My mind easily focuses on the place I've chosen for my first blog, since it was one of the stops we made on our honeymoon. It's always nice to be able to shamelessly squeeze in a reminiscent photo.

If you've never been to Natural Bridge, Virginia you should really make the trip.  It's not very far and it is one of the most beautiful natural structures you can drive to for a day or weekend trip.  The Natural bridge stands twenty stories tall and was created when a cavern below it collapsed a very long time ago.  Native American lore claim that this collapse happened just in time for the Monacan tribe to escape across it from an enemy. 

The bridge is wide enough that a state road actually travels across it.  That is one strong rock to hold all of the weight associated with tractor trailers driving over it every single day for decades!

You should definitely bring your hiking boots if you visit-the trail, it can be quite tiresome. It winds down from a visitor center/ gift shop building to the Natural Bridge itself, then continues on to visit a replicate village of the Monacan tribe.  There you can see all aspects of the everyday life of this culture, many of the people shown in this village are actual members of the Monacan Indian Nation of Virginia.  Beyond that, the trail visits an abandoned mine (although you can't actually go in it, of course) and the beautiful Lace Waterfalls before looping back to the Natural Bridge. 

It's really amazing to see something so old, where George Washington etched his name in the rock and many others have followed his lead. The natural beauty of this place will take your breath away, which is one of the reasons I chose to drag my husband there. I felt everyone should see it.

Unchanged for centuries (besides some wiring added for a dazzling light show and sound system), this place will really put you in your place- the immensity is humbling. 

The area also has caverns, a wax museum, toy museum and other tourist attractions.  The next time I get down that way, I will not miss Foam Henge. It's right down the road from Natural Bridge and yes, it's what it sounds like. (link below)




For more information on Natural Bridge and the attractions there:

http://www.naturalbridgeva.com/youth/default.htm

For information on Foam Henge:
http://www.virginiawind.com/virginia_travel/foamhenge.asp