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Virginia’s Adventure Towns: Harrisonburg – Friendly by Nature with Vince Mier, Walkabout Outfitter (Ep 91, Part 1) · Virginia Outdoor Adventures: Hiking, Camping, Kayaking, Local Travel and more!

• 1:18
  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 for hiking, camping, kayaking, travel, and so much more. Get the information and the inspiration to plan your own adventure right here in Virginia, I'm your host Jessica Bowser. What makes a great adventure town? Is it the mountains and trails that surround it, the endless opportunities to get outside, or is it what you find when you come back from the adventure-a great meal, a local brewery, a little live music, and a community that makes you feel right at home. Welcome to Harrisonburg, the latest stop in Virginia's adventure towns, known as the Friendly City.
• 2:04
  Harrisonburg is an Appalachian trail town and an incredible base camp for exploring the Shenandoah Valley and beyond, with hiking, mountain biking, climbing, paddling, fishing, and more all within reach, but to really understand Harrisonburg, you need someone who lives the adventure. Vince Muir, district manager for walkabout outfitter and an Appalachian Trail thru hiker, has spent plenty of time chasing adventures on the trail.
• 2:29
  But he also knows what makes Harrisonburg special when the backpack comes off-a walkable downtown area home to Virginia's first culinary district and a vibrant arts and cultural district. We're heading into the mountains, exploring the city, and discovering what makes Harrisonburg friendly by nature.
• 2:46
  Let's go. This episode is made possible with support from a grant provided by Virginia is for lovers. Vince, welcome to Virginia Outdoor Adventures.
• 3:08
  Thank you so much, Jessica. I'm excited to be here. I'm looking forward to sharing my love of all things Harrisonburg and just the great outdoors in general.
• 3:15
  Speaking of your love for Harrisonburg, when did you first fall in love with Harrisonburg?
• 3:19
  Probably I can pinpoint it to about 2014, 2015. Before that, I was a school teacher in Roanoke, Virginia. I taught eighth grade civics and economics for about three years, and I decided to take some time off. And of all things, I said I've been thinking about the Appalachian Trail ever since I moved to Virginia, and this looks like a good window to do that, and so march 12, 2011, I set off, wrapped it up august 13, and then the following year I started with Walkabout, and I've been with Walkabout Outfitter ever since. So going on over 14 years at this point, I started as the assistant store manager in Roanoke. That's where one of our locations is, and then there was an opening at our Harrisonburg store, and I couldn't pass up that opportunity. And so, 2014, I came to Harrisonburg and became the store manager there, and have loved it ever since. So Harrisonburg is definitely near and dear to my heart.
• 4:11
  I could tell just how near and dear it was when we met. It seemed to me like you were very connected with the community and also very connected with the outdoors surrounding Harrisonburg and beyond. And I'm wondering, when you think about Harrisonburg as an outdoor adventure destination, what makes this community stand out?
• 4:28
  There's just such a wide variety of people here, unique small businesses focusing on the downtown area, our history, but also really very much looking to the future. And just more organically, it happened over the years. My first initial goal was to make Walkabout Outfitter the best location possible to serve our community in Harrisonburg, and then as time and the years ticked by, I realized that something really cool and something magical was happening in Harrisonburg. The community was responding; we were responding as a vocation, as an outfitter, then as I look back 14 years later, all of these people that have come into my life through the outdoors, through Harrisonburg, through walkabout, it very much was just a unique opportunity to showcase Harrisonburg when you came to visit, but really just on a daily basis with the people that I run into, both in my personal life, but also working at the shop.
• 5:20
  Let's get to know Harrisonburg a little bit better. I've been to Harrisonburg many, many times over the years. I've even done past podcast episodes with some folks around Harrisonburg. But when I visited with you and your partner Kristen, we had an amazing couple of days, and I felt like I really got to know it in a whole different way. And I think it's because we got to talk with small business owners and restaurant owners. I got to experience the hikes from a local's point of view. So I'm really excited to get to know Harrisonburg a little bit better through this episode, so that we can share with the listeners what they can expect, and hopefully they'll make that connection to Harrisonburg as well. So let's dive right in.
• 6:05
  What would you say the personality of Harrisonburg is?
• 6:08
  What I really love is that their motto is "friendly by nature.
• 6:13
  Are we friendly just because we happen to be here in Harrisonburg? It's proximity to the nature that makes us friendly, and so I think it's like the balancing between those two personality-wise.
• 6:21
  Harrisonburg's a very open community. It's a welcoming community. It's a supportive community, adventuresome, innovative, something for everyone. Harrisonburg really shines in so many different ways, and I really felt fortunate to be able to look back and introduce you to all of these people that I have met during my time here, and what's unique about Harrisonburg is the town has its own character. It's not like you get off of the exit on an interstate and it looks just like the exit before that and the exit before that. So when we walked into these places, yes, I wanted to make sure that certain people were there to introduce you to because they had an impact in my life into Harrisonburg, into the outdoors. But really, a lot of that just happened on its own.
• 7:04
  And so, whether we're talking meeting Isabel at Heritage that morning, or Aaron with Jack Browns and Billy Jacks, and then Steve over at Cubenberger, the day in and day out people, as we went into any of these places, that's not unique because you're a podcaster and I was showing you around. That's what you experience in Harrisonburg as a small business walkabout or any of them downtown. That's what you get. That's what such a blessing about that type of a community. It's always changing.
• 7:34
  There's new shops coming in.
• 7:37
  There's new restaurants coming in. There's new development, but it's the people that are the consistent throughline through it all, and the respect of the place and the welcoming. Because just like me, there's a lot of transplants here in Harrisonburg, but that's what makes it such a cool place. So we have access to all these outdoor resources. It's just an amazing community. Whether that nature is the impetus of it, or we just realize the importance of the nature. It goes hand in hand, and so that's really a standout with Harrisonburg.
• 8:04
  I definitely felt that interconnectedness while I was in town, especially in the downtown area. And when we were talking about how the city has changed over the years, we were talking about all the transplants and how folks have moved to Harrisonburg because of all the things that it has to offer. You're a transplant. Your partner Kristen is a transplant, and so we were just sort of chit chatting about why people are attracted to Harrisonburg and and what brings them, and and then what makes them decide to stay. So I think we're going to cover some of that as we talk about what the experience was like that I had with you in Harrisonburg, how has the city changed over the years?
• 8:45
  Whether it's the influence of the local universities that we have-James Madison University, Eastern Mennonite University-we've got some community colleges, a very large and thriving immigrant community that's been welcomed and added into the Harrisonburg fabric, it's exciting. Every time you go downtown, there's something new happening. Whether the new restaurants that we'll talk about, some of these new shops, I think it's just that they're mindful. They still have that historic feel and look of the building, but we're not being defined solely by our history.
• 9:14
  We have so much innovation happening in Harrisonburg. It's the pairing of the two. I think it's thoughtfully evolving over the years, and I'm really excited to see where the next five years and decade to come will look like.
• 9:30
  What does the downtown area offer visitors who may be coming primarily for outdoor recreation?
• 9:36
  Because Harrisonburg has embraced that friendly by nature
• 9:39
  theme. It goes hand in hand: the downtown area and the outdoor recreation side of things. I would strongly encourage you to stop at the visitor center just to get the lay of the land and some recommendations. Like I said, I've lived here for over a decade now, but in visiting at the visitor center just recently, I learned about a new hike, Furnace Mountain, just kind of on the edge of Shenandoah National Park. So now I've done that hike twice, but before walking into the visitor center, it wasn't even on my radar. So even the visitor center caters really well to the downtown and the partnership of what might draw you in as someone looking to do some outdoor recreation. But then there's all kinds of restaurants, so you're going to either stock up on food before you leave town, or you're coming back and kind of celebrating your adventure. You can go into the co-op, our downtown grocery store, and get some supplies.
• 10:28
  theme. It goes hand in hand: You can go into any number of our outdoor shops, whether we're Talk and Walk About Outfitter or the four-plus bike shops that we have, fly fishing. Harrisonburg is designed for any number of things, but it's definitely an outdoor mecca for people seeking that, whether they're locals or from out of town, just visiting.
• 10:48
  theme. It goes hand in hand: I like that you suggested starting at the visitor center because whenever I go into a new town, that's where I like to start. I feel like it sets the stage. It gives you the opportunity to learn about the history of the town and and just sort of get a feel for what the community is like and what's there and you know sometimes you do your research before you leave home and then you arrive to a town and you realize oh I didn't know this was here I want to incorporate these new things and talking to the folks at the visitor center well. Really help give you an idea of what you want to explore while you're there. So I think that's a great recommendation. And you and I did go into the visitor center, and I especially love the wall that they have with all the hikes. And they have the the giant map, and there's pins to show you where each hike is, and then there's an actual pamphlet that you can take with you for each individual hike with information and a map, that is so smart. I felt like that was definitely the place you want to start out, so that you have those resources before you even head out onto the trail.
• 11:47
  theme. It goes hand in hand: When you're excited to visit a new town and time is of the essence because you only have maybe a long weekend, the visitor center is great for that, and it just laid it out so easily. These are the hikes.
• 11:55
  theme. It goes hand in hand: These are how long it'll take.
• 11:58
  theme. It goes hand in hand: This is how long it'll take to get there from the visitor center, and so we often talk about small town businesses. You go in there and you're talking to a local. That's the exact same thing at the visitor center. So it's people that live and work in Harrisonburg that are passionate about Harrisonburg and really just want to align our town with what your interests are, whether it's climbing, whether it's trying a new hike, whether it has nothing to do with outdoors, other than maybe you're doing the beer trail, and so maybe that's more the trail that you're hiking on.
• 12:24
  theme. It goes hand in hand: The visitor center is just a great place to start.
• 12:27
  theme. It goes hand in hand: Yes, the beer trail is a whole nother hike, and we're going to cover that too. But Harrisonburg has all the amenities that a visitor needs, from lodging to dining and other attractions, including museums and even cat cafes. So we're going to get into all of that. But would you say that that's why Harrisonburg is such a natural home for an outfitter like Walkabout?
• 12:48
  theme. It goes hand in hand: We've talked about the evolution of Harrisonburg, and it's due in large part in obviously a lot of organizations are to be commended for it. But we have something called Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance, and so they were instrumental in encouraging Kirk and Tina to come up and actually open a location in Harrisonburg. And I am so glad that they did. My whole life trajectory is due to that visit at the time. His name Eddie Bumba, and now it's Andrea Dano, Walkabout Outfitter, Harrisonburg location in particular has been great. The community is very receptive.
• 13:22
  theme. It goes hand in hand: We've developed all these partnerships over the years, and it's just a very exciting town and dynamic town to to be part of. Just a quick story: last year we started something that we call Hike and Happy Hour, and so it was an opportunity to just invite potentially beginner hikers or just hikers that would like to meet some people and have a good time. That's every third Sunday of the month, and we partnered up with one of our local cideries, Sagebird. We meet at Walkabout, we do an icebreaker, get to know you, develop that community, and then we go on our hike, and then we go over to Sagebird for happy hour, one small example, but a huge one with Walkabout Outfitter in Harrisonburg and the reception. I mean, we'll have anywhere from 10 to 20 to 30 people, depending on the hike. Harrisonburg and Walkabout have went hand in hand for years.
• 14:10
  theme. It goes hand in hand: I have long felt like Walkabout is the cornerstone of the outdoor community in Harrisonburg and in other towns as well, because how many locations does Walkabout have now?
• 14:20
  theme. It goes hand in hand: We're very honored. We currently have six locations, and we're always looking for the next one because we just love this. And the more we can share that with communities, the more we'd love to do such a thing. So the original one opened like over 20 years ago in Lexington, and then since that time, we've opened locations in Roanoke, of course, Harrisonburg, Blacksburg, Richmond, and then currently our newest one is in Williamsburg, Colonial Williamsburg. And so we always look for unique towns, and we've hit it every single time. Very grateful to be in Harrisonburg. Walkabout's origin is a love story. Our love affair continues in Harrisonburg.
• 14:54
  theme. It goes hand in hand: I've known Tina, the owner, for quite a few years now, and her passion for providing outdoor recreation for the communities and getting people connected to the outdoors is very strong. And I'm wondering what kinds of outdoor recreation are people shopping for when they come into the store? Because I imagine it's not just hiking.
• 15:13
  theme. It goes hand in hand: No, certainly not. And just like Tina and her husband Kurt, they have all kinds of outdoor interests, including horse riding in Tina's case. But people coming in to walk about, there's no hard and fast definition. I mean, we'll have people that are new to the area, and then we're like an extension of the visitor center. We have people that are just new to the outdoors. Maybe they've lived in Harrisonburg their whole life, but they're ready to take that first step on whatever their adventure is going to be. We've got travelers, whether they're visiting Harrisonburg or getting ready for a trip overseas. We have rock climbers, but we also have experts like people that are mountain bagging, climbing mountains, thru hikers, pilgrims prepping to do the Camino Trail.
• 15:48
  theme. It goes hand in hand: The list goes on and on, which is why 14 plus years later, I'm still very excited, and every day is new going in to walk about because of the people that we get to work with and serve.
• 16:03
  theme. It goes hand in hand: Fall is here, and for me that means getting outside and taking advantage of some of the best hiking weather of the year. And when I'm looking for gear and clothing for my next adventure, I know I'll find the brands I love at Walkabout Outfitter.
• 16:16
  theme. It goes hand in hand: Walkabout. Out is a family-owned small business carrying high-quality outdoor clothing and gear from brands like Patagonia, Cool, Smart Wool, and Ultra, and they've got something for everyone from AT through hikers to casual day hikers and everyone in between. On my recent visit to Harrisonburg, I picked up a couple of Walkabout branded long-sleeve shirts.
• 16:37
  theme. It goes hand in hand: They're super breathable, so soft, and something I really appreciate after a long day outside. They still smell clean even after hiking in them all day long. That is definitely not something I can say about my other hiking shirts. Whether you're gearing up for a fall hike, camping trip, or just looking for something comfortable to wear around town, check out Walkabout Outfitter with six Virginia locations in Richmond, Lexington, Williamsburg, Roanoke, Blacksburg, and of course Harrisonburg. You can find Walkabout close to home or stop in while you're exploring somewhere new. Walkabout has friendly expert staff and excellent products and customer service. From trail to Tavern.
• 17:17
  theme. It goes hand in hand: They've been encouraging happiness since 2005. Visit Walkabout Outfitter by clicking on Walkabout Outfitter in your show notes. Since Walkabout gets people geared up to go outside, is there any piece of gear that people commonly forget?
• 17:36
  theme. It goes hand in hand: Mainly, I just like to remind people of some of the basics.
• 17:40
  theme. It goes hand in hand: Just losing the cotton, like if you're going out and it's going to be hot, or if it's going to be raining, you just want to ditch cotton in every respect.
• 17:45
  theme. It goes hand in hand: Typically, certainly don't overlook first aid, whether it's that blister or whatever the case may be, to be able to just continue to adventure and overcome a tiny obstacle and not make something small become bigger. So a good first aid kit, and a lot of beginners to the outdoors, and even some old timers who just might not be very comfortable, experienced folk. If they're carrying too much water, and then they're passing all of these water sources, I strongly like the opportunity to educate people on a lightweight water filtration system because then you don't have to carry so much weight if you know the area that you're going to be in has all these water sources. But I kind of feel like you have a good story on what you don't want to forget on a on a hike in Harrisonburg.
• 18:31
  theme. It goes hand in hand: Well, depending on the time of year, right? While you and I and Kristen were hiking, the gnats were horrendous, and they were just swarming around our face and around our heads. And I pulled out my head net and put it on, and both of you looked at me like, "What? I think Kristen especially was like, "Oh my gosh! I think this is something that I need to add to my gear list. And I felt bad because they were so bad that they were getting in your eyes, and both of you had to keep stopping to pick gnats out of each other's eyes. I mean, it was that bad.
• 19:02
  theme. It goes hand in hand: When we went to the store the next day, when we went to walkabout the next day, Kristen made sure to grab one. And then, ironically enough, there was another couple who had walked into the store who bumped into one of their neighbors they hadn't seen in a while, and they were talking about the hikes that they had been doing. And this one guy said, "You need a head net. He said, "The gnats are so horrific right now that if you don't have a head net, you're not going to be able to enjoy it. And he said, "As a matter of fact, I picked one up right here. They're on that shelf over there. And it was like the whole thing was playing out like a commercial. It was really funny. And then Kristen, like a couple days later, sent me a picture of herself with the head net on, and I was like,"Yes, like that's the way to go.
• 19:40
  theme. It goes hand in hand: You you need to have one of those, and and not just for the Harrisonburg area. If you do any adventuring around the state, there are bugs all over the place, so you might as well have one.
• 19:52
  theme. It goes hand in hand: Absolutely, and I mean I could make out the smile on your face because you didn't have any bugs in your eyes, but you were protected. You had your black shroud on. I'm a little bit too much of a minimalist. I don't always carry things like that, but certainly update to the story. Kristen has loved her head net. She used it mowing the lawn in her backyard just recently, and so that's also like a lot of the outdoors equipment, gear, clothing can be used in so many different ways, and so that's another reason why I just appreciate working at a place that offers well thought out stuff. Whether you're talking about some giant adventure or just going to I don't know a music festival, we caught some music recently and had camp chair, so it runs the gamut. But yeah, it can all be traced back to Kirk and Tina, and it's really cool because Harrisonburg is known for their farmers market. Tina worked at a farmers market in high school and in college, and then had the idea of, hey, I'd like to run my own small business. And so she had a business in the '90s is when she started it, and then late '90s, Kirk he thru hikes the Appalachian Trail, 1999. I was a northbounder. I started in Georgia and went to Maine. Kurt went south to Georgia, but he's meeting all these different people. He's meeting going into all these outfitters along the way, and then after his hike, runs into Tina, and so it's the combination of those passions.
• 21:10
  theme. It goes hand in hand: Tina's passion for customer service, going the extra mile, just the people behind it all.
• 21:16
  theme. It goes hand in hand: And then Kurt's passion for the outdoors. 2005, they opened Walkabout, and what they implemented-the birth of Walkabout-is alive and well.
• 21:27
  theme. It goes hand in hand: I'm curious for somebody who works at an outfitter, and for somebody who has been a thru hiker and spends a lot of time in the outdoors. Do you have a favorite piece of gear?
• 21:37
  theme. It goes hand in hand: It kind of depends on what I'm doing. More often than not, recently, if you see me out on the trail, I will be on the minimal side. So, like, I use a Patagonia Mini Hip Pack. That's something I picked up last year, and then conveniently, a beach-free water filter fits inside of that. I recently threw a small whistle in there because, unlike some bigger packs, a whistle's not included, and I feel like that's a handy piece of first aid. So a lot of times, if I'm trail running or just doing a light hike, that might be it. Some snacks and stuff like that. But that mini hip pack gives me the ability to carry that water filter. Gives me the ability to stay hydrated, and then I got some first aid in there as well. If I'm going to go out for a longer hike, or maybe I just want some luxury items. I've been reaching for like my Osprey Hike Light 18.
• 22:23
  theme. It goes hand in hand: It's off of your back. It's got a rain cover built in. It's small, so you could travel with it or do a light hike. And then overnighting, if I'm feeling nostalgic, I might bust out my old Gregory Beltoro backpack, load up everything, including the kitchen sink and have an awesome time in the woods and not care about going fast and light and then even footwear.
• 22:44
  theme. It goes hand in hand: Same more and more people, myself included, wear an ultras or topos. It's a wider footbox, just more roomy in general, not quite the lift built in. And sometimes I'll even go minimalist. There's a company out there called Astral that we carry, and I wear their Loyac.
• 22:57
  theme. It goes hand in hand: That makes a really good water shoe. It makes a good everyday shoe, and then I use it as a hiker as well. And then end of the hike, I just throw it in the washing machine and let it air dry.
• 23:09
  theme. It goes hand in hand: That wasn't one piece of favorite gear. That was a whole list, but that's okay because I I think that anybody who comes into the store is going to get that type of advice from anyone who works at walkabouts.
• 23:19
  theme. It goes hand in hand: That's right, and I do love our staff. That is where it all comes from. It doesn't matter the gear that you have; it's the people that are in the shops, and even our teammates run the gamut. And so it might be somebody who doesn't care about hiking, doesn't care about camping, loves helping people, or is a beginner to hiking, and so they can act as a bridge to the next beginner into hiking.
• 23:42
  theme. It goes hand in hand: With us, including like this hike and happy hour, it's not about the long miles. If that's your thing, long miles and huge adventure, yes, we have somebody on the staff that's excited like me to talk about such a thing.
• 23:55
  theme. It goes hand in hand: But I can also just have fun doing a mile or two in the woods and look at every single cool bug and flower, and see the excitement through the next person's eyes, and then hear about their hike because they went with somebody else outside of some of the stuff that we've done. That's really the bread and butter of walkabout. Whether you're novice or expert, including the staff and the people that we serve.
• 24:18
  theme. It goes hand in hand: I can appreciate that you're a minimalist because I tell people all the time you don't need to spend your last dime on every piece of gear. You just need a few key pieces that are going to help you and that are going to last.
• 24:29
  theme. It goes hand in hand: And that's a really good point.
• 24:29
  theme. It goes hand in hand: I mean, if you go inexpensive, you might not have as good of an adventure because of that gear.
• 24:37
  theme. It goes hand in hand: That gear might get in the way, or it fails you in a couple of months, and so then you're having to get something again, and so really, yes, we have we live in the internet age. We have a lot at our disposal, but there will never be anything that can top going in and just shooting the breeze and talking to somebody at any of our shops or on the trail about why did you pick that? What do you like about that? Because it'll keep you from some mistakes, and it'll set you up for success.
• 25:04
  theme. It goes hand in hand: That's the beauty of a local outfitter: is you can have those conversations with people and find out what they recommend and why, because they have tried that gear themselves and made some mistakes that you do not have to make yourself if you just talk. You can come to any one of our classes. We've got handouts that we give. Our website is really a valuable resource as well. But not only that, it just boosts the excitement too. You're talking to somebody of like mind and sharing a passion.
• 25:33
  theme. It goes hand in hand: Hey, adventure seekers! Here's a crazy number for you: 10,043.
• 25:38
  theme. It goes hand in hand: That's how many miles I traveled across Virginia last year, exploring trails, parks, and adventure towns, so I can bring you the stories, tips, and inspiration to plan your own adventures. If you've been enjoying the podcast and want to help keep those adventures going, consider supporting me through my Buy Me a Coffee page.
• 25:54
  theme. It goes hand in hand: Whether it's a one-time tip or a monthly membership. Your support helps cover the real costs of producing the show and puts a little more gas in the tank for the next adventure. Just head to the support the show link in your show notes to join me. I want to give a special shout out to recent supporters of Virginia Outdoor Adventures, Donna, Laura, Jim. Kelly, Kevin, Christina, Bill, Sherry, Corey, Gina, Anna, Mindy, Dan, Christine, Todd, Jason, Allison, Pete, Jeff, Kevin, D, Joel, Scott, Tracy, Jim, Michelle, Ross, Jennifer, Lori, Shannon, Cindy, Sue, Ronnie, Pete, and four anonymous contributors, plus two brand new Wild Wanderer members, Anna and Rob. Thank you for supporting the show and helping me keep exploring, sharing, and celebrating Virginia's incredible outdoors one adventure at a time. So let's talk about Harrisonburg as an outdoor adventure base camp, I feel like whenever somebody says Shenandoah Valley, my mind almost right away goes to Harrisonburg, and so I just want to dive into this idea of it being a base camp. How close is Harrisonburg to some of the region's major outdoor destinations?
• 27:14
  theme. It goes hand in hand: The number one most visitors would be interested in would be Shenandoah National Park, and literally leaving downtown Harrisonburg, you could be in the park within a half hour's time, and then from there you have over 500 miles that you can explore in Shenandoah National Park alone. If you're working on an Appalachian Trail section hike, there's 100 miles of AT that goes through Shenandoah National Park, and then like maybe you want more remote, you can go George Washington National Forest. You can go to any number of our parks that we have in this area. We've got an area called Hillandale. There's Westover, and also like all kinds of different ability levels. But it's at your fingertips. Visitor center kind of gets it going, and then it's whatever your interest is. We likely have it in this area, and it changes with the season.
• 28:00
  theme. It goes hand in hand: And what are some of the activities that are available close to downtown?
• 28:05
  theme. It goes hand in hand: Harrisonburg's very, very, very much cycling community in so many different ways.
• 28:09
  theme. It goes hand in hand: Historically, so, and I know in past episodes you've incorporated that. Whether we're talking about Thomas and Shenandoah Bicycle Company, or what's going on at Massanutten Resort and all the trails that are accessible up there. So yes, hiking, camping, biking, cattle sports. I've been using my kayak a lot this past summer, and
• 28:29
  there's numerous places: Shenandoah River, lakes, reservoirs, streams. Climbing is a really huge outdoor activity in this area. We have one of the experts that live in Harrisonburg, a gentleman whose name's Lester Zook. He's got a climbing guide. Like, there's so much climbing in this area that there's a Rockingham County climbing guide. It is infinite and varied, and so that's why Harrisonburg just works so well.
• 28:55
  there's numerous places: It's easily accessible off of 81, or you can take the scenic route and go on Route 11, but either way, if you start in Harrisonburg, you won't be disappointed.
• 29:04
  there's numerous places: Not at all. There's also fly fishing and winter sports, especially at Massanutten And then some people just love scenic driving. So you've got Skyline Drive and access to the Blue Ridge Parkway. So there's really just a lot. We're not going to get into all of those.
• 29:17
  there's numerous places: We're going to focus on hiking for this particular episode.
• 29:20
  there's numerous places: Part of the reason for that is because I've already done two episodes about mountain biking in Harrisonburg and on Massanutten's western slopes. So I will drop the links to those in the show notes. If anybody is into mountain biking or wants to learn more and explore how to try it out, then those resources will be there for you in the show notes. What are some of the lesser known places that locals love?
• 29:44
  there's numerous places: There's a cool part called Home Quarry, and there's multiple hikes that can be done there. I took Jessica. We went on the Cliff View Trail. That was like a mile long. It was a good way to stretch our legs and really see a cool view at the top. And then same in that park. You can go to a place called Hidden Rocks. So if you're into hiking or climbing, for that matter, it's about a two-mile hike, but just amazing rock walls, beautiful views. In the spring, it's a good time to hit it with that waterfall back in there and the wildflowers coming out. So Hidden Rocks is a nice one and very true to its name. It's a bit hidden back there in Hong Kong, but very accessible. We mentioned Massanutten. Even if you're not staying at the resort, you can go up to Kaler Knob. It's about a 3.5 mile ridge walk. Beautiful spot. You can extend it and make it literally as long as you'd like because it extends to a greater trail. Fridley Gap. That's one of my favorites. You can do a mile walk along the stream, or you can extend it, make it a six-mile loop, and really get some beautiful mountaintop views and valleys and streams and stuff like that. A favorite in this area is called Highnab Fire Tower. That's about three miles long. It's an old fire tower that's been restored, and so you can see an amazing 360-degree view, West Virginia, Virginia, and as far as the eye can see, and then like we were talking about, if you want to expand it, you can go into Shenandoah National Park, Bear Fence, High Top, Black Rock, just to name a few.
• 31:06
  there's numerous places: These are all spectacular hikes.
• 31:06
  there's numerous places: I think the the Shenandoah National Park trails are ones that are pretty popular that people have heard of. So I I like that we're mentioning them because. Harrisonburg is a great place to stay and to use as your base camp if those are some of the hikes that you would like to do. But these other ones in the George Washington National Forest seem to be more like hidden gems to me. They're not ones that people have typically heard of, but when we did them together, and I have done some of them in the past as well, you don't see a whole lot of people.
• 31:35
  there's numerous places: You see mostly locals out there, and that's why it feels like it's a hidden gem. And you don't have to deal with the crowds or the parking issues that you might run into up in the national park.
• 31:48
  there's numerous places: Exactly, and that's what makes it a unique visit. It's not something that everyone's doing, but very much if you're an outdoorsy person, all of these are places you'd love to visit.
• 31:58
  there's numerous places: Kayla Knob, I did that one last year when I did the episode on the Western Slope Trails at Massanutten. So I covered that one, and it's a beautiful hike.
• 32:06
  there's numerous places: It's a ridgeline hike, and you have really great views. And I would recommend that for folks because it's just a beautiful area, and anybody can access it.
• 32:15
  there's numerous places: You can just drive into Massanutten and access these trails. It's a great way to introduce yourself to the Massanutten area.
• 32:22
  there's numerous places: Absolutely, we're going to dive into the details of some of these other hikes in a little bit. But before we do, I kind of want to cover Harrisonburg's culinary scene because there's a lot going on in Harrisonburg when it comes to the food scene.
• 32:36
  there's numerous places: Second to breweries, cideries, wineries, the culinary scene of the food itself, the restaurant options is so wide, so diverse.
• 32:44
  there's numerous places: I have yet to eat at every single restaurant that I have available to me.
• 32:48
  there's numerous places: Yeah, and you're a local, and I don't see how you could because aren't there 80 restaurants or so? I mean, that's a lot.
• 32:54
  there's numerous places: And not only that, those are like locally owned ones. We're not talking about if you go out to the interstate and hit all the well-known name-brand ones, the pallet like you just have so many options downtown Harrisonburg. And what's really cool is it's like very walkable, and it's certainly farm-to-table. A lot of times the menu is changing due to whatever's available at the farmers market on any given Tuesday or Saturday. We talked about having people from around the country, around the world, so that's just like amazing food options to try on any given day.
• 33:24
  there's numerous places: Great international flavors, patio and rooftop dining in some locations, historic buildings, you know, make it a really unique dining space. So it's a really enjoyable experience. Do you have a favorite post adventure meal in Harrisonburg?
• 33:40
  there's numerous places: Honestly, there are too many to choose from, but I'll share a couple of my favorite spots.
• 33:42
  there's numerous places: There's a really good Indian restaurant across the street from Walkabout Outfitter, so a lot of times I might conveniently forget my lunch, and so I'll have to go out to eat, and so I'll hit up Indian American. Most recently, we've eaten a lot at Bella Luna, had some amazing pizza there. Jack Brown's, Billy Jack's. If you're in the mood for a really good burger, more and more people are getting to know Jack Brown's as they're traveling the United States. But its origin and the owners still live in Harrisonburg, so a very unique claim to fame that Harrisonburg has. And then Cuban Burger is another really amazing restaurant. We spoke with Steve when we got to eat there with your visit, and I'm a huge fan.
• 34:21
  there's numerous places: I'm a vegetarian, and so I can go into any of these restaurants, and there's options for me. But at Cuban Burger, their chop chop salad is incredible. You mentioned my partner Kristen; she likes it with chicken. I'll get it with the rice and beans. And whether you're like fueling up because you're leaving and you're going on a hike, or you just finish rock climbing and you're worn out and you want to refuel. So many different restaurants.
• 34:45
  there's numerous places: Yeah, absolutely. And there's some really unique places too, like Rocktown Kitchen, Ruby's Arcade is definitely unique.
• 34:52
  there's numerous places: Magnolias is one of my favorites, or Taco and Tequila, and then Klein's Dairy Bar has a couple of locations in town as well.
• 35:01
  there's numerous places: That's definitely a local favorite. So if you're ready for some dessert, they have like a standalone chocolate and vanilla every week. They have a different flavor that they're putting through, and so very freshly made, local to Harrisonburg. And again, just cool to integrate that to any given adventure.
• 35:18
  there's numerous places: I feel like Jack Browns and Billy Jacks are an adventure in and of themselves. Am I right?
• 35:24
  there's numerous places: Deep fried Oreos. Need we say more?
• 35:26
  there's numerous places: Yeah, and it's not just the menu; it's the ambiance, if you can call it that. It's the it's the setting, it's the scenery, it's the experience that the owners have created, like you walk in there and there's so much going on that it takes you a moment to even begin to take it all in.
• 35:44
  there's numerous places: And I just love being greeted with a smile. Like I got to know Aaron through Walkabout, and then I walk into Jack Brown's and I see him there. And so that symbiotic relationship of all of these downtown restaurants and the passion that they put into it, story behind almost everything tacked onto the wall at Jack Brown's, and then the following that they've developed over the years, and then the people behind these establishments, first name basis, see them on the community, see them at the music festivals. That's what makes Harrisonburg special, and that pairing of outdoor. And downtown, the owner Aaron gave us a tour of both locations, which are adjacent to each other, and it was so neat to hear his passion for collecting items that he has put all over inside both restaurants, and how he's decorated and how he's basically developed fan clubs. You know, like you said, locals, people who are regulars in there.
• 36:39
  there's numerous places: Everybody knows each other's names. They feel like they're part of a mini community within Harrisonburg, and and I think that's what gets people coming back to these places. And when you go in, you can feel that sense of community.
• 36:52
  there's numerous places: That's right. And I mean, not only that, it's the community within those owners. We have such a variety of restaurants, and obviously there's only one dinner tonight, but there's multiple dinners in your future.
• 37:00
  there's numerous places: I hope. But Aaron and Steve lended hands to one another to make sure both were successful, and so Steve over at Cubenberger, drawing from his background and his culinary tastes, it just makes Harrisonburg such a unique place. We're not going to the same old places that you'd find anywhere. You can walk into the restaurant, and odds are, if you ask if the owner was happened to be there, they probably walk out and shake your hand and chit chat with you for 510, minutes, or a half hour, and pull up a chair and a drink.
• 37:31
  there's numerous places: Just like all the owners did when when you introduced me to them, and I do hope that people do that because I think it lends itself to a completely different experience. It's much more unique and memorable. So when Aaron was showing us around, I can still recall the stories behind some of the decor in inside the restaurant, the RVs that he like sawed one side of off of, and then you know used it against the wall. And so you walk in and it sort of has the feeling of like a dive bar, but then there's like an RV in the back of the restaurant with an awning and and little tables outside of it. And I was like, where are you finding RVs? Like, are you buying RVs and just sawing one side off of it? And he's like, Yeah, pretty much.
• 38:13
  there's numerous places: And I mean, that's a literal example of combining outside and inside, and just the memories. I don't know if it was you, if it was Aaron, or maybe you was sharing about a customer. Just having that feeling of visit, going camping with grandma and grandpa, and sitting out. That was me, exactly. Yeah, the nostalgia. There's so much nostalgia there because I remember my grandparents having a really old RV camper like that in the '70s, I think, and and so we were camping in it in the'80s and the '90s, and it it had a funky smell. When I looked at that camper inside of Billy Jack's, I almost smelled my grandparents' camper. So it's like you get these memories are coming back, and I thought it was neat. Like if I was going there, I would beeline for those seats right in front of the camper in the back, and I wouldn't move all night.
• 39:02
  there's numerous places: So now a school happens to be in session at this point in time, talking about JMU in particular, and so they're discovering downtown Harrisonburg, and I just feel like that is such a good sign of what's going on in downtown Harrisonburg that it will draw people from campus, people from across the country, people from around the world, to see what's going on in Harrisonburg and this point of pride that all of these people and all these people that we won't have a chance to name just have such a love for and a passion.
• 39:29
  there's numerous places: And it's too bad that we don't have time to tell stories for every single one of these restaurants. But I'll just remind people that I did cover a lot of these in past episodes, so there is some information there. We're going to keep moving so that we can continue to share more about Harrisonburg. Let's move on to beer breweries and post adventure drinks because everybody knows that a brewery or a cidery or a winery or a distillery pairs perfectly with a post hike adventure, right?
• 39:57
  there's numerous places: Absolutely, and I was just reading over some of their brochures. In particular, we're currently working on doing the Shenandoah Beerworks Trail, and so like literally, they've got the region organized by three different sections. So like Harrisonburg, Rockingham, Lexington Rockbridge, and then Staunton, Waynesboro, and Augusta. But again, we're talking about Harrisonburg, highlighting them today.
• 40:20
  there's numerous places: Harrisonburg has the most out of any three of those sections, and so we're starting to tick them off. Most recently, we visited Pale Fire a month or so ago. We did Elkton Brewing Company, and so I mentioned their brochure.
• 40:31
  there's numerous places: It talks about blazing your own trail. That's my thru hiking name. When I hike on the trail, oftentimes people will call me Blaze instead of Vince, and so I just found that funny. Blaze in my own trail, and now it has to do with slideries, wineries, etc.
• 40:46
  there's numerous places: I think we were on our way to a hike one morning, you, me, and Kristen, and you handed me the Beerworks pamphlet and asked me had I heard of it, and I was like, Oh yeah, I have definitely heard of this, and I have been checking off some of the locations on that list too, and there's a lot. I love that they have it set up that way. It's fun. It makes it fun. I mean, it's fun to go to these places anyway. But then to have the little stamp is just a little added bonus, I guess.
• 41:10
  there's numerous places: Every single one of them independently owned and just so worth their own visit in and of themselves. And like Harrisonburg, it's just like tight knit. It's walkable.
• 41:20
  there's numerous places: There's so much variety, and so you could knock off a bunch on the list. Or every night you want to go out and try a new one, that'd be fine too. But it's really again just a point of pride and another example of what's going on in this area in this region.
• 41:36
  there's numerous places: What are some of the locations that are specific to Harrisonburg on the trail.
• 41:40
  there's numerous places: I mentioned Pale Fire. We recently went there and paired our amazing beer with Detroit-style pizza. Really cool way to have a local beer and a good dinner at the same time.
• 41:52
  there's numerous places: Alton Brewing Company. That gets you a little bit on the outskirts of Harrisonburg. One thing that Harrisonburg is known for is an annual music festival.
• 41:58
  there's numerous places: It's called Regling Roots Music Festival, near and dear to everybody who's in the outdoor music scene. And it's a local band that started it, the Steel Wheels. But all that to say is like one of the food vendors that were at the festival. You can find them at Elton Brewing Company, and so they've got a meet I'm looking forward to trying, and then I'm going to hit my favorite pizza spot that I was first introduced at that music festival. But you got like Feel the Rain Brothers, you got Purple Wolf Tasting Room. That's a unique one because of that White Oak Lavender Farm, and then Three Naps. But yeah, I mean, not only that, as far as the breweries, but we also have wineries and cideries too, like Sagebird, right?
• 42:40
  there's numerous places: Yes, like Sagebird. In doing this hike and happy hour, I've gotten to know Amberly and Zach again. Like Curcantino, they came together. They had this passion. They wanted to try something, and so Sagebird. Not only can you go there and get a good cider, they have an amazing menu as well, and they have so many activities going on, whether we're talking about like singo, musical bingo, trivia nights, unveiling like a new batch or flavor that they have.
• 43:03
  there's numerous places: But every single hike that we've done, and we've been doing this for over a year now, either Amberly or Zach or both of them have joined in on the hikes.
• 43:13
  there's numerous places: Yeah, you're coming on a hike, you're meeting all these unique people, and you're having all these experiences. So a huge shout out to Sagebird and all the independently owned locations that we have in the Harrisonburg Valley.
• 43:25
  there's numerous places: And I love that Pale Fire and Sagebird are walkable. They're like right downtown. You don't have to worry about how you're going to get there and back if you're having a drink.
• 43:33
  there's numerous places: And not only that, the restaurants will feature them too. And so many of them now, of course, are bottling it. And so we took some sagebird on a paddle this past weekend on the New River down near Blacksburg.
• 43:43
  there's numerous places: But yeah, it's just fun how Harrisonburg connections and it just branches out.
• 43:50
  there's numerous places: Is there a winery that you recommend?
• 43:52
  there's numerous places: We have several. We've had some really good experiences recently at a place called Bluestone Vineyard. Most recently, we did something called Toast the Weekend, and so that's like Friday nights. You go out there.
• 44:00
  there's numerous places: It's on a hillside with a stage, and so live music, pull up some camp chairs, and just chill.
• 44:07
  there's numerous places: Food trucks, and just a really good time there. And then I talked about how Sagebird has music bingo. We did that at Blue Stone as well. And so, have you done Cingo yet?
• 44:17
  there's numerous places: No, I haven't, and now I'm wishing that I would have. I should have scheduled my visits for when that was going on. And that's just the beginning of what makes Harrisonburg such a great adventure town. Next week, we're going beyond the trails, food, and breweries to discover some of the city's unexpected sign, from its vibrant arts and culture scene and local shops to the Harrisonburg Farmers Market, where you can stock up on local goodies before heading out on the trail. We'll also talk about where to stay, what's new and noteworthy in town, and then we're going to put it all together to build the perfect Harrisonburg Adventure weekend with hikes, great food, local finds, and a little culture along the way. So, if you're thinking about planning a trip to Harrisonburg, you're definitely going to want to come back for part two.
• 45:25
  there's numerous places: The song you just heard, "Virginia, I'm Home is by local singer-songwriter Emily Woodhall. Learn more about Emily by clicking on Emily Woodhall in your show notes. Virginia Outdoor Adventures is inspired by and supported by listeners like you, which is why your messages and feedback mean so much to me. You can text me directly by clicking on "Send Jessica a text message" in your show notes. I answer questions, respond to comments, and share your feedback on the show. Never miss a new episode. Sign up for my email newsletter and receive my listener resource guide with the top podcast episodes, a Virginia Outdoor Bucket list.
• 46:15
  there's numerous places: And exclusive brand discounts for my listeners. Click on newsletter sign up in your show notes, or visit VirginiaOutdoorAdventures.com.
• 46:26
  there's numerous places: Thanks for listening. Until next time, adventure on.