DIY TUBING TRIP

Park Admission: $7. Oversized inflatable tube: $10.  ‘Watertight’ cooler: $15. Afternoon on the river with your friends: priceless. 

Floating down a sluggish stream draped over an inflated tube, toes dangling in the crystal clear water, is the ultimate summer luxury.  But planning a tubing trip can be a logistical nightmare – floating down a lazy river in the summer sun is all well and good – but then, how do you get back?  Fear not, there is a simple solution  -- the South Fork of the Shenandoah River -- where the hardest trip-related decision you will be forced to make is choosing which ice cream place to visit in Front Royal (full disclosure: I am torn between B & L Custard and Spelunker’s). 

 An exceptionally gorgeous stretch of river, the South Fork of the Shenandoah meanders along the edge of Blue Ridge, past verdant pastures and extensive tracts of forest and is also especially accommodating to river riders --- with an average width of 100 feet – it is a popular spot for paddlers of every ilk, and for anglers.  

GET THERE: Head to the Shenandoah River State Park in Bentonville, Virginia.  There are large bathrooms in the park’s newly-built and well-appointed visitor center (which also includes a small gift store, an interpretive display, and helpful information about the park and surrounding area).  

DO IT:  Once in the park, follow the signs to the boat launch area and park in one of the two sizeable lots.  There are plenty of picnic tables for a pre-float snack if needed.  Pack up your inflatable tubes and anything else on you want on the river (a small, easily stash-able daypack works perfectly for toting your gear) and follow the Bluebell Trail (heading west) out of the parking lot along the river for about a mile until it meets the 2.1-mile River Trail.  Continue on the shoreline-hugging River Trail, or just inflate your tube at hop in at the end of the Bluebell Trail.  To estimate your time on the river, plan it on taking about twice as long to float back to your car as it took you to hike to your starting point (i.e. if you hike 30-minutes it will be about an hour long float back to the parking lot).

Just don’t forget to get off the river at the boat launch area (no matter how tempting it seems to just keep on floating wherever the current takes you). 

Click for a printable map of the park trails

DON’T FORGET:  Bring a dry bag for valuables, sturdy water shoes (i.e. the kind that won’t fall off your feet, in case of have to ‘ford’ any shallow stretches), and a carabineer so you can securely attach the dry bag of said valuables to your tube while out on the river. 

TURN IT INTO A SLEEPOVER: There are cabins and primitive campsites available for rental at the Shenandoah River State Park and riverfront camping is also allowed on the tracts of land owned by the U.S. Forest Service along the South Fork of the Shenandoah River.

The Perfect Pairing: 5 Outdoor Adventures in Virginia Wine Country

An aerial view of Crabtree Falls (source:Greg Cromer, VA123.com)

The Old Dominion state is making a name for itself in the wine world.  With more than 230 wineries, Virginia is also rapidly becoming one of America’s leading producers – making the state well worth the trip for any curious oenophile.  Virginia’s nine wine growing regions (and seven American Viticultural Areas) are also scattered over some of the state’s most breathtaking scenery – stretching from the Blue Ridge to the Atlantic coast.  So, if you are planning a wine country adventure in Virginia, don’t be afraid to think outside the vineyard.    

Northern Virginia Region

BIKE Northern Virginia’s scenic ‘Hunt Country,’ (aka wine country) on country roads winding past undulating pastures, sprawling vineyards, stone-wall-framed horse farms, and colonial- era towns --- all with the Blue Ridge as a backdrop.  The multi-use Washington & Old Dominion Trail stretches 44-miles from Arlington to Purcellville (Trail’s End Cycling Company www.trailsendcycling.com is just steps from the terminus of the W & OD in Purcellville and can arrange rentals, bike tours, or repairs).  For serious pedal pushers, Bike Washington has mapped out a formidable wine country ride – the 56-mile Blue Ridge Challenge, for details on the ride (including a map of the route and GPS coordinates) check out http://bikewashington.org/routes/bluerdg/.  

Shenandoah National Park (Source: NPS)

Shenandoah Region

BACKPACK the 196,000 backcountry acres of the Shenandoah National Park (www.nps.gov/shen/) on the park’s 500-miles of hikeable trails.  Backpackers are given free rein to explore almost every inch of the park’s backcountry wilderness – but visitors must obtain a backcountry permit (free of charge and available at park entrance or at headquarters) providing details of their intended route to park authorities and must follow Leave No Trace (http://lnt.org) guidelines for backcountry travel.  About 100 miles of the Appalachian Trail (AT) also winds through the Shenandoah National Park – so there are plenty of options for day-hikers or thru-hikers. 

For an easy in-and-out backcountry trip begin at Elk Wallow Wayside (with parking lot, bathrooms, and store/snack bar) and follow the blue blazed Elk Wallow Trail out of the parking lot (for just over 100 meters) until you hit the white-blazed Appalachian Trail and hang a left (so that you are going downhill on the AT).  After about a half a mile, you will hit the blue-blazed Jeremy’s Run Trail.   Veer to the left and follow the Jeremy’s Run Trail downstream.  The trail parallels the stream but also crosses it regularly – so keep your eyes peeled for secluded summer swimming holes.  There are also plenty of options for cozy backcountry campsites along the Jeremy’s Run – and a waterfall about 5-miles down the trail.  (To return: follow the Jeremy’s Run Trail back upstream to the junction with the AT.  Follow the white-blazed AT uphill back to the intersection with Elk Wallow trail.  Hang and right at the Elk Wallow trail and walk just over 100 meters back to the parking lot where you began). 

Central Region

HIKE Virginia’s summit studded Religious Range, including the Cardinal, the Friar, and the 4,063-foot Priest, all in the relatively newly protected 6,000-acre Priest Wilderness in the Glenwood-Pedlar Ranger District (http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/gwj/recarea/?recid=77719) of the George Washington & Jefferson National Forest.  There are plenty of campsites near the Priest shelter at the summit (accessible via the Spur Trail) and a number of options for climbing the peak too – beginning at either the upper or lower Crabtree Falls parking lots (or combining your hike with a visit to the falls and stretching your trip into a single or multi night backpacking loop).  Or, for serious bragging rights, begin at the Tye River and head to the summit on the Appalachian Trail (AT) – the climb is one of the longest and most formidable on the entire AT.   

Belle Isle State Park (Source: VA State Parks)

Northern Neck/George Washington Birthplace AVA

PADDLE the tidal wetlands of Virginia’s Northern Neck, a finger of land flanked by the Potomac and Rappahannock rivers studded with wildlife-rich natures preserves and well-mapped paddling trails.  For history buffs, the Northern Neck has another claim to fame – three of the country’s first five presidents were born in the region, including George Washington, James Madison, and James Monroe.  Belle Island State Park (www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/belle-isle.shtml), with seven miles of shoreline and access to Deep and Mulberry creeks, is an easy jumping off point for exploring the scenic waterways of the Northern Neck.  For more information on the region’s parks and water trails, check out www.northernneck.org/parks-nature-trails/. 

Eastern Shore AVA

BIRD the unique habitat of Virginia’s eastern shore (famously explored over 400 years ago by Captain John Smith) on the five-miles of hiking trails at Kiptopeke State Park (www.dcr.virgnia.gov/state-parks/kiptopeke.sthtml) – a hotspot for migratory birds along the Atlantic flyway (including charismatic birds of pretty like peregrine falcons, merlins and kestrels).  Or, just declare it a lazy beach day – Kiptopeke also has swimming beaches and recreational access to the Chesapeake Bay (rent a kayak or SUP from nearby SouthEast Expeditions www.southeastexpeditions.net).  

Kiptopeke State Park (Source: VA State Parks)

The Ultimate Trail Food

5 Ways to Use Granola

This hippie super food is not only healthy -- it's also tasty and highly versatile.  So, whip up a batch of your favorite granola (see recipes below) and starting getting creative.  Granola is much more than a fiber-filled breakfast treat -- and the possibilities are almost endless.

5.  Give your bake good some brawn. Add about a cup of granola to almost anything you are baking – from cookies, to homemade breads, to muffins, to scones. 

4. Make your own trail mix. Fuel up for an outdoor adventure with some homemade trail mix.  Add some chocolate chips and your favorite nuts and dried fruits to your homemade granola for a great trail snack. 

3. Make a gorgeous parfait.  Layer your homemade granola with slices of your favorite fruit and yogurt in the following order: granola, fruit, yogurt – and repeat.  

2. Top a vegetable gratin.  Sprinkle a little granola on a baked vegetable gratin (best with root vegetables like sweet potatoes and carrots) to add some tasty texture to your dish. 

1. Make Your Own Granola Bars. Add peanuts, peanut butter (1 cup), brown sugar (1/2 cup) and extra honey (1/4 cup) to the granola recipe listed below (but be sure to use quick cooking oats instead of rolled oats for you granola bars).  Follow the recipe for granola but after you have combined the wet and dry ingredients, line and baking tray with parchment paper and press the granola mixture down flat and then instead of baking it, place the tray in the fridge for 30 minutes and then cut into bars of your desired size. 

Easy Granola

3 cups rolled oats

½ cup wheat germ

½ cup sunflower seeds

¼ cup flax seeds

¼ cup pumpkin seeds

½  cup honey

6 tablespoons water

6 tablespoons canola oil

3 tablespoons cinnamon

4 tablespoons vanilla

Preheat the oven to 300˚.  Grease a shallow baking pan (a cookie tray works great!).  In a medium bowl, combine all the dry ingredients—rolled oats, wheat germ, sunflower seeds, and flax seeds.  Mix the dry ingredients in a large bowl until well combined, the best way it to just throw a hand in there and mix things up.   In a small saucepan, combine honey, water, canola oil, and cinnamon and bring to a simmer.  Once simmering, remove from the heat and drizzle over the dry ingredients in the mixing bowl.  Bake for 25-30 minutes (check the granola after about 15 minutes, remove from oven and mix up the contents on the pan if any parts appear to be getting burned). 

Gluten Free Granola

½ cup sliced almonds

½ cup pecan halves

½ cup chia seeds

½ cups flax seed

1 cup applesauce

½ cup honey

2 tablespoons cinnamon*

2 tablespoons vanilla extract*

*Cinnamon and vanilla are usually gluten free, but be sure to check the products you are using to cook with are safe with your gluten allergy.  Preheat the oven to 350.  Grease a shallow baking pan (a cookie sheet works great!).  Combine all the dry ingredients (except the pecan halves) in a large bowl and toss until well mixed.  In a medium bowl, combine the applesauce, honey, cinnamon, and vanilla.  Drizzle the wet ingredients over the combined dry ingredients in the large bowl and stir until well mixed.  Place in the baking dish and bake for 15 minutes.  After the first 15 minutes remove from heat, add the pecan halves to the mix, return to the oven and bake for an additional 20-30 minutes (check the granola after 20 minutes to be sure all parts are baking evenly).