Jim helps Jamie learn about simple machines
Jamie and Jim in the "ER"
Jamie learns about the native Americans in Virginia
Jim helps Jamie set up his own roller coaster
Dot tries out rock climbing
Dot playing the Slap Organ
Jamie in the fun mirror
Dot in the fun mirror
Jim and Dot work the magnets to make perpetual motion
Jamie outside Old Rag Cottage
Old Rag Cottage in Syria, Virginia
Jamie does not break any bones!
but Jamie does not want his picture taken, either!
view from an overlook on Skyline Drive
Climbing around the overlook
Hiking back up to the overlook
Another view from Skyline Drive
First trail of this vacation: Limberlost
Dot had a "scavenger hunt" book for our hikes and led Jamie in looking for things along the paths
Dot shows Jamie the way along the Limberlost trail
Dot and Jamie travel the Limberlost trail
Laura, Dot, and Jamie on the Limberlost trail
get a picture for me, Mom!
a bunny!
Bunny!
bear claw marks on a tree along the Limberlost trail
Love
Jamie checks out a bug of some sort
Deer! As the week went by, this became a common cry in the car... we saw at least 40.
Bear! This was one of two bears we saw during the week. The ranger said it was probably a yearling.
It crossed the road right in front of our car!
The ranger, Dot and Jamie after our hike along the Appalachian Trail
Dot had to stop to let a few deer go by in front of her!
Misty, rainy, cold weather
Rainy and cold (39 degrees!) meant it was time to leave the park and find something else to do.
We went to Luray Caverns to get warmer and stay dry. Jamie really enjoyed the kids tour.
Jim, Dot, and Jamie by some of the formations
This is actually a very shallow lake that is reflecting the stalactites above.
Luray caverns
Dot listening to the kids' tour in Luray cavern
Laura and Jamie come through a natural archway in Luray caverns
Luray caverns - it looks like something out of Dr. Seuss
this made me think of a Dr. Seuss birthday cake!
Big Meadows in the morning.
Big Meadow
Spring in Big Meadows
can you spot the Dot in Big Meadow?
The fog was blowing away and burning off
Big Meadows
Jamie, Dot, and our ranger for "Birds of Prey"
Ranger Talk: Birds of Prey - Barred Owl
Barred Owl
Screech Owl
Red Tailed Hawk
Along the trail to Rapidan Camp
Relaxing behind the Brown House at Rapidan
The Brown House, for the Hoovers
A salamander
Trillium
Montpelier
Dot does some butter churning
Jamie tries to help cook over an open fire
Mr. Madison's temple, built over the ice house
How to make bricks
how to shave wood
pegs or nails? progress in building
drilling a hole the old fashioned way
entering the formal gardens
Dot and the lion
Jamie does not appreciate the gardens
a freedman cabin across the way from Montpelier
Heading down to Dark Hollow Falls
Dot and Jamie at Dark Hollow Falls
Thumbs up from Jamie - but every hike looked good once he got a snack
a convenient tree bench along the trail to Stony Man
Jim atop Stony Man's forehead
Jamie and Laura on Stony Man
Dot in the fog on top Stony Man
You can't tell how high up we were - the fog blocked everything!
Laura and Jamie atop Stony Man
Massanutten Lodge at Skyland
Heading up the Meadow Springs trail
rhododendrons in the mist
the cabin for this chimney burned down in the 1940's
really tall ferns
that tree has a face! and it's not happy!
On the White Oak Canyon Trail
sunset in Shenandoah
Jamie gets his second wind as he sees the cars in the parking lot - no more hiking!
