Virginia Camping
Virginia camping was new to us, but we have previously visited the state. Some of the best experiences of our Long Summer Trip 2019 were in Virginia and each stop was a different variety of camping. We stayed at a State Park, a City Park, and also mooch docked with friends.
Claytor Lake State Park
Claytor Lake State Park was an amazing campground—one of our favorites! We had an unassigned, but guaranteed, water and electric site. Upon checking in, I learned that they have reserved sites as well, but they fill up quickly. We had our choice of at least ten sites, all okay, but I loved the one we chose.
Our site was large, level, shaded, and secluded—some of my favorite things in a campsite. The surrounding forest had a heavy layer of pine needles and for some reason, I found it quite appealing.
Hiking in the Forest
There was an entrance to a trail at the back of our site. The trail was mostly shaded and level and also wide. It was a very pleasant walk in the woods.
The Lake
We liked the campground so much, we spent our free full day there. The lake had a beautiful marina and a very nice beach, complete with lifeguards.
We spent several hours at the beach because it was a comfortable temperature in the shade. I briefly got in the water, which was very clear for lake water.
There were a few picnic tables with grills in shaded areas. We grilled hot dogs and had our lunch there. It was beautiful and peaceful.
We had a relaxing tine at Claytor, which is definitely in the top ten campgrounds we have visited. Everything about the campground was well-maintained and the staff was very friendly and helpful.
Virginia Camping with Friends
We met Heidi and Mark at a Tiny Christmas Campout a couple of years ago and they offered to let us camp on their property near Shenandoah if ever in the area. We had Shenandoah National Park as a stop on our trip, so we took them up on their offer. They have hookups on their beautiful property and we spent three very comfortable nights there. This was Virginia camping at its finest and they were amazing hosts!
Their property is so beautiful and it has Shenandoah National Park as a backdrop.
Shenandoah National Park
One of our two full days was spent at Shenandoah National Park. Heidi and Mark guided us to things we would like. We saw Skyline Drive and views from an amazing lookout, plus a hike to an incredible Overlook.
Heidi and Mark took us on the Stony Mountain trail because it was not too strenuous in deference to my husband’s knee replacement. It was a very pleasant experience because it was quite cool. It felt good to move around to get warm.
The payoff for our efforts was an incredible view that overlooks Shenandoah Valley, the town of Luray, and the Massanutten and Allegheny mountains. Heidi and Mark’s home is also down there.
We had lunch at the park and it was quite good. After that, we went back to Heidi and Mark’s and spent the evening playing Mexican Train Dominos, drinking adult beverages, and eating Amish cheese and sausages.
Montpelier, James Madison’s Home
Montpelier is an hour and a half away from Luray, where we were camped. However, we decided to make the drive because it was something we really wanted to see. It was the home of James Madison, the fourth president of the United States, and his wife, Dolly. The home, built in 1764, has been designated a National Historic Landmark. Our docent was very knowledgeable and painted a vivid picture of the life and times of this famous couple.
James Madison is considered the architect of the Bill of Rights and he shaped the ideas that would become the U.S. Constitution. His wife, Dolly, was a very popular lady and a warm, gracious host. She was gregarious, while her husband was a quiet intellectual. But, they seemed to offset each other well.
I remember studying the constitution in college and reading a couple of books about the men who influenced the formation of our country. Madison, of course, was very prominent in those books. It gave me great pleasure to see his home and to hear about his life.
There were always guests at the home during the time the Madisons lived there. The most fancy room in the house was for guests.
The Dark Side of Montpelier
Certainly, the issue of slavery was prominent in the tour of the home and there are exhibits dedicated to the enslaved population who lived on the property. The suffering that resulted from slavery was openly acknowledged.
The Montpelier home and tour also did not sugar-coat the personal history. Madison’s stepson was a gambler and drinker who was always having money troubles. He brought them much grief. The Madisons paid so much related to his actions that after James died, Dolly lost her home.
The Home After the Madisons
Consequently, the home was sold in 1844 and was occupied for many years by private owners. The DuPonts purchased it in 1901 and kept it till 1983. They made several changes to the house and dedicated the land to horses. One room in the house was ultra modern in their time. The room below is a replica of how one of the major rooms looked under their ownership.
Lastly, when Marion DuPont Scott died, her estate transferred the property to the National Trust for Historic Preservation It provided funds for restoration to the house to make it look the way it did when the Madisons were there.
This was a great way to spend our second day in the area.
Newport News
Our last camping in Virginia was in Newport News. I like to visit small to medium cities while camping. It helps me know more about the culture of the area. In addition, there is always something of interest to see. We searched for camping near Newport News and were happy to learn there is a city campground.
Newport News Park covers over 8,000 acres and, consequently, is one of the largest city parks in the United States. There is a lake and golf course, plus a very large campground. It also has an archery range and a field for remote controlled aircraft.
Newport News is very near the Historic Triangle: Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown. However, we visited there several years ago and wanted to do something else this trip.
The Campground
We liked everything about the campground except the maintenance of the bathhouse. Our visit was in the middle of the week and there were very few campers. However, the bathhouse was filled with bugs and spider webs, inside and out. A utility door was open with ugly maintenance things strewn about and a light was on the entire time we were there. I had to kill a big, scary spider in order to take my shower!
Other stuff—the site, the park, store personnel, and laundry facilities—were great. I don’t know what happened on the care of the bathhouse.
The Mariners’ Museum & Park
Mariners’ is America’s National Maritime Museum and is so worth the time and effort to see. For example, there isthmus Nolan Trail, a wonderful trail around the museum and Lake Maury. It is beautiful, wide, and shaded with birds and turtles to see. We walked a good part of it. It is a popular place; there were lots of hikers and runners.
The museum itself has so many artifacts and lots of information related to maritime topics.
Within the museum is a 3D movie, model ships, and artifacts from ships dating back to the 1700s. There is a wooden anchor from 1783. The racer from the America’s Cup was in display with videos about the team and training. There were so many other full size boats as well.
Lastly, the museum’s biggest claim to fame is major pieces of the actual USS Monitor, the Union Navy’s iron-hulled steam-powered warship used during the Civil War. The wreck of the Monitor was discovered in 1973. The story about the Union and Confederate clash of iron-bulked warships is very interesting. In addition, there is a replica of the monitor and a very compelling dramatization of the battle between the two ships.
Lastly, we visited the City Center, which has beautiful fountains, restaurants, and shopping. So, we walked around a bit and had some delicious ice cream.
In conclusion, Virginia Camping was a delight! We are so glad we were able to be there.
