Day 6: Staunton to Strasburg and Middletown to George Washington National Forest, WV (80 Miles)
It's about a two-hour hour drive to Strasburg. Discovered in 1754, Crystal Caverns at Hupp's Hill (540.465.5884; www.waysideofva.com/crystalcaverns) is the oldest-documented cave open to the public in the state, and it has a 0.25-mile trail that descends 65 feet.

Five miles north, Middletown has several interesting attractions. The Belle Grove Plantation (540.869.2028; www.bellegrove.org) was built in 1797 by Major Isaac Hite for his bride Nelly Madison, sister of President James Madison. The president honeymooned here with his wife Dolley and in July the plantation hosts an Old-Fashioned Ice Cream Social with ice-cream sundaes and bluegrass music. For more than 40 years the Wayside Theatre (540.869.1776; www.waysidetheatre.org) has been staging plays and helping launch the careers of many now well-known actors such as Susan Sarandon and Jill Eikenberry. In spring the Wayside typically offers plays for children.

At the Route 11 Potato Chip Factory (800.294.SPUD; www.rt11.com), watch from a viewing window to see how these flaky delectables are made. The best time to see production is in the morning. Then sample some of the factory's unusual varieties such as Chesapeake crab, sweet potato, and dill pickle.

Drive to Trout Pond Recreation Area (540.984.4101; www.fs.fed.us/r8/gwj/lee/recreation/camping/trout_pond.shtml) on the West Virginia side of the George Washington National Forest. Reservations for the 50-campsites may be made at least five days in advance, and 14 sites have electrical hook-ups. There are hot water showers and flush toilets. The campground opens from April 19 to Dec 05, but the bathhouses don't open until the third Tuesday in May, and close the second Monday in September (note: this campground requires a two-night minimum stay on weekends, and three-night minimum stay on holidays).

Day 7: George Washington National Forest to Washington, DC (114 Miles)
The campground's namesake, Trout Pond, is actually a sink hole, but the site also features Rock Cliff Lake, a 17-acre lake for swimming, boating (bring your own electric or wind-powered boat), and fishing for trout. Fishing enthusiasts ages 15 or older need a West Virginia fishing license, a trout stamp, and a National Forest stamp, which you can obtain—along with supplies and groceries—in Wardensville, about a 20 minute along Trout Run Road.

For an easy walk, follow the one-mile White Trail around the lake. The 0.8 mile Orange Trail leads to rock formations but slopes downward for 0.4 miles, requiring you to walk uphill on the return.

Enjoy a last swim before beginning the two-and-a-half to three-hour drive back to Washington, DC.