Sleep on a barge
location_on Moneta, Virginia
Sure, there are accommodations with waterfront views. But you can actually wake up on the water by renting a houseboat with Parrot Cove Boat Rentals on Smith Mountain Lake, known for its stunning views and gentle waters . The houseboats can accommodate six to ten people, depending on your boat, and have a dining area, bathroom and slide. Cruise 500 miles of shoreline, including secluded coves and coves, when you take the helm. No boating experience is necessary: the rental company offers an operating lesson before hitting the water.
Distance from DC: Four hours.
Hike under a natural bridge
location_on Natural Bridge, Virginia
Considered one of the oldest geological formations on the East Coast, a 215-foot-tall natural limestone arch towers over travelers at Natural Bridge State Park.. The arch is carved by Cedar Creek, and Thomas Jefferson once called it “the most sublime of nature's works.” To walk underneath, drop your car off at the visitor center, then take a shuttle or climb 137 steps to the Cedar Creek Trail, a two-mile out-and-back trail that passes under the bridge and toward Lace Falls, a 50 meter trail. -waterfall on foot. A trailhead shuttle is available if scheduled prior to arrival.
Distance from DC: Three hours.
Go off-road in a jeep
location_on Minden, West Virginia
Navigate steep slopes, mud, and water crossings on a four-wheel tour of New River Gorge National Park and Preserve. Tour operator New River ATV offers Jeep rentals to maneuver unpaved terrain and enjoy unspoilt views of mountains and river valleys. A four-hour guided tour covers 75 miles of dirt roads, with stops for waterfalls, ghost towns and abandoned coal mines.
Distance from DC: Five hours.
Scuba diving in a state park
location_on Summersville, West Virginia
Nicknamed “the Little Bahamas of the East,” Summersville Lake has clear waters that have become a magnet for snorkeling and diving. Book a beginner-friendly snorkel rental at Sarge's Dive Shop to explore what lies beneath the lake's surface, including largemouth bass, crappie, and walleye. Scuba diving certification courses are also offered for all levels. Certified divers can rent equipment and book dive charters to explore the depths of the lake.
Distance from DC: Five hours.
Pedal a railway to paddle a river
location_on Frostburg, Maryland
You don't have to choose between mountains or rivers on a double trek with the Tracks and Yaks tour group. Depart from the historic Frostburg Depot aboard a drailbike, a four-wheeled recumbent bicycle that seats two to four people, and cruise the tracks of the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad. After 15 miles of pedaling downhill, refuel with a riverside lunch, then paddle three miles on the North Branch of the Potomac River. Shuttles bring adventurers back to the starting point.
Distance from DC: Two hours and 20 minutes.
Ride a Slingshot Motorcycle
location_on Tazewell, Virginia
Imagine you're in a game of Mario Kart while piloting a Slingshot, a three-wheeled open-air vehicle that's technically a motorcycle. Book the two-person ride at the Back of the Dragon rental location for two, four, or eight hours. You can ride the Slingshot anywhere, including nearby Kentucky and West Virginia, but it's particularly suited to Back of the Dragon, a motorcycle-only route that climbs and winds through 32 miles of verdant South western Virginia.
Distance from DC: Five hours and 20 minutes.
Paddle past the wrecks
location_on Nanjemoy, Maryland and Cape Charles, Virginia
The area's spooky boat graveyards are best explored by kayak. You can visit Mallows Bay in Charles County, Maryland, with Atlantic Kayak Company, and paddle for three hours in a tandem kayak through the Sunken Ghost Fleet, more than 100 wooden steamboats built for World War I . Many boats have also become nesting sites for ospreys and eagles. On Virginia's Eastern Shore, you'll feel small strolling past the concrete behemoths of World War II in Kiptopeke State Parkwhere you can rent kayaks from the camp store.
Distance from DC: One hour to Mallows Bay; three hours and 45 minutes to Kiptopeke State Park.
Photograph of the boat, courtesy of Parrot Cove Boat Rentals.
Photograph of a kayak by Matt McIntosh/NOAA.
Photograph of a diver by iStockphoto.
This article appears in the May 2024 Washingtonian question.
