Scenic Outdoor Adventures Road Trip

Some fresh air and scenic views sound like a great makeup of a Scenic Outdoor Adventure Road Trip or staycation! Come travel along with us through Giles County as we highlight scenic byways, beautiful vistas, and share tips on how to peep at some of the best views you could experience!

So your family or group of friends is looking for a getaway? A relaxed, slightly adventuresome, and easy-going trip sounds good to you… Let’s help you plan that!

Giles is a great basecamp to explore the region. We have a variety of lodging options from the romantic Inn at Riverbend where every room has a scenic view of the New River, or the perfect spot for a group of friends overlooking Walker’s Creek at Walker’s Creek Retreat. There are other options too, like Buck Lair Cabin, that is remarkably close to Virginia Tech, or Mr. Hunter’s Cottage in the quaint Village of Eggleston. Find your perfect lodging option on our website.

Stay at any one of Walker Creek Retreat’s amazing waterfront cabins!

With every good road trip, comes discovering great places to eat! Traveling on Route 460 through Pembroke all are welcome to enjoy in or out-of-doors dining at Bluegrass BBQ. Head across the street to enjoy Scoops, a candy and ice cream shop. ‘Discover’ is the key word for finding and enjoying The Bad Apple. This speakeasy style dining establishment is housed in a barn, but you’d never know it once inside. Take in the scenic vistas from their parking lot and enjoy a Virginia based cocktail inside! Enjoy other local favorite eateries on your staycation too!

A tray meal from Bluegrass BBQ

Dining Room of The Bad Apple

Now comes some outdoor fun… For a light hike you must head to Dismal Falls. There are multiple length options to hike, as this trail is part of the Appalachian Trail, but if you are interested in a quick walk to a hidden spot you can make this a VERY SHORT hike. But the journey is part of the fun! As you travel out Route 42 (as the locals say) this spectacular scenic drive takes you through White Gate, predominantly a farming community, that has panoramas filling your windshield. Stop in to Nature’s Way store for bulk goods, fresh deli sandwiches, or to stroll around this unique shop!

Dismal Falls and the drive to the area are both scenic adventures!

Even though temperatures may be dropping you could still experience the New River Water Trail for an additional visual adventure! The Eggleston to Pembroke section features sky-high cliffs and interesting geological features, some topping out over 300 feet above you! Find your raft rental from one of our guides or outfitters.

After a few days you might be ready to just sit and gaze at the stars. Luckily, we have nightscape vistas too for your group to easily access and wanderlust over. A trip up to Mountain Lake and the short Bald Knob trail is an amazing night sky view! This is also the highest point in elevation in Giles- you are literally on top of the world (well this little part of the world). You could also head out past the lodge to the Wind Rocks trail, also along the Appalachian Trail for another uninhibited view. Be sure to take flashlights and use extra caution while traversing these hikes after dark. Be prepared. Be safe.

New River Water Trail, Giles County, Va

Bald Knob, Mountain Lake, Pembroke, VA

Wind Rocks at sunset by Billy Bowling.

Your group will enjoy all that can be seen and experienced in Giles with this easy-going scenic trip. Near or far we welcome visitors to our mountains, fresh air, and friendly trails. We hope to see you soon!