Day 2-Heading to Shenandoah National Park

In front of the park sign!

Today we are up and off to Shenandoah National Park! We are going to stay over night at the Loft Campground and prepare to hike out tomorrow on the Appalachian Trail. The park is so beautiful! We stop by a wayside and eat lunch on their deck. Steve has a Virginia ham and cheese sandwich...heaven.

Steven at the wayside for lunch.

Virginia Ham Sandwich....Yum!

Kevin and Mom enjoying sitting on the patio and relaxing.

A view of the wayside.

We checked in to our campsite and it was so cool...you park on the outside and then walk through a tall hedge to your site. This is easily the most well run, beautiful campground I have ever been in!

View of Loft Campground site. You can't see the site because it is hidden by tall hedges.

This is what the site looks like once you walk through the opening in the hedge. You can see the cars out on the road behind.

A peak from the campsite to the car.

At the end of the day we walked down the road to see if we can find the AT. Two people are sitting on a ledge watching the sun set...it is breath taking. We walk to the trail...it is magical. Birds flit, and dodge; the air smells like flowers. I can see a white blaze on a tree and wonder what it will be like to walk down the trail and not come back tomorrow...

We go to the amphitheater to watch a park ranger talk about the park. It is on top of a hill over looking the the Shenandoah Mountains. The wind is blowing and it is downright cold! We take pictures and watch most of the presentation before giving in to the cold.

Purple Mountain's Majesty....

Is there anything more beautiful?

The sun is setting and the mountains glow...

Sitting at the amphitheater for the ranger talk.

Driving down Skyline Road...this is how lush the whole thing is!

The deer was so close!

Our little tent is warm and cozy, and in the morning we see deer grazing around the grounds. Time to head out to hike the AT! I would give today a 10 for views and an out-of-this-world campground!