Virginia

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low rock wall surrounded by trees with grave markets in the background

Discovering the Secret Cemeteries in Shenandoah National Park

After three weeks of searching for cemeteries in Shenandoah National Park, I was still stunned by how much the trails could change in mere days. When I first arrived, most of the trees and bushes were nearly bare, and it was easy to find old ruins and gravestones. Now, the foliage is denser, and the forest is overtaking everything. As I hiked alongside the babbling brook in the dying light of day, parts of the path were thick with tall...

A white marble bust of Poe
Monticello exterior with people walking up

11 Fun Things to do Near Madison, Virginia

There are so many fun things to do near Madison, Virginia; you may be surprised. When I recently stayed for a month, I was shocked at how places and activities on my ever-growing list of things to do kept expanding. It was astonishing since I’d never heard of the place before renting a little cottage there. But it ended up being an idyllic location in the Shenandoah Valley within just two hours of many premiere Virginia locations and attractions. Plus,...

the entrance to Luray Cavern looks like the inside of a whales belly

Inside Luray Caverns is the World’s Biggest Stalacpipe Organ

Luray Caverns in Virginia is the third most-visited cave system in the United States, and it’s the only one with a stalagmite pipe organ. I’ve said if you’ve seen one cave, you’ve seen them all, but this one promised to be unique.   I visited these caverns during my solo road trip through the United States, Mexico and Canada. Each day roughly 3,500 people from all over the world take the one-hour tour through Luray Caverns. When I recently pulled into...

sentinel at the tomb of the unknown soldier

Why You Should Visit Arlington National Cemetery

When you first enter Arlington National Cemetery, the tranquility is striking. Then, as you walk among the many perfectly uniform white headstones, you are quietly humbled and, finally, seeing the magnitude of our dead, sad but proud. There far many more graves than I could comprehend. There are 600+ acres in Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C. Though I knew it was large, nothing prepares you for the immensity of so many uniform graves. That they represent only a tiny...

Montpelier exterior four columns and red brick house in front of trees

Five Presidential Homes in Virginia You Can Visit

There are nine presidential homes in Virginia, and I visited several. The homes belonged to President George Washington (Mt. Vernon), Thomas Jefferson (Monticello and Poplar Forest), James Madison (Montpelier), and James Monroe (Highland). William Henry Harrison’s Berkeley Plantation and John Tyler’s Sherwood Forest Plantation are not open to the public. Less formally, there is also Theodore Roosevelt’s rural cabin (Pine Knot) and the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library and Museum. When I spent a month visiting the Commonwealth state, I didn’t...

Red brick Yorktown Sign with white letters

Journey through Time at Jamestown, Williamsburg and Yorktown

In Virginia, they call Jamestown, Williamsburg and Yorktown the “Historic Triangle” because these three iconic colonial towns are within a few miles of each other. If you mapped them, the space between them would form a triangle. This makes them a perfect couple-of-day adventure for anyone interested in American history. Even if you’re not already a history buff, you’re bound to leave with new insight and appreciation you never expected. I spent two days exploring Jamestown, Williamsburg and Yorktown. History...

Exterior view of Mount Vernon house

Visiting George Washington’s Mount Vernon

Mount Vernon, the home of America’s first president, is one of the most popular places to visit in America. Each year 1 million people tour George Washington’s Mount Vernon, making it a top United States attraction. I recently took a tour and was surprised by how many things there are to do. Mount Vernon is special because it was the beloved home of America’s first President and an American landmark. More than that, it’s historically essential preservation of colonial America...

Monticello exterior with people walking up

Visiting Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello and Poplar Forest

As a nomad, I frequently detour on my travels to view the homes of writers and artist offering tours. It goes without saying when I was near the homes of Thomas Jefferson – Monticello and Poplar Forest – I stopped. As the author of the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson is one of the most revered writers of the United States. He’s also a genius and polymath, cultivating much knowledge and many skills. Like most founding fathers, he was also an...