves that America’s state parks can sometimes compete with its national parks, it has to be Virginia’s Grayson Highlands. As you will discover as you read this post, the hiking in Grayson Highlands State Park is world-class and surprisingly rewarding. Music, Wildlife and Adventure in Virginia’s Grayson Highlands In the…
Set in the heart of Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, Staunton (pronounced STAN-ton) is chock-full with architectural highlights. From columned porches to colorful storefronts and cone-shaped turrets, if you look up and around in Staunton, you’ll notice a wide variety of beautiful architectural details. The reason for this small town’s wealth of architectural highlights is that, unlike…
In the 1700s, Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley was the westernmost frontier of the British colonies in North America. The people—pioneers—who settled in this region brought customs and traditions from their respective home countries. First minding their own business and simply trying to make a living, later they mingled, creating a distinctive, new folk culture. The Frontier…
I want to see a bear today. With this thought in the back of our minds, Caroline and I entered Shenandoah National Park a little while ago. We had planned a long day hike, but we’d gotten a late start and, additionally, wanted to get some bear spray—just in case, you know. So, we ended…
The power of pictures should never be underestimated. It’s true that photos say more than words, as this huge photo essay will prove. Even the best prose can never convey the sheer magnificence of the landscapes in Virginia’s Grayson Highlands. Pictures can. Just scroll down and you’ll see. Last weekend, Caroline and I spent three…
As the only presidential home in the United States that’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello is without question the crown jewel of all the attractions in and around Charlottesville, Virginia. The fact that there’s such an important historic site here in C’ville is one of the reasons we moved here and it…
If you’re looking for a short hike in Shenandoah National Park to do with kids, the Turk Mountain Trail is a great option. This 1.1-mile (1.8-kilometer) trail commences across Skyline Drive from the Turk Gap parking lot. A stone marker indicates the way to the summit, the first 0.2 miles (300 meters) running along the…
Even though it may be a relatively less-visited corner in Vermont, the Upper Valley has a lot of things going for it. Particularly the area around Fairlee and Thetford (where I lived for almost two years before moving to Charlottesville, Virginia) is a hugely popular summer camp destination. There are several summer camps to be…
After two and a half years of living in the United States, I’ve become fascinated by this country’s history—its colonial and early history, to be more specific. Our move to Charlottesville, Virginia earlier this year was partially motivated by this interest of mine. The city and its surroundings were the home of three (!) of…
Last Saturday morning, I dropped Caroline off at Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C. Her flight was at 7 am. This left me with a bunch of time to do some exploring in the greater D.C. area and northern Virginia. The first thing I did was drive to Great Falls Park, where I arrived before…
Northumberland National Park may not be the most well-known of the English national parks—for one, it is one of the most remote and least visited—but it is absolutely spectacular. Situated in the far northeast of England, it comprises a landscape of expansive meadows and undulating hills, bogs and wetlands, forests and ruins. Inarguably the star…
Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains are home to countless hiking trails, some short and easy, others strenuous and long. Among the best day hikes in this wonderfully lush and scenic region is the one to the summit of The Priest. The Priest is a mountain in the Religious Range of the Blue Ridge Mountains—the tallest mountain…
I can’t say that I’m one of those people who hate Mondays, especially if a Monday involves a hot air balloon ride in Charlottesville and Albemarle County. One of the biggest perks of being a travel blogger, as well as of being married to a creative, part-time freelancing girl, is that, instead of getting up…
The eastern Rivièra of Liguria, on the northwestern coast of Italy, features some of Mediterranean Europe’s most spectacular coastlines. The absolute star attraction of this dramatic stretch of coastline is Cinque Terre National Park, or Parco Nazionale Parco Nazionale delle Cinque Terre in Italian. This UNESCO World Heritage Site comprises an 18-kilometer-long (11-mile) coast of…