Adventure is just
around the bend.
Honest reviews, original photography, and unforgettable family adventures throughout Appalachia — one road trip at a time.
Featured Destination Review
Rockbridge County, Virginia
Natural Bridge State Park
Higher than Niagara, and every bit as advertised. Our first full Wayward Wayfinders review: one 215-foot limestone arch, a lot of stairs, and one toddler with plans of his own.
Recently explored
The places we've been.
Destination Reviews
Trips worth planning around
Flagship reviews of the places we set out for — the parks, landmarks, and towns worth planning a whole trip around.
Renick, West Virginia
Beartown State Park
A half-mile boardwalk through an uncanny maze of moss-covered sandstone, hidden openings, narrow passages, and seemingly endless stairs.
Augusta County, Virginia
Natural Chimneys Regional Park
Towering limestone chimneys, a steep overlook trail, an unexpectedly fascinating jousting history, and enough caves to support at least one unverified raptor population.
McDowell, Virginia
Hayfields State Park
Sometimes a field full of butterflies and chipmunks is enough.
Martinsville, Virginia
Virginia Museum of Natural History: More Than Dinosaurs
The dinosaurs were the hook, but they were never the whole story.
Craig County, Virginia
Paint Bank
Tingler’s Mill, the Paint Bank General Store, and the Swinging Bridge Restaurant — one of the most charming roadside stops we’ve found in Virginia.
Side Quests
Detours worth taking
Worthwhile detours and small adventures — the stops that make an existing trip better without being the reason for it.
Seasonal Side Quests
Adventures with a season of their own
Festivals, seasonal blooms, holiday traditions, annual events, and limited-time exhibits — adventures that are only available for part of the year.
More on the way
The map keeps growing.
Every trip adds another destination to Wayward Wayfinders. As we explore more of Appalachia, new reviews, photographs, and regional guides will continue to appear. Come back often — there's always another bend in the road.