~ Shenandoah Vacation Packages- National Park Info

The Shenandoah National Park: Origins of an American Paradise

The Shenandoah National Park is a spectacular all-natural playground that attracts millions of visitors to Virginia's Shenandoah Valley each and every year. The stunning and largely untouched natural landscape brings inspiration to visitors who make a Shenandoah Valley vacation getaway. The history behind the beautiful vistas, hiking trails, and scenic drives that are popular today amongst Virginia tourists traces back millions of years- to the early creation of this region of the North American continent.

Not only does the origin of this Blue Ridge mountain area go back for millions of years, but the finished product was crafted over millions more. Once complete, the magnificent splendor of this area would one day induce such wonder and appreciation that the American government would move to authorize the designation of this region of Virginia as a national park on May 22, 1926. Full and official recognition of the Shenandoah National Park came almost 10 years later- on December 26th, 1935.

The Shenandoah National Park is adjacent to a spectacular section of what are known as the Blue Ridge Mountains- which form the easternmost section of the Appalachian Mountain Range that runs between Pennsylvania and Georgia. The winding, Shenandoah River flows through the Shenandoah Valley to the west. As in the past, today this water flow has much to do with the ongoing crafting of the topography of this magnificent national park.

As stated earlier, in contemporary times the Shenandoah Valley area receives millions of visitors every year and is home to hundreds of thousands of year-round residents. The very first traces of human habitation in the area go back 10,000 years. It was at this time that Native American populations were known to venture into the area that would one day make up the park territory. Native Americans mainly came to the Shenandoah Valley area to hunt, to gather building resources, and to collect nuts and berries native to the area.

In terms of further human exploration, it wasn't until the 18th century that Europeans first wandered into the spectacular hills and valleys of the Shenandoah area. Early settlers almost immediately recognized not only the natural beauty of the area, but also the natural bounty of the area. Before long hundreds of families settled the area; planting crops and orchards that would give year-round nourishment. It was during this period that the first homes, mills, and general stores were constructed. Mining and timber also soon became major industries in the Shenandoah Valley region.

By the turn of the 19th century, vacation homes and mountain cabins were being constructed for visitors to the area. As American industries and society began to boom places like the Shenandoah Valley soon became favorite continental vacation destinations for the rich and powerful of the early nation. Full-fledged resorts followed the construction of the first modest vacation homes and soon the Shenandoah area was a world-class holiday destination.

Following the official establishment of the national park in 1935, visitor facilities were quickly constructed throughout the Shenandoah mountain region. Some families were relocated from the valley itself so that the area could be fully reclaimed by nature- as was intended with the establishment of the American national parks program in the early to mid-20th century. To this day, that original vision of the Shenandoah National Park has been preserved and further developed.

Today the Shenandoah National Park is more popular than ever. It is a premier vacation destination within the North American continent. There are a wide variety of recreational activities that can be enjoyed within the park boundaries and the greater Shenandoah Valley region. The Skyline Drive is a popular, scenic road that winds for over 100 miles along the crest of the mountains- through the entire length of the park. The Shenandoah National Park features over 500 miles of mountain trails. Over 100 miles of the famous Appalachian Trail that marches along the east coast of the United States, runs through the park boundaries.