Virginia Outdoor Adventures: Hiking, Camping, Kayaking, Local Travel and more!

Virginia Outdoor Adventures: Hiking, Camping, Kayaking, Local Travel and more!

From the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Chesapeake Bay, Virginia is a mecca for outdoor travel and adventure. Virginia Outdoor Adventures Podcast is your local guide to hiking, camping, kayaking, travel and so much more. Get the information and the inspiration to plan your own adventure, right here in Virginia. Lets Go!

Episodes

January 7, 2025 24 mins

In this special edition episode, I invited Michelle Schopp to share her first Parks Advocacy Day experience. Less than a year ago, Michelle was in the early stages of her Trail Quest journey to visit all of Virginia’s state parks. When she learned about Parks Advocacy Day through this podcast, she immediately reached out and asked to participate. Her experience in Richmond was so empowering that she became actively engaged in the V...

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What if you could acquire the outdoor gear you need for your epic adventures without breaking the bank or contributing to the fast fashion and throwaway culture? Or what if you could declutter your closets and earn some cash for the gear you aren’t using? April Peterson, owner of River Rock Outfitter in Fredericksburg, shares why secondhand and consignment shopping isn't just trendy—it's a powerful way to reduce waste, su...

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I’m often asked how I got started podcasting, how I pivoted from education to entrepreneurship, and what it takes to run a podcast as a small business.

I was delighted to sit down for a conversation with my friend, Shannon Russell, career coach and host of Second Act Success Career Podcast.

I’m excited to share my guest appearance on her show where we discuss the unexpected journey I took from being an elementary...

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This is part 2 of a two-part episode. Check your podcast listening app for part 1.

What if you could explore a destination that's off the beaten path yet brimming with natural beauty and cultural treasures?

Discover the hidden gem of historic Onancock on Virginia’s Eastern Shore as we set sail with ecotour guides Mary and Bill Burnham, owners of Burnham Guides paddling shop.

Our guests share their...

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What if you could explore a destination that's off the beaten path yet brimming with natural beauty and cultural treasures?

Discover the hidden gem of historic Onancock on Virginia’s Eastern Shore as we set sail with ecotour guides Mary and Bill Burnham, owners of Burnham Guides paddling shop.

Our guests share their insider knowledge of this waterfront town with historical architecture, a thriving arts scen...

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In part 2 of this two-part episode, I’ll share highlights from my latest newsletter, featuring discounts on backpacking and first aid gear. We’ll wrap up with a complete list of everything included in my cabin stay bag, to help you prepare for your own park visit. 

In case you missed Part 1, Join me for a spine-tingling episode filled with spooky stories from a haunted hike—perfect for those who love a good thrill! We’ll catch up on...

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Join me for a spine-tingling episode filled with spooky stories from a haunted hike— perfect for those who love a good thrill! Plus, we’ll dive into your fan mail, so keep those messages coming by clicking on “Send Jessica a Text Message!” in your show notes.

Tune in next week for part 2 when we’ll catch up on my recent adventures, including a rescheduled trip to Onancock, one of Virginia’s Adventure Towns.  I’ll share highlights fr...

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We’re slithering into the fascinating world of Virginia’s snakes, equipping you with practical tips to enjoy the great outdoors while respecting these often-misunderstood creatures. 

 

In Part 2 of this two-part episode, Caroline Seitz of the Virginia Herpetological Society, helps us dispel common myths and misconceptions while broadening our understanding and appreciation of our native species.

 

Caroline tackles listener questions ab...

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We’re slithering into the fascinating world of Virginia’s snakes, equipping you with practical tips to enjoy the great outdoors while respecting these often-misunderstood creatures. 

 

In Part 1 of this two-part episode, Caroline Seitz of the Virginia Herpetological Society, helps us dispel common myths and misconceptions while broadening our understanding and appreciation of our native species.

 

Caroline tackles listener questions ab...

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Get ready to uncover the hidden gems of Southwest Virginia's scenic hiking destinations. Tyler Mullins of the Pine Mountain Trail Conference, takes us on a journey highlighting the must-do trails of Breaks Park set against the majestic Russell Fork Gorge. Then it’s on to the lesser-known but equally captivating Pine Mountain Scenic Trail that weaves along the Virginia-Kentucky border.

 

In Part 2 of this two-part series, Tyler c...

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Get ready to uncover the hidden gems of Southwest Virginia's scenic hiking destinations. Tyler Mullins of the Pine Mountain Trail Conference, takes us on a journey highlighting the must-do trails of Breaks Park set against the majestic Russell Fork Gorge. Then it’s on to the lesser-known but equally captivating Pine Mountain Scenic Trail that weaves along the Virginia-Kentucky border.

 

In Part 1 of this two-part series, Tyler e...

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Hi Friends, If you’re like me, you’ve been watching the news about the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Helene and wondering what you can do to help. Our communities in Southwest Virginia have been hit hard and many of the places we know and love will be impacted for years to come.

What you’re about to hear is a conversation I had with Amanda Livingston, Director of Tourism in Smyth County Virginia. Smyth is located in between Abi...

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I'm back for a fifth season of Virginia Outdoor Adventures! 

In the Season 5 Trailer, get a sneak peek of new episodes, upcoming fall festivals and events where you can meet me in person, giveaways for podcast merch, new features such as Fan Mail texting, and shout outs to my listeners.

And don’t forget, you can win a $50 gift card to River Rock Outfitter by completing the listener survey. START THE SURVEY NOW.

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“Our goal for Wandering Waters is to get people out and exploring our parks, either on a stand up paddle board, a kayak, or a canoe and seeing our parks from a different perspective. You can go to a park like Hungry Mother and hike up to the top of Molly's Knob and get that giant panoramic scenic view. But then you can come back down and either rent a boat or bring your own and get out on the water and see that park from a who...

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“For us to get to Grey’s Point campground, we had to pass through Urbanna. So one day I made a left just to explore and I was like, 'Wow! It’s so beautiful!' The boats and the waterfront, dining and nice houses. It’s this vibe that you just have to experience for yourself.” – Rivah Sistah Patricia Clement


Welcome to the charming port town of Urbanna, in the heart of Virginia’s river realm. 
 
Step aboard as we...

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"Everybody has a favorite place in Virginia like a trail, a sunset, a beach, a lake, or a river. Everyone has a place that's special to them and everyone is invested in trying to make sure that it's there for their kids and their grandkids. And that's such a unifier. When you're on the trail with people, you're not talking about politics, you're talking about the joy that you're taking in fro...

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“Sarah and I want folks to gain some confidence recreating in the outdoors, especially in our Virginia State Parks, and gain some knowledge on how to recreate safely. That's our big two takeaways. Making sure folks can leave our programs feeling confident enough to do it on their own or tag along with their friends and try to share those experiences and make some memories.” – Diego Riffle, Virginia State Parks

Have yo...

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“For almost 200 years we didn't have this native animal. It was because of volunteers and people like Jackie with Virginia DWR and their combined efforts with Breaks Park who worked together to restore the area that elk have returned. Visitors are amazed at how big and how majestic the animal is. It's like an entire rainbow of emotions - excitement, joy, I've even had people cry.”Avery Rose, Breaks Interstate Park...

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“As part of the change in economy, we reforested the eastern part of the United States. We have a lot of forests now that are about 100 years old. As the trees came back, the deer came back, as the deer came back, the ticks came with them. And then the pathogens, of course, come along for the ride as well. I think about it from an ecology perspective, that what we did not bring back was also those top predators. So we end up with t...

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“There's a real excitement about Farmville, a steady progression, where we sit on this cusp of what we all think is an opportunistic moment for Farmville to shine. It's a great place to live, work, and recreate. That is our new tag for the town and I think it fits us well.” – Mayor Brian Vincent

 

Welcome to Farmville in the heart of central Virginia. Our guest, Mayor Brian Vincent, takes us on a journey through Farmville, ...

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