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my favorite place

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Big Meadows

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We took an evening trip to Big Meadows this week.

We saw one bear, on our way up the mountain.  A scraggly looking thing. I love that on Skyline drive spotting a bear or even a family of deer is excuse enough to hit the hazard lights and come to a complete standstill in the road.  Strangers smile apologetically and wave to each other from car windows.  We all understand.

There was so much excitement as we arrived on the meadow.  It was 7 p.m.  and the latest we have ever visited. I wanted Jonny to drop me off at the meadow and then take the kids to the campground and feed them.  Everyone protested.

We were all starving, but couldn’t pull ourselves away.  Thunder rumbled and gray clouds floated across the sky.

We ate wild blueberries with the deer.  Beatrix announced that she had found the biggest blueberry ever.  Larkspur plucked it from her hand and ate it.  Beatrix shouted angrily, “God would not want you to take my biggest blueberry!” Larkspur apologized and quickly found her another.

Silas learned to pick blueberries.  As darkness settled we reluctantly headed out of the meadow.  Silas turned back and tried to return on his own, no doubt wanting to eat more blueberries.

We ate in the dark while watching a doe and her two fawns graze nearby.  The rain started to fall.  We drove back to the meadow just to stand on the edge of it and smell the air.  The smell of Big Meadows after dark in the rain is perfect.

Through darkness and fog we drove slowly down the mountain, knowing we’d be home way past bedtime.

I want to go back right now.

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Filed Under: nature, The places we go, Virginia · Tagged With: Big Meadows · 36 Comments

Ginny

I believe that when you slow down and savor the small things, you don’t have to wish for a different life; you can discover beauty in the life you already have. {Find out more here...}

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. lori says

    July 22, 2012 at 5:17 pm

    okay this is my favorite post. i think i always say that, but really this is the one, i’ve been back to look 10 times. your all wonderful, it’s all wonderful. i hope you do go back soon dear.

    Reply
  2. Natalie says

    July 22, 2012 at 3:50 pm

    Every time I see that you have taken a day trip to the park, I feel guilt that we don’t go more. We are only 45 minutes from Big Meadows and I know it has to be a longer trip for you! I’m adding to the list this week. And what a great idea to picnic!

    Reply
  3. Rachel Wolf says

    July 21, 2012 at 5:35 am

    Beauty!

    Reply
  4. Anastasia @ Eco-Babyz says

    July 20, 2012 at 11:31 pm

    Beautiful! Beatrix is so funny 🙂

    Reply
  5. Meryl says

    July 20, 2012 at 10:41 pm

    Wow–what an amazing place! Your pictures of the deer are awesome!

    Reply
  6. Marcie in Canada says

    July 20, 2012 at 9:39 pm

    Breathtaking! Your pictures of the meadows are probably what the pioneers encountered. Note to self: Take more day trips! Thanks Ginny.

    Reply
  7. Ning Clark says

    July 20, 2012 at 7:44 pm

    Hi! : ) Amazing photos! To be with nature is God natural gift and to be share it with love ones is what you call perfect gift! I love your kids name too! : ) Ning

    Reply
  8. crissy stokes says

    July 20, 2012 at 5:58 pm

    That is beautiful!! Thanks for sharing. I’m a little jealous of wild blueberries 😉

    Reply
  9. Kathryn says

    July 20, 2012 at 5:31 pm

    We live in Rappahannock and have often gone to the park, but never to Big Meadow. Beautiful pictures. Hope to run into you once if you ever visit the church in Little Washington, St. Peter’s, on your way to or from the park one weekend. Have you ever been to Lake Arrowhead in Luray? That is a less wild but cute little park too, nice playground and little sandy swim area. My kids and I enjoy it.

    Reply
  10. Anna says

    July 20, 2012 at 5:13 pm

    Your blog and photography are quite the inspiration for me! Thank you….

    Reply
  11. Emma says

    July 20, 2012 at 2:44 pm

    What evocative photos. Your evening has made me determined to embark on a family adventure this weekend with my party of three (not likely to see any bears here in England though…) x

    Reply
  12. Ellen says

    July 20, 2012 at 1:43 pm

    I love the smell of rain on wet pavement too. I’m sure it smells better in the meadows. Years ago, we visited Skyline Drive and the areas nearby but it all seems so foggy now…

    I would say that’s a pretty good ‘favorite’ place.

    Reply
  13. Taryn Kae Wilson @ Wooly Moss Roots says

    July 20, 2012 at 1:39 pm

    Sounds like a truly magical place.

    Reply
  14. sylvia - artsy ants says

    July 20, 2012 at 1:18 pm

    oh wow, pure magic! thanks for sharing this!

    Reply
  15. Kristen says

    July 20, 2012 at 12:34 pm

    That sounds lovely. What an adorable family you have.

    Reply
  16. Jenn says

    July 20, 2012 at 12:34 pm

    That sounds like the perfect evening. I’m glad you guys had a blast. 🙂

    Reply
  17. Karin-Ida says

    July 20, 2012 at 12:23 pm

    Wonderful!

    Reply
  18. Two Chicks and a Hen says

    July 20, 2012 at 11:51 am

    Wow, what a magical place. Your photos gave me goosebumps.

    Reply
  19. ~ joey ~ says

    July 20, 2012 at 11:42 am

    What a wonderful outing! We don’t have wild blueberries here (or not that I’ve found!) and our deer usually aren’t that tame!
    I only noticed this because we have a similar photo but is that young buck peeing?! ;o)
    xoxo
    ~ joey ~

    Reply
  20. Nahuatl Vargas says

    July 20, 2012 at 11:40 am

    That looks like a lovely place you are all so lucky.

    Reply
  21. Heathermama says

    July 20, 2012 at 11:30 am

    that is amazing! what a great trip. i showed the kids the pictures and they were so excited. i can’t even imagine how great that must have been right there next to those deer!

    Reply
  22. Sonja says

    July 20, 2012 at 10:50 am

    Oh my! What a wonderful place and such special memories. I can see why you like it so much. 🙂

    Reply
  23. maya says

    July 20, 2012 at 9:49 am

    Beautiful.

    Reply
  24. Angie says

    July 20, 2012 at 9:34 am

    We went to Big Meadows last year in early August–it really is magical there! We also picked the blueberries, and we saw two mama deer and two babies–one of the larger babies was trying to nurse on both the mamas and got kicked off. It was amazing how much their behavior is like goats. I had never been able to observe deer that closely or when they were so comfortable with my presence. My son was really impressed by all the swallows there, too. It’s one of my favorite places, too.

    Reply
  25. Jessica says

    July 20, 2012 at 8:52 am

    Sounds awesome! I wouldn’t want to leave either.

    Reply
  26. Lisa G. says

    July 20, 2012 at 8:28 am

    Great pictures – thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  27. Christina says

    July 20, 2012 at 8:18 am

    Lovely story. The kids look like they are having a wonderful adventure!

    Reply
  28. Erica S. says

    July 20, 2012 at 7:28 am

    Looks like a wonderful evening! We have visited Skyline drive many times through the years, but we have not seen a bear yet. Maybe next time!

    Reply
  29. Taira says

    July 20, 2012 at 7:08 am

    Looks like a fantastic evening! What food did you take with you? I am always looking for ideas for outdoor picnics! Thanks

    Reply
  30. LuAnne says

    July 20, 2012 at 6:55 am

    I love your pictures – simply amazing!

    Reply
  31. Joy says

    July 20, 2012 at 6:50 am

    What a beautiful little spot! It reminds me of Blueberries for Sal as well. 🙂 The deer shots are gorgeous!

    Reply
  32. Heather says

    July 20, 2012 at 6:43 am

    Having visited, I now know how magical it is. I have told Dave that we must return again before we leave. Such a gorgeous place. (I do have one logistical question though. Dave was worried about ticks in the meadow. What do you do about this?)

    Reply
  33. Jeni says

    July 20, 2012 at 6:43 am

    I don’t know whether it looks more like “Blueberries for Sal” or “Emily and Daisy,” but what a wonderful place to have close to home!

    We took Piper Anne blueberry picking the other week and I just parked her beside a blueberry bush and took the other kids a few bushes down to pick some that were higher up. I didn’t know how many berries she’d eat during that hour, but I *did* find out about 8 hours later. Apparently she doesn’t chew them, either! 🙂

    Warm wishes to you this weekend –
    Jeni

    Reply
  34. Heather says

    July 20, 2012 at 6:32 am

    Oh these pictures are beautiful! It looks like such a wonderful time enjoying God’s creation!

    Reply
  35. Olivia says

    July 20, 2012 at 6:22 am

    I know the feeling. But for me it is the Texas Hill Country.

    Reply
  36. Kim says

    July 20, 2012 at 6:17 am

    Stunning!

    Reply

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Hello! My name is Ginny. I believe that when you slow down and savor the small things, you don’t have to wish for a different life; you can discover beauty in the life you already have. {Find out more here…}

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