Stephen Catalano

A pristine lake thats just waiting to be explored by kayak, SUP, canoe or boat (keep in mind that power boats are allowed on this lake). The water is amazingly clear and a beautiful shade of aqua blue. During the summer months, the air temperature remains relatively cool and makes for perfect, long days on the water.  Folks often water ski, tube, and jet ski on the lake. For easy public access,...

Small park with nice walking trails, picnic tables, and a waterfall that cascades down from a dam. Its a wonderful place to take the family or just go for a breath of fresh air. Its also right near the downtown area of Aldie, which has a bakery, juice/smoothie shop, and other great shops to stop in at. If you're driving through, stop for a bit!

Located on the far-west portion of the National Mall in Washington, D.C. stands the Lincoln Memorial. At almost 100 feet tall, this majestic structure overlooks the reflecting pool and offers an iconic view of the Washington Monument.  Parking is almost always an issue near the Lincoln Memorial, but if you arrive early enough, you may be able to find a paid parking space nearby. The nearest Met...

The Washington and Old Dominion (W&OD) trail stretches through northern Virginia and is a great spot for bike riding, running, or walking. The trail is paved, well maintained, and wide enough for traffic in both directions. There are also a couple breweries along the way that you can make a full day out of! I'd recommend stopping in at Caboose Brewing (pictured) in Vienna, VA.  The trail is...

Parking along 36th Road in Arlington, VA, head down the path on the Gulf Branch Trail. Walk northeast for roughly a quarter mile, where you will intersect with the Potomac River. Find a spot along the sand, cast out, and watch the catfish bite! Chicken liver seems to work well.  Don't forget to have an active fishing license for Virginia.

Start your adventure at the Belle Haven Parking area then head down the Dyke Marsh Trail. To add on additional distance, head south down the Mt. Vernon Trail for more views, well maintained paths, and even some sitting areas. You'll find boardwalks that take you right across the marsh, so keep an eye out for turtles, snakes, and plenty of birds through these sections!

Lake Thompson is a great spot for fishing, walking, or just exploring the area with your dog. I've never had a problem with parking, but you're unlikely to find yourself alone at the lake on a nice weekend day.  Its a 10-acre lake, however, so you shouldn't have a problem carving out a little bit of your own space to fish and kick back. Keep an eye on the status of the lake, as the last time I ...

Start your adventure at the Teddy Roosevelt Island parking area and head southbound towards Mt. Vernon. You'll be riding next to the Potomac the entire time, with great views of the National Monument, Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, and the Memorial Bridge. The ride is as long as you want to make it, but a great ride is to Old Town Alexandria and back (14 miles total)! You can stop for lu...

Starting on Bear Rocks Trail, hike down to the Red Creek. Sometimes water levels can be high, but most of the time you can cross the creek without getting any deeper than your knees. Link up with the Raven Ridge Trail and head south. Enjoy the views through this section, as it's a great place to stop for a bit to refuel. After heading south, you'll intersect with the Dobbins Grade trail. Head e...

Visiting Iceland during winter? Put this adventure on your list. It was easily one of the highlights of our trip, as I'm sure it will be for you as well. From Reykjavik, our group hired drivers to take us up to the basecamp of one of the few snowmobiling tour guide serves that runs tours during winter, Mountaineers of Iceland. The ride up, in a "Super Jeep" was almost as fun as the snowmobiling...

Take the tour of the lava tunnel Raufarhólshellir, one of the longest and best-known lava tubes in Iceland. The Lava Tunnel offers guided tours, which are absolutely amazing. The experience was once in a lifetime and was even more interesting in the winter months-- with snow falling through the various holes in the cave's ceiling and ice sculptures reaching the top of the cave. The guides are p...

Early bird gets the fish. Arrive early and either walk in with your gear, or If you've got a 4WD vehicle, drive onto the sand and pick your spot along the shore. You can expect to catch everything from blue fish, to rays, and even sand sharks (depending on your rigging). Make sure you pack out whatever you pack in and leave it better than you found it. 

Switzer Lake is a great spot outside of Harrisonburg, Virginia for fly fishing during the spring, summer, and fall. The lake is pretty decently sized, so you shouldn't have any problems finding a place along the shores to wade out and cast. Small boats are also allowed on the lake as well. Make sure you have a valid fishing license and trout stamp (if applicable) as game wardens routinely check...

The G.R. Thompson is a piece of public land in Linden, VA, thats primarily used by hunters. The Appalachian Trail runs right through this section and visiting during a fresh snowfall can make for a great adventure. Only 60 minutes drive from greater Washington DC area, this is an easy adventure! Distance is completely up to you, based on your tolerance for the cold, and how much you're wanting ...

Take Fire Trail Road and start your run at the parking area (labeled in the map). The trail puts you directly onto the AT, where you will turn right (southbound) to start the run (or hike). You'll stay on the AT for roughly 3.5 miles down to the Trillium Trail Parking area. At that point, turn around and head back. (7 miles total) Its dog friendly, so don't forget to bring along your pup!

Great spot for a run! Very accessible for those in the DC region.  A good starting point is the Henry Hill Visitor Center. If you want to avoid any crowds, start early.  From the Henry Hill Visitor Center, you can't really go wrong (as far as direction is concerned) since most trails can be linked together to form a loop. I started on the First Manassas Trail (pictured) and it was phenomenal, s...

From January to April, the forest roads that provide vehicle access to the Dolly Sods Wilderness in West Virginia are closed. If you're up for a cold weather adventure, park your car (in accordance with the signage and without blocking the road) and hike up the Forest Road 75 near Davis, WV, to Bear Rocks Preserve. Come after a recent snowfall and you'll be in for a beautiful sight, so bring a ...

This route combines Cedar Run Falls and White Oak Canyon Trail (one of the more popular hikes in SNP, with separate adventures detailing those hikes). Parking is easy, but gets very crowded due to the popularity of White Oak Canyon (WOC). When starting from the parking area/Shenandoah ranger station, you will cross a steel footbridge that will bring you to the intersection of Cedar Run Trail an...

The Cranberry Wilderness is lesser known, but if you're looking for a rugged escape, this is it. Be mindful of your water intake, as there are a few stretches upwards of 6-8 miles where there is no access to fresh water. Those areas are well-known in most of the hiking blogs/guides (I'd recommend starting here and don't forget to checkout the .gov page for any advisories).  I've unfortunately ...