Or, your goal could be to complete an epic Bucket List hike on a planned (or dreamed of!) trip for the coming year.
If you’re looking for a way to get back into shape before Spring – even if you don’t have a big trip coming – this hike training plan could be just what you need!
Read more to learn how to set up a hike training plan for your own individual goals!
The Triple Crown trail loop is 35 miles of the best hiking in the Roanoke Valley and arguably some of the best overlooks in the entire state of Virginia.
Most of my time was spent hiking, but since I did two of the three Triple Crown hikes in the same day, I also had time to take a break from hiking and see some other things in the area.
Overlook at McAfee Knob on the Triple Crown section of the App Trail.
At that time, many venues were completely shut down or really restricted due to COVID regulations, but Beliveau Farm and Winery was open (though with safety measures) and I was still able to have a great visit!
Beliveau Farm is located in the Catawba Valley of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains, just 12mi from downtown Blacksburg and 20mi from Salem.
They were also only a 30 minute scenic drive from my lodgings near the McAfee Knob trailhead.
The Farm’s hiking trails, scenic views and plenty of picnic areas made the drive well worth while – and the wine was pretty good, too 🙂
The Blue Ridge Parkway runs through or very near areas of North Carolina and Virginia that were hardest hit by Hurricane Helene.
The North Carolina section of the Blue Ridge Parkway is closed, along with many other NC State Parks. That said, the Virginia side of the BRP and many surrounding communities are open for business and could really use your Fall vacation dollars to help rebuild!
Go to my Hurricane Helene page to get the latest updates on the latest area Park, Trail and road repairs.
Smoky Mountains get their name from the mist that settles in the valleys.
I’ve enjoyed driving the Blue Ridge Parkway (BRP) in North Carolina and Virginia for more than 25 years.
But, I have to admit – other than some quick roadside waterfall viewing – I have completely neglected Blue Ridge Parkway hikes!
But recently I found out what I’d been missing when I was invited to hike the Rock Castle Gorge Trail at Rocky Knob 🙂
The Blue Ridge Parkway is a National Parkway in the United States, noted for its scenic beauty.
Combined with Shenandoah’s Skyline Drive, the Blue Ridge Parkway is also a favorite twisty-windey motorcycle adventure through some beautiful scenery, especially in the Fall.
Read on to learn more about the Parkway and Rocky Knob Recreation Area hiking trails – including the famous Rock Castle Gorge Trail!
Stone Mountain State Park is very near areas of North Carolina that were hardest hit by Hurricane Helene.
Stone Mountain is currently closed, along with many other NC State Parks and trails in the Western part of the State.
Go to my Hurricane Helene page to get the latest updates on the latest area Park, Trail and road repairs before you travel.
Smoky Mountains get their name from the mist that settles in the valleys.
I’ve been visiting Stone Mountain State Park in North Carolina for almost 20 years, either with kid in tow, with That Man, or on my own.
My most recent visit was just a few weeks ago – and the mountain was still just as beautiful as I remembered 🙂
Located on more than 14,100 acres in Wilkes and Alleghany counties in North Carolina, Stone Mountain State Park offers cascading waterfalls, cool mountain streams, and quiet forests to explore.
And of course, the massive 600-foot granite dome of Stone Mountain itself.
There are more than 18 miles of hiking and riding trails, and 20 miles of designated trout waters available in the park.
Can you imagine living in the shadow of the dome on Stone Mountain ?
You can also go rock climbing (with a permit) on the towering granite face of the landmark mountain.
Climbers on the dome look down over the Hutchinson Homestead, a restored mid-19th century mountain farm that rests in it’s shadow.
Read on to learn about the park and area history, hiking trails, and great views just waiting for you to visit!
The Shenandoah National Park is right on the edge of the areas of North Carolina and Virginia that were hardest hit by Hurricane Helene.
That said, the Park is open and many of the surrounding communities are open for business and could really use your Fall vacation dollars to help rebuild!
Go to my Hurricane Helene page to get the latest updates on the latest Park, Trail and road repairs.
Smoky Mountains get their name from the mist that settles in the valleys.
I went back to Shenandoah again this Spring, to hike the Rose River Loop, the Cedar Run Circuit and maybe add some more to my list.
It wouldn’t be hard to do, since Shenandoah National Park offers some of the best hiking in Virginia!
I took a break from hiking to explore the Barboursvillle ruins.
I had spent a great week there a couple of years ago, but the trip was over before I had a chance to complete my list of “must do” hikes – including the Rose River Loop.
And of course the iconic Old Rag hike.
So I had to go back and try again!
Where is Shenandoah National Park?
Shenandoah National Park is only 115 miles from Washington, D.C., 95 miles from Richmond VA, and 250 miles from Raleigh NC.
That’s close enough for a great long weekend or longer family vacation, without the expense of air travel!
My previous Shenandoah visit was for a whole week. This trip was a quick visit of only 3 nights – which was still enough time to get in a couple of great hikes and see some local sights 🙂
If you or your children are asthmatic, you’ve probably spent a lot of time looking for the best medicine for your asthma.
Or maybe looking for better asthma treatments, if you’ve already been prescribed something.
The Ledge trail at Pilot Mountain
If you’ve read some of my other posts, you know that I’ve had asthma and have been fighting it my whole life, with both medical and non-medical tools.
In the U.S., asthma affects more than 25 million people.
There is no cure, but some people do “grow out” of it (meaning you don’t have obvious symptoms), and medical drugs are available that treat the symptoms for those that have them.
I didn’t grow out of it, and from childhood through young adulthood, my parents tried all available medical options to make my illness better.
But in spite of allergy shots and prescribed inhalers and pills, my asthma got worse every year.
Pine pollen is a huge problem in the South
Finally, as a young adult, I had an epic attack that led to complete respiratory failure and several days unconscious on a ventilator.
When I woke up, the doctors just told me to take more medicine and stay in a controlled environment.
That’s when I became very pro-active in my search for better treatments and lifestyle choices to reduce my asthma symptoms and prevent future severe attacks.
Author happily viewing Bryce Canyon for the first time!
I’ve had some success 🙂
In this post I tell you about the prescribed medical options available now, and the ones I’ve used – and mostly still use – that appear to help my chronic asthma.
For inspiration I’m also sharing photos of beautiful places I’ve been able to hike, without any trouble breathing!
So I abandoned my spot on the Ark, and took off on a solo roadtrip down the East coast.
Starting from the Raleigh area, I drove all the way to St Augustine, FL (which is a story for another time) and then worked my way back up the Coast towards home.
Peacocks on the grounds of the Fountain of Youth archaeological park in St Augustine.
My first stop on the way back up was St Simon’s Island, Georgia 🙂
It’s a favorite family beach destination for visitor’s in the summertime.
Off the beach, St. Simons Island is dotted with remnants of historic sites you can visit, like the St Simon’s Lighthouse, Fort Frederica National Monument, and Christ Church.
The beach near St Simon’s.
You can also follow the ancient footsteps of the very first tourists to the island, who travelled either by walking the forest paths or paddling down the waterways.
I did some research and found a historic hiking spot at Cannons Point Preserve on the north end of the Island.
Among other reasons to visit, the trail at Cannon’s Point Preserve leads you to some extraordinary abandoned historic ruins along the coast.
Forest bathing, or shinrin-yoku, is a Japanese form of healing therapy that started to gain popularity back in the 80’s.
No rubber duckies required!
In case you’ve never heard of forest bathing, rest assured you’re not going to need a towel or your rubber duckie.
You also won’t be required to wander the forest in your birthday suit 😉
At it’s simplest level, forest bathing could be described as taking a leisurely walk through the forest for physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual benefits.
Shinrin-yoku in Japanese means “taking in the forest atmosphere”.
Forest bathing is best done where there are a lot of trees.
Research has long shown “green exercise” to have a positive impact on our overall health, and the practice of forest bathing grew out of that recognition.
Promoted by the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries, the practice has become a mainstay of preventive health care in Japanese culture.
Today, many spas, resorts, and retreat centers across the world offer guided forest bathing experiences as part of their services.
That said, you don’t necessarily need a guide to take a forest bath yourself or with a friend.
All you need is a park or forest, a pair of good outdoor walking shoes, and some simple instructions.
Winterpast Farm in Wake Forest is not your regular alfalpha and soybeans kind of farm.
And though this 10-acre family farm near Falls Lake has previously been a tobacco farm, a Christmas tree farm, and a horse farm, in it’s current incarnation Winterpast is a working animal sanctuary.
“Bedhead” the guinea pig enjoys some attention.
Winterpast provides a home for goats, sheep, emu, two mini donkeys, several types of ducklings, peacocks, a goose, pigs, lots of bunnies, hedgehogs, guinea pigs and many varieties of chickens.
And – luckily for us – Winterpast is now a place where families, students, scouts, and pretty much anyone can go to pet and play with all of the animals.
If you get really attached, you can rent a pet to take home for a week… or maybe keep fur-ever 🙂
Except maybe for the hedgehogs, because they’re hardly ever home. The hedgehogs are really popular…
These days, masks are required to visit – and never fear! There is a hand-washing facility with soap and bleach wipes available for your safety.
Sheep hanging out at Winterpast Farm.
Anyway, if you want to visit the rest of the critters, all you have to do is look up the open hours for the week and text Farmer Mary to schedule a visit!
