Virginia Outdoor Adventures: Hiking, Camping, Kayaking, Local Travel and more!

“As I stared at the cloud, I realized it wasn’t really a cloud. Those were all stars. It was very humbling for a 12-year-old to be looking up at the Milky Way. It really set me back on my feet to realize how small I was on this planet, and how little our planet was compared to all those stars up in the sky.” - Jayme Hanzak, Chapel Hill Astronomical and Observational Society When was the last time...

“When the whales come up for a breath, they're not out at the surface very long, and you're intently searching for it. Then suddenly, there it is! I don't think it is possible to not get excited, especially the first time when you see a whale surface.” – Mike Mizell, Virginia Aquarium Imagine the largest mammals on earth just mere miles from the most populated city in Virginia. Acro...

“One of my favorite parts about Virginia's outdoors is that a lot of places aren't that mainstream or heavily publicized, so they require some adventuring, which can make for great experiences, stories and memories.”   – Grant Price, Blue Ridge Mountain Guides Ice climbing in Virginia? You may not think of the South as a destination for ice climbing, but when the conditions are right, th...

“Moving on taught me to climb mountains not because they are easy, but because they are worth it. When I summit a mountain, that is when I feel most alive. I imagine that’s how you might feel too.”  - Jessica Chenard, Her Hike Collective Those of us who love to hike, know the benefits it brings to our lives. Hiking reduces stress and anxiety, while allowing us to clear our minds and reconnect with...

“Our mission is to get people outdoors. It's to offer individuals of all abilities, no matter physical, cognitive, or economic situation, the opportunity to experience the outdoors with the surrounding community. We empower people's abilities through outdoor adventure.” - Shep Roeper, Beyond Boundaries Adventure is for Everyone. The Richmond-based non-profit, Beyond Boundaries, specializ...

“Caves are otherworldly. You have the experience of exploration where you don't know what's around the next corner. One of the prime draws to caving is that you get to explore places that nobody's ever been before.” – Dave Socky, Blue Ridge Grotto Imagine a hidden, underground world of stunning geologic wonders that few others have experienced before. Stalagmites and stalactites, st...

“I've never experienced anything in my life that gets me so connected to nature and earth. You're feeling the way that the water is pushing you, you are going with it, you are looking for it, and it's such an amazing feeling of connection and presence.” - Berkley Nestler, James River Women Nicknamed “River City,” Richmond is situated on the mighty James where the hard bedrock of the...

“We all have ancestors who lived really close to nature, who found their food in the wild. This is our birthright and I get really excited when I can lead people back to that heritage.” - Tim MacWelch, Advanced Survival Training Once used by our ancestors as a means of survival, foraging for wild edible plants is surging in popularity among outdoor enthusiasts. Whether it’s to collect food, mainta...

“Old Rag is a particularly memorable and rewarding hike. We’re there to help protect this cherished natural and cultural resource, and protect people at the same time, because we want everyone to enjoy the park.” – Gabby Dreyfus, Old Rag Mountain Stewards Often referred to as one of the best hikes on the east coast, Old Rag Mountain is the most popular hike in Shenandoah National Park. Highlights...

In this Bonus Episode, I’m sharing a guest appearance I made on The VML Voice, the official podcast of the Virginia Municipal League. I speak with the Host, Rob Bullington, about simple things you can do to make the most of your Virgina getaways. If you enjoy this episode, be sure to read the featured article I authored in this month’s edition of Virginia Town & City Magazine, entitled, How to...

In this Bonus Episode, I speak with Brian Livingston, Author of the new book, The Habits of Squirrels. Drawing upon his own experience completing a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail, Brian wrote this fictional tale about a retired mailman who uses a thru-hike to assess his life, career, and family relationships.  Brian shares a sneak peek into his book, as well as his insights and advice for anyo...

I recently asked you, my listeners, what topics you would like to learn more about in Season 3. One of the most popular responses I received was meal prep and how to pack food for outdoor adventures.  I asked Aaron Owens Mayhew, registered dietician, and founder of Backcountry Foodie , to give us a brief introduction to prepping for the backcountry, including considerations for nutrition, pack wei...

In this Bonus Episode, I speak with Tara Fisher, Author of the new book, Virginia is for Adventurers . Inspired by her own adventures around Virginia with her family, Tara wrote the book as a guide for families to explore the Commonwealth while learning about Virginia’s geography and history along the way. As a former fourth grade teacher, I am thrilled that Tara created a wonderful resource that...

In this bonus episode, I’m sharing a guest appearance I made on another fantastic Virginia-based podcast called, If She Can Do It So Can You. The show is hosted by my friend, Amanda Creasey, who is a gifted writer, teacher, and podcaster. Amanda and I share a love of the outdoors and an appreciation for being reflective about our experiences in nature. I enjoyed the opportunity to share why I bega...

“I want to visit all the Wildlife Management Areas, but honestly, it's about the journey, not the destination. I've traveled to all corners of the Commonwealth, I've met some good people with great stories, I've learned a lot of things, and I've seen some beautiful land. I want to share my adventures at the WMAs and ,hopefully, encourage and inspire others to go explore th...

“You can climb a route to the top and get this incredible view of the gorge. There’s a feeling of grandeur and wilderness, even though you're extremely close to all the amenities in the park. That's one of the things that makes it a unique place. At one point it feels easy and accessible, and on the other hand, still really wild and out in nature and adventurous.”   -Brad Mathisen, Centr...

“Every time I go paddling, I am completely mesmerized. To be on the beach or in the marsh and not hear or see a single sign of human life, it's just this wow factor that I can't get over.” - Laura Scharle, Virginia Water Trails Where can you experience blue crabs foraging in saltwater marshes, turtles basking in quiet creeks, long-legged wading birds stalking in tall grasses, an historic...

“We want our kids to get outside and revel in nature. To get kids to put down the devices, we need to offer them something truly amazing. In Virginia, we can.” -Erin Gifford, Go Hike Virginia Are you dreaming of the perfect hike that will make everyone in your family happy? Erin Gifford is the founder of GoHikeVirginia.com, a site where hikers can find detailed information about trails across the...

“The James River is where American history began...Skyline Drive, the Blue Ridge Parkway, and the Appalachian Trail are all such quintessential Virginia journeys. They were built to give hard-working, everyday people a place to go and get in touch with the grandeur of nature.” -Senator Tim Kaine Perhaps you’ve heard of the Colorado Fourteeners Challenge or New York’s Adirondack 46er Challenge. Cou...

“The trail can get you from one hidden gem to another, highlighting the best of what the city has to offer, and that is what I think is so special about it. We are creating a world class asset that is a source of local pride. We are embracing what makes us unique here in Norfolk.” -Kindra McDonald Greene, Elizabeth River Trail Foundation Scenic views, historic sites, museums, restaurants, brewerie...

“‘Good Fire’ is a tool that allows us to preserve the beautiful and pristine landscapes we have in Virginia so we can continue to enjoy the outdoors, wildlife, and connecting to nature, now and for the next generation.” -Sam Lopez, Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources Have you ever taken a stroll through a wildflower meadow with explosive colors, buzzing, and bird song? Or have you ever hiked...

“My dream is to build a more inclusive outdoor community. I want to inspire other people of color to get out there and explore.”    - James Gregory, The Ethnic Explorer Diversifying the face of the outdoors…that’s the motivation behind the creative work of outdoor influencer, James Gregory, also known as The Ethnic Explorer. James is an avid outdoorsman and is most often found hiking the forests o...

“If you love a state park, it pays to speak out and support it. It's going to take all of us to make sure that our elected representatives hear how important state parks are to us, and how we want to make sure that they continue to be accessible for future generations. Everyone coming together can make a difference.”    - Tim Kennell, Virginia Association for Parks Virginia State Parks repres...

“The actual day-to-day maintenance of the trail is almost 100% done by volunteers. We need to take good care of it for ourselves and for future generations.”   - Diana Christopulos, Roanoke Appalachian Trail Club Often referred to as “one of the most spectacular hikes in the US,” McAfee Knob attracts hikers from across the world and is one of the most photographed spots on the entire Appalachian T...

“We always joke about whether we spend more time riding or hanging out in the parking lot, eating and drinking. But that’s the mountain biking community, and that’s the Virginia outdoors. It’s about people.”   – Thomas Jenkins, Shenandoah Bicycle Company Virginia has earned bragging rights as one of the best places for mountain biking on the east coast. From the well-maintained slopes of Massanutt...