Close to a college town, this rail to trail is long, relatively unimpeded, and offers river views…read more There were multiple parking lots at what is currently the south end of the trail, as well as signage indicating that some of the railway had been sold to buyers who were not part of the trail, so it kind of starts midway along the rail line. Regardless, it is a longer trail than I had time for and the part I completed was easily worthwhile.

Southern end -…read more Good surface. RR wide. Some restrooms Only problem is trail maps are mis-leading. Caldwell is beginning but is MP 3, not 1 Easy access - well signed Few road crossings

Tony Vanoy and I went hiking today at Cascade Falls in Pembroke, VA. Started out really great, we…read morethought it was 1.5 or 2 mile loop hike but OMG it turned out to be 5.57 miles roundtrip!! It cost a $3 per car to park and if you have America the Beautiful Card its free!! It was a beautiful day, but it was so long and so many stairs!! Over 1,000 stairs!!

The provenance of this site is somewhat unclear, but I think it falls under the federal government…read moreand putting up my national parks pass was successful in getting me through a visit without paying any additional parking fee. The main falls are two miles uphill from the parking lot, but the entire journey is a series of eminently worthwhile sights and sounds. Signs warned of challenging currents for anyone taking a dip in the water, which some people did. I would note that when I arrived a rescue operation was underway and emergency services did drive someone by me with what thankfully appeared okay. There are trails on one elevated bank and one closer to the water, as well as some offshoots and extensions. It's a great stretch of forest where you could easily spend more time than the couple of hours I did.

This river gradually drains into the James, where it meanders downstream into the Richmond…read morewaterfront before becoming and estuary and ultimately entering the Chesapeake Bay. This is a strange thing to think about standing in this small college town with its military history. The park has some parking both on the island and before you get there, as well as some decent restroom facilities. It is an area that looks like you could wade or swim across under some conditions, and there were people and dogs swimming. The nature trail is a short loop, but a nice resource for the community to have. Construction at the university made access a little difficult at the time of my visit, but certainly still possible.

This is a wonderful park great for walking having a picnic and enjoying the river sounds and views…read moremaybe even a BBQ. Location doesn't have swings etc. Its just a wide open space with trees near the river. The weekends are a little hectic if their is a game going on.

Today, Kayla Beth Fields , Deacon and I were on our way to a Labor Day Cookout at my cousin, Wanda…read moreBlackwell home. We stopped at Grandview State Park to use restrooms, enjoy the Beautiful Famous Horseshoe Bend Vista and play on the playground. We had a nice little 20 minute break from the road. Deacon enjoyed himself.

Went here for the famous Grandview overlook and it was such an amazing experience. There are a ton…read moreof trails for you to explore, with a wide range of difficulty. But as the name states, the Grandview is just beautiful and breathtaking. To get to the overlook, there is a parking lot close by to the entrance and its basically a short walk. If you wanted to explore more areas, there are signs with different trails for you to explore. It all loops back.

We were in West Virginia for my husband's work and made it a little leaf peeping Excursion. Babcock…read moreis on the top of the list of places I like to go the mill and the lake plus the colors around the area are just gorgeous lots of Reds oranges and yellows. No fee to enter they have restrooms that are easy to access and flushy bathrooms. There is a Almost Heaven swing by the mill. But what the pictures don't show is the sound of the Rushing Water it's just all so beautiful. Recommend bringing snacks in a beverage have a little picnic. Fall is the prettiest time but I'm sure it's beautiful anytime of year I'm sure with some snow would be gorgeous but I'd be a little scared to tackle all the West Virginia curvy roads with some ice and snow. This year we had such a dry drought year that no one thought the fall was going to be worth seeing so we didn't make any Leaf peeping vacations. If he hadn't had this work trip we would have missed out on on this for the year. Considering the dryness the colors were doing pretty good around here we had went to other areas where the leaves were already down around black around Blackwater and Seneca Rock. But the bugs were quite annoying mainly lots of gnats that if you stopped moving they were really annoying. We've been here a few other times in other years and this is the only time that was an issue. At the lake they have porta potties and the moved them to block the lake view Which is unfortunate. Please move them. !!

Did a quick stopover on the way to Hawk's Nest SP, and wow, this place is beautiful! One of the…read moremost frequently visited state parks in WV and it's easy to see why! The grist mill is absolutely iconic, sitting atop a picturesque waterfall. The park has a mountain lake for water activities, plenty of trails, and even cabins for longer stays! There's an Almost Heaven swing right by the mill and visitor's center, and the CCC stonework is stunning. The New River Gorge bridge is about 20-30 minutes away depending on how well you drive on mountain roads, and there's plenty to do in the area for a fun weekend or even longer! I will definitely be back myself!

Its a peaceful stroll along the Maury. A lovely, flat trail that winds along the river with scenic…read moreviews, wildflowers, and the occasional curious cow. It's well-maintained and perfect for a relaxed walk (dog friendly), jog, or bike ride. Easy to access, quiet, and full of charm. Definitely a local gem worth revisiting.

The chessie trail is, in my opinion, one of the best trails on the east coast. It is a gravel trail…read morethat is perfect for running/jogging/biking/walking as it remains flat for the entirety of the trail. I've run on the trail close to a hundred times, and it never disappoints. The views you see here are unmatched, and I recommended it to anyone visiting Lexington, VA.

Very cool playground, especially after reading the backstory. Built in 4 days by local volunteers,…read moreit is a massive playstructure. My kids both loved it and found plenty to keep them busy for an hour outdoors, not always the easiest thing to do. I wish we had something like this in my neighborhood, we'd go on a weekly basis.

Built in 5 days with the help of 1,000 local people and college students, owned and maintained by…read morethe City of Lexington. Still in great shape after more than 30 years of service. Plenty of seating for adults and a covered picnic table. Designed by local school kids with the help of Leathers and Co. Lots of imagination and running space for people of all ages to play.

How beautiful! You really can't find hidden gems like this anymore. Just nature, no cell signal, no…read moreemails, just for real peace and quiet. I stayed in Cabin 12, a two bedroom cabin on a little hill. It was far enough away from the other cabins to feel private, but within sight enough to feel safe. There were trails to hike or bike all over, strolled a few, but the frigid weather kept it 3 miles or less, so glad there were plenty of loop options. As we (the dog came along as usual) were there in winter, a lot was shut down for the season, but there was a restaurant, camp store, marina, and swim beach that I bet are pretty busy come summer! The lake is beautiful against the rolling mountains. Town is close by for groceries, and the Falling Spring Falls are a must see! Hit up Covington and Clifton Forge for supplies and other random things to do if you are interested in a low-key vacay!

We had seen signs for this state park while occasionally traveling along I-64 in western Virginia…read more While pressed a bit for time, we decided to check it out with an eye towards deciding whether it would be worth a future camping trip. Yes, it would be! The state park (4,545 acres) is nestled in the Allegheny Mountains. It had been a traditional family park since 1936, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places for the role its design played in development of parks nationwide. The park features mountain scenery, stream fishing, a 50-acre stocked lake, sandy swimming beach, cabins and campsites (including some lake-side), and 43 miles of hiking. There's also a well-stocked camp store and small grill. We were pleasantly surprised by the prices. One tip: when you reach the state park, there is a parking area on the right along the stream, with signage. The MAIN entrance, near the lake, is an additional four miles up the road.

Gorgeous State Park and one of my favorites since I was a kid. My parents used to take us camping…read moreand fishing here. My brothers and I used to love to swim in the streams and ride our bikes. I love to go here and hike with my own kids. The area is so quiet and so lovely, extremely peaceful. I always leave feeling refreshed and alive. I love to walk calmly through the forest and think. When I was a kid, I would pretend to be an indian or a pioneer, sometimes an escaping captive fleeing through the woods. I have always had an overwhelming creative imagination. The park is lovely to camp in and great locations for fishing. No huge waterfalls but still nice small ones. If you are like me, you just enjoy being outside!!!