LifeOutside

A smiling woman in sunglasses and a cycling jersey stands with a mountain bike on a wooded trail.

Bike Magic

Before long, a simple hobby can grow into so much more.
Weathered wooden trail signpost in green woods pointing to Maupins Field Shelter and Reeds Gap.

The Booboo

Sometimes, injuries can happen even before you hit the trail.
Several black-and-white striped skunks with bushy tails move through leaves and low green plants.

Camp Hell

Last laugh: the perils of backyard camping.
Three smiling men pose on a sunny street, two beside bicycles, the middle one wearing a finisher's medal.

Pedaling with a Purpose

Helping a Blue Ridge Marathoner, and being amazed at the talent and times around him.
Man in a blue jacket stands before a wooden sign reading "Mount Kilimanjaro, Uhuru Peak, Tanzania.

Mike Morris Takes on Kilamanjaro

The local runner, marathoner, and hiker climbs Africa's tallest peak.
A man in sunglasses and a denim jacket fly fishes while standing waist-deep in a sunlit river.

Fly Fishing Capital of the World?

Our writer and three great guides make the case.
Four-part collage: a Brew Pub and Restaurant sign, raspberry cheesecake, a smiling chef, and barbecue plates.

5 Great Do-‘n’-Dines

The mountains are full of great climbing, hiking, biking, fishing and more. And also full of great dining-with-view. Combine the two for great fun.
Collage of s'mores supplies, a tent with a dog, a family biking, and people wading in a river.

Family Camping: 10 Great Spots

it’s spring—time to get the family outside and into the woods. See our list of 10 great Virginia mountain family campgrounds.
Two cyclists in helmets and jerseys stand with their road bikes on a grassy mountain overlook above rolling blue ridges.

Quick Strides: Tour de Floyd, Lyme Disease, and More

Get a look at the Quick Strides department featured in the Spring 2016 issue of Life Outside.
A cyclist in a helmet and gray jersey rides a mountain bike down a rocky trail through a bare-branched forest.

All Downhill

Mountain-biker Corey Heitz has undertaken lots of outdoor pursuits, including rowing, running and backpacking. But for the go-to these days, it’s the bicycle out on the trails.

Departments

Painted wood statue holding a teacup, a chandelier-lit dining room, and a wood-paneled sitting room.
Features

The House on the Hill

Stewardship of the signature structure on the city side of Mill Mountain is in the very conscientious hands of Drs.

The Beaver Dam Sunflower Festival attracts about 20,000 visitors annually — a boon to the local economy.
Features

Bloom Town

Flower farms are finding new ways to keep our community beautiful.