Blue Ridge Mountains & The Shenandoah Valley

We left North Carolina on Thursday morning, heading to Winchester, Virginia, our stop for the night.  We chose to go this route to New Jersey so we did not have to drive through Washington DC and Baltimore. (Been there, done that, and did not wish to do it again!)  I am so glad we decided to take this route as the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Shenandoah Valley provide a panorama of scenery like no other region of our country. I can only imagine what this area looks like in the fall!  Since this area had a long hard winter, they are having a late spring, and all the trees are blooming, making everything green and lush.

The Blue Ridge Mountain range is part of the Appalachian Mountain range which encompasses the states of Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and West Virginia. The Blue Ridge Mountains are known for their bluish color when seen from a distance.  Trees put the "blue" in Blue Ridge, from the isoprene released into the atmosphere, thereby contributing to the characteristic haze on the mountains and their distinctive color.

The Shenandoah Valley was known as the breadbasket of the Confederacy during the Civil War and seen as a back door for Confederate raids on Maryland, Washington and Pennsylvania.  Because of its strategic importance it was the scene of three major campaigns.  The first was the Valley Campaign of 1862, in which Confederate General Stonewall Jackson defended the valley against three numerically superior Union armies.  The final two were the Valley Campaigns of 1864.

In the late 20th century, the valleys vineyards began to reach maturity.  They constituted the new industry of the Shenandoah Valley and  along with farming, remain a vital part of agriculture in the area today.

A long day of travel, but a great day for enjoying the countryside! 

 

Blue Ridge Mountains

 

 

Countryside views