southwest virginia
 

We are planning a 3 day trip to Wytheville, VA. We enjoy hiking and biking. Any suggestions for those activities, others and dining options?

Why Wytheville? Just curious.
For biking, I hear the Virginia Creeper trail is cool: http://www.vacreepertrail.com/

For hiking, you could go down to Mount Rodgers. Or, and this is a bit of a drive, my family's favorite hike is the Cascades, in Pembroke. It's probably an hour's drive but it's a four-mile round-trip hike up to a waterfall, and it's lovely. Wytheville is right by Bland County, a beautiful area. The interstate (77) has two tunnels through mountains in Bland, and there's an Indian museum/village there too.

You're also in the Jefferson National Forest area. http://www.scenicbeauty-va.com/jeffe...ing_trails.htm

Also, you're about an hour or so from Abingdon, home of the Barter Theater. And if you're interested in bluegrass/ local music, you could try the Carter Fold or Floyd (both are a drive, though). And there's a theater in Marion, I think, that does bluegrass shows. There's probably something closer, I'm just not aware of it.

www.crookedroad.org for Virginia's Crooked Road music trail. It includes Carter Fold, as well as events/venues closer to Wytheville.

www.bartertheater.com for Barter's schedule. I just saw "Keep on the Sunny Side" last week, their show honoring the Carter Family. What a fabulous show. It's not playing much longer, though. Barter has two stages, the larger main stage with maybe 250-300 seats, and Stage II with about 100 seats. That's a nice intimate venue.

Virginia Creeper trail is great, I highly recommend for biking, and it's great for all ages as it's downhill most of the way. We rent bikes and shuttle from the Bike Station in Damascus. http://www.thebike-station.com/ If you like the train photography of O. Winston Link, one of the famous depots he photographed is along the trail.

Is Big Walker Lookout still there on US 52 north of Wytheville?

Wytheville has a German-themed dinner theater. I've never been, but it's right on the Interstate and the building intrigues me.

Almost forgot ... the theater in Marion is the Lincoln Theater. http://www.the-lincoln-theatre.org/

Thanks for the great ideas! Hellion, we are staying in Wytheville at a lovely B&B, Trinkle Mansion,
www.TrinkleMansion.com.

Good antiquing.

You're also only 1/2 hour or so from the Blue Ridge Parkway www.blueridgeparkway.org & a great winery in Villa Appalaccia. www.villaappalacia.com.

Thanks, again, for the ideas. Anyone know about Burke's Garden?

Burke's Garden is in Tazewell County, and would probably be less than an hour drive from Wytheville. It's really beautiful scenery -- it's a valley like a bowl, there's only one road in over a mountain. In the valley it's pretty much farms -- there used to be an Amish community there but I believe they may have moved.
http://www.tazewellcounty.org/tourism/broch8.html

If you go down that way, you might want to go a bit further down 460 to Pounding Mill to eat at Cuz's, a restaurant in an eclectically-renovated barn. Pretty good food.

Link to Cuz's: http://www.cuzs.us/

Hi everyone,
Thanks, again!
I just took our bikes to be adjusted because we are booked for a shuttle to bike the Virginia Creeper Trail thanks to you.
Cuz's looks interesting, too.
We really appreciate the advice.