Since you figured out where I was. . .
Posted on: June 2, 2013
- In: travel
- 7 Comments
For those of you who guessed Luray Caverns, congrats! You figured out where I was! if you have no idea what I’m talking about, go check out my photos from last week.
Hubby is a History Guy, so our next stops included Winchester VA, Harper’s Ferry, and Antietam. We drove up and down lots of mountains. Even you’re not into history, if you live anywhere near Shenandoah Valley, you should visit. It really is the most beautiful place on Earth.
Why don’t you enjoy these photos while I go finish piles and piles of laundry?
Winchester, VA. Geographically important during the Civil War, the town changed hands more than 70 times. The Courthouse served as a hospital and prison during the Civil War, and much of the graffiti has been preserved. It’s now a very small museum. Winchester has got to be the nicest town in America. Every time we pulled out our tourist map, some local walked up to us and asked if we needed directions anywhere, if we needed help with anything. Everyone was so friendly and polite!
It was used as a Courthouse and Hospital during the Civil War. The front area was gated in and was used as a prison. It’s a museum now, and you can ring the bell!
Masonic Temple in Winchester. What an amazing facade!
This is the public library. the PUBLIC LIBRARY of Winchester!!!!
Next stop was Harper’s Ferry. It’s built into a mountain side, and the entire village is hills, hills, and more hills. I suggest leaving your car at the Visitor Center and taking the shuttle in, as there is very little parking in the town itself. We spent so much time at the Armory Historical area, that by the time we decided to shop a bit, most of the stores were closing. We also went during the week, which meant half the shops weren’t open. There are staircases and steep alleyways everywhere. I can’t imagine trying to get up those uneven steps in bad weather. Another very friendly town, someplace I’d love to spend more time in.
Nice greeting at Harper’s Ferry.
Hand carved steps up to the Church in Harper’s Ferry. these stairs go up about 6 flights and they are steep and uneven.
Last stop was Antietam. Whatever you do, don’t use Google Maps to find this place, it directed us to someone’s driveway in nearby Sharpsburg. Also, there are NO signs in Sharpsburg. Not quite as friendly or welcoming as Winchester. But, the government has purchased all the property around the Battlefield, and they have rebuilt the original buildings as much as possible. For a very small fee, you can do a driving tour (what we did), or a guided tour. The best thing about it all being government property is that you can coast down the road at 10 mph, and no local is tailgating you because they need to get to work. The area is much hillier than I expected. Visiting Antietam was a humbling experience.
At Antietam. A photo of the Dunkard Church, with the rebuilt Church in the background. I really began to feel the gravity of the situation at this point.
The Burnside Bridge. I’m standing about where the Confederate sharpshooters stood as they picked off Union soldiers.
This is where the Union started. See why it was so hard to get across the bridge?
I have a ton more pictures, but this isn’t a photo blog, you know? If you want more, let me know in the comments, and I’ll e-mail you the shutterfly link.
7 Responses to "Since you figured out where I was. . ."
June 3, 2013 at 12:40 am
I’d love to visit Harper’s Ferry one day. I pass through it every time I take the train to PA, and what I can see of it always looks so pretty.
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June 3, 2013 at 10:43 pm
there were train tracks all over the place, but the only trains we saw that afternoon were freight. Do you take that train that goes right over the river there? If yes, what in the heck is carved up on the mountainside that looks like an old advertisement??
You’ve got to find a day or an afternoon to spend in Harper’s Ferry, especially since you’ve been past it so many times! Plenty of history, a gazillion restaurants, about a hundred ice cream shops, neat stores, and omg, so much stairclimbing. So. Many. Steps!
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June 4, 2013 at 11:54 pm
I do go right over the river. You probably didn’t see the train, because to my knowledge there’s only one Amtrak a day in either direction. The river always makes me want to jump in and take a swim. No idea on the advertisement, although next time I go past I’ll look. 🙂
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June 3, 2013 at 10:21 am
We went out to Harper’s Ferry on Memorial Day. It’s an interesting place to visit and you’re legs will know it when you’re done walking around there. Beautiful views but the hills!
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June 3, 2013 at 10:44 pm
we missed you by a few days! It was about 90 degrees the day we were there, so we didn’t last long. I hope it was a little cooler when you were there earlier in the week. And wow were my legs pissed at me. lots of leg cramps that evening!
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the Little Red Reviewer 
June 2, 2013 at 11:16 pm
I grew up in the Shenandoah Valley, it is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been! In the fall with the trees turning colors, gorgeous. Lots of history in the area too, which is really cool.
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June 3, 2013 at 10:40 pm
We’ll need to go in autumn next time, because i definitely want to go back. Last week it was 90 degrees!
I think it might take me a while to get used to all that mountain driving. uppppppp the mountain, ddooooowwwwwwn the mountain. uuuuuuuuuppp the mountian, dooooooowwwwwwwnn the mountain!
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