Situated along Virginia's western border, the Shenandoah Valley is one of the state's most scenic and visited regions. It is defined by the Blue Ridge Mountains to the east and the Allegheny Mountains to the west; the Shenandoah River winds down the Valley between the two mountain ranges. Harpers Ferry in West Virginia and Roanoke, Virginia, mark the Valley's northern and southern entrances respectively. The Valley is known nation-wide for its 105-mile Skyline Drive and the 215-mile Blue Ridge Parkway, the world's first parkway designed for leisure travel and recreational use. The historically significant Shenandoah Valley is a rural arcadia where small towns dot the landscape and glorious vistas are seen from gentle mountains.