Visitor Centers will be operated as follows: Harry F. Byrd Visitor Center will open March 26; Dickey Ridge Visitor Center will open on April 1; Loft Mountain Information Center will open on May 14, operating weekends and holidays only.

Campgrounds will operate on the following schedule: Big Meadows Campgrounds will open on March 26; Lewis Mountain Campground will open on April 9; Mathews Arm Campgrounds will open on May 14; Loft Mountain will open on May 21, pending completion of a construction project to rehabilitate roads in the area.

Elkwallow, Pinnacles, South River and Dundo Picnic Grounds are currently open. The remaining picnic grounds will operate as follows: Big Meadows Picnic Grounds will open March 26; Dickey Ridge will open on April 1; and Lewis Mountain Picnic Grounds will open April 9. Loft Mountain Picnic Ground remains closed.

Concessioner-operated restaurants, lodges and associated facilities will operate as follows: Big Meadows Wayside will open March 19; Skyland Resort will open on April 1; Big Meadows Shower/Laundry will open on March 26; Lewis Mountain Cabins and Lewis Mountain Campstore will open on April 9; Elkwallow Wayside will open on April 16; Loft Mountain Wayside will open on April 30; Big Meadows Lodge will open on May 20; Loft Mountain Campstore and Loft Mountain Shower and Laundry will open on May 21.

For more information about planning a trip to Shenandoah National Park go to http://www.nps.gov/shen/planyourvisit/index.htm or call the park at (540) 999-3500.

Press Release via Shenandoah National Park – Shenandoah National Park Announces 2010 Spring Opening Dates (U.S. National Park Service).

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In the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains there is an enclave of craftsmen who have solidified deep friendships as well as a network of creative, technical, and professional support over the past 25 years. Drawn to the area by it's beauty and tranquility, with much determination, they established working studios, vital careers and a way of life.

From the beginning they shared many common goals and apprehensions, offering each other feedback, assistance and courage. In the fall of 1998 this commonality blossomed into a formalized association called 16 Hands. They recognized a shared desire to deepen the relationship with the people who appreciate their work by inviting them into their studios.

more :: 16 Hands :: The Tour.

While the tour feature mostly artists who work with clay, also in the co-operative are painters and woodworkers. My connection with the bloggers of Floyd County has made me aware of this semi-annual event for the past few years. I look forward to adding this event to my list of must dos in Virginia.

Click here to visit the 116 Hands Map page.

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Take a step back in time to Highland County, “Virginia’s Switzerland.” Travel back roads and mountain byways to the annual Highland Maple Festival. Held on the 2nd and 3rd weekends of March, the Maple Festival has been an annual event in Highland County, Virginia, since 1958.

Each year, thousands of visitors are drawn to this unspoiled, rural region of Virginia to celebrate the “opening” of the trees and observe the process of maple syrup-making. Sugar camp tours provide a unique and educational experience that portrays a rapidly vanishing way of American life.

Held annually on the second and third weekends in March, the 2010 Highland Maple Festival will be on March 13-14 and March 20-21.

The Sugar Tour

• Sugar Tree Country Store & Sugar House – “Located near the center of McDowell, this operation employs a modern reverse osmosis concentrator and oil-fired evaporator. Informational tours all day. Antique maple producing tools are on display. Country store merchandise, pottery, maple products, jams, Brunswick Stew, maple doughnuts, and other food will be for sale.” Closed on Sunday.
• Eagle’s Sugar Camp – “Follow signs to Eagle’s Sugar Camp, located north of McDowell off Rt. 654 (Jack Mountain Road) in Doe Hill. Syrup producers for more than 200 years, the Eagles still use open pan wood-fired evaporators as the latest advanced computerized oil-fired evaporators. Observe sugar water collected in buckets. Local honey, maple products, buckwheat, cornmeal & baked goods. Home-cooked food and maple donuts. Local arts & crafts. Tour buses welcome.”
• Southernmost Maple Products – “Located 15 miles south of Monterey on Route 607 (off US 220 at Bolar) (Big Valley Road). Sugar water is funneled into the only piggy-back evaporator to be found in the southern states. Rustic country store, with a variety of maple products, flour, honey, jellies and baked goods. Food: Maple pit-cooked BBQ, pork skins and maple doughnuts. Handicapped accessible.” Closed on Sunday.
• Rexrode’s Sugar Orchard – “Located north of Hightown on Route 637, (Maple Sugar Road), Rexrode’s Sugar Orchard features some large maple trees over 200 years old. The Rexrodes use the old-fashioned “open pan” system of evaporation as well as the newer wood-fired evaporation method with miles of plastic tubing to gather the sugar water. Food and maple products available.”
• Puffenbarger’s Sugar Orchard – “On Route 637 (Maple Sugar Road), southwest of Blue Grass is the Puffenbarger Sugar Orchard. The Puffenbargers have rebuilt their sugar camp following the devastating fire in 2008. A vacuum pump is used to increase the flow of sugar water and miles of plastic tubing make it easier to gather. The process of maple syrup-making is started by reverse osmosis and finished by oil-fired evaporators. Maple doughnuts and other foods are available here.”
• Duff’s Sugar House – “At Fair Lawn Farm, southwest of Monterey (3 mi. south on U.S.220 and 3 mi. west on Route 84), Duff’s Sugar House is a small, family- run sugar house where the trees are still “opened” by hand and the sugar water collected in buckets. Cooking is done in a wood-fired open pan and finished in an iron kettle. Hands-on participation is encouraged. Tours all day.”

Pick up a map of the tour at your first stop. Watch for “Maple Sugar Tour” signs.

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Take a step back in time to Highland County, “Virginia’s Switzerland.” Travel back roads and mountain byways to the annual Highland Maple Festival. Held on the 2nd and 3rd weekends of March, the Maple Festival has been an annual event in Highland County, Virginia, since 1958.

Each year, thousands of visitors are drawn to this unspoiled, rural region of Virginia to celebrate the “opening” of the trees and observe the process of maple syrup-making. Sugar camp tours provide a unique and educational experience that portrays a rapidly vanishing way of American life.

Held annually on the second and third weekends in March, the 2010 Highland Maple Festival will be on March 13-14 and March 20-21.

The Sugar Tour

• Sugar Tree Country Store & Sugar House – “Located near the center of McDowell, this operation employs a modern reverse osmosis concentrator and oil-fired evaporator. Informational tours all day. Antique maple producing tools are on display. Country store merchandise, pottery, maple products, jams, Brunswick Stew, maple doughnuts, and other food will be for sale.” Closed on Sunday.
• Eagle’s Sugar Camp – “Follow signs to Eagle’s Sugar Camp, located north of McDowell off Rt. 654 (Jack Mountain Road) in Doe Hill. Syrup producers for more than 200 years, the Eagles still use open pan wood-fired evaporators as the latest advanced computerized oil-fired evaporators. Observe sugar water collected in buckets. Local honey, maple products, buckwheat, cornmeal & baked goods. Home-cooked food and maple donuts. Local arts & crafts. Tour buses welcome.”
• Southernmost Maple Products – “Located 15 miles south of Monterey on Route 607 (off US 220 at Bolar) (Big Valley Road). Sugar water is funneled into the only piggy-back evaporator to be found in the southern states. Rustic country store, with a variety of maple products, flour, honey, jellies and baked goods. Food: Maple pit-cooked BBQ, pork skins and maple doughnuts. Handicapped accessible.” Closed on Sunday.
• Rexrode’s Sugar Orchard – “Located north of Hightown on Route 637, (Maple Sugar Road), Rexrode’s Sugar Orchard features some large maple trees over 200 years old. The Rexrodes use the old-fashioned “open pan” system of evaporation as well as the newer wood-fired evaporation method with miles of plastic tubing to gather the sugar water. Food and maple products available.”
• Puffenbarger’s Sugar Orchard – “On Route 637 (Maple Sugar Road), southwest of Blue Grass is the Puffenbarger Sugar Orchard. The Puffenbargers have rebuilt their sugar camp following the devastating fire in 2008. A vacuum pump is used to increase the flow of sugar water and miles of plastic tubing make it easier to gather. The process of maple syrup-making is started by reverse osmosis and finished by oil-fired evaporators. Maple doughnuts and other foods are available here.”
• Duff’s Sugar House – “At Fair Lawn Farm, southwest of Monterey (3 mi. south on U.S.220 and 3 mi. west on Route 84), Duff’s Sugar House is a small, family- run sugar house where the trees are still “opened” by hand and the sugar water collected in buckets. Cooking is done in a wood-fired open pan and finished in an iron kettle. Hands-on participation is encouraged. Tours all day.”

Pick up a map of the tour at your first stop. Watch for “Maple Sugar Tour” signs.

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