Abby & Stephen
Things To Do
Hiking and overlooks in Shenandoah National Park
Shenandoah National Park is where we first fell in love with the outdoors! Our venue, Shenandoah Woods, is only 25 minutes from the Thornton Gap Entrance to the park. If you decide to visit, here are some of our favorite hikes: *Mary's Rock - A 3.7 mile out and back with rewarding views at the summit *Old Rag - A 9.4 mile loop with rock scrambles. This is one of the most popular hikes in the park so go early! *Hawksbill Loop - A 2.9 mile loop to Shenandoah’s highest peak *Bear Fence - Short hike (1.4 miles) with fun rock scrambles *Whiteoak Falls (Upper) - A challenging hike (4.6 miles) to cascades and waterfalls Please keep in mind that entry to the park is $30/vehicle.
Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park
If you want to see the overlooks, we recommend driving south to north on Skyline Drive. Here are some of our favorite overlooks on Skyline Drive: *Pinnacles Overlook *Crescent Overlook - look closely! You can see our wedding venue from this overlook =) *Old Rag Overlook *Spitler Knoll Overlook *Franklin Cliffs Overlook Food and Restrooms: *Pinnacles Picnic Grounds - Beautiful spot to stop for lunch. No food sold here, but lots of picnic tables and restrooms. *Big Meadows - Food and Restrooms *Skyland - Food and Restrooms Please keep in mind that it is peak foliage so the park will probably be busy. Take your time and drive carefully!
The Greenway in Luray
Lovely walk along the water in Luray, Va. Grab your coffee and take a stroll while the autumn leaves fall around you!
Luray Caverns
The Luray Caverns are the largest caverns in the Eastern United States! If you go, dress warmly =)
Wisteria Farm and Vineyard
There are a few vineyards in the area, but our favorite is right down the road from the venue! Wisteria Farm and Vineyards is a working farm and vineyard; they have a small flock of natural-colored Romney sheep as well as free-roaming chickens for your viewing pleasure while picnicking and enjoying your wine!
Food Recommendations
Here are some of our favorite places to eat when we are in the area: *Gathering Grounds in Luray, VA is great for coffee and breakfast. It gets crowded so we recommended calling your order in ahead of time! *Broad Porch - Another great spot for coffee and pastries in Luray, VA. It does get busy, but they move pretty quickly! *Valley Cork in Luray, VA - This is a wine bar that does flatbread pizzas and other snack foods. *West Main Market in Luray, VA is great for lunch. Lots of options including salads and sandwiches. *Apple House in Linden, VA. Home to the famous Apple Butter Donuts! A good place to stop on your way to the wedding venue.