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Southwest Virginia - Blue Ridge Highlands

Blue Ridge Highlands

The Birthplace of Country Music

As the Birthplace of Country Music, this area invites you to travel The Crooked Road on a musical journey. The hotspots include Bristol, Fiddling Conventions, such as the granddaddy of 'em all - Galax and the Floyd Country Store.

"America's Most Scenic Drive," the Blue Ridge Parkway, runs through this region of Virginia. Explore the abundant outdoor recreation opportunities, the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, and plenty of places to see wildlife ...

  • Clinch Mountain Wildlife Management Area
  • Crooked Creek Wildlife Management Area
  • State Parks in the Blue Ridge Highlands
 

Abingdon is known around the world for Barter Theatre, The State Theater of Virginia, its two-week-long Virginia Highlands Festival and its Historic District with charming residences and craft shops.

Blacksburg is home to Virginia Tech, the state's largest university and home of Lane Stadium, where NCAA Atlantic Coast Conference football match-ups are waged.

Before leaving the region, be sure to visit Saltville, "The Salt Capitol of the Confederacy," and its Museum of the Middle Appalachians.

Meadows of Dan's Primland Resort offers mountain-top chalets, elegant dining and Orvis-endorsed activities like flyfishing and wingshooting, as well as mountain biking and ATV trails.

Find your passion for the outdoors and pioneering in the Blue Ridge Highlands!

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Trip Ideas

  • Thee Draper Village
    3-Day Guide: Blacksburg, Montgomery, and Pulaski
    Located in the Blue Ridge Highlands of Southwest Virginia, Blacksburg is known as the home of the Virginia Tech Hokies, but this mountain town and the surrounding communities in Montgomery County offer so much more for visitors. The area is packed with outdoor adventure, farm-to-table dining, and rustic cabin rentals for bucolic family retreats.
  • Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion
    3-Day Guide: Bristol & Abingdon
    We traveled to one of the most underrated parts of the state, exploring Bristol, Abingdon, and the epically scenic region of Southwest Virginia.
  • Gillies Restaurant in Blacksburg
    Dining Guide: Southwest Blue Ridge
    Due to the rolling pastures and bucolic farmland, you’ll find that fresh produce and locally sourced ingredients are always on the table at restaurants in Southwest Virginia.
  • Studio Brew
    Southwest Virginia Craft Beer Guide
    The area has been receiving a lot of buzz for its growing culinary scene, and what goes best with great food? A cold craft beer.
  • The New River
    Following The New River To Your Next Travel Destination
    About 160 miles of the New River flows through Southwest Virginia, drawing outdoor enthusiasts to experience the scenic river journey over the Blue Ridge Mountains.
  • Canoeing on the James River in Rockbridge County
    Road (And Water) Trips Along The James River
    The James River winds from west to east in Virginia, cutting through the Blue Ridge Mountains, southern Shenandoah Valley, and the capital city as it travels to its final destination, the Chesapeake Bay.
  • Rising Silo Brewery
    6 Things To Do In Blacksburg
    Located in Montgomery County in the Blue Ridge Highlands region of Virginia, Blacksburg is a university town rooted in rich history but also home to the quirky, the inventive, the creative and the sustainable.
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Cities

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Counties

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