ATV Riding – Virginia

An easy two-hour drive up I-77 leads you to the Dan River Valley in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia.

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Adventure Rating: 3

An easy two-hour drive up I-77 leads you to the Dan River Valley in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. The most spectacular views are inaccessible by car, but ATV trails abound, and a ride on one will give you an appreciation for the grandeur and scope of the area. Primland resort encompasses 12,000 acres here, and guided ATV tours of the property will lead you through creek beds and pheasant fields into the deep forest, where rhododendrons grow as tall as trees. Hold on tight and climb to an altitude of nearly 3,000 feet, where you'll be rewarded with panoramic views of the Pinnacles of Dan and North Carolina's Pilot Mountain. Primland requires you to ride with a guide, who will help you navigate tricky spots on the trail and point out local landmarks. $130 per person, primland.com.

Where to Stay

Best known for its breathtaking Highland golf course (named the best new public course in America by Golf Digest in 2008), Primland offers lodging in mountain and fairway cottages and in its new Lodge, which opens this month. The Lodge sits atop a mountain surrounded by deep gorges and features an abundance of reclaimed wood, an outdoor fire pit, a spa, and its own state-of-the-art observatory. The luxurious Fairway cottages boast private porches with views of the tenth and eighteenth holes and the surrounding mountains. Lodge rooms from $199, Fairway cottages from $275, primland.com.

Need More Adventure?

Sporting clays: Progressing through stations over a mile-long course, shooters aim for targets that duplicate the flight path of game birds. $39 per person, primland.com

Fly fishing: The abundance of rainbow trout make a guided fishing tour worth the hike. Guided fly-fishing starts at $205 per person, 866-960-7746, primland.com.

MUST HAVE GEAR

A blend of oils that bugs hate repels ticks and mosquitoes. It contains no DEET, so it's safe for children and pets. Burt's Bees Herbal Insect Repellent 4 fl. oz., $8, burtsbees.com