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Virginia

Hiking Scenic Southwest Virginia

Program No. 22828RJ
Lace up your hiking boots and venture into the striking scenery of Southwest Virginia on a hiking adventure that includes Appalachian culture, music and more.
Program
At a Glance
Duration
5 days
Program Begins
Abingdon, VA
Program Concludes
Abingdon, VA
Group Type
Small Group
Meals
11 ( 4B, 3L, 4D )
Activity Level
Revel in the feeling of freedom as you explore scenic Southwest Virginia by foot. Alongside local experts, discover beautiful stretches of the Virginia Creeper Trail, the Appalachian Trail, state parks and nature preserves. Each hike will have you basking in the breathtaking beauty of trailside mountain streams, lush forests and memorable mountain views.
Best of all, you'll...
  • Enjoy hikes led by local experts on the Virginia Creeper Trail, the Appalachian Trail and in nearby state parks and national forests.
  • Explore centuries-old architecture and history in the picturesque small town of Abingdon. Now adorned with boutiques, restaurants and galleries, Abingdon was once an important destination among settlers bound for the new American frontier.
  • Learn about Appalachian culture and musical traditions while enjoying a private performance by local artists.
General Notes
The Retreat Difference: This unique, often basic and no-frills experience at a Road Scholar Retreat includes opportunities for light exercise, interaction with the local community, a farm-to-table or locally sourced meal, a live performance or event and a value-priced room. Due to the nature of this program, listening devices will be unavailable.
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Abbigail Moore
Abbie Moore grew up attending programs at the Southwest Virginia 4-H Educational Center. She is a certified instructor in archery, a team-building and low ropes facilitator, and trained in administering Project Learning Tree(™) curriculum. Abbie works professionally in the field of youth development and has a master’s degree from Clemson University in youth development leadership. Having graduated from James Madison University with an undergraduate degree in modern foreign language (Spanish), Abbie is passionate about promoting cultural literacy and language learning throughout the local community.
Please Note:
This expert may not be available for every date of the program
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Justin Harris
Justin Harris was born and raised in the Abingdon, VA area. He graduated from Emory & Henry College in 2008 after studying biology and herpetology. He and his wife, Brittany, have a son, Elijah. Justin loves hiking, fly fishing and photographing snakes. He loves the hobbies of raising poison dart frogs and playing drums for local churches. He owns White Blaze Outdoors guide service and works part time at Creeper Trail Bike Rental.
Activity Level
Outdoor: Spirited
Activity level varies by date. Outdoor: Spirited dates involve hiking up to 6 miles per day over varied terrain; plan for possibly cold, possibly wet conditions. Outdoor: Challenging dates involve hiking up to 10 miles per day over varied but technical terrain; plan for primitive trailheads and water crossings.
Small Group (13 to 24)
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.
Suggested Reading List
View Full List (10 Books)
You can also find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
HAVE QUESTIONS?
Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone?
We can help. Give us a call, and we can answer all of your questions!
Call 800-454-5768
Enroll with Confidence
Peace of Mind

We want your Road Scholar learning adventure to be something to look forward to—not worry about. That’s why we go to the ends of the earth to give you peace of mind, from the moment you enroll until the day you return home.

Assurance Plan

Road Scholar's continued commitment to our participants and their well-being is exemplified whether participating on a program in the United States or on one of our International programs, every Road Scholar participant receives coverage under our Road Scholar Assurance Plan.

Want to Protect Your Investment?

Road Scholar is pleased to offer its Trip Protection Plan as a way to protect your program investment. You may purchase this optional trip protection plan when enrolling in your program.

Sustainable Travel

We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Read about our commitment to a more sustainable planet.