July 11–19, 2026
One of the things we love most about full-time RV living is sharing the journey with family. This stop at Endless Caverns Campground in New Market, Virginia, gave us the opportunity to do exactly that. Olivia and Nate joined us for the week, and together we explored caverns, presidential history, Civil War sites, local markets, and enjoyed plenty of good food, card games, and quality time.
Saturday, July 11, 2026: We left Harbor View Campground early Saturday morning and headed toward New Market, Virginia. Olivia and Nate were traveling separately and planned to spend the week with us.
Beth and I arrived in New Market around 1:00 p.m. Since the kids temporarily lost cell service while traveling, we spent a couple of hours keeping an eye on things until they were back in range. We took the time to enjoy some lunch in a parking lot close to the campground.
Once we knew they were getting close, we continued on to Endless Caverns Campground, settling into our Site, E17.
After everyone arrived, we drove into Harrisonburg to stock up on groceries for the week. Since Olivia had been craving Arby’s, that became our first family dinner of the trip before finishing our shopping.
Later that evening, Olivia and Nate discovered their hotel wasn’t at all what they expected. It was much more rundown than the online photos suggested, so they quickly made other arrangements and spent the night at the Courtyard in Harrisonburg instead.
Despite the unexpected hotel change, everyone arrived safely, and our family week was officially underway.
Sunday, July 12, 2026: The day was a quieter day. Since Olivia and Nate both had to work remotely, everyone stayed close to camp. Beth and I spent the day catching up with them between conference calls while tackling a few small projects around the camper.
For lunch, Olivia requested one of our family’s favorite accidental recipes—Slaw Chicken. Years ago, we stumbled onto the combination by accident, and somehow it became a family tradition. This batch turned out especially good, and we even had leftovers for later in the week.
That evening, we drove into New Market for dinner at Southern Kitchen, enjoying a relaxing meal together before returning to camp.
Sometimes the best camping days aren’t packed with sightseeing. They’re simply about slowing down and enjoying each other’s company.
Monday, July 13, 2026: Our first big sightseeing day.
Our destination was Luray Caverns, and it was everyone’s first visit. We were amazed by the enormous underground rooms and beautifully illuminated formations. The entire path was well lit, making it easy to appreciate thousands of years of geological beauty.
The tour is self-guided, using a brochure to explain the formations. Employees were stationed throughout the caverns, but they appeared to be there primarily for safety rather than interpretation.
After emerging from the caverns, we enjoyed lunch at the on-site café before browsing the gift shops and Toy Museum.
Our admission also included the Car and Carriage Caravan Museum, which featured an incredible collection of antique automobiles and horse-drawn carriages from different eras. We also toured the Luray Valley Museum, learning more about the history of the Shenandoah Valley.
Of course, Kevin and Olivia couldn’t resist stopping for some mining. They both enjoy collecting rocks and minerals, making it a fun way to wrap up the visit.
On the drive home, we stopped at Massanutten Country Corner to visit the goats. The afternoon heat had them hiding in the shade, but after a little encouragement, we convinced a few to come visit us. Unfortunately for us, another family soon arrived carrying goat food, and we were instantly forgotten!
The property has grown considerably since our last visit. The gardens were in full bloom, and the landscaping continues to be one of the prettiest roadside stops in the area.
Before heading back to camp, we made one more stop at the Virginia Museum of the Civil War in New Market. The museum staff were incredibly welcoming, and the exhibits covered not only the Battle of New Market but the Civil War as a whole. We quickly realized there was far more information than we could absorb in one visit.
Back at camp, we grilled pork tenderloins for dinner. We don’t cook at the camper very often, but this week we had planned several home-cooked meals, making the campground itself part of the vacation experience.
Tuesday July 14, 2026: Today was one of the highlights of the trip. A long-awaited visit to Monticello. Beth and I had been trying to visit Monticello for months, and today everything finally came together.
Walking the grounds of Thomas Jefferson’s home was an incredible experience. The gardens, the architecture, the views, and the preservation efforts were simply outstanding.
The house tour gave us a fascinating look into Jefferson’s life, inventions, and remarkable mind.
Our final program of the day focused on the lives of the enslaved people who lived and worked at Monticello. The presentation was informative, thoughtful, and moving.
Our guide answered every question with confidence and insight. At the end of the tour, he shared that we had been his very first tour group since being hired at Monticello. None of us would have guessed it. He did an exceptional job, and we made sure to tell him so before leaving.
Nearly five hours after arriving, we headed back toward camp completely exhausted but grateful for such an unforgettable experience.
Wednesday and Thursday, July 15-16, 2026: Work and family time because the days were workdays for everyone.
Olivia and Nate worked remotely from their cabin while Beth and I spent time with them between calls. Whenever schedules allowed, we’d gather around the table to play Shanghai, a card game Beth grew up playing with her family and later taught the rest of us.
Like any good family card game, Shanghai produced plenty of laughs, groans, and friendly competition.
On Wednesday evening we drove into Harrisonburg for dinner at Wood Grill Buffet. We were surprised to learn that the restaurant—very similar to Golden Corral—is actually owned by Western Sizzlin’. There was an impressive variety of food and plenty of desserts, making it an enjoyable place to relax after a busy workday.
The two days were a balancing act between work responsibilities and vacation, but looking back, those slower days around camp became some of our favorite memories.
Friday, July 17, 2026: The day brought another opportunity to explore.
We returned to the Virginia Museum of the Civil War, hoping to spend more time with the exhibits and walk the historic grounds.
Unfortunately, whether it was the summer heat or something we had eaten, several of us just weren’t feeling our best. Rather than pushing through the day, we decided to cut our visit short and head back to camp to rest.
That evening, Olivia and Nate decided they would head home Saturday instead of Sunday so they could enjoy a day of rest before returning to work. We spent the time taking it easy and enjoying the campground.
Friday night dinner is a must. We could not pass up another chance to eat local. We headed to the Gobbler Grill. Neat place and the food was decent. The time spent together was the best.
After dinner, we found ice cream at JJ’s Soft Serve. This certainly was the highlight of the meal. Very good selection of ice creams, dipped and soft serve.
After visiting Luray Caverns earlier in the week, we all agreed we actually preferred the tour at Endless Caverns. While Luray features larger rooms and more dramatic formations, Endless Caverns offered something we appreciated even more—a knowledgeable guide.
Our guide walked with us throughout the tour, sharing stories, explaining the cave’s geology, and answering questions along the way.
The caverns themselves felt much more rustic and natural than Luray. The passageways were narrower and more intimate, but the lighting along the designated trail was excellent, making it easy to appreciate the cave while preserving its natural atmosphere.
Before saying goodbye, we all met in Harrisonburg for lunch at Buffalo Wild Wings. Surprisingly, it may have been the best Buffalo Wild Wings meal any of us had ever experienced.
After lunch, Olivia and Nate headed home while Beth and I made one final stop at the Shenandoah Heritage Market. What a wonderful surprise!
The market is almost like a country-themed indoor mall filled with specialty food shops, a kitchen store, bookstore, handcrafted gifts, home décor, and countless locally made products.
One section especially caught our attention—four full aisles of jams, jellies, fruit butters, preserves, honey, and every kind of sweet spread imaginable. We spent quite a while browsing before finally making our selections.
Back at camp, we enjoyed one last quiet evening reflecting on an incredible week together.
Sunday, July 19, 2026: This morning we took our time breaking camp.
One of the greatest blessings of full-time RV living is that there is rarely a reason to rush. Our next destination was only about 3½ hours away, allowing us to enjoy a few last peaceful moments at Endless Caverns before pulling out.
As we left New Market, we reflected on everything packed into just one week—family time, history, caverns, museums, card games, camp meals, and memories we’ll be talking about for years.
This stop reminded us that the best trips aren’t measured by how many attractions you visit. They’re measured by the people you share them with.
We left the Shenandoah Valley grateful for another wonderful chapter in our full-time RV adventure—and excited to see what waited at our next campground.