Day six of our journey marked a shift – from the bustling energy of Washington, D.C. to the peaceful embrace of the Shenandoah Valley KOA near Harrisonburg, Virginia. The drive took about three hours, winding through Northern Virginia’s spectacular fall foliage, the very reason we chose this season for our trip. Every turn offered a new burst of color – crimson, amber, gold – like nature’s own fireworks show.

Before we hit the road, Jon managed to squeeze in a couple hours of work. The downside of being indispensable? Your vacation includes a laptop.

The KOA was tucked deep in the forest, miles from the highway. Once we arrived and set up camp, the only sound we heard was the wind rustling through the trees – a welcome contrast to the sirens and street noise of the city.

To celebrate the transition, we headed to CrossKeys Vineyards for a red wine tasting flight and a beautifully arranged sampler platter: meats, cheeses, olives, pickles, nuts, spreads, and focaccia. It was an ideal way to ease into the slower rhythm of Shenandoah.

We ended the day with a campfire under starlit skies, talking late into the night, wrapped in the kind of quiet that only a forest can offer. No traffic. No screens. Just the crackle of firewood and a long conversation with an 80-year-old fellow traveler who regaled us with tales of his recent climb up Mount Kilimanjaro.

Three things we learned worth sharing:

1. Fall in Northern Virginia is basically a Bob Ross painting come to life.
2. Wine and charcuterie taste better when you’ve earned them after six days of travel.
3. You never know when your campfire chat will turn into a masterclass in mountaineering.