Virginia Outdoor Adventures: Hiking, Camping, Kayaking, Local Travel and more!
From the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Chesapeake Bay, Virginia is a mecca for outdoor travel and adventure. Virginia Outdoor Adventures Podcast is your local guide to hiking, camping, kayaking, travel and so much more. Get the information and the inspiration to plan your own adventure, right here in Virginia. Lets Go!
Episodes
84 episodes
Ten Spring Adventures in Virginia to Add to Your Travel Plans (Ep 70, Part 1)
Episode 70 marks a milestone for Virginia Outdoor Adventures podcast, celebrating nearly five years of epic adventures across the Commonwealth. Looking back, I reflect on the incredible diversity of Virginia's outdoor offerings – from whale wat...
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Season 5
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31:13
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Mighty Blue on the Appalachian Trail, Host Steve Adams on Thru Hiking in Virginia (Bonus Episode)
This week I’m sharing a conversation I had with my friend, Steve Adams, or known by his trail name, Mighty Blue. Steve is an AT thru hiker and host of the popular podcast, Mighty Blue on the Appalachian Trail, The Ultimate Midlife Crisis.I ...
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Season 5
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13:54
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Forest Bathing and the Power of Nature Connection with Ana Ka’ahanui, Capital Nature (Ep 69 Part 2)
Immerse yourself in nature’s healing embrace with the transformative power of forest bathing. Ana Ka’ahanui, co-founder of Capital Nature, uncovers the secrets behind this mindfulness practice rooted in Japanese culture.
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Season 5
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28:32
Forest Bathing and the Power of Nature Connection with Ana Ka’ahanui, Capital Nature (Ep 69 Part 1)
Immerse yourself in nature’s healing embrace with the transformative power of forest bathing. Ana Ka’ahanui, co-founder of Capital Nature, uncovers the secrets behind this mindfulness practice rooted in Japanese culture.
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Season 5
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29:27
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Winter Adventures in Virginia: Whale Watching, Stargazing, Ice Climbing, Caving, Wildlife Watching, and more (Ep 68 Part 2)
Start planning your next epic winter adventure like whale watching in Virginia Beach, stargazing in one of Virginia’s Dark Sky Parks, wild caving in Virginia’s Karst Region, Ice Climbing in the Blue Ridge, or winter wildlife watching in person ...
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Season 5
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25:47
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Fan Mail Bag, Gear Discounts, Parks Advocacy Day Recap (Ep 68, Part 1)
Jessica answers podcast fan mail, shares discounts for outdoor gear, and recaps Parks Advocacy Day in Richmond.Follow VAOA Podcast:Instagram I
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Season 5
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18:31
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Conquering Resolutions: Setting Outdoor Goals and Challenges for the New Year with Alejandra Villanueva, Girls Who Hike Virginia (Ep 67, Part 2)
It’s that time of year when we set intentions for the future. Will your resolutions be outdoorsy? Alejandra Villanueva of the hiking community, Girls Who Hike Virginia, shares the story of her ambitious pursuit to hike Old Rag Mountain ...
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Season 5
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34:36
Conquering Resolutions: Setting Outdoor Goals and Challenges for the New Year with Alejandra Villanueva, Girls Who Hike Virginia (Ep 67, Part 1)
It’s that time of year when we set intentions for the future. Will your resolutions be outdoorsy? Alejandra Villanueva of the hiking community, Girls Who Hike Virginia, shares the story of her ambitious pursuit to hike Old Rag Mountain ...
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Season 5
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35:11
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Parks Advocacy Day: Be a Champion for Our State Parks with Michelle Schopp, Virginia Association for Parks (Special Edition Episode)
In this special edition episode, I invited Michelle Schopp to share her first Parks Advocacy Day experience. Less than a year ago, Michelle was in the early stages of her Trail Quest journey to visit all of Virginia’s state parks. When she lear...
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Season 5
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24:16
Gear for Good: Secondhand Consignment Gear for Sustainable and Accessible Adventures with April Peterson, River Rock Outfitter (Ep 65)
What if you could acquire the outdoor gear you need for your epic adventures without breaking the bank or contributing to the fast fashion and throwaway culture? Or what if you could declutter your closets and earn some cash for the gear you ar...
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Season 5
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39:12
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Behind the Scenes of Virginia Outdoor Adventures: Guest Appearance on Second Act Sucess Career Podcast (Bonus Episode)
I’m often asked how I got started podcasting, how I pivoted from education to entrepreneurship, and what it takes to run a podcast as a small business. I was delighted to sit down for a conversation with my friend, Shannon Russell, care...
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Season 5
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40:04
Virginia’s Adventure Towns: Onancock – Paddling, Boating, Fishing, and Camping the Eastern Shore with Mary and Bill Burnham, Burnham Guides (Ep 64, Part 2)
This is part 2 of a two-part episode. Check your podcast listening app for part 1. What if you could explore a destination that's off the beaten path yet brimming with natural beauty and cultural treasures? Discover the hidden g...
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Season 5
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22:04
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Virginia’s Adventure Towns: Onancock – Paddling, Boating, Fishing, and Camping the Eastern Shore with Mary and Bill Burnham, Burnham Guides (Ep 64, Part 1)
What if you could explore a destination that's off the beaten path yet brimming with natural beauty and cultural treasures? Discover the hidden gem of historic Onancock on Virginia’s Eastern Shore as we set sail with ecotour guides Mary...
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Season 5
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31:30
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Haunted Hikes, Cabin Gear Packing List, Backpacking and First Aid Gear Discounts, Podcast Behind the Scenes, Fan Mail Bag, and more (Ep 63, Part 2)
In part 2 of this two-part episode, I’ll share highlights from my latest newsletter, featuring discounts on backpacking and first aid gear. We’ll wrap up with a complete list of everything included in my cabin stay bag, to help you prepare for ...
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Season 5
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28:59
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Haunted Hikes, Cabin Gear Packing List, Backpacking and First Aid Gear Discounts, Podcast Behind the Scenes, Fan Mail Bag, and more (Ep 63, Part 1)
Join me for a spine-tingling episode filled with spooky stories from a haunted hike— perfect for those who love a good thrill! Plus, we’ll dive into your fan mail, so keep those messages coming by clicking on “Send Jessica a Text Message!” in y...
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Season 5
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32:40
Virginia's Venomous and Nonvenomous Snakes: Hiking Safety, Myths, and Appreciation with Caroline Seitz, Virginia Herpetological Society (Ep 62, Part 2)
We’re slithering into the fascinating world of Virginia’s snakes, equipping you with practical tips to enjoy the great outdoors while respecting these often-misunderstood creatures. In Part 2 of this two-part episode, C...
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Season 5
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33:47
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Virginia's Venomous and Nonvenomous Snakes: Hiking Safety, Myths, and Appreciation with Caroline Seitz, Virginia Herpetological Society (Ep 62, Part 1)
We’re slithering into the fascinating world of Virginia’s snakes, equipping you with practical tips to enjoy the great outdoors while respecting these often-misunderstood creatures. In Part 1 of this two-part episode, C...
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Season 5
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29:00
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Scenic Hikes in Southwest Virginia: Breaks Park and Pine Mountain Trail (Ep 61, Part 2)
Get ready to uncover the hidden gems of Southwest Virginia's scenic hiking destinations. Tyler Mullins of the Pine Mountain Trail Conference, takes us on a journey highlighting the must-do trails of Breaks Park set against the majestic Russell ...
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Season 5
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25:21
Scenic Hikes in Southwest Virginia: Breaks Park and Pine Mountain Trail (Ep 61, Part 1)
Get ready to uncover the hidden gems of Southwest Virginia's scenic hiking destinations. Tyler Mullins of the Pine Mountain Trail Conference, takes us on a journey highlighting the must-do trails of Breaks Park set against the majestic Russell ...
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Season 5
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33:51
Hurricane Helene in Southwest Virginia: Status of Trails/Parks/Public Lands, Our Outdoor Community Can Help (Special Edition)
Hi Friends, If you’re like me, you’ve been watching the news about the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Helene and wondering what you can do to help. Our communities in Southwest Virginia have been hit hard and many of the places we know and ...
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Season 5
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12:57
Season 5 Trailer - New Episodes, Giveaways, Upcoming Events, Fan Mail Texting, Shout Outs and more (Ep 60)
I'm back for a fifth season of Virginia Outdoor Adventures! In the Season 5 Trailer, get a sneak peek of new episodes, upcoming fall festivals and events where you can meet me in person, giveaways for podcast merch, new features su...
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Season 5
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45:38
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59. Wandering Waters Paddle Quest with Sammy Zambon, Virginia State Parks
“Our goal for Wandering Waters is to get people out and exploring our parks, either on a stand up paddle board, a kayak, or a canoe and seeing our parks from a different perspective. You can go to a park like Hungry Mother and hike up to th...
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Season 4
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35:38
58. Virginia’s Adventure Towns: Urbanna's River Life - Fishing, Crabbing, Boating, Camping & Paddling with Rivah Sistah
“For us to get to Grey’s Point campground, we had to pass through Urbanna. So one day I made a left just to explore and I was like, 'Wow! It’s so beautiful!' The boats and the waterfront, dining and nice houses. It’s this vibe that you just...
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Season 4
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49:38
57. Walk Ride Paddle: A Life Outside with Senator Tim Kaine
"Everybody has a favorite place in Virginia like a trail, a sunset, a beach, a lake, or a river. Everyone has a place that's special to them and everyone is invested in trying to make sure that it's there for their kids and their grandkids....
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Season 4
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39:06
56. Let’s Go Adventures - Camping, Hiking, Kayaking, Fly Fishing, Archery, and Orienteering with Diego Riffle and Sarah King, Virginia State Parks
“Sarah and I want folks to gain some confidence recreating in the outdoors, especially in our Virginia State Parks, and gain some knowledge on how to recreate safely. That's our big two takeaways. Making sure folks can leave our programs fe...
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Season 4
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39:43
