I'm not one to redirect readers to another trail report--I prefer passing along my own observations--but while investigating the mystery of why a sign points hikers to a trail located to the immediate left of a kiosk at the McAfee trailhead when the actual trail is across the four-lane highway, I found this well-written report on Hiking Upward, a site you'll want to bookmark. Having taken this hike, I agree with everything the author says (including advice on the return route, though I did not measure the various distances stated, so I cannot confirm those) with the exception of the total miles. From everything I've read, the trail is 3.9 miles one way, though at times, it felt like 4.4.
http://www.hikingupward.com/JNF/McAfeeKnob/
Now, regarding the sign that points hikers to a trail located to the immediate left of the kiosk....After numerous online searches and an attempt to contact the Appalachian Trail Conservancy via Facebook (in their defense, thanks to Facebook's message set up, I doubt they know they received a message), I called the AT's Virginia office located in Blacksburg and spoke to an AT champion there. According to her, the Conservancy is aware of that path, which was likely created over time by hikers going the wrong way or who needed a restroom break before heading on to McAfee Knob. They're aware of its existence and are working on clarifying for hikers the proper route to take.
A personal glimpse of outdoor destinations in and around the Carolinas. All photos and content copyrighted.
Showing posts with label Virginia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Virginia. Show all posts
Photos of Virginia Beach
We've taken several work-related trips this spring, and while we've seen some great scenery, I'm behind on exploring the Carolinas and writing blog posts. As a quick fix, here are a few photos from our trip to Virginia Beach. Our first, and given the proximity to Chesapeake Bay, the tunnel, Virginia's outer banks, Dismal Swamp and Mackay Island National Wildlife Refuge, a place we'll likely return. If not for those reasons, for the sake of visiting Virginia Beach. We loved it.
We took the scenic route home, and when we spotted the sign, made a quick stop at Dismal Canal State Park.
We hope to spend more time in Virginia Beach, and the canal, this fall.
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Text and photos are copyright material. Do not use or distribute without author's permission.
We took the scenic route home, and when we spotted the sign, made a quick stop at Dismal Canal State Park.
We hope to spend more time in Virginia Beach, and the canal, this fall.
----------------------------
Text and photos are copyright material. Do not use or distribute without author's permission.
Images from Colonial Williamsburg
Our heavy travel schedule in the earlier part of the year prevented us from taking a few days off to celebrate our wedding anniversary, but that didn't stop us from exploring. We traveled to Colonial Williamsburg, VA hoping to spend the day in the old town. But temps near 90 degrees and a humidity level that surely matched quickly conquered us.
After visiting a few bookstores and sharing an anniversary dessert of Crème Brûlée at the Blue Talon Bistro, we walked around as long as we could, then headed home. But we managed to snap a few photos, of course. We'll return in cooler weather to explore more of what the Williamsburg area has to offer.
For more information on Colonial Williamsburg, go to www.colonialwilliamsburg.com/
After visiting a few bookstores and sharing an anniversary dessert of Crème Brûlée at the Blue Talon Bistro, we walked around as long as we could, then headed home. But we managed to snap a few photos, of course. We'll return in cooler weather to explore more of what the Williamsburg area has to offer.
For more information on Colonial Williamsburg, go to www.colonialwilliamsburg.com/
Glimpses of Richmond, VA
Last week, we headed to nearby Richmond, Virginia to see what adventures we could find there. We soon discovered it would take a long time to answer that question.
Our first stop was a spot just outside the downtown area because that's where Moe's Southwest Grill is located, and we love Moe's. On the way there and back, we passed the first college we would see that day. As it turns out, Richmond is home to several colleges, and we saw four on this outing. The buildings and campuses alone are worth the visit.
After lunch, and after getting stuck in the University of Richmond's traffic while taking a driving tour of the campus, we headed downtown. Though we traveled to the area last summer, it was our first visit to Richmond proper, and we were unfamiliar with the layout of the city and with the culture. Having explored several southern towns, I expected similar elements in architecture styles and, hmm, well, tourism. There would be a carriage ride, right? None that we could find, but we did see fabulous architecture, ivy-covered walls and garden, and street after street of the most attractive townhouses I've seen:
We also spotted several churches built in a vernacular of styles (a fellow author gave me that line):
We passed several old homes as well, also built in a variety of styles from Georgian to those boasting classic Roman elements:
You may have noticed a plethora of cars in most of the photos. Traffic in downtown Richmond is snarly, at least on a Friday afternoon, making photographing subjects sans vehicles nearly impossible. Sightseeing, too. Cars are parked on each side of narrow streets, and, unfamiliar with the territory, we had a difficult time navigating around the area. We checked out a few more places, including historic Union Seminary, and left before rush hour hit.
Despite the traffic frustrations, we learned much. In Richmond rests Tuckahoe, the boyhood home of Thomas Jefferson. Along the banks of the James and the Appomattox Rivers, you'll find historic plantations including, Shirley Plantation, where Robert E Lee's mother grew up. In various spots around the region, you'll happen on battlefields where major skirmishes were fought. Also nearby, St Johns Church, the scene of Patrick Henry's famous "Liberty or Death" speech.
Scenic Hollywood Cemetery lay in the midst of downtown Richmond, and just twenty minutes away, you'll find Pocahontas State Park, which has over five miles of hiking trails in addition to camping, fishing, boating, biking and bridle trails (bring your own stuff).
The most important lesson of the day was that Richmond has potential, and in addition to learning more about the architecture of the city, we look forward to visiting all of these outdoor destinations.
And eating at Moe's again. Gosh, we love that place.
Our first stop was a spot just outside the downtown area because that's where Moe's Southwest Grill is located, and we love Moe's. On the way there and back, we passed the first college we would see that day. As it turns out, Richmond is home to several colleges, and we saw four on this outing. The buildings and campuses alone are worth the visit.
After lunch, and after getting stuck in the University of Richmond's traffic while taking a driving tour of the campus, we headed downtown. Though we traveled to the area last summer, it was our first visit to Richmond proper, and we were unfamiliar with the layout of the city and with the culture. Having explored several southern towns, I expected similar elements in architecture styles and, hmm, well, tourism. There would be a carriage ride, right? None that we could find, but we did see fabulous architecture, ivy-covered walls and garden, and street after street of the most attractive townhouses I've seen:
We also spotted several churches built in a vernacular of styles (a fellow author gave me that line):
We passed several old homes as well, also built in a variety of styles from Georgian to those boasting classic Roman elements:
You may have noticed a plethora of cars in most of the photos. Traffic in downtown Richmond is snarly, at least on a Friday afternoon, making photographing subjects sans vehicles nearly impossible. Sightseeing, too. Cars are parked on each side of narrow streets, and, unfamiliar with the territory, we had a difficult time navigating around the area. We checked out a few more places, including historic Union Seminary, and left before rush hour hit.
Despite the traffic frustrations, we learned much. In Richmond rests Tuckahoe, the boyhood home of Thomas Jefferson. Along the banks of the James and the Appomattox Rivers, you'll find historic plantations including, Shirley Plantation, where Robert E Lee's mother grew up. In various spots around the region, you'll happen on battlefields where major skirmishes were fought. Also nearby, St Johns Church, the scene of Patrick Henry's famous "Liberty or Death" speech.
Scenic Hollywood Cemetery lay in the midst of downtown Richmond, and just twenty minutes away, you'll find Pocahontas State Park, which has over five miles of hiking trails in addition to camping, fishing, boating, biking and bridle trails (bring your own stuff).
The most important lesson of the day was that Richmond has potential, and in addition to learning more about the architecture of the city, we look forward to visiting all of these outdoor destinations.
And eating at Moe's again. Gosh, we love that place.
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