The densely forested 4000ft peaks of the
Blue Ridge Mountains
form a definite barrier between the history-rich worlds of tidewater Virginia to the east and the rougher river-and-valley country to the west. In between the two, at the geographical center of the state, sits the friendly, manageably small college town of
Charlottesville
, which holds two great monuments to the mind of
Thomas Jefferson
. South of Charlottesville, the village of
Appommattox
is the place at which papers were signed to officially end the
Civil War
, and is now preserved as an engaging national historic site. To the west, the northern Blue Ridge Mountains, crowned by the dense forests of
Shenandoah National Park
, run south to Tennessee, culminating in 5729ft Mount Rogers. Little seems to have changed in the lush Shenandoah Valley, on the far side of the mountains, since it was a vital battleground during the Civil War.
I-81, the main highway through the Shenandoah Valley, is joined in the north by I-66 from Washington DC and in the middle by I-64 from Richmond through Charlottesville. Numerous scenic routes are slower but more worthwhile, such as
Skyline Drive
and the
Blue Ridge Parkway
, which weave along the four-hundred-mile-long mountain crest. You'll need a car to get the most out of the region, though cycling is a good option along the many back roads and, for hikers, the
Appalachian Trail
runs right down the middle. There are plenty of roadside motels, so you needn't be too concerned about advance planning - it's a great place for aimless exploration.
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