Fairyland Lake, Skyline Caverns
Please Note: The tour departs by motorcoach from downtown Washington, DC with a designated secondary pick-up outside the city. Content delivered by the study leader on the way to the destination, after the secondary pick-up, is an integral part of the study tour experience. Meeting the group once the tour is en route is discouraged.
Proof of COVID-19 vaccination is required for participation on all tours; additionally, current CDC and Smithsonian COVID-19 guidelines (at the time of the tour) will be followed, including but not limited to masks on the bus and indoors.
Virginia’s beautiful Shenandoah Valley has a rich geological heritage, shaped over millions of years of natural history. Gregg Clemmer, an experienced caver and explorer, takes you deep into that ancient past at two of the state’s most notable caverns, and offers a chance to sample some of the products of the valley’s fertile soil at a visit to a regional vineyard and winery. Begin at Skyline Caverns in Front Royal, on a guided tour that includes several dramatically lit formations. Skyline Caverns also contains three underground streams and the 37-foot Rainbow Waterfall.
After lunch, visit Endless Caverns in New Market. In 1879 a deep, dark hole covered by boulders was found to be the entrance to a 6-mile-long limestone cave at the foot of the Massanutten mountain range. Even today, many of its areas remain unexplored and untouched. A guided tour takes you through its subterranean wonders.
Above ground, conclude the day with a relaxing visit to a local winery and enjoy a wine tasting while taking in the breathtaking views of the Shenandoah Valley.
General Information
- Registration for this tour will end by 2 p.m. ET on Thursday, November 10, 2022.
- The tour meets at and leaves by bus from the Holiday Inn Capitol, 550 C St., S.W., with a pickup stop at the Vienna Metro South-Side Kiss and Ride Kiosk at about 7:55 a.m.
- This tour requires significant walking, standing, and steps.
- For additional tour information:
