How to Enjoy Fall Even if You Are Not a Hiker

How to Enjoy Fall Even if You Are Not a Hiker

by Patressa Kearns “The secret of life is enjoying the passage of timeAny fool can do itThere ain’t nothing to itNobody knows how we got to the top of the hillBut since we’re on our way downWe might as well enjoy the ride” – James Taylor, “Secret O’ Life”...
Fall in Love with Summer Hiking in Shenandoah

Fall in Love with Summer Hiking in Shenandoah

by Patressa Kearns Ahh, summer in Shenandoah National Park, how do we love thee? Let us count the ways. 1. You’re cooler than all the rest. – Temps in the mountains are usually 10 to 15 degrees below those in the Shenandoah Valley (to the west of Skyline Drive) and...
There’s No Time Like That First Time

There’s No Time Like That First Time

(by Patressa Kearns)  We get it. Planning a trip can be exhausting – almost as exhausting as hiking a trail or setting up a campsite. And when you’re planning that trip to a place you’ve never been before…well, it’s easy to get overwhelmed.   But don’t let yourself...
So You Say You Want to See a Bear

So You Say You Want to See a Bear

by Patressa Kearns If you asked 100 Shenandoah National Park visitors what they most look forward to when they come to the Park, 99 of them are going to tell you it’s seeing a black bear. Seeing a black bear in its natural habitat is magical, every single time. ...
The Songbirds of Shenandoah

The Songbirds of Shenandoah

(by Patressa Kearns)  When winter starts to get old, even to those of us who love winter, spring seems mighty slow to come. “Slow as molasses” doesn’t begin to describe the sluggishness of spring’s arrival, when our moods have grown stale with the...
Rapidan Camp: History at the Headwaters

Rapidan Camp: History at the Headwaters

How is Rapidan Camp tied to a hobby?  Read on to discover the history. It’s always good to have a hobby. But when times are tough it’s especially wise to have a pastime you love – knitting, baking, assembling model airplanes, collecting stamps – something to take...