Take Me Home, Country Roads
Almost heaven, West Virginia
Blue Ridge Mountains
Shenandoah River-
Life is old there
Older than the trees
Younger than the mountains
Growin’ like a breeze…
-John Denver “Take me Home, Country Roads”
For the past two and a half weeks, I have listened to John Denver’s “Take me Home, Country Roads” hundreds of times. Literally hundreds. Fall is fully in season, the trees are beautiful; their golden orange and warm red leaves command my attention as I gaze longingly out my classroom window. I love the outdoors, hiking, and being part of wilderness; therefore, I decided that it was time to take a break from “real life,” and enter the mountains.
Being from New Jersey, I have not had the ability to go hiking very close to my house. However, William and Mary offers both beautiful hiking trails on and off campus. Feeling like I had hiked, jogged, or walked many of the miles of trails surrounding the campus and Lake Matoaka, I decided it was time to take an adventure to the Shenandoah Valley—a place I had never been before. The trip was painless! While my two friends and I needed a car to get there, the distance was not an issue, it cost $15 total for all three of us, and the weather could not have been more perfect. I will never get sick of the Virginia weather; it has the perfect fall (and mild winters)!
After a long day and an eight mile hike, I felt rejuvenated, and ready to return to school to conquer finals. Hiking the Shenandoah is an experience I encourage everyone to take part in, and I had the best time. However, I was still ready to return back to campus, back to my familiar trees, and back to my familiar paths. When I applied to William and Mary, I thought mainly about all of the opportunities that the campus provides me with, but, in my time here, I have learned all about the opportunities that the location of my school offers me with as well.
If you come to William and Mary, PLEASE take advantage of all of the nature that the school offers. Also, the Recreation Center has an Outdoors Club that goes on many adventures like hiking the Shenandoah, rock climbing, midnight canoeing, and so many more things that provide amazing experiences, and that are singular to William and Mary!
Carrie Winter
Class of 2012
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“Take advantage of all of the nature that the school offers.” I second that, and note that at age 60 when I think of many natural things, thunder storm, river, autumn, spring flowers, and more, days in and around Williamburg while at W&M jump to mind. Realize that your experiences may be with you for a lifetime.