The Cascades is one of the best-known local hikes in the New River Valley and is a favorite of many of the Mosaic performers.

There are many ways to ride the river ranging from relaxing on air mattresses anchored to the shore to Class 5 rapids in West Virginia. Our favorite is to kayak with friends. The stretch from Claytor Lake to Bisset Park in Radford is a particularly nice float.

The longest hiking-only footpath in the world runs right through our backyard: the Appalachian Trail. The AT Conservancy web site contains interactive maps and other resources for those who want to explore this unique resource.

A sit spot is a kind of meditative practice often used by Dr. Annie Pearce, a Mosaic collaborator from Virginia Tech. The aim is to find a place in nature where you can return regularly to sit quietly and observe for at least 30 minutes to let nature forget you are there. Doing this over the seasons allows you to truly begin to know the essence of a place.