Outdoor activity meets first-class amenities in Blue Ridge Mountain getaway
Looking for a wealth of outdoor activity and adventure along with fantastic scenery, amazing dining choices, live music and on-stage entertainment? Head to the mountains of Southwest Virginia, where the Blue Ridge and the Appalachians converge in Abingdon, to discover relaxation and rugged adventure living in harmony with first-class amenities.
With its enthusiastic drive for historic architecture and passion for the contemporary, Abingdon is a walkable, bike-friendly and drive-able town that’s easy to love. The National Register designated Historic District is filled with one-of-a-kind shops and restaurants in restored Colonial, Federal and Victorian beauties. Just blocks away is the renowned Virginia Creeper Trail, one of the best rails-to-trails in the country, offering a choice of vigorous, push-to-the-limit biking or an easy downhill coast and ride.
The Virginia Creeper Trail was named not for the vine, but for the 1880s steam engines that labored up steep mountain grades under heavy loads of lumber and iron ore. Cyclists can start the trail at either end, choosing a leisurely downhill ride from Abingdon to Alvarado Station (and nearby Abingdon Vineyards), or a faster-paced, 17-mile downhill ride from Whitetop Station in Jefferson National Forest. A bike rental shop offers shuttles from the Abingdon gateway, making it easy to get on the trail. The awesome views of South Holston River and Jefferson National Forest, plus the 47 original trestle bridges, make this rail-to-trail a must-experience attraction. History lovers will also enjoy the trail visitor center in Abingdon where a rare collection of 1950s photos captures the last steam train on the Virginia Creeper rail line. Presiding over the trail is Old Mollie, one of the only two remaining out of more than 100 Class M steam engines once owned by Norfolk and Western. Here’s a link to eight top bike trails near Abingdon.
Plan on a week to experience even half of the bucket-list adventures in this corner of Southwest Virginia. Through picturesque countryside and mountain drives, the outdoors beckons amateur and expert enthusiasts with kayaking, swimming, hiking, horseback riding, bouldering and rock climbing. Explore more heart-soaring views, waterfalls, rushing waters and rugged terrain on day trips within an hour-and-a-half drive of Abingdon.
One of Virginia’s best kept secrets is a unique wonder, the Channels Natural Area, with water-carved sandstone boulders, soaring crevices and labyrinths that compare favorably to those acclaimed in the West, “but with moss, vegetation and trees,” as one enthusiast describes it. Once closed to the public, the channels are now accessible on a vigorous 5.5-mile out-and-back hike.
Just a little farther north, Grayson Highlands State Park is known as the best bouldering site in Virginia, with more than 700 named climbing routes on seven fields. It’s also home to wild ponies. Access the Appalachian Trail through the nearby Mount Rogers National Recreation Area which offers some of the wildest and highest mountain terrain in Virginia. Plenty of less extreme pursuits include horseback riding and seeing wild ponies grazing on the grassy bald knobs offering views all the way to North Carolina.
Within minutes of Abingdon is highly-rated, yet under the radar, fly-fishing. Whitetop Laurel Creek, a natural wild trout stream, ranks as one of the finest in the Southeast. The stream offers numerous large pools, views of the Appalachian and Virginia Creeper trails and even access for handicapped anglers. Click this link for more outdoor activities and challenges: https://visitabingdonvirginia.com/itineraries/ultimate-outdoor-getaway.
Base Camp: Accommodations, Dining and Entertainment
Head back to Abingdon to scope out a base camp, where accommodations range from hostel style to budget-friendly to ultimate luxury. Choose from cabins and cottages on the Virginia Creeper Trail, several B&Bs or the AAA Four-Diamond Martha Washington Inn & Spa, with its romantic cozy indoor and outdoor nooks, intimate bar area and fine dining. Abingdon offers a lively food scene with 34 independently-owned, chef-helmed restaurants serving locally sourced ingredients, as well as group- and family-friendly eateries.
Entertainment includes live music at several venues, including the Abingdon Farmers Market and the Southwest Virginia Cultural Center & Marketplace, a soaring glass, wood and stone visitor center and gathering place showcasing the music, crafts and culture of the region. The 1930s-era Barter Theatre, the nation’s longest running and one of the last remaining year-round professional resident repertory theatres in the U.S., offers classics, comedies, musicals and original productions throughout the week.
Craft beer lovers congregate at Wolf Hills Brewing Co, an entertainment hub serving more than a dozen beers, along with live music. Taste the perfect marriage of grapes, terroir and viticulture at Abingdon Vineyards, tucked into beautiful rolling countryside along the South Holston River. For a getaway that includes city comforts and luxury along with the rugged outdoors, Abingdon is a Southwest Virginia mountain playground. For details on where to stay, eat, shop and enjoy, go to www.VisitAbingdonVirginia.com.