For almost 200 miles, the Shenandoah Valley runs through the heart of Virginia, incorporating both the Skyline Drive and part of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

By car from Winchester and Front Royal in the northeast to Roanoke and Salem in the southwest, the vistas are no more magnificent than along the 105-mile-long Skyline Drive, which runs the length of the Shenandoah National Park.

Telegram photo / J. Eric Eckard (ENLARGE)

Canoes and kayaks are a common sight on the Shenandoah River in Warren County, Va., which has been called the ?Canoe Capital of Virginia.?

"We have some day-trippers who come up here just for a leisurely drive," said Helen Morton, the park's director of sales.

But there are opportunities for more exciting activities in the valley.

Warren County, which is home to Front Royal and Bentonville, has been called the "Canoe Capital of Virginia."

According to Trace Noel of Shenandoah River Trips, "Warren County has more canoe companies and more rental boats than any other location in Virginia."

In fact, Noel helped spearhead an effort to get the Virginia General Assembly to name Warren County and Front Royal as the "Canoe Capital of Virginia."

Noel will take you out for a day of paddling – or you can spend a few nights – on the Shenandoah River, surrounded by the Massanutten Mountains, Blue Ridge Mountains and Shenandoah National Park.

"You can totally unwind here," said Don LaFever, tourism coordinator for Front Royal. The traffic is slower, and the people are happier.

"It's just a fun place to be."

Shenandoah River Trips focuses on about 40 miles of the 160-mile Shenandoah River, which features mostly Class I and Class II rapids. So it's ideal for beginners and those who just want a relaxing and peaceful day – or two or three – on the water.

The Ledge at mile No. 23 is a natural 2-foot drop that can be pretty exciting after a few miles of relatively peaceful and calm floating.

"We're 70 miles from Washington, D.C.," LaFever said. "But it's a whole world away as far as the culture and mentality is concerned.

"It's relatively undeveloped fertile farmland, and it's far enough removed that it's sort of rural."

Front Royal sits at the northern gateway to the Shenandoah Valley, which is unique because this is the lower end of the valley. By the time you get to Roanoke, you're at the upper end of the valley.

And along the way, the list of outdoor activities is seemingly endless.

With so much undeveloped land and rural areas throughout the Shenandoah Valley, it makes perfect sense that there would be stables along the way that offer rides to show off the mountain vistas of the valley.

Inside the Shenandoah National Park at the Skyland Resort, 18 horses take riders out for six or seven trips a day from April through November.

Plus, there are pony rides for the kids who are too short for one of the big horses. You have to be at least 4-foot-10 for a horse ride.

Many of the stables inside and outside the park offer scenic tours that even a beginner can enjoy.

Highlander Horses in Front Royal offers hour, 90-minute and two-hour rides on 450 acres of private trails, looking out over the Massanutten Mountains.

"There's horseback riding, canoeing and kayaking, trail hiking," LaFever said. "The Appalachian Trail is 2 miles from where I'm standing (in Front Royal).

"But there are certain other areas that are better for bicycling."

Roanoke sits at the southernmost – or upper – end of the Shenandoah Valley, and it features both road and mountain biking trails and rides.

Catherine Fox, tourism director for the Roanoke Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau, said there are two reasons why Roanoke is so popular for bicyclists – "terrain and accessibility to routes like the Blue Ridge Parkway."

"This is just a great community you can explore." she said.

The Blue Ridge Bicycle Club hosts road biking rides every Tuesday night that sometimes draw up to 80 riders. Some of the more popular routes in Roanoke range from 22 to 70 miles.

Riders can pedal up to Mill Mountain to see the Mill Mountain Star, which can be seen from most spots in the city and the surrounding region. Since the war in Iraq started, it has glowed red, white and blue.

Twice in Bike Virginia's 18-year history has the ride passed through Roanoke, drawing up to 2,000 riders a year.

"That's one of the most notable rides in Virginia," Fox said. "The back road rides are so visual."

Mountain biking also is popular in Roanoke, and Explore Park features trails for beginners, intermediate riders and experts.

Explore Park features living history tours of 1671 American Indians, 1757 frontier settlers and western Virginia's lives during the 1850s.

Hiking and walking was a way of life for our ancestors, and protected areas like Explore Park and the Shenandoah National Park feature miles and miles of hiking trails.

The 197,000 acres of the Shenandoah National Park features more than 500 miles of trails for just about anyone who wants to get a glimpse of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

"They range from leisurely to really strenuous trails," Morton said. "We have a lot of hiking opportunities here.

"We even have a handicapped trail."

The Limberlost Trail is about a mile-long loop that features a hard-packed surface that wheelchairs can roll over and numerous benches along the way for those who need frequent rest stops.

Birding and wildlife watching is popular here, and you can see a variety of plant life on your hike.

More rugged trails, such as the Whiteoak Canyon Trail, is a short – 4 miles – hike that passes along six waterfalls and one natural waterslide.

You can enjoy the Shenandoah Valley at your own pace and via many courses, whether you're driving, canoeing, riding, biking or hiking.