Mine to date (in nearly 1000 AT miles) would have been the 20 miler from Daleville to Catawba last weekend on a warm bug-less December day. Stayed at Super8 almost on trail, comfy bed, good breakfast, smell of smoke in the halls, but that is the tradeoff for a $60 hotel night. Rolled out of hotel at 6:15 AM after breakfast, 1 hr before sunrise. Interesting trail during the first 9 miles to Lambert's Meadow, winding along a ridge, with good views in both directions (E to Blue Ridge, W to Carvin's Cove w/ lake, Tinker Mountain, Catawba Mountain, etc.). Climb to Tinker Cliffs with awesome views of Valley of Virginia. A few rock scrambles/mazes (reminiscent of Southern PA) on way to McAfee Knob, the most photographed spot on the AT, then relatively easy descent to Catawba. Finished as the colors of sunset were fading to black. Dinner at the Homeplace 1 mi away would have been great--$14 including tax for fried chicken, roast beef, lots of sides, and dessert, the 2000+ mile flip-flop thrus I ate with the day before claimed it was the best food on the trail.
If I had made this an overnight, it would have been even better, with more time to enjoy Tinker Cliffs and McAfee Knob, as well as the Homeplace.
If you are day hiking, do this on a Saturday, since the Homeplace is open until 8 PM then (only open until 6 PM on Sunday, which is when I hiked it last weekend). Again, I ate at Homeplace the day before when positioning car, so needed to be a little conservative with the AYCE... After my section hike, I actually ate at Three Little Pigs in Daleville (pursuant to the suggestion of a WBer), which was quite good as well.
HikerMomKD can help with shuttles, she helped me move my car from Black Horse Gap to Catawba. Thanks again KD!
I have not done much of NH/ME as well as NoNC and SoVA, so I expect I will have good days there as well, but just wanted to share.