Nestled between the Potomac and Rappahannock Rivers, King George County is a destination that offers adventure on land and water.
Our guests, Jenna and Warren Veazey, members of the Friends of Dahlgren Railroad Heritage Trail and the Friends of Caledon State Park, lead us on an exploration of this Northern Neck community’s hidden gems.
Hike, run, or cycle the Dahlgren Railroad Heritage Trail, a converted railway where you’ll find everything from smooth, accessible pathways to more rugged terrain. Along the Dahlgren Trail, you’ll discover “Poetry on the Trail,” featuring works by Virginia poets paired with nature facts, inviting trail users to connect with the landscape.
We’ll also explore Caledon State Park, known for its old growth forests and abundance of Bald Eagles. Caledon offers primitive riverside camping, guided kayak programs, and wildlife viewing.
King George provides multiple river access points for kayaking, fishing, boating, and more. And when the adventure winds down, you’ll find waterfront dining and local breweries and wineries serving up the best of the region.
Jenna and Warren help you plan the perfect King George weekend getaway full of natural beauty and unforgettable Potomac River sunsets.
Find it all between the rivers in this Virginia Adventure Town. Let’s Go!
This is Part 2 of a two-part episode.
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Mentioned in this Episode:
48-Hours of Unforgettable Outdoor Adventure in King George (Links to restaurants and lodging listed here)
Dahlgren Railroad Heritage Trail
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Jessica Bowser (00:00):
Announcer, from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the
Chesapeake Bay, Virginia is amecca for outdoor travel and
adventure. Virginia outdooradventures Podcast is your local
guide for hiking, camping,kayaking, travel and so much
more. Get the information andthe inspiration to plan your own
adventure right here inVirginia, I'm your host. Jessica
(00:23):
Bowser, nestled between thePotomac and Rappahannock rivers,
King George County is adestination that offers
adventure on land and water. Ourguests, Jenna and Warren Veazey,
members of the Friends ofDahlgren railroad Heritage Trail
and the friends of Caledon StatePark lead us on an exploration
(00:44):
of this Northern Neckcommunity's hidden gems. Hike,
run or cycle. The Dahlgrenrailroad Heritage Trail, a
converted railway where you'llfind everything from smooth,
accessible pathways to morerugged terrain along the
Dahlgren trail, you'll discoverpoetry on the trail, featuring
works by Virginia poets pairedwith nature facts, inviting
(01:05):
trail users to connect with thelandscape. We'll also explore
Caledon State Park, known forits old growth forests and
abundance of bald eagles.
Caledon offers primitiveRiverside camping, guided kayak
programs and wildlife viewing.
King George provides multipleriver access points for
kayaking, fishing, boating andmore, and when the adventure
(01:27):
winds down, you'll findwaterfront dining and local
breweries and wineries servingup the best of the region Jenna
and Warren. Help you plan theperfect King George weekend
getaway full of natural beautyand unforgettable Potomac River
sunsets. Find it all between therivers in this Virginia
adventure town. Let's go. Thisis part two of a two part
(01:52):
episode. We talked earlier aboutcampgrounds and camping at
Caledon, so I think this is agood segue into talking about
the other gem of King George,which is Caledon State Park. Can
you describe the park for us?
Sure?
Unknown (02:08):
It was created in 76 I think from Mr. Smoot, she
donated to the state. And atfirst it was a national wildlife
area because of the bald eagles.
It was a very high percent, youknow, I think it was 10 or more
nesting bald eagles there. Sofor many years, it was a
wildlife preserve and didn'thave what you would normally
expect with, you know, stateparks. But just recently, with
(02:30):
the bald eagles getting off theendangered species list, things
have opened up a little bitmore. So they now have the the
six campsites, you know, with atwo and a half mile hike down a
gravel road to get to it fromthe visitor center. And you
know, more and more things areopening up around the park for
the friends group. Our bigfundraiser is the first weekend
in November. We have a two dayart and Wine Festival events all
(02:52):
all year round, from trunk ortreats and Halloween to
different races they're holding.
Obviously, all the outdoorevents, fossil finding down on
the Potomac, you'll find, whatare they? 10 million year old
shark's teeth from when the baywas under was, you know, 100
feet of water. So amazing,different things that all the
(03:14):
people who work at the visit atthe Visitor Center can help you
out.
Yeah, they have a wonderfulpark. You were talking about the
friends fundraising. For years,friends have been working
towards creating a all naturalchildren's play area, and that
has been completed now for acouple of years. It's really
gorgeous. All of the playstructures are completely
(03:34):
natural, and that's a reallycool and unique feature of the
park where you can bring yourfamily and recreate stay off of
the super hot slides of atypical play place, or the real
plasticky ones. So that's that'sa fun added feature of the park.
(03:55):
I think the Riverside camping isparticularly gorgeous. It is
buggy and a little humid downthere, because you are right on
the water. You do have abeautiful view if you walk down
to the to the shore, and you cando your own fossil finding
there, it's about a three milewalk, as we've covered before,
(04:16):
or hike to get there, and youhave to bring all your water
with you. Another considerationthat I want to make sure we
mention, but it's a really, Ithink, a really luxurious
primitive campsite. If you canput those two words together,
Jessica Bowser (04:33):
it is absolutely primitive camping. There's no
water available down there. It'stwo port, a pot a potties. There
are portals, yes, but otherwise,it's just six camp pads. And I
camped there during our visit,and it was amazing. It was the
middle of the week, and therewas only one other person there
on the campground, so otherwise,I had it almost completely to
(04:56):
myself, waking up in the morningto the sound of bald. Eagles
screeching overhead, and abelted kingfisher was looking
for its breakfast in the swampyarea, and you can hear the
water. It was just lovely. Imean, we talked about how
gorgeous the sunsets are, so Igot to experience several while
I was there. I have done thesunset paddles, and those are
(05:18):
epic. But while I was campingthere. There was a completely
stunning sunset that I could seefrom my campsite. And there's
benches there too, so you cansit on a bench right next to the
water. You can walk up and downthe beach and experience it. And
then also Warren, you and I didsome stand up paddle boarding on
(05:38):
my last night there. Sunset wasepic then too. But the campsites
are fantastic, and they're huge.
They're huge campsites. And ifyou're just looking for that
primitive backpackingexperience, I think Caledon
really offers something that alot of other parks don't,
because you have to hike inseveral miles to get to the
campground. You're not going toget lots of people there like
(06:01):
you would in other places, whereyou can drive your car right in.
So you get that primitive natureexperience, and then, of course,
pack it up and hike it all backout. So I did an episode about
primitive backpacking, and thesehiking campgrounds in Virginia
state parks and Caledon is justa it's a really special one
(06:22):
because of all the things I justmentioned, I think it's really
unique. And and I had a greattime when, when I visited,
Unknown (06:30):
yeah, it also has the kayak camping. And as you
mentioned, I'm getting ready totry to do the kayak from the PC
all the way down to the mouth,and I think it's wide water. And
Masonic, or Pennsylvania, hascamping too, where you can pull
in off on the shore and walkright up to the campsite and
you're good to go, which reallyhelps, because it's hard to hard
(06:50):
to unload from a kayak andhaving to hike a long way away
to a campsite.
Jessica Bowser (06:54):
Yes, I'm so excited for your big adventure,
Warren, you're going to have totell me all about it when you're
done, but I think it's reallyneat that you're taking
advantage of these state parksthat are on the river and
paddling into camp and thenpaddling back out on your way
again. It's really cool. Did youknow your local park depends on
(07:14):
people just like you? TheVirginia association for parks
connects volunteers, neighborsand outdoor lovers to support
the parks we all enjoy. When youjoin your local friends group,
you're not just giving back,you're helping to protect trails
and natural resources, createeducational programs and keep
our outdoor spaces thriving forgenerations to come. Becoming a
(07:36):
volunteer is a fun and rewardingway to meet new people, make a
difference in your community andensure that future adventurers
have the same opportunities toenjoy Virginia's incredible
parks. Whether you have a fewhours a month or a few days a
year, your time and energy canmake a lasting impact. Join
today, support your local parkand be a part of something
(07:58):
bigger than yourself. VisitVirginia parks.org. Or tap on
Virginia association for parksin your show notes to find your
local friends group and startmaking a difference. So for
people who are planning a visitto King George, they're going to
want to know about lodging,dining and attractions, and King
(08:18):
George County has put together aweekend itinerary, which I will
link in the show notes, whichrecommends 48 hours of
unforgettable outdoor adventurein King George County. So could
the two of you maybe introduceus to what a weekend in King
George would look like?
Unknown (08:36):
So the King George has helped put together some sample
itineraries for the county. Wehave two bed and breakfasts in
the county Belle Groveplantation, which is actually
the the house of our nation'sfourth president, James Madison.
And then if you want to be onthe Potomac side, we have a
little fairy Inn. It's a lovelynew house that you can also rent
(08:57):
boats and things right on thewater there. And then, in the
morning, if you want, you canhead over to Caledon to check
all the the different trails andevents we have there. We have
several restaurants in thecounty, grand ronchetto down my
dog run, galleys, cafe, Lalafusion, fusion in the center of
the county. Taste the Himalayaright in the middle, also off of
301 then if you want to put inon the Rappahannock side, you
(09:21):
can boat out of Wilmot landingor hop yard landing. And then in
the afternoon, we have twowineries in the county right
now, back porch winery and WhiteWhite Hall winery. One near the
back porch is right next towellmont, and White Hall is
right near the Mile Zero of thedog and trail. And then in the
evening, if you want, you cantry out Vinny Italian grill,
(09:42):
which is right next to our, oneof our two breweries, high mark
two, and on Route three. Andthen we also have a new brewery
called Creekside, which is downnear the Wilmot landing.
And on your second day afteryou've rested and recharged, you
can. Have breakfast at UncleDave juniors, a little breakfast
(10:05):
spot, and then you can takeyourself on the new Native
American Heritage Trail, whichis located in spots all over the
county. They have geocaching andinformative signs throughout the
county. For lunchtime, you cango to the machoodic Creek Marina
and cafe, or you could eat atone of the Fairview beach spots.
(10:29):
Tim's two both of them arereally great food choices for
overlooking the Potomac River,catching a little wildlife
sighting while you're eating.
And then the the the afternoon,you continue doing the Native
American Heritage Trail. And ofcourse, I'm going to say, check
out the dog and railroadHeritage Trail, because there is
(10:50):
one of those locations there,and the poetry on the trail as
well. And at for dinner, you canfinish up at King's pizza and
sip on the micro winery, twodogs wine, which is right next
door to wrap up your lovelyweekend getaway in King George.
This is
Jessica Bowser (11:13):
such a great itinerary. I used this itinerary
when I was visiting and it wasit was great be to actually have
something to give me an idea ofwhat I wanted to do and where to
find something to eat inbetween. Sadly for me, I did not
get to do any of the wineriesbecause I was there in the
middle of the week, and thewineries are mostly open on the
weekends. But there was no placeI went to eat that wasn't
(11:37):
fantastic. So I thought that wasreally nice that there were
great food options. We went outto dinner, a taste of Himalayan
and oh my gosh. Oh, good, right?
Yeah. I mean, they obviouslyhave won some awards for
excellence, for being anexcellent restaurant. And you
could just tell, because even inthe middle of the week, it was
getting kind of busy there asthe evening was going on, it's
(12:00):
clearly a favorite of all thelocals. And then also, like the
the waterside dining I wasreally impressed with as well,
which is machio de Creek, Marinaand cafe. And then Tim's two.
Tims two felt like a party placeto me. Weren't you two telling
me that you had some like,earlier day for sure
experiences? We have a TaylorSwift
Unknown (12:25):
story, oh my gosh, way back in the day with the
aquapalooza and Taylor Swiftdid, in fact, as a as a young
Taylor Swift, she was one of theheadliners for that.
Jessica Bowser (12:38):
So that's so wild to me. A little local lore.
Yeah, Warren, you were tellingme about it before we got there,
but then you showed me thepicture on the wall, and I was
like, Oh my God. I mean, firstof all, she's so young, but then
also, like, she's playing to allthese people who are floating on
boats and stuff out of thewater. It's like, Wait, what was
Taylor Swift doing here in KingGeorge again, it's just so
Unknown (12:58):
wild. Played on a floating stage off the off the
restaurant, Tim's, has a knot onthe fourth fireworks, usually
the Saturday after the fourth,and it'll be hundreds of boats
anchored, and, you know, threefeet of four feet of water, so
people can just stand, you know,anchor the boat, stand right
next to it, and then watch thefireworks. Or, you know, we were
lucky that year, watched theband play. Or, you know, mini
bands, and which Taylor was theheadliner. It's definitely a
(13:21):
party, party every Saturday withwith boats coming down and just
anchoring and hanging out on theriver. And then they actually
have a water taxi, a littlesmall boat will come around and
pick you up and take you to 10sor down to fairy beach Marina,
let you get around and getashore if you needed to, or
probably deliver a pizza to you.
I think even to your boat,
Jessica Bowser (13:42):
it was certainly a unique place and beautiful as
well. And I thought machotaCreek Marina and cafe kind of
had a little bit of everythingtoo. Because, remember, that's
where you can run kayaks andstand up paddle boards, and they
have an accessible boat launchthere. Looks like a lot of
people launch their their boatsfrom that area. And then, I
mean, why not? Like, come offthe water and have a drink, or,
(14:04):
you know, get your lunch beforeyou go out. And the food was
excellent.
Unknown (14:09):
Yeah, macho de Creek has got so much to offer. They
have fishing tours. It'll takestart from there the summer,
there's pot of dolphins. It'sbeen coming up every year and
swimming around the area,raising their babies, even a
shark a couple years ago that'sright under the mouth of the
river, as long as the base isnot shooting that day. But also,
it's, you know, fairly longcreek where you can paddle up
(14:29):
and just be completely coveredwith, you know, you don't even
see a house on this creek.
You'll just just giant trees onboth sides, and, you know,
otters and muskrats all over theplace. It's, it's, you know,
it's an amazing place just toescape and and see so much
wildlife on one end, but alsoout to the river and seeing, you
know, a two mile wide river atthat point, you can choose your
adventure when you when youlaunch from the show to
Jessica Bowser (14:53):
Creek. You mentioned that little ferry Inn
is relatively new, and I was ontheir website. And it turns out
they're. To be offering glampingreally soon, like they've got a
picture of this huge glampingtent, and it's got furniture in
it, and it's like superluxurious looking, and that
should be opening in the nextfew months. So for anybody who's
looking for a unique overnightexperience, I think, keep an eye
(15:18):
on little ferry inn, becausethat's on its
Unknown (15:20):
way and that's right in between Caledon and Fairview
beach. So it's a great place tobe your base station and kayak
down to fairy beach or down toCaledon, and, you know, do a
little day trips withrestaurants or hiking in
between. So it's, it'll be alovely option,
Jessica Bowser (15:35):
and not mentioned on this itinerary, but
something that the three of usdid was gardening gays,
Unknown (15:40):
yeah, it's this wonderful farm that's been
created where they've got amarket where they sell all sorts
of locally sourced meat and milkproducts, ice cream and fresh
produce, of course, and allkinds of fun stuff locally made,
(16:02):
yes, yes. And, I mean, it is aworking farm. They've got geese
and chickens, and I think lambs.
Jessica Bowser (16:10):
Was it a baby goats or baby sheep that were,
like, run, they were sheep.
Okay, I It wasn't goats too. DidI think we also saw goats, yeah,
but there were, like babies thathad just been bottle weaned, or
something like that. So wewalked up and they thought they
were going to be fed, and oh mygosh, it was like an all out
commotion, like babies cryingeverywhere. And then we heard
something else, and we werelike, What is that noise? And we
(16:33):
looked under a crate, and therewas, like a litter of kittens
that like it just like justopened their eyes living
underneath this crate, and itwas just like animals
everywhere. It was definitely afun place to visit. It was fun.
Fall is here, and Virginia stateparks are calling your name.
Experience the breathtakingbeauty of autumn, with vibrant
(16:56):
foliage, crisp air and endlessoutdoor activities, from hiking
through golden forest to cozyingup by a campfire, there's no
better place to enjoy the seasoncapture the magic of fall with
family and friends in a stunningState Park. From the shores of
the Atlantic Ocean andChesapeake Bay to the Blue Ridge
Mountains and Cumberland Gap,adventure is never far away.
(17:19):
Start planning your adventure bytapping on Virginia state parks
in your show notes, or byvisiting Virginia State
parks.gov what are some of theupcoming events in King George
County that folks might want toplan their visit around?
Unknown (17:38):
Oh yeah, we have our annual Fall Festival. We have an
Oktoberfest at St Paul's churchcalendar, art and wine. Yeah,
yeah, that's the big one. That'sa two day event. And then we'll
have, you know, marathons andhalf marathons all through the
year, February, May, August andOctober as well. So, yeah,
that's a lot of outdoor stuff.
And there's a lot of fun, craftyand old Americana fall festival
(17:59):
and events like that.
Jessica Bowser (18:04):
Is the Caledon art and Wine Festival, the
biggest event in King George.
I've heard that it is, oh, yeah,
Unknown (18:10):
we think we have said over 4000 people. Um, now, since
it's a two day event, I don'tthink there's usually seven
wineries, sometimes a brewery,and then, I don't know, 40 or 50
crafters and six or so foodtrucks,
Jessica Bowser (18:24):
and me, I was there last year for the first
time.
Unknown (18:28):
Yeah, indeed, yeah. So it's, it's definitely the, we
like to say the premiere event.
I don't want to put down anybodyelse's, but it's, I think it's
by far the biggest festival inthe county. We're trying to
start a few new ones, so theTourism Committee, uh, different
other events coming up thatwe're trying to grow, but it is
by far the premier one of thecounty right now.
Jessica Bowser (18:45):
I've been hearing about the art and Wine
Festival for years, and I was soexcited the last year I finally
got to go, and I went as avendor too, so I had my own
tent. And the one thing Inoticed right away is that you
can tell this is like a hugehighlight in the community for
folks, because they come out ingroups, and they're with their
friends, and they have, like,those little, I don't know what
(19:06):
they're called. I've never seenthem anywhere else before, but
they're like a knitted necklacethat they can put their wine
glass inside of, so that theycould wear it around their neck.
And they were bringing theirown. I mean, there were some
vendors that were selling them,but clearly people have done
this before, because theybrought them back. And I was
like, Where are you gettingthose from? I've never seen
anything like it. I thought itwas so funny, but also so
(19:28):
unique. And so folks werewearing those around their
necks, and they come and theymake a whole day out of it.
There was live music, and youget to try different wines from
the local wineries in the area.
And I love small craft vendors.
I just think it is so unique tofind something that you're not
going to find anywhere else, andthat it's made by somebody
(19:48):
locally. Like I love to supportlocal artists and local
businesses and local vendors. Sosomething like the Caledon art
and Wine Festival is just likeright up my alley Potter's.
Unknown (20:00):
And woodworking, yeah, and then, like, a llama farm, is
there many years
Jessica Bowser (20:05):
or a pack? Yes, I bought a couple pairs of
alpaca socks because those areso great for hiking, and they're
and, like, supposedly they'reanti microbial. So, like, when
your feet start sweating andgetting gross, the socks don't
get gross. They are the softest,right? Yes, exactly. And I think
I got a pair of bird earringsthat were handmade. And I just,
(20:28):
I had a really great time. Therewere great food trucks there,
and the people who come are justlike, so excited to be there. So
it's a great vibe too.
Unknown (20:38):
And you mentioned the glass, the people wearing the
glass holders, wine glasstasting holders. I just wanted
to mention that every year,Caledon issues special wine
glasses, and I think that nowthey do also like beer glasses
or or additional shaped glasses.
But there's a local artist thatthey choose to actually create
(21:02):
special artwork that's etchedinto the wine glass. And each
year it's different. Sosometimes it's a flower or a
bird or, I think one year it wasa box. So those are kind of a
cool collectible thing to have.
Jessica Bowser (21:20):
I thought it was great. Last year's had a
hummingbird on it. I have myglass, and I use it regularly at
home. So yeah, it is cool. Andthen usually they have some
glasses from past years. So ifyou miss last year or the year
before, you can pick one up froma previous year. Very cool. And
then, as far as the other eventsgo, there is a calendar of
(21:40):
events on the visit King Georgewebsite, and I can drop that in
the show notes for anybody who'slooking for other upcoming
events in the county. So Warrenand Jenna, we're going to be
wrapping this up pretty soon. Ithink we did a great job
covering all of the outdoorsythings there are to do in and
around King George. But is thereany parting advice for future
(22:01):
visitors,
Unknown (22:02):
come on down and check out our rivers and our small
little boutique restaurants andwineries and that we have and
breweries. So I think weactually, hopefully we have a
third brewery opening up soon,makes my heart happy, and come
and enjoy the water in a slow,slow little town only an hour or
two outside of the cities, bringyour binoculars, bring your
(22:23):
appetites and your adventure,yeah,
Jessica Bowser (22:29):
and your adventure. That's right, I would
just say, from my ownexperience, since I was there on
a weekday, that if you arehoping to visit some of the
wineries, you check the hoursonline, because most of most of
those are open on weekends, andalso some restaurants are closed
on Sundays or Mondays. So ifyou're planning a visit, you
might want to think about thosethings and just check the hours
(22:51):
before you come. Okay, Warrenand Jenna, how can listeners
connect with you?
Unknown (22:56):
You'll see us out on the trail all the time, or at
one of the events we do, and inJenna
poetry on the trail, you cancheck out poetry on the
trail.org.
Jessica Bowser (23:07):
Okay, so I will put links to visit King George
as well as the Dahlgren railroadHeritage Trail and Caledon State
Park and the friends of CaledonState Park, because if anybody
is interested in joining afriends group, I think it is a
wonderful opportunity to giveback to your community, to give
back to outdoor spaces and yourlocal parks. So not all, but
(23:31):
most state parks have friendsgroups. Trails have friends
groups. It's just a great way toshow your appreciation for the
outdoors in Virginia by pitchingin or even just joining and
donating, because all of thoseactions help support our public
space, our public outdoorspaces. So Warren and Jenna,
(23:52):
thank you so much for beingguests on Virginia outdoor
adventures and sharing your loveand expertise of King George
with my listeners.
Unknown (23:59):
Thank you for having us. Had to do it adventure on,
keep adventuring.
Hey, I'll see you outdoors.
Jessica Bowser (24:09):
Virginia, outdoor adventures is inspired
by and supported by listenerslike you, which is why your
messages and feedback means somuch to me. You can text me
directly by clicking on SendJessica a text message in your
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(24:32):
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sign up in your show notes orvisit virginiaoutdoor
adventures.com thanks forlistening until next time.
Adventure on you.
Announcer, from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the
Chesapeake Bay, Virginia is amecca for outdoor travel and
adventure. Virginia outdooradventures Podcast is your local
guide for hiking, camping,kayaking, travel and so much
more. Get the information andthe inspiration to plan your own
adventure right here inVirginia, I'm your host. Jessica
(00:23):
Bowser, nestled between thePotomac and Rappahannock rivers,
King George County is adestination that offers
adventure on land and water. Ourguests, Jenna and Warren Veazey,
members of the Friends ofDahlgren railroad Heritage Trail
and the friends of Caledon StatePark lead us on an exploration
(00:44):
of this Northern Neckcommunity's hidden gems. Hike,
run or cycle. The Dahlgrenrailroad Heritage Trail, a
converted railway where you'llfind everything from smooth,
accessible pathways to morerugged terrain along the
Dahlgren trail, you'll discoverpoetry on the trail, featuring
works by Virginia poets pairedwith nature facts, inviting
(01:05):
trail users to connect with thelandscape. We'll also explore
Caledon State Park, known forits old growth forests and
abundance of bald eagles.
Caledon offers primitiveRiverside camping, guided kayak
programs and wildlife viewing.
King George provides multipleriver access points for
kayaking, fishing, boating andmore, and when the adventure
(01:27):
winds down, you'll findwaterfront dining and local
breweries and wineries servingup the best of the region Jenna
and Warren. Help you plan theperfect King George weekend
getaway full of natural beautyand unforgettable Potomac River
sunsets. Find it all between therivers in this Virginia
adventure town. Let's go. Thisis part two of a two part
(01:52):
episode. We talked earlier aboutcampgrounds and camping at
Caledon, so I think this is agood segue into talking about
the other gem of King George,which is Caledon State Park. Can
you describe the park for us?
Sure?
Unknown (02:08):
It was created in 76 I think from Mr. Smoot, she
donated to the state. And atfirst it was a national wildlife
area because of the bald eagles.
It was a very high percent, youknow, I think it was 10 or more
nesting bald eagles there. Sofor many years, it was a
wildlife preserve and didn'thave what you would normally
expect with, you know, stateparks. But just recently, with
(02:30):
the bald eagles getting off theendangered species list, things
have opened up a little bitmore. So they now have the the
six campsites, you know, with atwo and a half mile hike down a
gravel road to get to it fromthe visitor center. And you
know, more and more things areopening up around the park for
the friends group. Our bigfundraiser is the first weekend
in November. We have a two dayart and Wine Festival events all
(02:52):
all year round, from trunk ortreats and Halloween to
different races they're holding.
Obviously, all the outdoorevents, fossil finding down on
the Potomac, you'll find, whatare they? 10 million year old
shark's teeth from when the baywas under was, you know, 100
feet of water. So amazing,different things that all the
(03:14):
people who work at the visit atthe Visitor Center can help you
out.
Yeah, they have a wonderfulpark. You were talking about the
friends fundraising. For years,friends have been working
towards creating a all naturalchildren's play area, and that
has been completed now for acouple of years. It's really
gorgeous. All of the playstructures are completely
(03:34):
natural, and that's a reallycool and unique feature of the
park where you can bring yourfamily and recreate stay off of
the super hot slides of atypical play place, or the real
plasticky ones. So that's that'sa fun added feature of the park.
(03:55):
I think the Riverside camping isparticularly gorgeous. It is
buggy and a little humid downthere, because you are right on
the water. You do have abeautiful view if you walk down
to the to the shore, and you cando your own fossil finding
there, it's about a three milewalk, as we've covered before,
(04:16):
or hike to get there, and youhave to bring all your water
with you. Another considerationthat I want to make sure we
mention, but it's a really, Ithink, a really luxurious
primitive campsite. If you canput those two words together,
Jessica Bowser (04:33):
it is absolutely primitive camping. There's no
water available down there. It'stwo port, a pot a potties. There
are portals, yes, but otherwise,it's just six camp pads. And I
camped there during our visit,and it was amazing. It was the
middle of the week, and therewas only one other person there
on the campground, so otherwise,I had it almost completely to
(04:56):
myself, waking up in the morningto the sound of bald. Eagles
screeching overhead, and abelted kingfisher was looking
for its breakfast in the swampyarea, and you can hear the
water. It was just lovely. Imean, we talked about how
gorgeous the sunsets are, so Igot to experience several while
I was there. I have done thesunset paddles, and those are
(05:18):
epic. But while I was campingthere. There was a completely
stunning sunset that I could seefrom my campsite. And there's
benches there too, so you cansit on a bench right next to the
water. You can walk up and downthe beach and experience it. And
then also Warren, you and I didsome stand up paddle boarding on
(05:38):
my last night there. Sunset wasepic then too. But the campsites
are fantastic, and they're huge.
They're huge campsites. And ifyou're just looking for that
primitive backpackingexperience, I think Caledon
really offers something that alot of other parks don't,
because you have to hike inseveral miles to get to the
campground. You're not going toget lots of people there like
(06:01):
you would in other places, whereyou can drive your car right in.
So you get that primitive natureexperience, and then, of course,
pack it up and hike it all backout. So I did an episode about
primitive backpacking, and thesehiking campgrounds in Virginia
state parks and Caledon is justa it's a really special one
(06:22):
because of all the things I justmentioned, I think it's really
unique. And and I had a greattime when, when I visited,
Unknown (06:30):
yeah, it also has the kayak camping. And as you
mentioned, I'm getting ready totry to do the kayak from the PC
all the way down to the mouth,and I think it's wide water. And
Masonic, or Pennsylvania, hascamping too, where you can pull
in off on the shore and walkright up to the campsite and
you're good to go, which reallyhelps, because it's hard to hard
(06:50):
to unload from a kayak andhaving to hike a long way away
to a campsite.
Jessica Bowser (06:54):
Yes, I'm so excited for your big adventure,
Warren, you're going to have totell me all about it when you're
done, but I think it's reallyneat that you're taking
advantage of these state parksthat are on the river and
paddling into camp and thenpaddling back out on your way
again. It's really cool. Did youknow your local park depends on
(07:14):
people just like you? TheVirginia association for parks
connects volunteers, neighborsand outdoor lovers to support
the parks we all enjoy. When youjoin your local friends group,
you're not just giving back,you're helping to protect trails
and natural resources, createeducational programs and keep
our outdoor spaces thriving forgenerations to come. Becoming a
(07:36):
volunteer is a fun and rewardingway to meet new people, make a
difference in your community andensure that future adventurers
have the same opportunities toenjoy Virginia's incredible
parks. Whether you have a fewhours a month or a few days a
year, your time and energy canmake a lasting impact. Join
today, support your local parkand be a part of something
(07:58):
bigger than yourself. VisitVirginia parks.org. Or tap on
Virginia association for parksin your show notes to find your
local friends group and startmaking a difference. So for
people who are planning a visitto King George, they're going to
want to know about lodging,dining and attractions, and King
(08:18):
George County has put together aweekend itinerary, which I will
link in the show notes, whichrecommends 48 hours of
unforgettable outdoor adventurein King George County. So could
the two of you maybe introduceus to what a weekend in King
George would look like?
Unknown (08:36):
So the King George has helped put together some sample
itineraries for the county. Wehave two bed and breakfasts in
the county Belle Groveplantation, which is actually
the the house of our nation'sfourth president, James Madison.
And then if you want to be onthe Potomac side, we have a
little fairy Inn. It's a lovelynew house that you can also rent
(08:57):
boats and things right on thewater there. And then, in the
morning, if you want, you canhead over to Caledon to check
all the the different trails andevents we have there. We have
several restaurants in thecounty, grand ronchetto down my
dog run, galleys, cafe, Lalafusion, fusion in the center of
the county. Taste the Himalayaright in the middle, also off of
301 then if you want to put inon the Rappahannock side, you
(09:21):
can boat out of Wilmot landingor hop yard landing. And then in
the afternoon, we have twowineries in the county right
now, back porch winery and WhiteWhite Hall winery. One near the
back porch is right next towellmont, and White Hall is
right near the Mile Zero of thedog and trail. And then in the
evening, if you want, you cantry out Vinny Italian grill,
(09:42):
which is right next to our, oneof our two breweries, high mark
two, and on Route three. Andthen we also have a new brewery
called Creekside, which is downnear the Wilmot landing.
And on your second day afteryou've rested and recharged, you
can. Have breakfast at UncleDave juniors, a little breakfast
(10:05):
spot, and then you can takeyourself on the new Native
American Heritage Trail, whichis located in spots all over the
county. They have geocaching andinformative signs throughout the
county. For lunchtime, you cango to the machoodic Creek Marina
and cafe, or you could eat atone of the Fairview beach spots.
(10:29):
Tim's two both of them arereally great food choices for
overlooking the Potomac River,catching a little wildlife
sighting while you're eating.
And then the the the afternoon,you continue doing the Native
American Heritage Trail. And ofcourse, I'm going to say, check
out the dog and railroadHeritage Trail, because there is
(10:50):
one of those locations there,and the poetry on the trail as
well. And at for dinner, you canfinish up at King's pizza and
sip on the micro winery, twodogs wine, which is right next
door to wrap up your lovelyweekend getaway in King George.
This is
Jessica Bowser (11:13):
such a great itinerary. I used this itinerary
when I was visiting and it wasit was great be to actually have
something to give me an idea ofwhat I wanted to do and where to
find something to eat inbetween. Sadly for me, I did not
get to do any of the wineriesbecause I was there in the
middle of the week, and thewineries are mostly open on the
weekends. But there was no placeI went to eat that wasn't
(11:37):
fantastic. So I thought that wasreally nice that there were
great food options. We went outto dinner, a taste of Himalayan
and oh my gosh. Oh, good, right?
Yeah. I mean, they obviouslyhave won some awards for
excellence, for being anexcellent restaurant. And you
could just tell, because even inthe middle of the week, it was
getting kind of busy there asthe evening was going on, it's
(12:00):
clearly a favorite of all thelocals. And then also, like the
the waterside dining I wasreally impressed with as well,
which is machio de Creek, Marinaand cafe. And then Tim's two.
Tims two felt like a party placeto me. Weren't you two telling
me that you had some like,earlier day for sure
experiences? We have a TaylorSwift
Unknown (12:25):
story, oh my gosh, way back in the day with the
aquapalooza and Taylor Swiftdid, in fact, as a as a young
Taylor Swift, she was one of theheadliners for that.
Jessica Bowser (12:38):
So that's so wild to me. A little local lore.
Yeah, Warren, you were tellingme about it before we got there,
but then you showed me thepicture on the wall, and I was
like, Oh my God. I mean, firstof all, she's so young, but then
also, like, she's playing to allthese people who are floating on
boats and stuff out of thewater. It's like, Wait, what was
Taylor Swift doing here in KingGeorge again, it's just so
Unknown (12:58):
wild. Played on a floating stage off the off the
restaurant, Tim's, has a knot onthe fourth fireworks, usually
the Saturday after the fourth,and it'll be hundreds of boats
anchored, and, you know, threefeet of four feet of water, so
people can just stand, you know,anchor the boat, stand right
next to it, and then watch thefireworks. Or, you know, we were
lucky that year, watched theband play. Or, you know, mini
bands, and which Taylor was theheadliner. It's definitely a
(13:21):
party, party every Saturday withwith boats coming down and just
anchoring and hanging out on theriver. And then they actually
have a water taxi, a littlesmall boat will come around and
pick you up and take you to 10sor down to fairy beach Marina,
let you get around and getashore if you needed to, or
probably deliver a pizza to you.
I think even to your boat,
Jessica Bowser (13:42):
it was certainly a unique place and beautiful as
well. And I thought machotaCreek Marina and cafe kind of
had a little bit of everythingtoo. Because, remember, that's
where you can run kayaks andstand up paddle boards, and they
have an accessible boat launchthere. Looks like a lot of
people launch their their boatsfrom that area. And then, I
mean, why not? Like, come offthe water and have a drink, or,
(14:04):
you know, get your lunch beforeyou go out. And the food was
excellent.
Unknown (14:09):
Yeah, macho de Creek has got so much to offer. They
have fishing tours. It'll takestart from there the summer,
there's pot of dolphins. It'sbeen coming up every year and
swimming around the area,raising their babies, even a
shark a couple years ago that'sright under the mouth of the
river, as long as the base isnot shooting that day. But also,
it's, you know, fairly longcreek where you can paddle up
(14:29):
and just be completely coveredwith, you know, you don't even
see a house on this creek.
You'll just just giant trees onboth sides, and, you know,
otters and muskrats all over theplace. It's, it's, you know,
it's an amazing place just toescape and and see so much
wildlife on one end, but alsoout to the river and seeing, you
know, a two mile wide river atthat point, you can choose your
adventure when you when youlaunch from the show to
Jessica Bowser (14:53):
Creek. You mentioned that little ferry Inn
is relatively new, and I was ontheir website. And it turns out
they're. To be offering glampingreally soon, like they've got a
picture of this huge glampingtent, and it's got furniture in
it, and it's like superluxurious looking, and that
should be opening in the nextfew months. So for anybody who's
looking for a unique overnightexperience, I think, keep an eye
(15:18):
on little ferry inn, becausethat's on its
Unknown (15:20):
way and that's right in between Caledon and Fairview
beach. So it's a great place tobe your base station and kayak
down to fairy beach or down toCaledon, and, you know, do a
little day trips withrestaurants or hiking in
between. So it's, it'll be alovely option,
Jessica Bowser (15:35):
and not mentioned on this itinerary, but
something that the three of usdid was gardening gays,
Unknown (15:40):
yeah, it's this wonderful farm that's been
created where they've got amarket where they sell all sorts
of locally sourced meat and milkproducts, ice cream and fresh
produce, of course, and allkinds of fun stuff locally made,
(16:02):
yes, yes. And, I mean, it is aworking farm. They've got geese
and chickens, and I think lambs.
Jessica Bowser (16:10):
Was it a baby goats or baby sheep that were,
like, run, they were sheep.
Okay, I It wasn't goats too. DidI think we also saw goats, yeah,
but there were, like babies thathad just been bottle weaned, or
something like that. So wewalked up and they thought they
were going to be fed, and oh mygosh, it was like an all out
commotion, like babies cryingeverywhere. And then we heard
something else, and we werelike, What is that noise? And we
(16:33):
looked under a crate, and therewas, like a litter of kittens
that like it just like justopened their eyes living
underneath this crate, and itwas just like animals
everywhere. It was definitely afun place to visit. It was fun.
Fall is here, and Virginia stateparks are calling your name.
Experience the breathtakingbeauty of autumn, with vibrant
(16:56):
foliage, crisp air and endlessoutdoor activities, from hiking
through golden forest to cozyingup by a campfire, there's no
better place to enjoy the seasoncapture the magic of fall with
family and friends in a stunningState Park. From the shores of
the Atlantic Ocean andChesapeake Bay to the Blue Ridge
Mountains and Cumberland Gap,adventure is never far away.
(17:19):
Start planning your adventure bytapping on Virginia state parks
in your show notes, or byvisiting Virginia State
parks.gov what are some of theupcoming events in King George
County that folks might want toplan their visit around?
Unknown (17:38):
Oh yeah, we have our annual Fall Festival. We have an
Oktoberfest at St Paul's churchcalendar, art and wine. Yeah,
yeah, that's the big one. That'sa two day event. And then we'll
have, you know, marathons andhalf marathons all through the
year, February, May, August andOctober as well. So, yeah,
that's a lot of outdoor stuff.
And there's a lot of fun, craftyand old Americana fall festival
(17:59):
and events like that.
Jessica Bowser (18:04):
Is the Caledon art and Wine Festival, the
biggest event in King George.
I've heard that it is, oh, yeah,
Unknown (18:10):
we think we have said over 4000 people. Um, now, since
it's a two day event, I don'tthink there's usually seven
wineries, sometimes a brewery,and then, I don't know, 40 or 50
crafters and six or so foodtrucks,
Jessica Bowser (18:24):
and me, I was there last year for the first
time.
Unknown (18:28):
Yeah, indeed, yeah. So it's, it's definitely the, we
like to say the premiere event.
I don't want to put down anybodyelse's, but it's, I think it's
by far the biggest festival inthe county. We're trying to
start a few new ones, so theTourism Committee, uh, different
other events coming up thatwe're trying to grow, but it is
by far the premier one of thecounty right now.
Jessica Bowser (18:45):
I've been hearing about the art and Wine
Festival for years, and I was soexcited the last year I finally
got to go, and I went as avendor too, so I had my own
tent. And the one thing Inoticed right away is that you
can tell this is like a hugehighlight in the community for
folks, because they come out ingroups, and they're with their
friends, and they have, like,those little, I don't know what
(19:06):
they're called. I've never seenthem anywhere else before, but
they're like a knitted necklacethat they can put their wine
glass inside of, so that theycould wear it around their neck.
And they were bringing theirown. I mean, there were some
vendors that were selling them,but clearly people have done
this before, because theybrought them back. And I was
like, Where are you gettingthose from? I've never seen
anything like it. I thought itwas so funny, but also so
(19:28):
unique. And so folks werewearing those around their
necks, and they come and theymake a whole day out of it.
There was live music, and youget to try different wines from
the local wineries in the area.
And I love small craft vendors.
I just think it is so unique tofind something that you're not
going to find anywhere else, andthat it's made by somebody
(19:48):
locally. Like I love to supportlocal artists and local
businesses and local vendors. Sosomething like the Caledon art
and Wine Festival is just likeright up my alley Potter's.
Unknown (20:00):
And woodworking, yeah, and then, like, a llama farm, is
there many years
Jessica Bowser (20:05):
or a pack? Yes, I bought a couple pairs of
alpaca socks because those areso great for hiking, and they're
and, like, supposedly they'reanti microbial. So, like, when
your feet start sweating andgetting gross, the socks don't
get gross. They are the softest,right? Yes, exactly. And I think
I got a pair of bird earringsthat were handmade. And I just,
(20:28):
I had a really great time. Therewere great food trucks there,
and the people who come are justlike, so excited to be there. So
it's a great vibe too.
Unknown (20:38):
And you mentioned the glass, the people wearing the
glass holders, wine glasstasting holders. I just wanted
to mention that every year,Caledon issues special wine
glasses, and I think that nowthey do also like beer glasses
or or additional shaped glasses.
But there's a local artist thatthey choose to actually create
(21:02):
special artwork that's etchedinto the wine glass. And each
year it's different. Sosometimes it's a flower or a
bird or, I think one year it wasa box. So those are kind of a
cool collectible thing to have.
Jessica Bowser (21:20):
I thought it was great. Last year's had a
hummingbird on it. I have myglass, and I use it regularly at
home. So yeah, it is cool. Andthen usually they have some
glasses from past years. So ifyou miss last year or the year
before, you can pick one up froma previous year. Very cool. And
then, as far as the other eventsgo, there is a calendar of
(21:40):
events on the visit King Georgewebsite, and I can drop that in
the show notes for anybody who'slooking for other upcoming
events in the county. So Warrenand Jenna, we're going to be
wrapping this up pretty soon. Ithink we did a great job
covering all of the outdoorsythings there are to do in and
around King George. But is thereany parting advice for future
(22:01):
visitors,
Unknown (22:02):
come on down and check out our rivers and our small
little boutique restaurants andwineries and that we have and
breweries. So I think weactually, hopefully we have a
third brewery opening up soon,makes my heart happy, and come
and enjoy the water in a slow,slow little town only an hour or
two outside of the cities, bringyour binoculars, bring your
(22:23):
appetites and your adventure,yeah,
Jessica Bowser (22:29):
and your adventure. That's right, I would
just say, from my ownexperience, since I was there on
a weekday, that if you arehoping to visit some of the
wineries, you check the hoursonline, because most of most of
those are open on weekends, andalso some restaurants are closed
on Sundays or Mondays. So ifyou're planning a visit, you
might want to think about thosethings and just check the hours
(22:51):
before you come. Okay, Warrenand Jenna, how can listeners
connect with you?
Unknown (22:56):
You'll see us out on the trail all the time, or at
one of the events we do, and inJenna
poetry on the trail, you cancheck out poetry on the
trail.org.
Jessica Bowser (23:07):
Okay, so I will put links to visit King George
as well as the Dahlgren railroadHeritage Trail and Caledon State
Park and the friends of CaledonState Park, because if anybody
is interested in joining afriends group, I think it is a
wonderful opportunity to giveback to your community, to give
back to outdoor spaces and yourlocal parks. So not all, but
(23:31):
most state parks have friendsgroups. Trails have friends
groups. It's just a great way toshow your appreciation for the
outdoors in Virginia by pitchingin or even just joining and
donating, because all of thoseactions help support our public
space, our public outdoorspaces. So Warren and Jenna,
(23:52):
thank you so much for beingguests on Virginia outdoor
adventures and sharing your loveand expertise of King George
with my listeners.
Unknown (23:59):
Thank you for having us. Had to do it adventure on,
keep adventuring.
Hey, I'll see you outdoors.
Jessica Bowser (24:09):
Virginia, outdoor adventures is inspired
by and supported by listenerslike you, which is why your
messages and feedback means somuch to me. You can text me
directly by clicking on SendJessica a text message in your
show notes, I answer questions,respond to comments and share
your feedback on the show. Nevermiss a new episode. Sign up for
(24:32):
my email newsletter and receivemy listener resource guide with
the top podcast episodes, aVirginia outdoor bucket list and
exclusive brand discounts for mylisteners. Click on newsletter,
sign up in your show notes orvisit virginiaoutdoor
adventures.com thanks forlistening until next time.
Adventure on you.
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