After a brief stay near Chambersburg, PA, we made our way south into Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley for our last week of touring before getting to work again – this time at Twin Lakes State Park near Farmville VA.
Sunset over our campground near Chambersburg PA. Twin Bridge Campground – Chambersburg PA
It was our first time visiting this private campground near Chambersburg, but we were impressed with its amenities and setting. For campers with kids, there was LOTS to do – from gem mining, to pedal karts to Gaga Ball, and more.
It was our first time visiting this private campground near Chambersburg, but we were impressed with its amenities and setting. For campers with kids, there was LOTS to do – from gem mining, to pedal karts to Gaga Ball, and more.
| | We were looking forward to the weekend’s big event, the Make-a-Wish Franklin County Truck Convoy, which was happening just up the hill from the campground. It was a big event for the community and a hugely successful fundraiser for the local Make-a-Wish chapter. Trucks of all sizes and shapes joined a long procession leaving from the nearby event venue and traveled through Chambersburg and back over a 2-hour circuit. They returned on the road by our campsite, and we could hear them coming as they sounded their horns in a triumphant return. Over $75,000 was raised in this event for the Make-a-Wish chapter. |
Route 30 is the main east-west route through Chambersburg and is called the Lincoln Highway. We also took a little time to explore Chambersburg’s history at the Chambersburg Historical Center. Located on the historic Lincoln Highway, and in the middle of 2 armies during the Civil War, the town has a storied past that was told in their small but informative center.
Shenandoah Valley
Moving south out of Pennsylvania, we spent a week touring Virginia’s central Shenandoah Valley from our campground in Mt. Jackson. We didn’t have to go far to find the nearest attractions. Route 11 Chips was a half mile in one direction and Shenandoah Caverns the same distance in the other.
We made several visits to Route 11 Chips (which by the way is no longer on route 11) to see the chips being made and have some samples, which were generous. We left the area with more than a few bags.
Moving south out of Pennsylvania, we spent a week touring Virginia’s central Shenandoah Valley from our campground in Mt. Jackson. We didn’t have to go far to find the nearest attractions. Route 11 Chips was a half mile in one direction and Shenandoah Caverns the same distance in the other.
We made several visits to Route 11 Chips (which by the way is no longer on route 11) to see the chips being made and have some samples, which were generous. We left the area with more than a few bags.
Standing in the "cathedral" room in Shenandoah Caverns Unlike the chip factory, the Shenandoah Caverns was an all day experience. The Caverns alone were impressive, but the companion tours of the Main Street of Yesteryear and the American Celebration Experience were somewhat unexpected bonuses.
When the Caverns were purchased by Earl Hargrove Jr in the 90’s, he brought with him his enthusiasm for creative expressions – first in holiday window displays and then in parade floats and inaugural balls. This were expressed in these additional tours. There was also the Caverns Cafe, which is a step back into the 1950’s, including handmade shakes and floats.
When the Caverns were purchased by Earl Hargrove Jr in the 90’s, he brought with him his enthusiasm for creative expressions – first in holiday window displays and then in parade floats and inaugural balls. This were expressed in these additional tours. There was also the Caverns Cafe, which is a step back into the 1950’s, including handmade shakes and floats.
| |  Main Street of Yesteryear has amazing window displays restored for viewing. |
| |  Shenandoah Caverns tour did not disappoint. |
| |  Impressive award-winning floats and displays in this warehouse of inaugural and holiday parade exhibits. |
New Market Battlefield at the Virginia Museum of the Civil War Our next day’s touring took us a few miles further south to the Virginia Museum of the Civil War at New Market. The Civil War visited the Shenandoah Valley with a vengeance as the war was ending. One of the battles that caught the imagination of the confederacy in the waning days of the war was the Battle of New Market. Its significance was less about the military victory, but the role played in the battle by the young cadets of nearby VMI. The museum includes a 45-minute movie about the battle and exhibits explaining the events leading up to it. Located on the battlefield site, there is a farmstead that was positioned between the 2 forces. When I-81 bisected the battlefield, a tunnel was built to allow visitors to transit to the other side safely. It is interesting in that it is lit by a skylight.
Edinburg Mill Heading north from Mt Jackson, we drove to Edinburg to tour the historic Edinburg Mill. The story of how it survived the Union army’s burning of the valley is part of the story told by the movie included in the tour of the Shenandoah Valley Heritage Museum housed there. There are exhibits on so many different aspects of life in the valley and a little that goes beyond. We were fascinated when we found, tucked away on the 3rd floor, antique Eastman Kodak ads, cameras, developer’s equipment and a chronology of its more significant company milestones, including the invention of the digital camera by our friend and co-worker, Steve Sasson.
A little further north was Seven Bends State Park, near the town of Woodstock. Named for the seven bends in the North Fork of the Shenandoah river where it sits, the park has trails along the river and opportunities for fishing and boating. After our Google navigation took us down a scary gravel road to a back entrance to the park, we made our way to the main entrance and took a hike along the river. (We have since notified Google where the main entrance is located.)
Meems Bottom Covered Bridge One of the must-see attractions in Mt Jackson was only a little bit further than the Route 11 Chips factory. It was the Meems Bottom Covered Bridge – a massive covered bridge and one of the best-known in Virginia. After it was vandalized by fire on Halloween 1976, it was rebuilt with the recovered timbers and continues to carry traffic today. (Click on the picture to see a short video of the bridge.)
Of course, all of this touring makes one hungry. So, we found some good places to eat (more than just chips). Among our favorites were the fried chicken at the Southern Kitchen in New Market and the BBQ at Fat Boyz in Timbertown.
Back to “Work”
After a week in the Shenandoah Valley, we headed southeast to start our volunteering month at Twin Lakes State Park. This is a new park to us, but the park manager, Kevin Faubian, is someone we know well from his assignment at Pocahontas before moving to take over this park. We met with the Volunteer Coordinator and are looking forward to spending time in a new setting and getting to know it better, while helping out.
After a week in the Shenandoah Valley, we headed southeast to start our volunteering month at Twin Lakes State Park. This is a new park to us, but the park manager, Kevin Faubian, is someone we know well from his assignment at Pocahontas before moving to take over this park. We met with the Volunteer Coordinator and are looking forward to spending time in a new setting and getting to know it better, while helping out.
Parting Shot
We stumbled across this field in our travels near Chambersburg. It is breathtaking.
We stumbled across this field in our travels near Chambersburg. It is breathtaking.
