The Ultimate Guide to Shenandoah National Park

President Herbert Hoover used to vacation in Shenandoah (which, why don't more Presidents vacation here? It's gorgeous, and it's only 75 miles from DC!) He bought the land (knowing it would become a part of the National Park, which was being planned at the time) and had Rapidan Camp built as a summer home, where he and his wife could entertain politicians and foreign dignitaries, hold official White House meetings, or generally just chill out.

He donated it to Shenandoah National Park, although it was occasionally used by Presidents on and off for a few more years (Jimmy Carter was the last to stay there). President Franklng D. Roosevelt found the terrain to difficult to navigate, though, and had Camp David built in Maryland for his vacations, and it gradually became the Presidential retreat of choice. The NPS has maintained 3 of the 13 Rapidan Camp buildings, restoring them to their former glory and turning them into museums. You can visit them on ranger-led tours-- it's not hard to see why Hoover loved Shenandoah so much!

There are two main hikes around Hawksbill Mountain. One is easier, along Lower Hawksbill, while the other follows the Appalachian Trail for a ways before hitting the summit. They're both great workouts, and both offer panoramic views of the park!

Since you're in Virginia, you'll probably want to take advantage of the delicious Southern cookin' you'll find across the state. Southern Kitchen is a great little diner featuring home-cooked classics like fried chicken, country ham, peanut butter pie, and more in a retro setting. It's been feeding locals since the 1950s, so you know you're in for a solid meal.

Another cool feature of the park is hidden below the ground: the area hides several caves below the surface! Just outside the park, you'll find Luray Caverns, which has something you won't find at any other cave-- the Great Stalacpipe Organ. The console may look like any other organ, but it actually makes noise by striking the ancient stalactites in the cave. They also have a Wishing Well, which, though it looks shallow, is actually 7 feet deep. It's tradition to toss coins into it for good luck... and even if you don't believe in the magical powers of the Wishing Well, you'll at least earn yourself a bit of good karma, since all the money tossed into the well is donated to charity.

Stony Man Mountain is a great hike for those looking to hike up one of the park's famed peaks, but aren't quite ready for anything too wild. The loop is less than 2 miles, and the elevation gain is only a few hundred feet. Plus, the views of the valley and the town of Luray are breathtaking!

The climb up Old Rag Mountain is one of Shenandoah National Park's most iconic hikes. It can take anywhere from 5-8 hours to complete, based on how many stops you make and how experienced you are. The upper portion of the trail features some mildly intense rock scrambling, but the sweeping views of the Shenandoah Valley are utterly spellbinding and absolutely worth the effort.