As snowbirds, the migration process can be a great way to extend the adventure. In past years, with our loyal companion Molly, our priorities were all about her: making sure she was comfortable, enough pit stops, accommodations that welcome doggies and have a fridge for her food. Etc. etc. it can get super tricky and timing is everything. Now, with no pup, our options are endless. And we are taking full advantage.

This fall we decided to forego the usual Ohio and PA football stops in favour of a little history and fall foliage. So we planned a couple of nights at a timeshare in the Shenandoah valley. It’s a beautiful stretch of land nestled between several states, but we stayed at a resort in Virginia. It is for lovers after all.

We start our trek from Ontario and head down through Ellicottville which brings back a few memories! And wind our way from New York to Pennsylvania to West Virginia and Maryland for a spell and finally Virginia. The resort is located in a ski area (Massanutten) and the views are gorgeous.

If we have a choice, we like a timeshare condo for a number of reasons: extra space – it’s not just a hotel room and the extra amenities are super convenient; full kitchen – lets us make coffee, breakfast etc.; cost – since we own a timeshare it’s very cost effective to “trade” our points.

Halloween is underway the day we arrive. We are happy to grab a few provisions and settle in. It’s a comfy living room area with a mountain view and a big tv (perfect for Hallmark movies … I renewed my subscription as soon as we hit the US!)

The next day we plan a full exploration outing. I like to make a list and review it with Rudy. He lets me know if I’m being too ambitious or if I’ve included an activity that he’s not keen on. The list includes a smorgasbord of themes: culture, history, local flavours and shopping.

It’s a beautiful and sunny Saturday morning. We start the day with breakfast in our unit. It’s nice to get up leisurely and enjoy a quiet moment with coffee before launching into action. Allows the body to energize and regulate. First stop is the local Harrisonburg farmers market.

The market is located in town near the James Madison University. There’s lots of parking and the market area is covered. It’s really busy with people, strollers, bikes, dogs and the vibe is sunny. The weather is awesome! We aren’t looking for anything specific so we wander around the stalls and chat with vendors. There’s an eclectic mix of produce, baking, coffee, artisanal products such as skin care and oils and food trucks. One is serving fresh cut fries which we can’t resist and we take our snack to a seating area where a four piece band is playing tunes right in our wheelhouse.

From there we head to a heritage flea market. Our expectations are neutral so when we get there we are pleasantly surprised by the interesting offers inside. There’s a western store where saddles, chaps and anything cowboy is sold. Further on is a toy and hobby store where any game or toy is available. We even saw yo-yos which made us tell a few Grampa stories (Rudy’s dad did yo-yo demonstrations for money as a youngster!). There’s a Mennonite food store with everything preserved as well as cheeses and summer sausage and lots of kitchen gadgets. Another store featured sewing items including bolts of fabrics and notions and quilting supplies. There was also handcrafted furniture, handmade quilts and a coffee shop. We left just as a tour bus pulled in!

Next stop was a winery for tasting and lunch. A scenic drive takes us to this remote property in the foothills where grapevines are on every slope. Then the main building appears and it’s like a large plantation surrounded by patios and views. We take a seat outside it’s so gorgeous and we order a glass of wine and a bite to eat. Then after lunch we head inside for a tasting. The wines are decent (pricey) and there’s a beautiful porch where we enjoy our tasting flights.

After lunch we head to the battlefield. Rudy is a civil war buff and always enjoys a taste of local history. A quick stop en route to check out a historical cemetery is interesting. We are in the area where much of the fighting occurred; close to Richmond (the Southern Capital) and Washington (the northern capital). Rudy is familiar with the prominent generals on both sides of the war and as we read the plaques we envision the stark conditions that soldiers faced. The hills, forests, scrub brush and rivers make for treacherous terrain and the battles lasted days.

Once we are back in the resort it’s time to relax and reflect. The next day we are going on the Amtrak Car Train to reach our final destination in Florida.

As we review our visit in the Shenandoah Valley we agree that you could easily spend a few more days seeing the historical landmarks. Next time.