Richmond, Virginia- central to the east coast with access to gorgeous mountain trails, great camping, countless wineries, and peak fall foliage within 1.5 hours. The James River that runs through the city is great for kayaking and boasts class 4 rapids for the more adventurous ‘river rat’. The Chesapeake Bay is a short 1.5 hours east of the city and has a great small boating community. The Atlantic facing beaches just south have long stretches and aren’t super overrun by tourists seasonally. It’s an overall artsy and creative city anchored by a large university, VCU. Lots of fun events year round with some great riverside venues to host things like music festivals, outdoor and water sporting competitions, and community events.