2008 SCHEDULE

Have you been dreaming of an adventure filled vacation? Somewhere exotic that you don’t need a passport and you don’t need to take a second mortgage to pay for?  Someplace with a diverse array of natural wonders where you can walk on white sand beaches, hike in a tropical rain forest, snorkel in clear, blue waters, with multi-colored coral reefs, kayak and swim in a bioluminescent bay, horseback ride along a palm-shaded beach, trek into limestone caves with 500 year old petroglyphs and the ocean crashing beneath it, explore river canyons filled with prehistoric fossils, look for nesting sea turtles, go whale watching, and at the end of the day watch the sun set into the Atlantic Ocean.  Your dream has just come true on this all-inclusive (except airfare), 7- night, 7-day Wildside Adventure to Puerto Rico.  It’s hard to imagine that all of this adventure is available on an island that is 100 miles long and 35 miles wide, but it’s all there just waiting for you February 9-16, 2008.   Price: $1,275   Difficulty Rating: All activities are suitable for beginners that lead an active lifestyle. 

If you’ve had enough of an overcrowded and weary world, the islands of the Lower Keys are the place for you.  The Lower Keys are the least developed of the Florida Keys and in many ways the most natural.  On this 2-night, 2-day trip, we will explore this tropical environment by kayaking off of Big Pine Key and snorkel and swim at Bahia Honda Key which frequently makes the list of most beautiful beaches in America, and we will top it all off with an incredible sunset kayak tour.  On our backcountry paddle we will venture where very few go and enjoy this oasis from a mad and rushed world.  Wildlife abounds in the Lower Keys and it is common to see dolphin, rays, sharks, and an abundance of amazing birdlife.  The Lower Keys are known for their natural setting and plentiful wildlife and are the least touched by man’s “progress”.  Join us for a weekend of island hopping fun, sun, surf and stress-free living.   Price: $455   Difficulty Rating: Suitable for beginners. 

Reservations for this trip are due February 18, 2008

* BEGINNER’S TRIP *

 The Iron Mountain Trail was part of the Appalachian Trail until 1972 when the A.T. was relocated to the south.  The Iron Mountain Trail passes through luxuriant forest, generally following the mountain crest with superb views.  On this 1-night, 2-day backpacking trek through Mt. Rogers National Recreation Area in Virginia we will hike 14 miles over moderate terrain - a great hike to introduce you to the joys of backpacking.   Price: $200   Difficulty Rating:  Moderate

Reservations for this trip are due March 2, 2008

The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal towpath runs 185 miles along the Potomac River from Washington D.C. to Cumberland, Maryland.  We will explore a portion of this nearly level pathway on this 2-night, 2-day bike trip.  We will spend our days biking and visiting the quaint shops and cafés of Shepherdstown, and sightseeing the historic and charming Harpers Ferry – both in West Virginia.  We will spend our nights at a hostel by the trail and meet people from all walks of life who enjoy the socialization of hostelling.  The C & O Canal is a national historical park and a pathway into history, nature, and recreation - and we will enjoy all the wonderful things that it has to offer.  Price:  $205   Difficulty Rating:  Suitable for beginners

 This workshop is designed for the woman who is ready to spread her wings and live self sufficiently on the trail.  Everything you need to know to get a pack on your back and on the trail, will be covered: What gear you need and where to buy it (inexpensively), how to carry the least amount of weight AND still be prepared, how to plan trips, first-aid and safety, hands-on practice using gear and equipment, food and nutrition (we will even have a trail chef preparing a specialized gourmet trail meal on Saturday night!), reading maps, and so much more!  PLUS, we will work in some time to hike.  This 2-night, 2-day workshop will be held at Sunrise Cabin in Mt. Rogers National Recreation Area in Virginia.  You can put what you learn from this workshop into practice with one of the beginning backpacking trips scheduled for this year.   Price:  $185.    Thank you so much for a wonderful weekend.  I learned a lot and enjoyed the entire experience.  The knowledge I gained helps me to be confident as I venture out on my own on the trail.  I feel as though I couldn't have gotten a better exposure to backpacking than taking your Beginner's course - it was perfect for me. - My-Phuong '06

Spring - the awakening of nature, dormant over the long winter.  Everything is alive and the waterfalls in Shenandoah National Park are no exception.  Join Wildside Adventures for this 3-night, 3-day backpack trip through White Oak Canyon with more falls per mile than any other stream in the park, and the second highest at 86 feet.  We will follow cascades as they spill down narrow gorges, and be serenaded by their white noise until they reach their destination at Cedar Falls.  So many trails and so many falls - 3 days may not be enough time!   Price:  $210   Difficulty Rating:  Moderate-Challenging.

Reservations for this trip are due March 2, 2008

It’s springtime in Virginia and that means two things - wildflowers and hiking.  This 1-night, 2-day backpacking trip will give you the opportunity to do both.  The Shenandoah Mountain Trail may well be one of the easiest rambles to be taken in the mountains of western Virginia.  That’s right - a nearly level ridgeline trail that will give us plenty of time to stop and smell the wildflowers (sorry, no roses this trip) and lose ourselves in the thousands of azalea in bloom.  This trek will also include hiking in Ramsey’s Draft Wilderness through vintage hemlocks and old growth forest with plenty of solitude.   Price:  $160   Difficulty Rating:  Moderate     I had a blast and cannot wait to finish my role of film and send copies to mom, friends, etc.  Glad you captured the trillium on film, too.  I surprised myself at my fitness level. - Laurie '07

There are over 520 miles of trails in Shenandoah National Park and the majority of backpackers tend to flock to the Appalachian Trail.  As beautiful as the A.T. is, the park has a lot more to offer when you step off the beaten path and that is exactly what we will do on this 2-night, 3-day trip.  We will hike along scenic ridgelines with incredible views of the valley below, search for fossils in the sandstone rocks, enjoy the beautiful spring wildflowers and let our cares wash away in the numerous waterfalls.  Come and explore one of the nation’s most visited national parks in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia; the way it should be seen – on the wild side!   Price:  $220   Difficulty Rating:  Moderate-Challenging

From Springer Mountain Georgia, the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail, we could walk 2,174 miles to Mt. Katahdin in Maine, but instead we will spend 5 nights and 6 days on the trail.  Our second section of our ongoing thru-hike will find us hiking 62 miles as we leave Georgia and make our way into North Carolina.  We will get a taste of what thousands of thru-hikers experience and enjoy it in all its spring beauty without all of the crowds.   Price:  $410    Difficulty Rating:  Moderate-Challenging

Join us for this weekend as we paddle to the pristine shores of Bear Island and Dudleys Island in North Carolina.  We will base camp on the unpopulated Dudleys Island and spend the remainder of the weekend meandering through the calm salt marshes and protected waterways of the Barrier Islands.  Bear Island is one of the oldest and most beautiful of the islands and can only be reached by boat. Along the way we will encounter a diversity of sea birds and marine life; such as the once endangered Osprey Hawk, the endangered Loggerhead Sea Turtle, and the magical presence of the Bottlenose Dolphin!  This 3-night, 3-day adventure will leave you with a sense of harmony with nature in this premier sea kayaking destination on the East Coast.   Price:  $380   Difficulty Rating:  Suitable for Beginners

Reservations for this trip are due April 1, 2008

* BEGINNER’S TRIP *

 As though we have stepped into a chapter of Lord Of The Rings - we will trek through forests full of high and thick canopies of trees that create a “cathedral-like” atmosphere, mosses and ferns of every variety, small waterfalls and cascades and boulder strewn pools along the Middle Fork River.  On this 2-night, 2-day trip through the Cranberry Wilderness area of Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia, we will experience all this plus wide easy trails.  Truly an ideal hike for beginners, as well as a magical experience for all!   Price:  $170   Difficulty Rating:  Easy - Moderate    THANK YOU.  I had a wonderful time hiking with the group.  I have never hiked with a group before and it was beyond my expectations.  The group bonded particularly well.  I cannot say enough about each person.  It was such a pleasure to hike with and get to know everyone. - Ann '07

LOYALSOCK TRAIL
Backpacking
May 25-30

Wildside Adventures is always in pursuit of trails that are seldom traveled, in order to offer you the opportunity to explore new areas and to enjoy the beauty and solitude of the woods in a way that isn’t always possible on heavily used backpacking trails.  The Loyalsock Trail in eastern Pennsylvania is such a trail.  This 5-day, 4-night backpacking trip will complete the 59-mile Loyalsock Trail (which derives its name from the Native American phrase “LAWI-SQUICK”, meaning middle creek since it flows between Muncy Creek and Lycoming Creek).  The LT follows mountain ridges and streams as it travels through the woods on footpaths, old logging roads and abandoned railroad grades.  One segment of the LT follows the Native American Towanda Path, which dates from before the coming of European settlers.  Waterfalls abound on this trail as well as spectacular views; and, more importantly, the quiet and beauty of an under used trail!   Price:  $335   Difficulty Rating:  Moderate   

Reservations for this trip are due April 25, 2008

Dolly Sods Wilderness area in Monongahela National Forest, West Virginia, has it all - high plains, hardwood forests, high cliffs and river valleys.  On this 3-night, 3-day trip we will:  Enjoy spectacular views from cliffs, traverse high open plains, swim, fish, relax by the Forks of Red Creek, and explore the huge boulders in the area.  With all of this great beauty you would expect it to be heavily used, and it is . . . BUT we know the best places to escape the crowds and enjoy this area at its most peaceful, beautiful best.   Price:  $220   Difficulty Rating:  Moderate

* BEGINNERS TRIP *

 Mt. Rogers is Virginia’s highest peak at 5,729 feet and this 1-night, 2-day beginner’s trip will take you to the summit as well as to Grayson Highlands State Park, which has been compared to the grasslands of Montana - speckled with magnificent rock outcroppings and blessed with plenty of sky.  The area is also home to several herds of feral ponies, which are wild but not shy!  Join us for this low mileage introduction to life on the Appalachian Trail in one of the most beautiful areas of southwest Virginia.  (You don’t want to miss the sunrise over the highlands - it’s incredible.)   Price:  $200   Difficulty Rating:  Moderate

NORTH CAROLINA ADVENTURE
Day Hiking / Kayaking
June 12-15

Grandfather Mountain, located in Linville, North Carolina, creates a sense of wonder.  The base rock that pokes through to form cliffs and crags is over a billion years old, part of a mountain range that predates the Alps and the Himalayas.  Grandfather never fails to stir the soul with its boulder-strewn trails, mile-high bridge, ancient black cliffs, rare Azalea’s and 66 other endangered species, laddered trails, and astonishing views.  Day hiking on Grandfather Mountain is just the beginning of this 3-night, 3-day adventure.  We will also spend a day kayaking on the French Broad River.  This scenic trip will take us through the Biltmore Estate Property and some of the oldest mountains on earth. This 8 thousand acre private, protected wilderness will allow us the opportunity to see river otters, Great Blue Heron’s, and a multitude of bird life.  And if that wasn’t enough adventure for one weekend, we will spend one day hiking out of Hot Springs, NC on the Appalachian Trail.  Famed naturalist John Muir was inspired to describe the view from Calloway Peak on Grandfather Mountain as “the face of all Heaven come to earth”.  Join us for this weekend and see for yourself what he was talking about!   Price:  $390   Difficulty Rating:  Hiking – Moderate-Challenging,  Kayaking – Suitable for Beginners    Thanks so much for leading an inspiring trek through some beautiful wilderness. - Judith '07

Reservations for this trip are due May 16, 2008.

 What in the world is Via Ferrata?  VIA stands for “very intense adventure.”  “Ferrata” is Italian for “iron road”.  A via ferrata is basically a long climbing route with permanently fixed cables for protection.  The Nelson Rocks Via Ferrata, located in West Virginia, is the first and only American designed and built via ferrata in the world.  It includes a 230’ long, 150’ high swinging foot bridge (one of the longest such bridges in the country).  This 2-night, 2-day adventure (and we do mean adventure) will introduce you to this unique form of rock climbing.  Steel cables, metal rings and bridges will make areas accessible to those without technical rock climbing skills, providing exhilarating views and exposure.  If that isn’t enough excitement for one weekend, then just wait.  Day 2 of our weekend will find us hiking through open meadows, hardwood forests, and along fast-flowing mountain streams in Monongahela National Forest’s Seneca Creek Backcountry.  Wildside promises adventure, and this weekend we will deliver!    Price:  $270   Difficulty Rating:  Anyone who is fit enough to handle rugged trail hiking is capable of this climbing.  No prior rock climbing experience is needed.

Reservations for this trip are due May 16, 2008

 It becomes more and more difficult to find a small piece of wilderness to get away to, but we found a beautiful place to lose yourself in the outdoors for 3-nights and 3-days.  The Cranberry Wilderness is tucked into Monongahela National Forest and offers all that you are looking for: Hiking through forests full of high and thick canopies of trees that create a “cathedral-like” atmosphere, mosses and ferns of every variety, small waterfalls and cascades and boulder strewn pools along the Middle Fork River ideal for swimming; biking along the Cranberry River on flat trail with the river following you as it winds it’s way through the mountains surrounded by rhododendron in full bloom.  If this all sounds too good to be true, then join us for this Wildside adventure and see for yourself that all of this solitude and beauty really does exist!   Price:  $250   Difficulty Rating:  Easy – Moderate

Reservations for this trip are due May 26, 2008

Are you dreaming of a long distance hike?  Are you finding if difficult to find the time away from work and family to pursue your dream?  We can make dreams come true with a minor modification.  In 2006 we started section hiking Vermont’s Long Trail and this trek will take us to our journeys end at the Canadian border. The Long Trail is a 270-mile backcountry footpath that follows the main ridge of the Green Mountains.  As it wends its way to Canada, the Trail climbs rugged peaks and passes pristine ponds, alpine bogs, hardwood forest, and swift streams as it passes through the heart of Vermont’s backwoods.  This backpacking trip will give you a true taste of long distance hiking with a scheduled maildrop mid-way through our hike.  Best of all, you will have the company and safety of hiking with a like-minded group of women. The third and final section of our thru-hike will begin at Stowe, Vermont and we will trek north for the final 70 miles on this 6-night, 7-day trip ending at Journey’s End on the Canadian border.  Even if you have missed the previous sections of the trail, you are still welcome to join us and you can “start” your thru-hike in 2008!   Price:  $550    Difficulty Rating:  Moderate-Difficult    I had an absolutely amazing time and I simply cannot wait to attempt my thru-hike!!!  Thank you for being such a great trip leader and I look forward to going on more trips with you and hopefully the other hiking machines!!!! - Melissa '07

Reservations for this trip are due June 2, 2008

 Nestled among scenic mountain ranges, Moosehead Lake in Maine is the largest lake east of the Mississippi contained within one state.  At forty miles long and up to fifteen miles wide, Moosehead Lake’s island-studded waters stretch as far as the eye can see, and are surrounded by vast forested wilderness.  Located at the doorstep of Maine’s great north woods, the Moosehead Lake Regis is steeped in history.  Henry David Thoreau explored the region with Indian guides in the mid-1800’s, and we will likewise explore the area on foot and by kayak on this 6-night, 5-day adventure.  From an early morning “Moose Safari” on a remote pond and kayaking from the front door of our cottage, to day hikes on the Appalachian Trail’s 100-mile wilderness, and to Maine’s “Greatest Mountain”, Mt. Katahdin, the northern terminus of the A.T., we will truly “Live Life The Way It Should Be” (which is Maine’s motto, and ours)!   Price:  $955   Difficulty Rating:  Kayaking – Suitable for Beginners,  Day Hiking – Moderate-Difficult. 

Reservations for this trip are due May 2, 2008.

 You probably think that there are very few secret places left on the Appalachian Trail, but we’ve found one stretch that somehow escaped notice.  The 8,900-acre James River Face Wilderness in central Virginia - one of the East’s first designated wilderness areas, has remained so untrammeled it’s a near miracle given the slideshow-quality views of the Blue Ridge, Allegheny Mountains, Peaks of Otter, and James River Gorge (which is crossed by a 625-foot pedestrian bridge, the A.T.’s longest).  This 3-night, 4-day trip will introduce you to this area with highlights like: The Guillotine (a huge boulder suspended over the trail), The Devils Marbleyard (8 acres of fractured quartzite boulders).  Join us for a great late-summer hike with plenty of solitude just waiting for you.   Price:  $240   Difficulty Rating:  Moderate-Challenging     You always manage to pull together a fascinating group of women and a memorable trip; I am never disappointed and always eager for more days on the trail when I do a Wildside adventure!!! - Brenda '07

Reservations for this trip are due July 18, 2008

How many times have you picked up an adventure magazine and seen a picture of some brave soul canyoneering in Utah or one of those exotic places you thought you’d never be able to afford to go to, and said to yourself, “I wish I was there”.  Well, be careful what you wish for because now you have the opportunity to do so in the southeast!  This sport, which combines climbing, rappelling, rock jumping, water activities and a lot of boulder hopping has been popular in the southwest for a number of years, and given the fact that the southeast doesn’t actually have canyons is not a problem.  Western North Carolina has gorges, which makes this experience even more incredible and far safer than in a canyon (no worries of flash floods). On this 2-night, 2-day trip you will have the opportunity to explore areas you would think are inaccessible and learn new skills along the way.  Canyoneering isn’t about exercise or competition.  It’s about exploration.  On the second day of our truly “wildside” weekend we will day hike in beautiful DuPont State Forest.  DuPont is well known for its waterfalls, and it has as much falling water per square mile as any public land in the Southeast. This exploration will be a little more on the mild side – the best of all worlds!   Price: $200   Difficulty Rating:  Suitable for Beginners – Participants should be in good physical shape. 

Reservations for this trip are due July 18, 2008

MONONGAHELA NATIONAL FOREST
Backpacking
August 28-31

The Cranberry Wilderness area of Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia is the ideal setting for a late summer backpacking trip.  The forests in this area are mostly hardwood and have been left untouched since the early 1900s.  Hiking under thick canopies and past mosses and ferns of every variety - small waterfalls, meandering rivers, cascades and boulder strewn pools invite you to take a swim or cool your feet after a day on the trail.  This 3-night, 3-day trip will not be nearly enough time to enjoy the solitude of this magical forest.   Price:  $210   Difficulty Rating:  Moderate

APPALACHIAN TRAIL THRU-HIKE
Section Three - Wayah Gap to Newfound Gap
Backpacking
September 12-21

From Springer Mountain Georgia, the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail, we could walk 2,174 miles to Mt. Katahdin in Maine, but instead we will spend 8 nights and 9 days on the trail.  Our third section of our ongoing thru-hike will find us hiking 91 miles as we leave North Carolina and make our way into Tennessee and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  We will get a taste of what thousands of thru-hikers experience and enjoy it in all its fall beauty without all of the crowds.   Price:  $630    Difficulty Rating:  Moderate-Challenging

Located at the southernmost tip of North Carolina's Outer Banks lays Ocracoke Island.  This remote island is part of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore and boasts 16 miles of pristine, undeveloped beaches and beautiful water ideal for kayaking which is exactly what we will do on this 2-night, 2-day island retreat.  We will leave agendas behind on the mainland and spend the weekend exploring the marsh areas by kayak, the beaches by foot, and the rest of the island by bike.   Accessible only by ferry, private boat or plane, Ocracoke is an oasis for the nature lover who is looking for a low-key getaway island with an artisan village, no crowds, and beautiful sunsets.  Price:  $335   Difficulty Rating:  Suitable for beginners

 Reservations for this trip are due August 25, 2008

 Cumberland Island National Seashore is Georgia’s largest and southern-most barrier island.  It’s hard to imagine that on this 17 1/2 mile long island there are forests so quiet that you can hear yourself breathe; that you can hear the courting bellow of the alligator, witness live oak forests and crumbling walls of mansions from bygone eras, and enjoy herds of horses grazing openly on the marsh and in the forest areas.  On this 3-night, 3-day adventure, join us as we explore the diverse trails and the white sand beaches of the island.  If you are seeking water, sand, and solitude, this adventure is for you.   Price:  $240   Difficulty Rating:  Easy-Moderate.

 Reservations Due September 1^st, 2008

 Are you ready to do a little island hopping?  If so, this 2-night, 2-day kayaking and day hiking tour of Georgia’s sea isles is ready for you!  From our base on Sapelo Island we will explore this unique island, which still has a largely intact community of people that trace their roots back to the West African slaves brought to Sapelo 250 years ago.  Ancient Indian shell rings, miles of untouched beach, tabby ruins, and one of the oldest lighthouses in Georgia await us.  From Sapelo Island we will paddle to Blackbeard Island where we will explore gnarly Live Oaks, Palmettos and boneyard beaches.  Blackbeard Island is now a National Wildlife Refuge so we can expect to see an abundance of waterfowl.  Both islands have so much to see, it will be difficult to do it all in 2 days!   Price:  $375   Difficulty Rating:  Easy-Moderate.

 Reservations Due September 1^st, 2008

 This workshop is designed for the beginner or experienced backpacker who dreams of a long distance hike - be it 100 miles or all 2,168 miles of the Appalachian Trail.  Backpacking skills required for a long distance hike will be discussed and demonstrated by Melody Blaney, co-founder of Wildside Adventures for Women and a 1996 thru-hiker of the Appalachian Trail.  She will cover everything from purchasing gear to planning maildrops.  We will have a trail chef preparing a specialized trail meal on Saturday night!  PLUS, we will work in some time to hike.  This 2-night, 2-day workshop will be held at Sunrise Cabin in Mt. Rogers National Recreation Area in Virginia.   Price:  $200    Thank you for a very informative and worthwhile weekend.  I feel like I have closed the time warp in my knowledge and understanding of equipment and information that I will need to start the "Dream" of my thru hike.  I learned and laughed...all at the same time...all weekend long. - Moira '07

 Combine soft red sandstone, rushing mountain streams, and a few million years of erosion, and the result is the fantastic formations of Kentucky’s Red River Gorge Geologic Area.  Nestled within Daniel Boone National Forest, the area is decorated by more than 80 natural arches, hidden waterfalls, and rock “houses” (overhangs once used for shelter by the Shawnee tribe).  On this 3-night, 3-day trip we will day hike each day and explore Back Arch, Rock Bridge, Hell’s Kitchen, Creation Falls, Angel Windows, Hidden Arch, and Natural Bridge just to name a few of the natural wonders we will visit (and to tune your mind to daydream mode)!  This is a photographer’s paradise not to be missed.   Price:  $290   Difficulty Rating:  Moderate

Reservations for this trip are due September 12, 2008

APPALACHIAN TRAIL
Backpacking
October 24-28

 Hiking trails and picturesque mountains are synonymous in Tennessee, and this 47-mile section on the Appalachian Trail will prove that notion true.  Not only will this trek cross five mountains above 5,400 feet in elevation, three of these peaks are “balds”. Although the Southern Appalachians have no treeline, there are many bald mountains, the origins of which remain a mystery to scientists.  These balds offer breathtaking 360-degree views, which provide a feeling of hiking in an endless meadow.  Laurel Fork Gorge descends to Laurel Falls with its crystal clear waters.  This 5-night, 4-day trip is backpacking adventure at its best.  It offers the more experienced hiker a chance to practice their skills, yet offers the novice outdoor enthusiast the opportunity to learn the basics of backpacking on an extended trip.   Price:  $275   Difficulty Rating:  Moderate-Challenging    Your consideration for me; such as saving a spot in the shelter, the crackling fires in the evening, and the always enthusiastic greeting when I arrived at a shelter, well, this more than anything in the past keeps me wanting more.  Paula '07

SOUTH MOUNTAIN STATE PARK
Backpacking
November 7-9

* BEGINNERS TRIP *

Are you looking for a backpacking trip to test your gear and see if this activity is your cup of tea, or do you want a weekend on the trail without climbing one mountain after another carrying a full pack?  This trip is tailor-made for you!  We will spend 2-nights and 2-days in South Mountain State Park in western North Carolina.  We will hike into a base camp then day hike from there.  The South Mountains are an isolated, majestic and rugged mountain range arising from the gently rolling Foothills and upper Piedmont region.  The most spectacular feature in the park is High Shoals Falls on Jacob’s Fork River.  A torrent of water drops 80 feet over a cliff face of bare rock, and magnificent views of surrounding peaks and ridges await us from tranquil Chestnut Knob.  Don’t let the beautiful, crisp days of fall pass you by without spending time with Mother Nature.  The South Mountains are ideal to suit all your needs for a weekend adventure.    Price:  $160   Difficulty Rating:  Moderate

CUMBERLAND FALLS STATE RESORT PARK
Day Hiking
 November 14-16

 Often called the “Niagara of the South,” Cumberland Falls in southeastern Kentucky has one of the most awesome sights in not only Kentucky, but also in the world. The beauty of Cumberland Falls draws visitors from everywhere to come see its grandeur and witness a “Moonbow”.  Visible on moonlit evenings, the moonbow is said to only be duplicated at Victoria Falls in Africa.  The moonbow is only visible at certain times of the year and on this 2-night, 2-day trip we will not only have the privilege of witnessing this incredible phenomenon of nature, but we will also spend our days hiking and exploring the spectacular sandstone bluffs, searching for early signs of spring wildflowers amongst the towering hemlocks, and simply bonding with nature. Lodging for this trip will be in a cottage at Cumberland Falls State Park.   Price: $245   Difficulty Rating: Moderate

Before the rush of the holidays descends upon you, treat yourself to a weekend in the woods. The beauty of day hiking in late fall is unobstructed views by summer foliage, clear, fresh air, no bugs, and relaxing in front of a warm and cozy fire at the end of the day.  We will be exploring Grayson Highlands State Park, in southwest Virginia, which has been compared to the grasslands of Montana - speckled with magnificent rock outcroppings and blessed with plenty of sky.  The area is also home to several herds of feral ponies, which are wild but not shy!  We will be day hiking on the Appalachian Trail as well as state park trails to some of the most scenic areas along the Appalachian Trail in Virginia.  This weekend is also Wildside’s final trip of the year and we plan to close it out in grand style – grand by Wildside standards – a cabin with all of the amenities! Pack your wool mittens and hat, leave the holiday to-do list behind, and join us for this 2-night, 2-day adventure.  We’ll bring the marshmallows!   Price: $210 Difficulty Rating: Moderate (depending on weather conditions).

Parting Shot

Bullwinkle, Bullwinkle . . . wherefore art thou Bullwinkle?

Please Note:  Wildside Adventure trips and programs are updated on a continual basis.  If you don't see the kind of trip you're looking for, we'll be happy to set one up for you or your group!  Call us for rates and information.