Shenandoah - What to do in the area

Our favorite cave in the area is Skyline Cavern. It is $20 for adults and $10 for kids - there is also a $2 coupon you can print from their site. Very close to the north entrance to Skyline Drive. We go there every chance we get - not nearly as commercial and crowded as Luray Caverns, and very interesting.

Linda VA2 wrote:
I guess the rates are high to maintain this lovely place. The grounds are huge and beautiful, plus the historical significance of Thomas Jefferson's brilliance, makes it worth the money. Some things, you just cannot put a price on it. You only go this way once in your life, so make the choice that will fulfill your expectations. Also, James Monroe's home is "Ashlawn" and very nice, although not as significant as Monticello.

Still too much in my opinion. I can see up to $15/but not $25.

And it's not just this place, even the caverns are like $26/person.

Just sounds like the area has adopted a high price. And to be honest, although I have not been there, and only seen pictures and video of the Shenandoah NP, it looks very similar to the views you get down on the Blue Ridge parkway and the GSMNP. That is another thing, being charged $20/vehicle to drive on skyline drive. I guess we are spoiled with the free BRP and GSMNP parkway. And they are closer, lol.

I guess the rates are high to maintain this lovely place. The grounds are huge and beautiful, plus the historical significance of Thomas Jefferson's brilliance, makes it worth the money. Some things, you just cannot put a price on it. You only go this way once in your life, so make the choice that will fulfill your expectations. Also, James Monroe's home is "Ashlawn" and very nice, although not as significant as Monticello.

jfkmk wrote:
Monticello is SO worth it! Jefferson had a scientific purpose for almost everything he did. We would go back again in a heartbeat.

Yeah, but for a short trip on the July 4th weekend, $75 for 3 people sounds pretty high...Perhaps a weekday that will be less crowded and where you can actually spends some time there sounds a little better. But I have a hard time spending that kind of money to see someone's house. In my opinion, it should be like most historical things in DC, Free. I know it's not run by the NPS, but it could be more in line with their stuff. I could see $12 a person, but not $25.

Monticello is SO worth it! Jefferson had a scientific purpose for almost everything he did. We would go back again in a heartbeat.

Thanks all...looks like we will be spending more time hiking or something. I looked at the places listed above and they are not cheap by any means. $25/person to see monticello...$24-26/person for the caverns..Ashland was the cheapest place at $14/person , but not a whole lot there... When you multiply these prices by 3, it gets pretty expensive. We will have to do some of the more natrual things or I need to keep looking...lol

You could spend a day in the Charlottesville area. Must see Monticello, the University of Virgina, Ashlawn is near Monticello, which is the home of James Monroe, lunch at Michie Tavern, tons of restaurants in Charlottesville as well. Montpelier, home of James Madison has just been restored and is about 30 miles from Charlottesville in Orange County. In Staunton, there is the Frontier Culture Museum that is fabulous. Luray Caverns is a wonderful place to visit and there are several caverns just south of Luray. Have a fun time.

RoyB wrote:
Brian - You do realize there is no hookups on SKYLINE DRIVE... Just a rest room house and water spigot... At the three camprounds on SKYLINE DRIVE it is camping off the batteries only... Great if you are setup for it. Generators can be run for a few hours during the day time... No generators after 8PM to 8AM in the next morning...
Skyline Drive also has a great place near BIG MEADOWS that has cabins and also a real nice lodge setup...

Roy Ken

Yep...we have two group 31 batteries...the onboard generator and 100watt solar suitcase and a 200 watt kit that i can deploy if needed...the 100watt solar suitcase worked fine for out trip earlier this week to the outer banks....batteries at only 85% at 9am in the morning...suitcase charged them up by the end of the day without issue and if no sun, then the 5 hours a day of generator use will suffice...

GeoBoy wrote:
Don't miss Thomas Jeffersons home, Monticello.

Absolutely! It's incredible!