(This article by Louisiana-based writer Kathie Rowell originally appeared in the June 2022 issue of Military Officer, a magazine available to all MOAA Premium and Life members. Learn more about the magazine here; learn more about joining MOAA here.)

From western mountains to eastern shore, opportunities for outdoor adventures abound in Virginia.

The Blue Ridge Parkway, which meanders along the state’s western border, isn’t just a destination for long-range misty mountain vistas, it’s also a pathway to mountain biking, paddling, hiking, fishing, and swimming opportunities. Called “America’s East Coast Mountain Biking Capital,” the Roanoke region earned the first and only Silver-Level Ride Center designation on the East Coast by the International Mountain Bicycling Association.

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That means the area has a volume of trails of different varieties and levels of interest, said Jeff Todd, owner of Roanoke Mountain Adventures, which rents mountain bikes and offers guided tours.

“We have everything from a gravel fire road — something that’s rough and tumble but really doesn’t pose any technical difficulties — to beginner single track, a typical hiking trail kind of style but with flatter terrain, mostly packed dirt but also some rocks and tree roots — the kind of thing anyone can ride who can ride a bike,” he said.

“You just begin to acclimate yourself to the mountain biking, and then you step up from there to what we would term a progressive trail system that adds climbing to go with the roots and rocks. Then you can step all the way up to very steep, treacherous descending.”

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Todd said those who book tours with his shop are first acclimated to the bike and undergo a skills assessment in the parking lot.

“Everyone’s different,” he said. “Some people are active cyclists, but they’ve never mountain biked. Other people may have mountain biked some, but they’re not currently an active cyclist, so we just get a sense of that and a sense of what you want to get out of the experience.”

Hiking opportunities near the parkway include trails to waterfalls — Wigwam Falls (0.4 miles), White Rock Falls (2 miles), and Fallingwater Cascades (1.6 miles) — and paths to panoramic views — Humpback Rocks Loop (4 miles), Bluff Mountain (3.8 miles), and Black Ridge Trail (3.1 miles).

For those who want a more challenging hike or a backpacking trek, Virginia is home to 544 miles of the Appalachian Trail, which stretches from Georgia to Maine. Visit the area during May and June to see mountainsides blanketed in blooming rhododendrons, which have become a symbol of the parkway.

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If you prefer the beach to mountains, head east to Virginia’s coast. Venture to Assateague Island National Seashore where you’ll find sandy beaches, salt marshes, maritime forests, and coastal bays. Once there, you can hike, bike and swim, or try your hand at surf fishing, crabbing, and horseback riding.

And, of course, you’ll want to see the famous Chincoteague ponies, descendants of survivors of a shipwreck off the Virginia coast, according to legend. Historians, though, say it’s more likely they originated with horses brought to the islands from the mainland to graze in the late 17th century.

Venture 66 miles south to experience the tiny Victorian town of Cape Charles. Attractions include a free public beach as well as a new 300-foot fishing pier where many of the popular Chesapeake Bay species can be caught. The pier is lighted for night fishing, and a special saltwater recreational pier fishing license is available to cover those fishing from the pier so an individual license isn’t necessary.

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For a truly unique water experience, book a 45-minute guided kayak paddle to Chatham Vineyards with Southeast Expeditions. You’ll enjoy the water and wildlife along the way, tour the vineyard, and have a chance to sit outside with a glass of wine and a cheese tray to fortify yourself for the paddle back. 

VIRGINIA FOODIE FACT: For an array of Chesapeake Bay crab dishes on a waterfront outdoor patio, head to Waterman’s Surfside Grill in Virginia Beach. While there, refresh yourself with its famous Orange Crush, a mix of fresh-squeezed orange juice, orange vodka, triple sec, and a splash of Sprite.