Travel South Magazine Travel South low (kasey daleo's conflicted copy 20 | Page 24

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Shenand oah Nation al Par k
Virgin ia
Shenandoah may be popular in the fall, but the spring-
time allows for weather just as mild, and the beauty of
everything in full bloom, making this time of year perfect
for outdoor lovers. The park has over 10 waterfalls to hike
to, and backcountry camping is welcome in most of the
park, so if you’re looking for a wilder side to Virginia, take
a trip into seclusion here. With over 500 miles of hiking
trails, you will find yourself more than pleased with the
scenery and the terrain. Thrill seekers will love the moun-
tain ranges that the park provides, including a section of
the famous Appalachian Trail!
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“SHENANDOAH
NATIONAL PARK
HAS OVER 10
WATERFALLS AND
MORE THAN
500 MILES
OF HIKING TRAILS.”
The Skyline Drive is perhaps the most popular feature
within the park, so make sure you take a drive and ex-
plore this area. You will be nestled into the crest of the
Blue Ridge Mountains, which provide some of the best
views in the country. The unmatched beauty, coupled
with the breathtaking views, will show you just how
grand the park is. There is nothing more captivating to
an outdoor enthusiast than the beauty and mystery of
wide open spaces.
Looking for a place to stay during your trip? Try camping
under the night sky. There are options available for
campgrounds with amenities, as well as backcountry ex-
periences, depending on your skill level. For a camping
trip on the wild side, submerse yourself into the back-
country, where you will get to build a campfire from
down wood within the park, making the experience
even more authentic.
Skyland is an option for those who are less inclined to
spend the night in the deep wilderness. Skyland, the
highest point of the Skyline Drive, offers lodging and
amenities for those who aren’t quite ready to leave.
Whether you’re looking for a quaint cabin in seclusion, a
premium suite with a fireplace, or a nice patch of dirt in
the woods, planning a trip to Shenandoah is a no-brainer.
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Crate r o f Diamon d s State Par k
Arkan s a s
Crater of Diamonds State Park is a unique attraction, in that it
is the world’s only diamond-bearing site that is accessible to
the public. The park is just over 900 acres, and is mainly a
field where diamonds have been continuously discovered
since the early 1900s. The park is known for being the very
first site outside of South Africa where people found dia-
monds in their natural source.
In the 1950s, Howard Millar and his wife took over what was
left of the original attraction after World War II, when the gov-
ernment had taken over the site. They opened the
Crater of Diamonds attraction in 1952. Then, in 1956,
a visitor uncovered the “Star of Arkansas,” which was
a rare diamond that weighed just over 15 carats. The
Crater of Diamonds attraction wasn’t the only diamond
mining attraction on site, so rivalries pushed one an-
other out over time, until in 1972, the area became a
state park. The Crater of Diamonds State Park gives a
whole new meaning to Arkansas’ nickname, the Nat-
ural State.