As Shenandoah National Park celebrates its 75th anniversary throughout 2011, special early bird packages are being rolled out for visitors arriving from long distances and for those enjoying “staycations” right here in Virginia.
Skyland Resort, that rustic 1888 lodge for those who want to escape to the mountains, opens this weekend for the season and is offering celebratory spring deals. Beginning March 31 through June 23, Skyland is offering a mid-week special that includes a night’s lodging and breakfast for two in the comfortable dining room overlooking the beautiful Shenandoah Valley for $109 a night. Be sure to check the lodge for details and availability.
If you’ve never been to Skyland, you’re in for a treat. Meander the Skyline Drive to milepost 42 and follow the road to the Main Lodge. Located at 3,680 feet altitude, it offers lodge rooms and private cabins, some with balconies. The public patio area adjacent to the dining room overlooks the Valley and offers a wonderful place to sip a cup of coffee and enjoy nature or people watch. For couples, Skyland is a great place to spend quiet time alone in tranquil surroundings. For families, it offers activities such as hiking and horseback riding.
If Big Meadows Lodge is more to your liking, it plans to offer the same early bird special when it opens May 19th. Located at milepost 51 and build in 1939 by the CCC, Big Meadows incorporates the large open field that provides its name. It is also home to the Harry Byrd Visitors Center where visitors can learn the history of the people who lived in the mountains before the park, buy books and souvenirs, and grab a bite to eat at the snack bar.
Big Meadows also provides rustic rooms in the Main Lodge as well as private cabins, and it is surrounded by hiking trails with a nearby picnic area and campground. Its dining room opens onto a balcony with breath-taking views of the Massanutten Range and Valley. Be sure to check for details and availability.
Spring is slower to reach the mountaintops but when it arrives there will be an abundance of wildflowers as the trees green up and animals roam the rugged mountain sides. You may even see a bear or wild turkey in the woods around the lodges, and deer are everywhere. Other activities provided during the year include wine tastings, local music, cloggers, guided tours, and horseback riding.
Check the website for more spring specials as Shenandoah National Park kicks off its 75th anniversary celebration.
