The Mud Kingdom

A magical place, an independent spirit.

Tag: Mid-Atlantic

  • Dog-Friendly Destinations Near Washington, D.C.

    Dog-Friendly Destinations Near Washington, D.C.

    The area within a single day’s drive of Washington, D.C. is utterly rich with natural resources for recreation and industry. Host to mountainous Appalachia, seasonal beaches on the warm Atlantic, the city itself lies on one of the mighty rivers of North America that empties into the largest estuary in the United States and once…

  • Trip Report: 2021-09 Janes Island State Park, MD

    Trip Report: 2021-09 Janes Island State Park, MD

    Janes Island State Park is on the bay side of the Maryland Eastern Shore, offering 30 miles of salt marsh water trails and 7 miles of sandy beaches accessible only by boat. Date(s) 2021-09-03 to 06 Type Weekend Trip Activities Beach, Boating, Car Camping Transport 3 hours by Car (from DC Chinatown) Conditions Partly Cloudy…

  • Trip Report: 2021-05 George Washington National Forest, Lee District, VA

    Trip Report: 2021-05 George Washington National Forest, Lee District, VA

    On the face of Green Mountain, a synclinal ridge that separates Fort Valley and Little Fort Valley lies a network of trails maintained by a dedicated volunteer group, running through the Virginia wilderness. Access to this part of the National Forest is a little out of the way and much of what I make use…

  • Trip Report: 2020-12 White Grass Ski Touring Center, WV

    Trip Report: 2020-12 White Grass Ski Touring Center, WV

    White Grass Ski Touring Center is a cross-country ski resort about three hours outside of the DC metropolitan area. Nestled right outside of the Dolly Sods Wilderness and the Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge, the resort is uniquely positioned to access hundreds of miles of trails across the Canaan Valley for virtually unlimited exploration during…

  • Trip Report: 2020-12 Sugarloaf Mountain, MD

    Trip Report: 2020-12 Sugarloaf Mountain, MD

    Sugarloaf Mountain is a monadnock, an isolated small mountain that rises abruptly from level farmland in Montgomery and Frederick counties in Maryland. It is described to be either an outlier of Catoctin Mountain, or the root remnant of an ancient Appalachian land mass. Privately owned by the Stronghold Corporation, the mountain park is open to…

  • Trip Report: 2020-10 Meneka Peak, VA

    Trip Report: 2020-10 Meneka Peak, VA

    Meneka Peak is one of the peaks on Green Mountain, a synclinal ridge that separates Fort Valley and Little Fort Valley, frequently called a “valley within a valley” as the entire area lies within the region between the two arms of the Blue Ridge mountains in this part of the Shenandoah Valley. The peak itself…