Shenandoah National Park, Virginia

Shenandoah National Park is practically synonymous with hiking, and with over 500 miles of hiking trails (including 101 miles of the Appalachian Trail), it’s easy to see why. Advanced mountaineers may try their hand at climbing Old Rag Mountain—the park’s most dangerous and most popular hike—but there are plenty of beginner and intermediate trails for every level of outdoorsman.

With activities like geocaching and fly-fishing, to identifying some of the rare plants sprinkled across Big Meadows, Shenandoah is chock-full of unique landscapes and soaring panoramic views, not least of which can be enjoyed from atop Skyline Drive, which offers over 70 overlooks spanning 196,000 acres of background beauty. Be prepared to gaze in awe at spectacular waterfalls, wild forests, and boundless wilderness, the likes of which cannot be described in words. Come on down to Old Dominion and see what outdoor mysteries await.