Virginia’s Great Outdoors Getaways

Virginia is blessed with many beautiful natural resources that make outdoors enthusiast’s lives a little better. With plenty of beaches, mountains and trails, Virginia is heaven to nature lovers. Hike up the Shenandoah National Park (pictured left), ride a bike at the Virginia Creeper Trail or go fishing and sailing at the Buggs Island Lake, the state offers something for everyone.

Buggs Island Lake

Explore Virginia’s largest lake, Buggs Island Lake, and enjoy all the possible water sports you can think of. The Buggs Island Lake is also home to the John H. Kerr Dam. This amazing lake is truly a paradise for water sports enthusiasts. You can enjoy some outdoor activities such as boating, skiing, sailing and swimming.

There are five campgrounds to choose from, where you can enjoy hiking, fishing and horseback riding. Other attractions located in the Buggs Island Lake included, the Occoneechee State Park-, which offers campsites, picnic areas, amphitheater, hiking trails, wildlife areas and boat launches, the Prestwould Plantation- has the most collection of 18th century slave writings in the country, MacCallum More Museum and Gardens- has organically maintained garden, featuring an arboretum and wildlife sanctuary, the South Hill Model Train Museum and the Virginia S. Evans Doll Museum located in the Historic Depot.

Virginia Creeper Trail

Enjoy the bike/hike trail from Abingdon to Damascus via Virginia Creeper Trail. Make sure you have enough water, juices and snacks, or you can stop at the Whole Health Center or the Abingdon Farmers Market before heading out.

Start at the Mile Marker 0, where a steam locomotive marks the trailhead. It’s about a 40.5-miles from start to finished, passing through fields, woodlands and meadows, a little town called Alvarado, the Old Mill Restaurant, bike/hike shops, Grayson Highlands State Park and the White Top Mountain. Enjoy the beautiful mountain scenery on your ride down from White Top Mountain back to Damascus.

Shenandoah National Park

The Shenandoah National Park’s natural beauty (pictured above) is simply breathtaking. This historic national treasure is one of the most beautiful places in the world. The park features 500-miles of bike/hike trails, horseback riding, wildlife, spectacular vistas, waterfalls, the scenic Skyline Drive—a National Scenic Byway—and the Old Rag Mountain, which is made up of billion-year-old granite.

The park covers the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountain for over seventy-five miles. The park covers 100 miles of the Appalachian Trail.

Enjoy fishing and tubing at the Shenandoah River, spend a night or two at the Skyland Resort or Meadows Lodge, and check out the Shenandoah Valley Cloggers while you’re there.

Visiting these three places while you’re in Virginia will be worth the drive.