Shenandoah National Park and Monticello

When I first moved out to Virginia, my mom and I took a roadtrip to see Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park and then Monticello. We had such a good time that I decided to make it an annual event. Since my mom couldn’t (or wouldn’t – good use of guilt Jen) come this year my friends Shelley, Evan and Justin decided to join me instead.

Skyline Drive is always a gamble because you have to go at just the right time during the Fall. I have yet to find the right time and have decided to make it my mission in life to travel Skyline Drive in all is autumnal glory. When mom and I went in 2007 most of the leaves had not turned, when I went in 2008 they were already falling in vast numbers. 2009 is going to be my year!

We had a great trip! Shelley, Justin and Evan had never been Shenandoah so it was good chance to check it off the list. We made it about halfway through the park when we cut out and headed to Monticello in Charlottesville, VA.

Monticello is one of my happy places. I find the home and the property so tranquil that I would love to just take a book up there and read all day. I love to walk through the gardens and enjoy the views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. I don’t like gardening or growing things, but if other people are doing to do all the work, I am more than willing to enjoy the fruits of their labors.

After taking a tour of the grounds, house and family graveyard at Monticello, we headed back to Charlottesville for dinner. We had a great meal at a place on Main Street called Bizou. The weather had been so nice all day that we even ate outside, which is impressive for November 1st. I had a chicken pot pie that had cripy leeks on the top instead of crust. It was a nice re-working of a classic dish.

Thanks to Evan, Shelley and Justin for joining me. Any one game for 2009?

Next trip – Camp Lejeune, NC