Shoppers should wander King Street for its plethora of boutiques. Its location along the Potomac River offers romantic waterside dining options – Vola's Dockside Grill and Chart House earn excellent reviews – as well as a water taxi service that transports visitors from Alexandria to D.C.'s Georgetown neighborhood. The park also accepts America the Beautiful pases.Īlexandria, particularly its Old Town district, has a something for everyone. Shenandoah National Park's entrance fee is $30 per vehicle passes are valid for seven consecutive days. If you plan to stay for a weekend during these seasons, bring your own provisions. Keep in mind, however, that local restaurants may have limited hours – or be closed entirely – during the late fall and winter. You'll find plenty of lodges and vacation rentals near Shenandoah or you can save some cash and set up a tent in one of the park's campgrounds. The famous trail runs through Shenandoah and park visitors can walk along it for a 2-mile round-trip hike. For an easy hike, stroll along a portion of the Appalachian Trail. Experienced hikers often trek the 9.4-mile Old Rag Circuit, a strenuous trail with rock scrambles that leads to a gorgeous summit overlooking the park.

When you're ready to stretch your legs, you'll have more than 500 miles of hiking trails to explore.

The 105-mile thoroughfare features plenty of overlooks to admire the scenery. Visitors particularly rave about Skyline Drive, a scenic road that runs through the length of the park. You can reach the park in about two hours from the nation's capital, giving you access to more than 200,000 acres of hiking, waterfalls, wildlife viewing and scenic drives. Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C., residents often flock to Shenandoah National Park for a mountain getaway.

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