Southwest Virginia Travel Guide

Southwest Virginia is replete with history and scenic splendor.  Located in the Appalachain Mountains, the area is considerably wealthier than its immediate neighbors but still retains the culture and soul of Appalachia.

The town of Abingdon is quite scenic.  Bristol is a commercial center near the Mt. Rogers National Recreation Area, the highest peak in the Commonwealth.  Roanoke is a mid-sized city built on the railroad boom, and today is a trucking/transportaiton magnate.  Breaks Interstate Park is on the VA/KY border and is often called "the Grand Canyon of the East."  Cumberland Gap National Historical Park is easily accessible from the area, though most of the park lies in Tennessee. 

The Blue Ridge Parkway offers a scenic drive through the valleys and ridges of its namesake mountains; it was built by the National Park Service as a scenic drive and avoids congested areas as you wind your way through.  If you're driving, don't miss Fancy Gap on I-77, a very scenic slope where you exit the mountains and arrive on the Piedmont of North Carolina. 

Come with an open mind.  This is not only the South, but also Appalachia.  Both cultures have been portrayed as unsophisticated by the media, but if you refrain from making judgements, you'll probably be shocked by the hospitality of the population and the serenity of the landscapes.