Welcome to JOYFUL REFLECTIONS. Also welcome to MARCH!!!! My header picture this month is a photo I took of the pretty Crocus blooms in our yard... The Crocuses and Daffodils are the first signs of spring here in Tennessee. I am definitely ready for SPRING...

Monday, August 16, 2010

Skyland Resort (Shenandoah National Park, VA)


If you have missed any of my posts from the fabulous Birthday Trip to Virginia, go to my sidebar and scroll down to labels. Click on BIRTHDAY 2010 --and you can see all of the posts.

Today, I'm showing you a little of the resort where we stayed the 2nd night of our vacation. This resort (Skyland Resort) is found on the Skyline Drive in the Shenandoah National Park. I'm not sure I liked it as well as the Peaks of Otter, but it was a beautiful place --and I would go back. We had a room right on the edge of the mountain with a view of the valley below.

Here are some of the pictures from Skyland Resort... Above is a map of the Skyline Drive (which is north of the Blue Ridge Parkway). You can see the Skyland Resort on this map.. Below are more pictures.




This was the unit where we stayed at Skyland. We were about in the middle on the ground floor.. PERFECT!!!




There were deer all over the place ---and they didn't seem to be afraid of the people or the cars...




Here is our little patio --which looks down into the Shenandoah Valley and surrounding mountains.. I took this picture to show you the patio--but didn't realize at the time that I also gave you a reflection in the window of the view behind me.... AND you can also see our books and lamp on a table inside ---plus ME taking the picture... That's alot of 'stuff' in one photo... ha




After a delicious dinner --which included some Blackberry Ice Cream Pie (to die for), we sat on our patio and watched a gorgeous sunset.




The next morning was a beautiful, cool (in the high 50's/low 60's) and very clear morning. George just had to get outside and take some more pictures before we left.




This was our view of the Shenandoah Valley below on that gorgeous, cool and clear morning... WOW!!!!

I will share some more pictures from Skyland Resort in another post...BUT--tomorrow I'll digress and show some pictures along the Blue Ridge Parkway before we got to Skyline Drive... Bet I have really confused you!!!!! ha

Hope you had a wonderful weekend. We did --although it is still EXTREMELY hot on the Cumberland Plateau even NOW.... I think that Tennessee has had one of the hottest summers EVER. We are anxiously awaiting FALL.

Hugs,

51 comments:

Jane said...

Good morning Betsy - Your photos are gorgeous as always. Glad that you guys had a great time. Yes, the summer has been miserably hot and fall does not seem to be getting here quickly enough for me!

Jane

Valerie said...

Loved the view of the Shenandoah Valley!
The deer shot is so neat - Saturday I woke up to Turkey's in my yard! Never have I seen that!!

Neal said...

Beautiful view from the resort. Isn't it nice to take the vacation again without leaving home?

Confused? Nah....I always sit around trying to pull my hair out? :)

MadSnapper said...

forget the scenery, bring on the blackberry ice cream pie. ha ha
yummmmm is all i can think of. i would love to be somewhere and see deer wandering around like that and i see a log cabin i would like in the shot with the deer.

Arkansas Patti said...

What a view and that sunset was awesome. How neat that the deer decorated the lawn and weren't afraid.
In my younger days I wanted to hike the Appalachian Trail and always heard the Shenandoah part was the prettiest. My hiking days are over but guess it isn't too late to drive the area.
Thanks for the tour.

Catherine said...

Isn't it wonderful to be able to see the deer up close?

Looks like you had another fantastic trip ~ good for you Betsy!
xo Catherine

Sarah Knight said...

Sounds like an excellent time!

Rose said...

good morning. we traveled in this are but didn't stay overnight. it's one of the prettiest part of the country. the photos are fantastic. to be so close to almost touch the deer. you were fortunate to have this time. thanks for your comment on my blog re wind . it's a pain and then not we can't make up our minds. have a great day. rose

Ginny Hartzler said...

What a great and beautiful variety of pictures today! Of course I'm loving the one of the patio with the mountains and you reflected in the window! And those tame deer! I didn't know about that! It's been cool here, not yesterday, but today and the day before! Supposed to rain all day,that's good, but not with a four year old in the house all day!

Auntie sezzzzzz... said...

Oh I think photos, with reflections showing in them, are so much fun! Sometimes, I've even gone looking for some.

And that sunset! Wow!!!!

nanny said...

I don't blame George for trying to capture every bit of it...so hard to do isn't it?
Beautiful place!

Jeanne said...

Those cooler temperatures sound so very nice! And blackberry ice cream pie sounds like a piece of heaven.
Glad to hear you had such a great trip.
Jeanne

Reanaclaire said...

wow..Betsy..what awesome sights..esp the last one.. i love the blue sky.. it is so awesome.. it must be very refreshing for you...

Dorothy said...

Good Morning Betsy! Love the views of the valley and the picture of the deer. Can't wait to get back up that way!

Anonymous said...

Hi Betsy, Thank you for these lovely scenes of the mountains. I can almost feel the cooler air! Hope today is full of many blessings!

Small City Scenes said...

WOW is right. Beautiful scenery.
You are so fortunate to be able to go to these places. Our country sure is beautiful. MB

Joe Todd said...

Great post and photos Betsy. Will let you know more about Chalotsville.. Found a good link to help plan the trip http://travel.nytimes.com/2008/10/26/travel/26hours.html

Rosa said...

Oh how I miss the Blueridge. Sniffle. That shot brought so many memories flooding back. Thanks for sharing!

KathyA said...

Lovely, lovely photos! Thank you for taking us along with you. I'm sitting here humming "Shenandoah"♫ Can you hear me?
It's been the hottest summer on record here in MD. Hoping fall will bring some relief.

Busy Bee Suz said...

I would say those are million dollar views!!!! What a sweet resort area...love it.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful scenic place! I have put it on the must-see list (a list growing and growing). Yes, it is very hot. Maybe the temperature will cool soon & we'll get some rain. The picture of that resort are good. I especially enjoy seeing the deer! Have a great week!

The Retired One said...

What a gorgeous place..and thanks for putting on the map..it really helps!!!

Mary said...

How wonderful to have deer all over the place. I would have been clicking my camera constantly. I remember traveling on part of Skyline drive years ago (college)and how beautiful it was. Great trip you had!

Ruth's Photo Blog said...

Each of your pictures is so gorgeous,I really want to visit this area.The resort looks lovely and the valley scene is inviting.
Blessings,Ruth

Diane said...

I really like the picture of you and the reflection, etc. Also thinking about that pie! What a lovely place to go. Thanks for sharing. Have a great week. Diane

Debbie Taillieu said...

I just love wildlife!! I can sit for hours and watch them (and photograph them). You just keep making me sigh......
Have a fabulous day!

Together We Save said...

Oh my Betsy, thank you for taking us with you on your adventures. Your pictures are amazing!

Barbara said...

Good Morning my sweet friend, those are breat taking views, I have seen them and no camera can capture the full beauty it is, but your photos are good, and takes me back to a few years ago when we were there, Oh I do love it up there, if I had my druthers I would live there, but I live deep south and am content for now, hugs and blessings, have a great day, Barbara

amelia said...

Absolutely stunning scenery and the sunset is quite spectacular!!

You are one lucky lady!!

Anonymous said...

Ohhh how nice! I really miss seeing deer in my yard where I used to live in the country... now I live in town & it just isn't the same! I loved my privacy out there!!!
Wonderful shots, Betsy!

Kay said...

Looks like a wonderful place.

Pat Tillett said...

Thanks for the beautiful tour Betsy! This may be a place I visit next time I'm back there...

LV said...

Another wonderful sharing of a lovely place. I loved all the sights, but the sunset is hard to beat.

DeniseinVA said...

Hi Betsy, loved these photos. They're not too far from where we live, a little over an hour away. We go up to the Shenandoah's several times a year. We have passed Skyland on many an occasion but the lodge we stayed at was at Big Meadows. We discovered it a few years ago. I will be looking forward to your other photos from your trip.
An English Girl Rambles

A Brit in Tennessee said...

What a breathtaking view from your cabin !
There is nothing I like better, than hiding away in the mountains, with all of God's glory to enjoy.
Simply heavenly !

imac said...

Thank you for taking me along on this wonderful trip Betsy.

Deb from WhatsInMyAttic said...

One of our favorite stops! Beautiful sunset picture.

It won't be long for Fall now!

Kirigalpoththa said...

Shenandoah Valley and the sunset are spectacular!

Shelley said...

Gorgeous trip! YOu and George know how to travel and live life! You're an inspiration! Sorry I missed your birthday dear friend!! I know it was wonderful and I'm wishing you many more. I finish my summer exam tomorrow and will have more time to blog.
BIg hugs,
SHelley

Susie said...

Beautiful for sure. What a great view ya'll had.

SquirrelQueen said...

That sunset shot is absolutely gorgeous and I love the view of the Shenandoah Valley. Having all the deer around would make this place perfect for me, well that and the Blackberry Ice Cream Pie!

Fred Alton said...

Gorgeous views of the mountains Betsy! Thanks for sharing these with us.

Rose said...

The Blackberry Ice Cream pie sounds delicious...and that would be a good name for that sunset. I must say that sunset is sure a beauty.

From the Kitchen said...

Beautiful photos! I especially love the one of the window reflection. I love poking along the Parkway.

Best,
Bonnie

Carletta said...

Hi Betsy,
I am so enjoying taking this trip with you.
I love all that is going on in the reflection image. It's a lot but not too much and turned out to be an interesting composition of in and out.
The sunset - gorgeous!
Just saw you over at George's in your orange Tennessee shirt. I guess this might not be the time to say go WVU. LOL!
Hugs,
Carletta

Mary Lou said...

Hi Betsy, I see you live in Crossville. My good friend from high school, Mary Ann lives there. I'm from KY but only an hr north of Nashville.
Now I live in VA and went through your whole trip down the parkway. It is a beautiful state. I'm in Williamsburg.
Thanks for sharing the photos.

carolina nana said...

That is a beautiful place and the temperatures were nice. I hope it cools down for me before we go to the beach next month. Maybe next year we'll plan a vacation to the Shenandoah Valley.
Have a blessed tomorrow

NENSA MOON said...

What a beautiful views of the valley, Betsy... And the deer around there were awesome...
Love all those photos.
Thanks so much for sharing the story and photos with us...
Waiting for the next post.
Blessing, nensa

Cheryl said...

What a gorgeous sunset to behold! And I sure would love a taste of the blackberry pie...what a wonderful adventure you've been on.

Anonymous said...

I can't leave an intelligent comment because I can't get my mind off that blackberry ice cream pie.

Janie said...

The deer sure were friendly. They probably loved the view, too.
Great photo of the patio with the reflection, even if you didn't do it on purpose!
Love that sunset.