Road Trippin' Road trip lovers, we know you want to see as much as you can while in the Heart of Appalachia, so we've pulled together four fantastic road trip itineraries that will create memories that will stay with you for years to come.
Natural Wonder s Adventure
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The Heart of Appalachia is home to awe-inspiring geological and natural wonders that are oh so road trip-worthy. Let's go!
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BREAKS INTERSTATE PARK
The first day begins at Breaks Interstate Park, home to Breaks Canyon, one of the deepest gorges east of the Mississippi River. Soak in all the views from Towers Overlook, then hike a few short trails with dreamy vistas, like the Tower Tunnel Trail.
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Rent a pedal boat at 25-acre Laurel Lake or soar like an eagle on the Canyon Rim Zipline. At Rhododendron Restaurant, unwind on the outdoor deck or take a seat inside for stunning views of the gorge from behind dramatic floorto-ceiling windows. Overnight in one of seven wooded park lodges. The park also has lakefront cabins, as well as tent and RV sites at the on-site campground. You may even want to stay the night in their new yurt! H E A RT O F A P PA LAC H I A
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DEVIL'S BATHTUB
Make Devil's Bathtub your next stop. It's less than a two-hour drive south for a waterfall hike, which includes 12 creek crossings and a dip in an icy cold swimming hole. A few steps past the swimming hole is the curiously-named bathtub-shaped water basin. Park in designated areas, please.
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NATURAL TUNNEL STATE PARK Drive 30 minutes to Natural Tunnel State Park, home to the "Eighth Wonder of the World," as coined by former Secretary of State William Jennings Bryan. Take the chairlift to the tunnel floor to ooh and ahh. Ride the chairlift back up for a stroll to Lover's Leap Overlook for views into the naturallycarved tunnel from up high. Stay the night in one of the state park's cabins.
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SAND CAVE
Drive one hour west to Civic Park on the far east side of Cumberland Gap National Historical Park. It's a four-mile ascent along dirt trails to reach the 100-foot-tall Sand Cave, a striking geological wonder tucked away within a leafy, deciduous forest.
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WILDERNESS ROAD STATE PARK Make Wilderness Road State Park your final stop. A fenced-in pasture allows up-close views of a small buffalo herd that depicts an era when bison ruled the land long before frontiersman Daniel Boone came to town. Rent bicycles from the visitor center to pedal along the Wilderness Road Trail.
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