Admit it. You love baby animals and your kids do, too. So where can you go to see baby animals? In addition to the zoos in Virginia, there are other places to spot new sweet faces.

Frontier Culture Museum in Staunton

At the Frontier Culture Museum in Staunton you’ll visit working farms each with buildings moved from its country of origin and reconstructed on site. “Visit” 1600s England, 1700s Ireland, Germany and West Africa, and America from the 1700s through the 1850s, including rare breeds grazing along with their new young ones.

Visitors to Busch Gardens in Williamsburg will find more than great roller coasters and performances. Beautiful animals call the park home, like the Gray Wolves of Wolf Valley, or the Black Clydesdales and Scottish Blackface Sheep of Highland Stables.

The Stables welcomed a new member to the Clydesdale family in April. Aidan was born to mother Panola and father Dakota on April 20.  At just over a month old Aidan weighed in at 250 lbs. Once fully grown, he will weigh up to 2,000 lbs.

Also born this spring at Busch Gardens were five Scottish Blackface lambs – Lia, Coara, Bryce, Lily, and Rhosyn. See the clip below from the Inside Busch Gardens blog of the lambs at play. Additionally, two African Pygmy Hedgehogs were born at BG this spring, and good golly are they cute (pic)! If there could be anything cuter, it’s that baby hedgehogs are called hoglets!

Baby animals in the wild are not hard to find in Virginia. Any day trip across Skyline Drive or the Blue Ridge Parkway will yield families of wildlife living their lives.

Bears on Skyline Drive and Deer at Peaks of Otter

To the right are a bear and her three cubs on Skyline Drive, as well as a doe and her fawn at Peaks of Otter.

You’ve heard about the wild ponies in Virginia, yes? You can see them on Chincoteague Island, Assateague Island, and even on Mount Rogers in southwest Virginia.

The annual Chincoteague Pony Swim and Auction in July is unique to Virginia and should be on everyone’s bucket list. Perhaps you’ll want to take one home with you.

REMINDER: Do not disturb, feed, or try to approach any wild animals you may see, but feel free to photograph from your car.

- 95 Places to Find Wildlife in Virginia

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Back in May we highlighted awesome waterways for kayaking and canoeing. Tubing isn’t a far stretch from those two water-loving pastimes, other than the pace is quite a bit more relaxed and you probably don’t want the big rapids to throw you off your game.

James River Float Company

James River Float Company, we noted, is a leader in SUP (stand up paddleboarding) on the river, but as their name implies, they’re a source for a nice float, too. The “local float” is $22/person and basically keeps you in the Lynchburg vicinity. Pull your friends together for a party float – even your cooler can go downstream with you.

If you choose to float with Outdoor Adventure Experiences out of Dayton, you choose an awesome family day out on the water. Not only do you get your own tube, but you also get a giant tube made for group play in the deeper, slower spots on the river. Trips with OAE include (and require the use of) a safety helmet and life vest. If you’re looking for a freer, more casual float, this one might not be for you. Half-day trip $30/person; full-day trip $40/person.

The Shenandoah River is one of Virginia’s top picks for a relaxing float, meaning more nearby outfitters are ready to rent you a tube.

• Shenandoah River Adventures, Shenandoah – $17/tube
• Shenandoah River Outfitters, Luray – $22/tube; $6/cooler tube

Tangent Outfitters

The headwaters of the James River are pretty tame compared to the whitewater you’ll find near the fall line downriver in Richmond. For that reason, exploring the Upper James River Water Trail might be advantageous to tubing lovers.

Twin River Outfitters in Buchanan is eager to serve your Upper James River needs at an affordable rate. You can take a tube down one trip (about a 90-minute float) for $15, or you can spend the day floating the route time and again for $20. The fee includes tube, life vest, safety orientation and shuttles from the shop up to the put-in point. Want a quick run at the end of the day? “Last call” floats depart at 4 PM and only cost $10!

The New River is the second oldest river in the world, geologically speaking, and it’s pretty unspoiled and pristine. Sounds like a peaceful, serene float, huh? Put in at Bisset Park in Radford with Tangent Outfitters. The 2-mile float (which can vary from 90 minutes to 3 hours, depending on water levels) is $15/tube on weekdays or $20/tube Saturday and Sunday.

More Rafting/Tubing Options
Virginia’s Rivers

Enjoy your time on the river!

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Motorcycles are the epitome of freedom. Wide open roads full of sun, wind, and nothing holding you down or back. Go where you want to go, see what you want to see. Yesterday’s cares are in that tiny rear view mirror, if only for a short while.

Back of the Dragon

Scenic drives through Virginia are so rewarding. The views are quite literally breathtaking, the serenity of being away from interstates and major thoroughfares is unequaled, and besides needing a stretch once in a while, you might not want to stop riding. Here are a few suggestions for a weekend ride through the countryside.

Back of the Dragon is Route 16 between Marion and Tazewell. The route courses over three mountains for a total of about 33 miles. For a taste of what the ride is like, see this clip of a Harley-Davidson V-ROD laying through the turns.

A winding route that delivers up great river and mountain views is Route 39. Begin in Lexington, traversing through Goshen Pass and working your way to Warm Springs. Along the way you’ll have stop over points like Dan Ingalls Overlook. Eventually you’ll find yourself passing the historic sites at the base of Warm Springs Mountain – Jefferson Pools and The Milk House Market and Old Dairy Barn. Take 220 over into Hot Springs and check out The Homestead Resort. Sam Snead’s Tavern is the perfect place to dine and have a cold beer.

The Blue Ridge Parkway is undeniably the most beautiful route for drivers and riders alike. Ride it for a while and then hop off to see the other sites along the way on the 50-mile Nelson Scenic Loop. The Loop winds along the BRP, Route 56, Route 151 and Route 664, and includes unique attractions like the Montebello Fish Hatchery, Crabtree Falls and Devil’s Backbone Brewery.

The Route 611 Cumberland Mountain Scenic Drive is a mountain course in Clintwood with incredible overlooks and an abundance of wildlife. If you find yourself looking for a great place to stay, this route is just a few miles from Breaks Interstate Park on the VA/KY border. You can have a true outdoors weekend in the Heart of Appalachia.

For more ride ideas, check out our Scenic Drives & Places directory.

Blue Ridge Parkway

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You know the mountains tend to be the coolest place for a summer vacation, don’t you? The higher altitude gives these wooded abodes a natural cool breeze (sometimes chilly) in the evenings, perfect for gathering around a campfire ring and roasting marshmallows.

And the mornings? Oh those nice cool mornings with a cup of coffee in hand and just the sounds of nature around you … unbeatable.

I’m ready to go now. You?

Cozy Virginia Cabins *  Virginia State Park Cabins * Directory of Cabins in Virginia

Natural Tunnel State Park, Duffield

Primland Resort, Meadows of Dan

Rose River Farm, Syria

Royal Oaks Cabin in the Mountains, Love

 

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We took to Facebook and Twitter and asked you which Virginia hikes were your favorite. Having some pretty good ones in mind ourselves, we were overwhelmed with your awesome responses and just had to create a big list. Here are some highlights and you can jump over to www.Virginia.org/Hiking/ for the complete list.

Little Stony Man in Shenandoah National Park. Photo by CameronDavidson@CameronDavidson.com.

Whiteoak Canyon
A wildly popular Shenandoah National Park trail is this one. Why so popular? Six waterfalls reward your effort! The falls range from 35 to 86 feet and feature swimming holes at the bottom of each. Awesome place to propose? Yes. Awesome place to skinny dip? Not so much. Hike in one mile for the lower falls or on up another two miles (and steeper grade) to the upper falls. Park off route 600 at the Boundary Trailhead.

Or, access Whiteoak Canyon from Skyline Drive at milepost 42.6. You’ll encounter the upper falls first on a 4.6-mile out-and-back hike. If you wish to go to the lower falls, know that it’s a steep climb back up and adds another 2.7 miles round trip. Download the Trail Map

Whiteoak Falls

Molly’s Knob
Hungry Mother State Park includes a 108-acre lake with 12 refreshing miles of trails around it. While one trail leads to another here, it’s the Molly’s Knob Trail that serious hikers adore. It’s only 1.6 miles, but it’s narrow, steep, and downright difficult at times before it reveals its treasure – the summit and highest point of the park at 3,270 feet – Molly’s Knob. Download the Trail Map

Strickler Knob
This 5.5-mile moderate hike into George Washington National Forest is not maintained and not suitable for dogs or young children. It does, however, reward with challenging rock scrambling and stunning 360-degree views of New Market Gap and the Luray Valley, as well as a geocache. Access via Crisman Hollow Road/forest development road 274 off route 211 near Luray. This area is known as Scothorn Gap.

Dragon’s Tooth
This spur off the AT overlooking the Roanoke Valley is a 4.6-mile out-and-back. At 3,000 feet, the views from this aptly named location are great. You’ll know you’ve hit Dragon’s Tooth when you see the jagged rock rising ahead of you. Access the trail via route 311 towards Catawba, past the McAfee trailhead. A parking lot is available.

Go to www.Virginia.org/Hiking/ for the complete list of favorite hikes as mentioned by our Facebook and Twitter followers. Happy Trails!

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