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Living

Get outside! From daytrips to weekend escapes, your guide to fall in the great outdoors

Ravens Roost Overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Photo: Visit VA.

By Meg Irvin and Joe Bargmann

Okay, so the thermometer’s still hitting 90 with alarming regularity, but as we roll into October, those gorgeous, cool fall days are bound to arrive soon (right?). And when they do, we’ll be outside. Whether your favorite fall activity is mountain biking, trail running, or just taking in the autumn leaves with a good local beer in hand, we’ve got suggestions on where to go for a blissful few hours or a weekend escape. Get moving!

Mountain biking

Day trip: Located on 571 acres in Albemarle County, Preddy Creek Trail Park offers 10 miles to ride. A recent addition to the park is an advanced area developed with seasoned riders in mind. Walnut Creek Park is another popular local option for those looking to spend a few hours on the trail.

Overnighter: About 90 minutes west of Charlottesville, Douthat State Park has more than 40 miles of trails with beautiful scenery of the Allegheny Mountains. Cyclists who like a challenge will enjoy the three-mile Blue Suck Falls trail, where the reward of a waterfall awaits. • Where to stay: Rustic cabins and campsites—some with a view of the 50-acre Douthat Lake—are available within the state park. More luxe accommodations near Douthat include the Omni Homestead Resort and The Inn at Gristmill Square.

Weekend excursion: Shawn Tevendale, owner of Blue Ridge Cyclery, says Stokesville near Mount Solon, just an hour’s drive from Charlottesville, is “the place to be” for a weekend. Online reviewers call it “a dream come true” and “cyclist heaven.” Visitors love Stokesville for its access to hundreds of miles of trails and attractive scenery. • Where to stay: The Stokesville Campground has it all: cabins, RV hookups, and rustic wooded sites. A cushy option is the Fort Lewis Lodge, in Millboro, which draws outdoor-sports enthusiasts of all stripes, including the fly-fishing set.

Indian Summer Guide Service. Photo: Amy and Jackson Smith

Horseback riding

Day trip: Horseback riding along the vineyard vines—sounds pretty magical, right? Indian Summer Guide Service offers rides at local wineries including Veritas, King Family, Glass House, and Keswick, as well as custom country rides to other locations. Most of the guided tours last one to two hours and cost $125 to $200 per person.

Overnighter: In Bath County, the four-star Omni Homestead Resort has a stable with approximately 50 horses and an equestrian center that’s open from 10am to 4pm daily. Non-registered guests can make same-day reservations for guided rides of 30 minutes to two hours on Allegheny Mountains trails. If you’re going to splurge on a stay here, you might as well go all out with a stellar meal. Try Snead’s 1912 Steak on Main Street in Hot Springs for dinner, and the decadent brunch in the Omni’s main dining room.

Weekend excursion: What doesn’t Graves Mountain Lodge offer lovers of the outdoors? Horseback riding, biking, hiking, family-style meals, and the opportunity to unplug are all part of the allure. Guided horseback tours can be booked for an hour ($40 per person) or a full day, with lunch on the trail ($220 per person). With over 100 miles of trails in Shenandoah National Park and on private land through streams, woodlands, and open fields, there is no shortage of natural beauty to take in. Graves Mountain is only about 40 miles from Charlottesville, but worlds away from the hustle and bustle of daily life. • Where to stay: the Graves Mountain Lodge, of course!

Food & drink festivals

Day trip: Take the hour-long drive from Charlottesville to Raphine on October 19 for the Wade’s Mill Apple Butter Festival. Visitors can try their hand at making apple butter the old-fashioned way, with the stir of a paddle, and enjoy live music, fresh Wade’s Mill bread, BBQ, and warm fruit cobbler.

Overnighter: On the website for Urbanna—a charming town about a two-hour drive east of Charlottesville—you’ll see comments like “more boats than folks” and “laid back.” We’ve been there, and we concur, but it’s not necessarily a sleepy place. The area is well known for the annual Urbanna Oyster Festival (November 1-2), where goodness on the halfshell abounds. Not a festival-goer? Merroir: A Tasting Room overlooking the Rappahannock River in Topping, is open year-round, with a menu of oyster-centric small plates, craft brews, and wines. •  Where to stay: In nearby Irivington, The Hope and Glory Inn is a converted 1890 schoolhouse with 12 cozy rooms and cottages, and the classic, waterside Tides Inn resort is a favorite among families and couples.

Photo courtesy Fire, Flour & Fork.

Weekend excursion: Richmond’s Fire, Flour & Fork (October 31–November 3) was recognized as one of the top three food festivals in the nation last year. Event highlights include Smoke on the Water, a barbecue feast featuring 15 chefs on a site overlooking the James River at Tredegar Iron Works. The festival will keep you busy, but if you want some time away, stroll or cycle across the T. Tyler Potterfield Memorial Bridge, which provides a great view of the city. Head to Carytown for the vibrant food scene (we can vouch for The Industrial sandwich at Coppola’s Deli) and funky retail spots, like the Mongrel gift shop and Clementine, a consignment store. • Where to stay: The One Bed & Breakfast is convenient to the food festival, and the minimal, modern Quirk Hotel downtown is another very good option.

Road and trail running

Day trip: Albemarle County is home to some great running routes, made all the better in the fall by the colorful scenery. About 10 miles northwest of town, Ridge Road offers four miles of packed gravel, a serene setting, and a few hills to get your heart rate up. Head out Barracks Road (which becomes Garth Road) past the Foxfield steeplechase track, and you’ll soon reach Ridge Road (Route 678). Park alongside Garth. • Further from town, tranquil and historic Green Springs has about 20 miles of soft-surface roads that lead past 19th-century farmsteads and homes. To get there take I-64 to exit 136, follow US 15 north for about two miles to East Green Springs Road (Route 617), and head east for another two miles. Park at the beautiful chapel—and you’re off! • After your run, a pig out at the BBQ Exchange, in nearby Gordonsville, may be in order.

Overnighter: The flat terrain of the Outer Banks, a four- to five-hour drive from Charlottesville, makes for smooth running in the off season. In Avon, North Carolina, the packed sand at the water’s edge is an obvious choice to jog a few miles, but locals also hoof it on the streets of Kinnakeet, the neighborhood that bears Avon’s original name. That’s the site of the Hatteras Island Cancer Foundation Positively Pink 5K, which starts at noon on October 12 and is followed by a small festival with food, drinks, and live music. ($30. Visit runsignup.com and search for “HICF 5K.”) • Where to stay: Beachy Airbnb cottages abound in Avon, while up the road in Nag’s Head you’ll find the upscale Oasis Suites Hotel.

Weekend excursion: Blacksburg is a serious runners town—and a seriously fun place to visit in the fall. The Huckleberry Trail follows a former railroad and was recently extended to 11 miles, with 12-foot-wide paved surfaces, new infrastructure including a 500-yard boardwalk over wetlands, and points of interest like Coal Mining Heritage Park. Locals also swear by the Gateway Trail to Jacob’s Ladder to Snakeroot Loop Trail, more than seven miles through wildflower-studded pastures. Craft beer fans can plan their trip to include the Blacksburg Brew Do (Saturday, October 26), with 50-plus labels on tap, music, food, and more. • Where to stay: We’ve heard good things about The Main Street Inn, a historic brick boutique hotel downtown, and the Inn at Virginia Tech, a 147-room luxury hotel on campus.

Photo by Sanjay Suchak

Fishing

Day trip: Virginia’s 3,500 miles of streams include 2,900 with wild trout and 600 that are stocked. Fly-fishing anglers after native brook trout need look no further than the waterways of Shenandoah National Park, including North Fork Moormans River, a couple of miles north of Crozet. If spinning reels are more your speed, head to the 845-acre trophy fishery Briery Creek Lake, an hour-plus drive south of town near Farmville. Crappie and double-digit bass await in an idyllic setting. (For fishing-license information, see dgif.virginia.gov/licenses.) • Celebrate your catch in town with a down-home meal—barbecue, mac ‘n’ cheese, burgers, tacos, and fried stuff—at The Fishin’ Pig.

Overnighter: Our fishing insider says Lake Moomaw, in Covington, “is easily the most beautiful lake in Virginia and has great shoreline camping.” With 2,350 surface acres and a maximum depth of 150 feet, it has been stocked annually for decades. Brown and rainbow trout, small- and largemouth bass, catfish up to 20 pounds (!!!), and feisty chain pickerel are there for the taking. Camp if you like, or head 10 miles east to Clifton Forge’s Hillcrest Mansion Inn, a plush alternative to a tent.

Weekender: What’s better for a fishing fanatic than surf-casting in the fall? Not much, really. Hatteras Island, a barrier island on the Outer Banks, is comprised of seven villages with angler-friendly beaches and piers. Fishing competitions are a tradition here, and the 11th Annual Red Drum Tournament (October 23-26) is a doozy, with a top prize of $3,000. Visit the North Carolina Beach Buggy Association (ncbba.org) to register and plan your trip.

Leaf peeping

Google “leaf peeping” and you’ll find everything from maps forecasting the precise timeline for the changing colors to road-trip itineraries specific to the hobby. Around here, you
don’t have to go far to see orange, yellow, and red painting a beautiful landscape along the Blue Ridge. Here are a few of our favorite spots:

UVA’s Pratt ginkgo. Photo: Dan Addison

Overlooks and trails

Climb Humpback Rock, and get rewarded with a 360-degree view of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The trail near Lyndhurst is rated as moderate: The hike itself is just two miles out-and-back, but it is also steep, so you’ll have to work for your leaf-spotting. • Want the scenery without the effort? Ravens Roost Overlook, also in Lyndhurst, is
a quick car ride away. It’s just right for a picnic with a stunning vista.

Breweries, wineries, and cideries

Locals and out-of-towners alike flock to Afton’s Blue Mountain Brewery for the flights, pizza, and outdoor seating with a view of the mountains in a setting that is both Fido- and family-friendly. • A visit to Nellysford’s Bold Rock Hard Cider is a fall bucket list item. Outdoor space behind what the Bold Rock team calls the “chapel of apple” offers breathing room for groups and a sweet-looking backdrop.
• There’s a reason North Garden’s Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards photographs so well—the setting really is picture-perfect, a primo place to revel in the changing of the seasons while admiring the mountains and sipping some vino.

Around town

Carter Mountain Orchard can be a madhouse in the fall, as the masses flock there for apple picking and those delicious donuts. We suggest taking advantage of your local status and enjoy the orchard during the week for a more relaxing experience. Apples, cider, and one of the best views overlooking Charlottesville await.
• National rankings of the most beautiful college campuses often include UVA. One reason is the Lawn, the centerpiece of Thomas Jefferson’s Academical Village, which also happens to be a relaxing place to spend a
fall afternoon. You’ll be surrounded by students tossing footballs or reading beneath the reds and yellows of the ash and maple trees. Bring a blanket. Take a nap. • Situated above Piedmont Place in Crozet, The Rooftop restaurant was designed with views in mind. Thanks to the lofty vantage point, guests here
can take in nature and a delicious meal. Go at sunset when the light hits the mountains just right.

Family outings

For many families, autumn marks the return of regularly scheduled programming, with the long days of summer in the rearview mirror. Whether you have toddlers, tweens,
or teenagers, the outings below—half- or full-day commitments—are good options to get outside with the kids.

Photo: Ron Paris

Montpelier Hunt Races

Mark your calendar for the November 2 Montpelier Hunt Races at James Madison’s home. The gates open at 9am and tailgating is encouraged. Jack Russell Terrier races kick off the day at 10:30am; horse races typically run from 12:30-4:30pm. General admission tickets are $20 and parking $30, but kids 12 and under enter for free. • Why the kids will love it: Little ones from 2-11 years old can get in on the fun with stick-horse races on the big track. (540) 672-0014. montpelierraces.org

Massanutten Fall Festival

If you like the hurly-burly of a big crowd (5,000 people attended last year), the Massanutten Fall Festival is for you. On October 12, the scenic mountain resort one hour north of Charlottesville puts on a party featuring live music, craft brews, food trucks, and—for the kids—outdoor games and activities, including chairlift rides. (540) 289-4952. massresort.com

Pumpkin picking and a corn maze  at Liberty Mills Farm

A 30-minute drive from Charlottesville will get you to Liberty Mills Farm in Somerset, the famed location of Virginia’s largest corn maze (33 acres!) and a pick-your-own pumpkin patch. Admission to the maze is $10 on weekdays or $12 on weekends, and free for kids 4 and under. It’s worth noting that children under 16 need to be accompanied by an adult who’s 21 or older. • Why the kids will love it: Because this whole thing, including the horse-drawn wagon rides, is designed for them. Pumpkin-spice ice cream, anyone? 882-6293, libertymillsfarm.com

Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge. Photo: Visit VA

A walk on the beach

After Labor Day beach towns get quieter, hotel rates drop, and cool weather sweeps in. Activities abound, with festivals to attend and restaurants to try. But sometimes simple is best, and nothing beats a stroll along the water or a few hours of reading in a chair on the sand, especially if you can wear that cozy new sweater you just bought.

Virginia Beach has a population of over 400,000, and while it gets a little less crowded post-summer, it doesn’t exactly grind to a halt. Restaurants like Waterman’s Surfside Grille and Chick’s Oyster Bar, crowded during the summer months, often have less of a wait in the fall and winter. Spend a few hours at The Shack on Atlantic Avenue, with games, outdoor bars, and fire pits that all make the place feel like an outdoor retreat. Stay at the recently renovated Cavalier Hotel on the oceanfront or snag a beach rental on sites like VRBO or HomeAway. We recommend the North End, where there’s often more flexibility for shorter stays.

Cape Charles used to be a charming, sleepy beach town on the Eastern Shore, but the secret is out, and beachgoers have been descending on the small town in Northampton County to enjoy the bay, area restaurants, and the town’s friendly vibe. Beach weather can stretch well into November. Grab a bite at The Shanty seafood joint, or pizza at Dead Rise Pies. Room reservations at the Northampton Hotel or Hotel Cape Charles will guarantee you’re within walking distance of everything this charming town has to offer.

Chincoteague, on an island along the Eastern Shore, offers natural beauty unspoiled by high-rise hotels and big crowds. See the famed Chincoteague Wild Ponies at the 14,000-acre Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, and sweeten up your day with a visit to Island Creamery, serving freshly churned ice cream since 1975. The town is known for its excellent local oysters; check out the annual Chincoteague Oyster Festival, on October 19.

Categories
Unbound

Adventure dogs! Nothing beats being in the great outdoors with your best four-legged friend

Flushing a chukar partridge on an upland hunt, Clapton, an AKC Champion standard poodle, proves that the breed can do more than look pretty. Photo: Louter Creek Hunting Poodles
Science has proven the extraordinary connection between humans and dogs, but perhaps the best evidence of the bond is easier to find—when people and their pups get outside and play.
Golden retriever Aspen (foreground) loves to kayak with her owner, but half-brother Koa prefers hiking. Photo: Samantha Brooke

Earlier this year, dogs made headlines for astonishing outdoor-sporting feats, much to the joy and gratitude of their human friends.

In mid-March, the story broke about a stray Tibetan mastiff-Himalayan sheepdog mutt that joined guide Don Wargowsky, of Seattle, and his climbing expedition in the early days of their month-long ascent of Baruntse, a Himalayan peak. Before the final push to the top, the dog—later named Baru, after the mountain—put in for the night at basecamp in Wargowsky’s tent. He left Baru behind, planning to rejoin her on the descent, and set out in the pre-dawn darkness. But when the climbers reached about 22,500 feet, Baru was waiting for them. She stuck with them all the way to the 23,389-foot summit, and was adopted by a Nepalese local at the end of the expedition.

On March 17, Thomas Panek, 48, of South Salem, New York, became the first blind man ever to complete a half-marathon. Taking turns leading him along the 13.1-mile course in New York City were yellow Labrador retrievers, Waffles, Wesley, and Gus. “You probably don’t want the dog who wants to cuddle by the fireplace as your running guide,” Panek said after the race. “But there are some dogs who just love to run.”

As any dog owner and outdoor enthusiast will tell you, there are also dogs who love to swim, fish, camp, hunt, compete in agility trials, and lead the way on mountain- biking rides. For every outdoor adventure—with the exception of sheer-face rock-climbing, perhaps—there is a dog that will join you. We’d like to introduce you to just a few from the Charlottesville area, and their owners, too.

Pippy, a terrier mix, can run the trails for hours with her owner, Gordon Wadsworth, and Wadsworth’s wife, Emily Hairfield (wearing pink socks). Photo: Gordon Wadsworth

The trail runner: Pippy

Breed: Terrier mix

Owner: Gordon Wadsworth

Adventure: trail-biking

Gordon Wadsworth and his wife, Emily Hairfield, see the trails they bike through the eyes of a dog. And they owe it to their tireless terrier Pippy.

“Her love of the forest and being outdoors totally changes our mindset,” Wadsworth says. “Whatever is going on in our life, being outside, life is good.”

Wadsworth, a professional mountain biker and three time national champion, and Hairfield, also a competitive rider, had been looking for a dog to join them on mountain biking trails for about a year when they saw a notice for a wire haired female terrier-schnauzer rescue in 2014. They called the shelter in Raleigh, N.C., asked a few questions, and had to have her.

They climbed in the car on Valentine’s Day and drove seven hours through a storm to bring Pippy home.

“We knew we wanted a dog that could handle bikes and running, and terriers are good dogs for that,” Wadsworth says. “She has outshined what we expected.”

Pippy is pooped! After running the trails with her owner, Gordon Wadsworth, and his wife, Emily Hairfield—both competitive cyclists—the terrier mix chills out. Photo: Gordon Wadsworth

A scruffy salt-and-pepper pup standing a foot and a half tall and weighing about 30 pounds, Pippy has faithfully followed Wadsworth and Hairfield for as many as 25 miles through rugged terrain. Her average run is 8 to 12 miles, Wadsworth says, and she always shows great trail manners.

Wadsworth credits Hairfield for training Pippy to stay out of the way of her riders as they’re exploring the outdoors. Pippy checks her speed when the bikes are climbing and dutifully sneaks aside as they tilt downhill. Wadsworth says Pippy started hiking and running before making the transition to hanging with humans on wheels.

“She is a great size for it—she’s amazingly healthy,” Wadsworth says. “It’s less about the bike training than just being outside with the family. You have to have everyone in mind when you’re on the trail with an animal. That’s the goal—it’s about family.”

 

When Ragged Branch distillery co-owner Alex Toomy hunts, his black Labrador retriever, Bootlegger, is completely in tune with him. Photo: Amy and Jackson Smith

The go-getter: Bootlegger

Breed: Labrador retriever

Owner: Alex Toomy

Adventure: Wingshooting

Alex Toomy was duck hunting with his dog Bootlegger when the wind started “blowing like crazy,” he says. Toomy, co-owner of distillery Ragged Branch on Taylor’s Mountain, sent Boot to retrieve a duck, and the male black Labrador retriever promptly brought it back.

Another duck was down, as well, but it was in high chop in Lake Anna. Toomy was worried his loyal hunting dog might drown if he tried to retrieve it. He told Boot to stay put, and the dog obeyed.

“He is just a really intelligent dog,” Toomy says. “He can figure out what’s going on in any different situation and just go with the flow. He never goes running off.”

Boot was built for hunting, Toomy says, coming from a line of duck dogs in Delaware. He’s on the small side for a male lab at about 70 pounds, but he’s relaxed, obedient, and a great swimmer.

“I’ve hunted with other dogs that are crazy, and he respects them when they are going to retrieve,” Toomy says. “A lot of times dogs are a pain in the ass to hang around [with] when hunting—guys yelling and screaming at them. It’s very stressful. With Boot, it’s not like that.”

According to Toomy, Bootlegger knows where to position himself during a hunt, waiting along the banks prior to shots fired or sitting quietly in a blind or walking through fields. He looks to the skies as soon as he hears the sound of a safety click off, and he waits to retrieve until he’s released.

“The key to making a great hunting dog is, when he’s a puppy, keep him in with you all the time,” Toomy says. “Other- wise, you have to blow a whistle at him all the time, and he’s like a robot.”

Visitors to Ragged Branch, about 15 miles west of downtown Charlottesville, know Bootlegger for more than just being a great hunting dog. He’s the distillery’s brand ambassador and “official greeter,” Toomy says.

 

Happily traversing any terrain, the three amigos, Jewels, Zeiss, and Leica (left to right) get their paws wet. Photo: Lynne Brubaker

The tireless trio: Leica, Zeiss, and Jewels

Breed: Border collie

Owner: Lynne Brubaker

Adventures: Agility trials, exploring

For border collie owners without acres of land and hoofed animals to herd, there’s only one thing to keep the canines capable—agility courses.

Collies like photographer Lynne Brubaker’s Leica, Zeiss, and Jewels, are working dogs. According to the American Kennel Club, they’re constantly on the move, looking for something to do. They’re quick-footed, balanced, fast, and focused.

Indeed, a border collie holds the current speed record for the Westminster Kennel Club’s Master Agility Championship.

And while Brubaker’s collies aren’t record holders, they’ve held their own in competition. Leica, a small, black and white female, is 11 years old. She’s now in retirement but was “quite successful” during her career, Brubaker says. Zeiss, a large 7-year-old, is in semi-retirement from competition after injuring his shoulder. And Jewels, a 2-year-old female, has just begun “trialing.” The young red and white collie started training at 8 weeks and is tougher in temperament and beefier in body than the rest of Brubaker’s brood.

Zeiss leaps while racing through an agility-trial course. Photo: Lisa Jacobs

“You are constantly training the dog, learning new skills,” she says. “There are always new things to learn in agility as course design changes, and that requires different kinds of handling techniques.”

When they’re not working on agility or competing against other doggy daredevils, Leica, Zeiss, and Jewels stay fit hiking the trails around Keswick, where Brubaker has friends with farmland. They’re partial to hiking Montpelier, as well, but avoid the more difficult area hikes like White Oak Canyon. “I take them to places where I know it is really safe for them,” Brubaker says.

Brubaker takes the time to capture photos while she’s on day hikes with her collies, and the dogs take the time to stay mentally sharp and physically fit. Sometimes the lot of them will jump in Brubaker’s Airstream for overnight adventures.

“It makes life very enjoyable having a dog in it,” she says.

 

A faithful companion since his rescue 8 years ago, Jack the hound dog catches a scent while his owner, Brennan Gilmore, tries to catch a fish. Photo: Sanjay Suchak

The fisherman’s friend: Jack

Breed: Hound mix

Owner: Brennan Gilmore

Adventure: Fishing, boating

Brennan Gilmore doesn’t have much time left with his best friend and fishing buddy, Jack. The 10-year-old hound was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer only a few weeks ago.

Gilmore’s been taking Jack on adventures since 2011, and says he plans to make the most of the coming months with his pup. “We’re going to spend this entire spring giving him as much fun as he can have,” he says.

Gilmore met Jack at the SPCA in Rockbridge County. He was looking for a traveling companion before taking off for the Central African Republic. For two years, Jack prowled the dangerous jungles and streets of Bangui alongside Gilmore, who worked at the embassy there.

The 70-pound dappled hound dog was happy to be home when he and Gilmore returned to Virginia, his owner says. Gilmore, who runs Clean Virginia and competes in bass tournaments in his spare time, has taken Jack hunting, camping, and hiking over the years. But their favorite activity has always been fishing. “He prefers the fly fishing because we’re out moving around,” Gilmore says.

Jack also happens to know his way around a hootenanny. Gilmore dabbles in bluegrass music, and Jack has become a talented singing dog.

Gilmore says he spent a good amount of time training Jack while the pair patrolled Central Africa, but mostly he’s been a natural for outdoor sports. He no longer wades into the fishing hole to scare off Gilmore’s fish, he’s figured out the grass mats on tidal pools aren’t good for standing, and he’s learned the hard way that a slick dock can send him careening into the water after jumping off the boat. He even mostly stays away from lures as Gilmore sends them arching back and forth at the end of his fly rod.

“He’s super chill and used to being around fish,” Gilmore says. “He knows his way around the boat.”

Gilmore says he couldn’t ask for a better companion in the outdoors.

“Being out in the natural world with a dog, it draws your attention to things you wouldn’t otherwise see. He is constantly searching the woods for interesting smells,” Gilmore says. “He is definitely my best friend.”

 

Aspen the golden retriever takes to a kayak like a fish to water. Her half-brother, Koa (shown at the top of this story), prefers terra firma. Photo: Samantha Brooke

The boater and the hiker: Aspen and Koa

Breed: Golden retriever

Owner: Samantha Brooke

Adventure: Kayaking, hiking

Samantha Brooke immediately pegged her male golden retriever, 6-year-old Koa, for a boater. She started putting him in her kayak when he was just a puppy, trying to get him used to the feel.

But from 6 months on, Koa couldn’t sit still in the boat. He’d stand up, wobble around, shake the whole kayak.

Brooke’s 65-pound female retriever Aspen, on the other hand, came to boating naturally. Brooke was camping with friends in western Virginia when she tried to leave the now 3-year-old pup on shore as she kayaked out to take pictures. Aspen, Koa’s half sister from the same mother, wasn’t about to be left alone.

“She started racing after me,” Brooke says. “She likes to swim but is not the strongest. I thought she was going to drown. As soon as she got in the kayak, she was content. That was day one of her kayaking story.”

Brooke says she, her husband, and their 6-month-old son had their eye on goldens from the beginning, looking for dogs that would be good with kids and willing to go on long runs. Aspen and Koa have fit the bill as far as the family’s concerned, but they “are not big into endurance sports,” Brooke says.

Aspen and Koa are fine with some light hiking, their owner says, often going as many as six miles, but Aspen’s true love is the kayak. Whereas Brooke tried to entertain Koa on the boat with toys and bones, Aspen sits or lies quietly while they glide along the water.

Brooke says Aspen and Koa have made ideal companions for her lifestyle as a full-time PricewaterhouseCoopers consultant and part-time photographer. After a long week of consulting, sometimes on remote projects, Brooke says the chance to head outdoors with her pup pals is the ideal release.

“With my dogs and my son—it allows that forced downtime,” she says. “In the world of consulting, that reset is very much needed, and it allows you to set that boundary.”

 

A speedy Whippet in full stride. Photo: Getty Images

The right dog for the job

Looking to have some adventures with your canine compadre?
Make sure your pup is a good fit for your favorite activity.

Doga: Bulldog

So you’re into downward facing dogs, and your dog’s into lying around. Doga is definitely for you and your best bud. If you’re more interested in the “dog as prop” style of the practice (some folks prefer to pose actively with their dogs) the docile, zen-like bulldog is the perfect partner.

Frisbee fetch: Whippet

Whippets hold most of the world’s records for Frisbee fetch, and it’s no wonder—the American Kennel Club says they’re exceptionally athletic due to their deep chest, trim waist, long neck, and slim legs. In other words, if you want a good disc dog, you must whippet.

Hiking: Burmese Mountain Dog

Dogs love hiking—except they just think of it as walking. Depending on the difficulty of the hikes you’re planning, a Burmese mountain dog might be the perfect companion. They excel on short hikes through rough and rocky terrain, according to the veterinarians at PetMD.

Swimming: Newfoundland

Newfoundlands are in the AKC’s working group, and the breed experts say they’re just as comfortable “working” in water as on land. The large dogs originally come from the coast of Newfoundland, Canada, the area from which Labrador retrievers also hail, and were bred to tow ship lines in harbors.

Trail Running: Weimaraner

Most dogs love to run, but each breed has its specialty. Sure, greyhounds are lightning fast, but they’re not ideal for the trail.
For long, steady runs, the AKC says the Weimaraner’s a winner, owing to its high energy and medium, muscled build.—S.G.