Explore Virginia

Virginia Creeper Trail with Scott Little

Scott Little of Green Cove Collective comes on the show to discuss the Virginia Creeper Trail as it exists post-Helene and what the impact the hurricane had on the trail and it's close knit community of shops, restaurants and outdoor enthusiasts. In this episode we chat about how Scott started his online shop and then the brick and mortar store in Green Cove during Covid as a way to both support and be an essential part of the biking and outdoors community that has been created around the Creeper Trail.  The Virginia Creeper Trail is a 35-mile (56 km) multi-purpose rail trail. Located in southwestern Virginia, the trail runs from Abingdon to Whitetop, near Mount Rogers National Recreation Area and the North Carolina border.  The trail accomodates hikers, cyclists and equestrians on its descent from Abingdon to Damascus.  18 miles of the 34-mile mile Creeper Trail, from Damascus to Whitetop, have been devastated. To date, 18 trestles have been lost – destroyed or washed away. In extended sections, the trail itself no longer exists… reclaimed by the rushing, flooded creeks. Trailheads, access points, amenities and signage have been destroyed as well (Credit: Virginia Creeper Trail Conservancy).  To connect with Scott/Green Cove Collective and learn more:  Instagram: @virginiacreepertrail [https://www.instagram.com/virginiacreepertrail/], @greencovecollective [https://www.instagram.com/greencovecollective/] Web: greencovecollective.com [http://greencovecollective.com]  Music clip credit: "Whiskey on the Mississippi" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Friends of the North Fork of the Shenandoah River

Friends of the North Fork of the Shenandoah River sit down with Lori to chat about what their organization offers to the community:  Keeping the North Fork of the Shenandoah River clean, healthy, and beautiful through advocacy, community action, education, and science. Come Explore Virginia and the North Fork of the Shenandoah River!  Connect with Friends of the North Fork socials: FaceBook [https://www.facebook.com/FriendsNFSR/]  Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/friendsofthenorthfork/] TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@friendsofthenorthfork?_t=8qGZnMr7dxX&_r=1] YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@FriendsoftheNorthFork] Signing up for email is another great way to know what is going on! Website: friendsofthenorthfork.org [http://friendsofthenorthfork.org/] or fnfsr.org [http://fnfsr.org/] There you can find information like public access points [https://www.friendsofthenorthfork.org/access], river health [https://www.friendsofthenorthfork.org/rescourses], partnering organizations [https://www.friendsofthenorthfork.org/rescourses], events [https://www.friendsofthenorthfork.org/events], articles [https://www.friendsofthenorthfork.org/new-page] and our wonderful state park. [https://www.friendsofthenorthfork.org/sbsp]  Friends of the North Fork Booze: Both businesses donate a portion of the proceeds to either FNFSR or Seven Bends State Park. Woodstock Brewhouse [https://www.woodstockbrewhouse.com/] Woodstock, VA * North Fork Hefeweizen (Save a Fish, Drink a Beer) * Monarch Muse (Partnership between Woodstock Brewhouse & Muse Vineyard as its brewed using wine barrels) - each business donates Muse Vineyard [https://musevineyards.com/] Woodstock, VA * Seven Bends  The North Fork Middles School project is RIPPLES (River Immersion Project to Promote Local Environmental Studies) Come out and support their big fall fundraiser, Rendezvous for the River [https://www.friendsofthenorthfork.org/rendezvous], September 27. Tickets can be purchased online. They are also looking for Sponsors [https://www.friendsofthenorthfork.org/rendezvous].

Blue Ridge Heritage Project

In this premiere episode of the Explore Virginia Podcast, host Lori Prima brings on guest Bill Henry of the Blue Ridge Heritage Project.  The project's vision is: * Develop a memorial site in each of the eight counties where land was acquired to create the Shenandoah National Park; and * Educate visitors about the lives and culture of the people who lived in the mountains through living history presentations, exhibits, and demonstrations. In this informative episode you will learn more about the history of the project, the families who were removed from the land that is now Shenandoah National Park and how the chimney memorials came to be placed in eight counties where families called the mountains home.  You can learn more by visiting: https://www.blueridgeheritageproject.com/ [https://www.blueridgeheritageproject.com/] List of recommended books and other resources can be found here [https://www.blueridgeheritageproject.com/team-4-1] Reach out to the podcast: Loriprima@explorevirginiapodcast.com  Subscribe to the podcast at:  https://explorevirginia.buzzsprout.com/ [https://explorevirginia.buzzsprout.com/] Support the show [https://www.patreon.com/thehikepodcast]

Explore Virginia Podcast - Summer 2025

A new podcast that focuses on exploring Virginia is coming Summer 2025.  Virginia has 43 state parks with more than 700 miles of trails, 24 wilderness areas, 22 national park sites and over 100,000 miles of streams and rivers. Whether you hike, bike, camp, paddle or are looking for a day trip itinerary, this podcast will highlight the best of what Virginia has to offer the outdoor adventure seeker.  Coming to you from the experienced Host and Producer behind Hike podcast, episodes will share intimate interviews, stories of adventure, and hidden gems in the wild spaces of our beautiful Virginia landscape.  Virginia is for Explorers! Music clip credit: "Whiskey on the Mississippi" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/