Autumn in the Shenandoah Valley: Slow Living Travel Guide

Resources:
https://www.thefrench-farmhouse.com/
https://txtur.com/pages/showroom

During my annual autumn visit to the southern end of the Shenandoah Valley, I took the long way around. Not by choice, necessarily, but on the route from Florida to Virginia, my airline connection landed me in New York City on a Monday morning, with sunlit skies and a brilliant bayside view.

If the flight itinerary hadn't been such a good fit for my schedule, I wouldn't have gone through LaGuardia. But in retrospect, I'm glad I did. The layover provided just enough time for a warm cup of chai with a pump of white mocha, and a leisurely walk through a corridor of long paned windows that led to my connecting gate.

This trip had me thinking about slow living from a travel perspective.

I think most of us have experienced those fast-paced vacations where every day brings a packed schedule and a new destination. Where there's so much to do and see that we have to make every minute count. And where we can get so busy doing we forget about being.

When I visit my sister and her family, it's the exact opposite. They spoil me and let me take it easy. Some days we stay on schedule, and other days we don't. Some days we get up at the crack of dawn, and at other times, we embrace the welcome reprieve of a lazy morning.

It's my favorite kind of vacation, and last week, the Shenandoah Valley beamed with vibrant Fall colors as we explored the old, familiar paths, and tried new things as well. Several times, I witnessed a flood of red, orange, and yellow falling from the sky when a strong wind came through. But when I tried to capture the moments on camera, I was usually just a few minutes too late, and managed to catch the last remaining stragglers, winding their way down to settle onto a soft carpet of autumn leaves.

One of the nice things about a slower paced itinerary is the ability for a smooth transition or a change of plans. This time around, my sister and I enjoyed a couple of impromptu, early morning coffee shop dates with warm drinks and cozy conversation, in spite of the brisk mountain air on the other side of the frosty window beside us. I'll always treasure those memories.

Another day, we traded a visit to a national monument about 45 minutes away for a quaint downtown walk closer to home. Some of my favorite highlights included a general store dating back to the late 1800's, a French inspired home décor store – a shop that I probably could have spent hours browsing through – and a newly transformed furniture store that once served as a historic fire station for 99 years prior to the renovation.

The whole experience was a tasteful blend of the past and present, and a gentle reminder that there is always more to uncover. After visiting this valley for more than 18 years, I'm still finding new places to explore; But the main attraction will always be the ones who keep me coming back.

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