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

“Some of the things that continue to draw me back to the outdoors are the connections I make with others, which tend to be richer when I'm connecting with them outside. The connections I make with myself tend to be more introspective and fuller when I'm outside, and the spiritual connections I have with nature are things my eyes are significantly more open to when I'm lacking the di...

Hi, Friends. Jessica here, Host of Virginia Outdoor Adventures, coming to you with a bonus episode. But before I get to that, I have exciting news about Season 2. Stay tuned for an announcement about a launch date for the second season in the upcoming weeks. My friend and keeper of the outdoors, Brian Bell from Keep Virginia Cozy, sat down with me to record a trailer where we reveal a sneak peek i...

“It gives you a sense of accomplishment to go places where few have ever ventured. For those of us with an adventurous spirit, that's what we live for. I wanted to leave something behind, a legacy of sorts, for the current and next generation of wilderness explorers and waterfall chasers like myself.”    - Larry W. Brown, Guide to Waterfalls of Shenandoah National Park Shenandoah National Par...

“When you realize tomorrow is not promised, you want to experience things that are just not tangible, like having peace and love and connection. You can have that when you go outdoors. I feel like we have grown so much because of the spiritual connection that women can have when we go out on trails.”  - Nicole, Black Girls Hike RVA The outdoors are for everyone. Shara and Nicole, two friends and e...

“What I enjoy most about the farming lifestyle is being close to the Earth. Being outside helps us relax. The more we learn how to work with nature instead of trying to dominate nature, the happier and healthier both will be. We can receive better nutrition from the soil, but also we can be a society where we value what the soil feeds us and we give back to the Earth.”   - Cory Suter, Suters Glen...

“I love to just be outside. It fills my bucket, keeps me creative and recenters me. Life is busy and there's always going to be challenges in our lives. So it's really nice to unplug, disconnect, take some deep breaths, listen to the breeze, and find another way to channel ourselves.”   - Mandi, She Opts Out Linda and Mandi are empowering the “Wiser Female Adventurer” by building an incl...

“People say, ‘I had no idea how special this area was’ and they appreciate learning about it. It's easy to take for granted what's in your backyard and not realize just how special it is.”   - Lynn Cameron, Friends of Shenandoah Mountain Shenandoah Mountain is one of the largest tracks of wild land in the eastern United States. Located west of the Shenandoah Valley on the state line in t...

“Every little thing has a purpose, even a microorganism in the water. Understanding how everything is connected has given me a better appreciation of nature.”   – Kevin Divins, Virginia Master Naturalist Who inspired your love of nature? Today’s guest, Kevin Divins, inspires others as a certified Virginia Master Naturalist, a statewide corps of community-based volunteers who help conserve and mana...

“Most people want to leave the world better than they found it. It's about equipping people to be able to do that. As a shop, we're kind of like a gatekeeper. There's all sorts of little things that when we do them right, lead to conservation.”  - Ethan Martin, TaleTellers Fly Shop This isn’t your grandfather’s pastime. Today’s guest is using a hobby to unite outdoor enthusiasts, pr...

“I don't want anyone to think you have to purchase all these things to be a part of a community of people who are enjoying the outdoors. You don’t need to buy a bunch of stuff to enjoy all of the beauty Virginia has to offer. But for me, making this investment is useful because it's not just a hobby or an activity, it's now my lifestyle.” – Michelle Millben, Beginner Outdoor Enthusi...

“Being outside is really important for our mental and physical health. Birding is a great way to get out and see something new. I really love getting into the stories of how I find some of these crazy rare birds or unusual birds because it's really about the adventure. And because birds fly, you never know what you're going to get.”   – Matt Felperin, Nova Parks Roving Naturalist Today’s...

“Hiking is nature therapy for me. It's my way to refocus, recharge and re-center myself. It really does make me a better person, a better mom, a better friend, because I'm able to get out there and get away from it all.” -RVA Hiker Girl Known by her trail name, RVA Hiker Girl, Jacqueline is an avid hiker and backpacker who documents her adventures on YouTube as a resource for those who a...

“One of the hallmarks of Mason Neck is that it provides such great opportunities for recreation and outdoor adventures but also really provides that restful, nurturing experience that is so critical to our connection with the outdoors and so critical to our community and our society. It's a wonderful place and a very special place.”    - Scott Stroh, Gunston Hall Mason Neck Peninsula in Fairf...

“It’s their basic human right to have access to opportunities in these sports. It's something the abled-body community often takes for granted, that we have access to almost any recreational opportunity. Whereas, for a lot of our athletes, our programs are that one opportunity.” - Kyle Hitzelberg, Sportable Today’s guest, Kyle Hitzelberg, believes his love of sports and the outdoors should be...

“You cross the state line into Virginia and there’s that kind of magic Appalachian feel that I crave all the time when I want to go out and ride. Virginia is a magical place and I will tell people that forever.”    - Brantley Tyndall, Bike Walk RVA Brantley Tyndall completed the Trans Am Bike Race, a 4,191 mile ride across the United States. The ultra-endurance cyclist shares stories from his jour...

“We hear a lot about how bad things are in the world. So when you go out and see things that are still happening - the birds are still singing and these little creatures are still out here running around - it gives you the strength to keep going and, also, it gives you a lot of joy.” - Donna Shaunesey, Solo Adventurer Today’s guest, Donna Shaunesey, has been kayak camping and backpacking on her ow...

“Given the current situation, we call them sanity hikes or sanity bike rides in my family. Hiking is a great thing for social distancing for anybody, especially for families, because you can't stare at the same four walls all day and keep your mental facility straight. So it's important to get out and connect with nature.”   - Phil Riggan, Author of 60 Hikes within 60 Miles Richmond From...

“I think there's a silver lining to the pandemic a little bit in that a lot of people have really turned to their outside resources… So it brought people outdoors and brought people closer to nature. And I hope that people will continue to journey outside and into state parks.”   - Kindra McDonald, Virginia Service and Conservation Corps Kindra McDonald immersed herself in the outdoors during...

From the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Chesapeake Bay, Virginia is a mecca for outdoor travel and adventure. Virginia Outdoor Adventures Podcast is the ultimate guide for local outdoor recreation, including hiking, camping, kayaking, local travel and more.  Get the information and the inspiration to plan your own adventure, right here in Virginia. Let's Go!  Hosted by Jessica Bowser.  Follow Vi...