Besides having the world's best whitewater rapids, the New River Gorge in West Virginia is also the home to Bridge Day, a one-day extreme sport celebration that features hundreds of rappellers and BASE jumpers.
Bridge Day -- Saturday, Oct. 19 -- stops traffic (literally) as thousands of spectators watch BASE jumpers and rappellers test their skills on the second-longest arch bridge in the U.S.
If you can, go a day early for Taste of Bridge Day that Friday, Oct. 18. From 5 to 9 p.m., local food vendors will serve a sample size ($1 each) portion of their specialties.
Bridge Day will also feature a tandem BASE jump contest and the opp for spectators to jump as well.
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If you intend to stay the weekend, enjoy other activities near the gorge like hiking, rafting and camping. Lodging options are available. Our pick: ACE Adventure Center, which offers mountain-top camping, chalets and cabins, as well as rafting and adventure packages.
The festival is about five hours west of D.C. near Fayetteville, W.V.
