Oct 11-13 Shenandoah National Park & Luray Caverns $279 (3 Days 2 Nights)

SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK

Shenandoah National Park extends along the Blue Ridge Mountains in the U.S. state of Virginia. The Skyline Drive runs its length, and a vast network of trails includes a section of the long-distance Appalachian Trail. Mostly forested, the park features wetlands, waterfalls and rocky peaks like Hawksbill and Old Rag mountains. Shenandoah is home to many bird species, plus deer, squirrels and the elusive black bear. More on https://www.nps.gov/shen/index.htm

LURAY CAVERNS

Luray Caverns, previously Luray Cave, is a cave just west of Luray, Virginia, United States, which has drawn many visitors since its discovery in 1878. The cavern system is adorned with speleothems such as columns, mud flows, stalactites, stalagmites, flowstone, and mirrored pools. More on https://luraycaverns.com/

LODGING

We will be staying in a vacation house near Shenandoah National Park, with 4 bedrooms, 7 beds (2 king beds, 1 queen bed, 3 single beds & 1 sofabed), 4 baths, 1 dedicated workspace, 1 full kitchen, 1 living room, 2 game rooms with bar (pool, fossball & arcade), & a movie room. We will max out at 12 people. The house is 24 minutes drive to Shenandoah National Park and 42 minutes to Luray Caverns.

Features: Private hot tub, Big backyard, deck dining area and bar, outdooor living room, fire pit area, BBQ grill, foosball table, arcade game, pool table, indoor fireplace (electric), free WiFi, flat TV, microwave, coffee machine, hair dryer, washer & dryer.

Essential Provided: Bed sheets, conditioner, soap and toilet paper

DEPARTURE/RETURN SCHEDULE

Depart Date: Oct 11st, 2025 Saturday. Please arrive 15 minutes earlier. Van will depart sharply on time with or without you.

Depart 6:30 AM from Queens: (Across street from Sheraton LaGuardia East Hotel) 135-20 39th Ave, Flushing, NY 11354 (Map). Subway lines (Main St-Flushing): 7.

Depart 7:10 AM from NYC: (ViVi Bubble Tea) Corner of 43rd St and 9th Ave New York, NY 10036 (Map) Subway lines (Times Sq-42 St): A, C, E, 1, 2, 3, 7, N, Q, R, S.

Return Date/Time: Depart Oct 13rd from Shenandoah after lunch around 3:00 PM and expect to arrive at NJ at NYC at 9:15 PM & Queens at 10:00 PM

TENTATIVE PLAN (Plan may vary depending on weather among other factors)

OCT 11 SAT: TRAVEL & ARRIVAL

Morning:

· Depart from NYC: Start your journey early in the morning to make the most of your day. The drive to Shenandoah National Park is approximately 6 hours.

Afternoon:

· Arrival at Shenandoah National Park: Enter the park through the Front Royal Entrance Station.

· Lunch: Have lunch at a local restaurant in Front Royal or pack a picnic to enjoy at one of the park’s picnic areas.

· Skyline Drive: Begin your scenic drive along Skyline Drive. Stop at a few overlooks such as Signal Knob Overlook and Range View Overlook. Complimentary driving audio guide provided by GuideAlong.

· Hiking: Hike to Stony Man Mountain for stunning views. This is a relatively easy hike suitable for most visitors. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/virginia/stony-man-via-appalachian-trail?sh=a0tzox

Evening:

· Check-in: Stay at a big house near the park.

· Dinner: Enjoy dinner near the house. We will also go grocery shopping first for breakfast, drinks, & prepare sandwich lunch for Sunday.

OCT 12 SUN: EXPLORING PARK

Morning:

· Breakfast: Have breakfast at the house.

· Hiking & Waterfalls: Hiking Dark Hollow and Rose River Falls, two of the park’s most popular waterfalls. The hike is moderately challenging, with 5.5 mi & 1,453 ft gain. Expect to be completed in 3 hr 7 min. The hike can be steep in places. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/virginia/dark-hollow-and-rose-river-falls?sh=a0tzox

Afternoon:

· Lunch: Pack a lunch.

· Visitor Center: Visit Harry F. Bryd, Sr. Visitor Center. The Center houses exhibits that tell the stories of Shenandoah’s establishment and development.

· Skyline Drive: Continue exploring Skyline Drive

· Hiking: Start with the Hawksbill Mountain hike, the highest peak in Shenandoah. The 1.6-miles round trip with 672 ft gain offers stunning views. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/virginia/hawksbill-summit?sh=a0tzox

Evening:

· Dinner: Return to your lodge for dinner or explore dining options in nearby towns like Luray.

OCT 13 MON: FINAL ADVENTURES & RETURN

Morning:

· Breakfast: Enjoy breakfast at your lodge.

· Hiking (Optional): Take a hike to Bearfence Mountain for a rock scramble and 360-degree views, easy 1 mile hike with 242 ft gain. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/virginia/bearfence-mountain-trail?sh=a0tzox

· Skyline Drive: Continue exploring Skyline Drive, stopping at overlooks like Jewell Hollow and Spitler Knoll Overlook.Overlook

· Visit Luray Caverns: Just outside the park, these caverns are a fascinating natural wonder. $34 Self Guided Tour will be available starting 9 AM, and once every 20 minutes thereafter until 6 PM. This is an extra cost and admission ticket can be purchased online. We can decide the time slot (likely 12:20 PM or 12:40 PM) on the first day of the trip.

Afternoon:

· Lunch in Luray: Enjoy a meal in the town of Luray before heading back.

· Departure: Begin your drive back to NYC, aiming to leave by mid-afternoon to return at a reasonable hour.

COST (LODGING & TRANSPORTATION)

Super Early Birds: $249 per person for first 6 spots or by May 6th Tue whichever comes first. Early Birds: $279 per person for first 6 spots or 45 days in advance whichever comes first. Regular: $309 per person afterward. Upgrading from shared queen bed to own single bed is $30 extra.

Cost Included in the Trip: 2 nights shared accommodation (sharing a queen bed) at a big vacation house. Guided hikes. Round trip transportation from NYC area & tolls, daily transportation between the house & activity destinations, & parking fee if any. $10 tips for the van driver is required & will be collected on the returning trip.

Cost Not Included in the Trip: * Any paid attractions in the Park or Luray Caverns; * Meals, snacks & drinks; * Gratitude for the trip leader/driver

BUY TICKET HERE

https://oct112025shenandoah.eventbrite.com/ Returning members ONLY: You can also Venmo us @jwang88 to avoid transaction fee. Please provide your email, phone #, your van boarding location and preferred roommate if any. Your spot is not confirmed until your payment is received.

REFUND POLICY

* Full refund minus $50 processing fee if cancelled 45 days in advance

* 50% refund if cancelled 20 days in advance

* No refund for cancellation or no show within 20 days; however, spots can be transferred to your friends with $50 processing fee.

TRAVEL INSURANCE

To protect your trip, consider buying travel insurance, around 5% to 7% of total cost, and you can get reimbursed 75% to 100% of the cost for any reason for cancellation or trip interruption. https://www.travelinsured.com/

PICTURES from Previous Trip

https://www.meetup.com/ny-ski-snowboard-club/photos/34940787/

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