Stay Fit and Fed with these Virginia Day Trips
Photo Credits: Brent McGuirt Photography – Visit Virginia’s Blue Ridge
Hey Foodies, You Know The Formula: The More You Exercise, The More You Can Eat! So Maybe It’s Not Always That Simple, But A Feast Sure Feels Better-Earned After A Hearty Bout Of Physical Activity, Right?
Here in Virginia, we’re blessed to have such endless options for world-class outdoor recreation—and doubly blessed, given they come backed up by such fabulous homegrown cuisine. Here are promising itineraries for getting active and fed in every corner of the state: paired destinations for fitness and food an hour or less apart!
Blue Ridge Highlands
Do: McAfee Knob
McAfee Knob’s rocky prow makes the 2,200-mile-long Appalachian Trail’s best-known photo op—no surprise, given the sublime view it commands of the Catawba Valley and a whole mess of gorgeous ridges. You’ll work for that knock-your-socks-off panorama: Hiking up involves 1,700 feet of elevation gain.
Eat: Roanoke Natural Foods Co-Op
Within shouting distance of McAfee Knob’s killer vantage, Roanoke Natural Foods Co-Op supplies a variety of trail snacks, a fabulous deli for post-hike munching, and an extensive local beer selection for properly toasting the climb.
Central VA/Richmond
Do: Discover Richmond Tours
Get your steps in while soaking up in-depth Richmond history on a Discover Richmond Food Tour. Learn the backstory of neighborhood spots and take in the architecture while pit-stopping at top-notch restaurants and bakeries. Or, if you want to enjoy the outdoors, try one of their Hiking Tours!
Eat: The Daily Kitchen & Bar
If you still have room for another bite, stop into Carytown’s The Daily Kitchen & Bar, which offers healthy, cuisine-hopping entrees that spotlight loads of local ingredients. Too full from a food tour? Grab a kombucha mocktail at the bar!
Bonus Idea: Pay tribute to Richmond’s lifeblood with a hike, run, pedal, or paddle along the James River, then follow up with eats at the Daily Kitchen & Bar. And don’t stop there: Over at Ellwood Thompson’s, grab healthy, local fodder such as Farmstead Ferments.
Shenandoah Valley
Do: Shenandoah National Park
A no-brainer: Virginia boasts a world-class national park in 200,000-acre Shenandoah, what with its rich hardwood forests, gnarled ridgelines, dime-a-dozen waterfalls, and acorn-scarfing black bears. You’ve got 500-plus miles of hiking trails (100 of them along the Appalachian Trail) for laidback day hikes or multi-day treks through the Blue Ridge backcountry.
Eat: Pulp
The bowls and smoothies at Harrisonburg’s Pulp—made from the nutritious fruit of the Amazon’s acai palm—provide the perfect fuel for a Shenandoah ramble: The café puts you an easy drive from the park’s South Entrance at Rockfish Gap.
Bonus Idea: Go spelunking down in Skyline Caverns.
Southern Virginia
Do: Shangrila Guest Ranch
It’s time to get back in the saddle—really! Savor Southern Virginia’s fresh air and scenic splendor by horseback at Shangrila Guest Ranch, where trail rides (offered year-round) weave through creek-laced forests and sunny glades.
Eat: Molasses Grill
A stone’s throw from Shangrila’s stables is Molasses Grill, a restaurant featuring locally sourced southern-inspired cuisine.
Tidewater
Do: Pirate Parasail
Haven’t you always kinda wanted to try parasailing? What better place to give it a go than Virginia Beach, where Pirate Parasail will provide you with a bird’s-eye view of the beachfront at up to 1,000 feet? You don’t even have to get your feet wet if you don’t want to (although we recommend it).
Eat: Zeke’s Beans & Bowls
Before going airborne, beeline for Zeke’s Beans & Bowls, where you can accompany a tasty acai or poke bowl with a steamy mug of locally roasted coffee.
Northern Virginia
Do: Biking Trails
Northern Virginia’s an all-out paradise for cyclists, whether you’re looking to bike gritty backwoods trails or rack up the mileage on paved routes such as the awesome 45-mile Washington & Old Dominion Railroad Trail between Shirlington and Herndon.
Eat: True Food Kitchen
After an appetite-inspiring bike ride, True Food Kitchen has the goods: Build yourself a decked-out rice bowl or try one of their sourdough pizzas. It’s the perfect place to refuel.
DC
Do: Lincoln Memorial Workout
We dare you to come up with a more inspiring place for a workout than the Lincoln Memorial, where in the shadow of Honest Abe, you’ve got 145 stairs on hand for whatever huff-and-puff routine you desire. There are plenty of workout combos here; you can try to put your body to the test.
Eat: Chaia
After a vigorous stair workout, it’s time for a health-conscious taco or three at Chaia. The tacos are loaded with local, seasonal vegetables, so they’re guilt-free grub. Don’t forget to try their seasonal shrubs to wash it all down.
