Govereaux Travel: Civilian Conservation Corps (Americas National Parks)

Shenandoah National Park (http://www.nps.gov/shen/index.htm) was the main attraction for our Tuesday. It's amazing to see the types of trees change just within a few miles of each other. The Blueridge Parkway ends where the Skyline Parkway begins. The same winding roads along the ridge line of the mountains.

The boys of the CCCs (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civilian_Conservation_Corps) pretty much created the parkway we've enjoyed so much. They would get $30.00 a month with $25.00 of that being sent back home to support their families. There's a lot of history in these mountains so it's amazing to think of soilders marching through and making a base camp or the young CCCs up here building roadways and families farming the land. It's very lush and very green with, what we feel is, a lot of butterflies. I've been to over 80 national parks and monuments but I had never been to Shenandoah National Park so it was fun to mark it on my list! We stopped at the visitors center and got Solomon's national park patch and even bought him a little National Park Passport book. that way we can stamp it every where we go or at least write it down ourselves so we know where all he's been and when.

Front Royal... the end of the line for these two beautiful parkways. It may seem like all we do is drive, and that may be true, but it sure has been a nice one. There are many campgrounds and even a lodge in this national park. There are so many lookout points and stops along the side of the road you have to start picking which ones you want to stop at or you can stop at them all and take the day to drive 100 miles :) From Front Royal is was Springfield, Mass with a stop in Hershey, Penn. It's really fun to drive through the town and see the hershy kisses on the tops of the lamp posts. The Chocolate World is a site to see with more candy than anyone could imagine :) We, of course, had to buy something and got a magnet for our stove top.

Solomon has done really well with all of this driving. We stop and walk around when he's awake to get him out of his chair. Honestly I don't know how he's doing so well with how much he's been in there. He likes his car seat pretty well but he'd rather sit up, be standing or kick his legs around. We've used the heater, baked some really good cookies and have had a great time with our van.

We are with some friends here in Springfield, MA and they are such a fun, calm easy going family to spend time with! We are grateful for their hospitality and will be heading out tomorrow to Boston, MA. Until next time here are some picture of our last few days.