This 122-mile Mountain Highway Journey By means of Virginia and West Virginia Has Charming Small Cities, Lovely Mountaineering Trails, and Outside Adventures

Between the Blue Ridge Mountains of Roanoke, Virginia, and the New River Gorge of West Virginia lies a scenic, 122-mile journey that is excellent for a day journey or weekend getaway. Here is what to see and do alongside the way in which,

Begin in West Virginia. 

The mix of New River Gorge climbing and the quaint historic city of Lewisburg makes this the right kickoff to an epic highway journey. Shopkeepers supply heat greetings together with ice cream, antiques, and classy cowgirl hats, and occasions just like the Lewisburg Literary Competition, held each August, convey the neighborhood and guests collectively.

Historical past abounds right here, and one of the best ways to soak all of it in is on the Lewisburg Historic District Strolling Tour. It features a whopping 58 websites like The Barracks, a three-story stone and log construction that is the oldest constructing in Lewisburg, constructed round 1789. 

Go to the Historic Basic Lewis Inn and sidle as much as the foyer bar, The Thistle Lounge, the place you’ll be able to get pleasure from artisanal cocktails created from lesser-known liquors and tinctures. In case your plans embrace an in a single day keep, the inn, with its creaky wood flooring and homey visitor rooms, is central to all issues Lewisburg. 

The most well-liked close by attraction is New River Gorge, a whitewater river dashing by a deep canyon. Guests flock right here to hike, bike, fish, experience the rapids, and luxuriate in bird-watching. You can too experience horses on the Greenbrier River Path, which affords gorgeous surroundings. Notice: Cellphone protection is nonexistent in these components, so put together for unencumbered peace. 

When you’ve labored up an urge for food, settle in for dinner at The French Goat. Order a burger and the basis vegetable aspect dish — a scrumptious instance of French and Appalachian fusion. 

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Hike, tube, and sip your manner by Christiansburg and Blacksburg, Virginia.

Drive lower than two hours on U.S. 219 S and U.S. 460 E to the house of Virginia Tech, Jefferson Nationwide Forest, world-class tubing, and a bevy of breweries. Stretch your legs on the Huckleberry Path, which connects Christiansburg and Blacksburg. Its many branches present 15 miles of choices, and the most effective is the ADA-accessible, 1.5-mile loop at Coal Mining Heritage Park. Or, go to Jefferson Nationwide Forest and hike the one-mile loop from Pandapas Pond, selecting your journey amongst various Poverty Creek trails. 

For a household expertise and an opportunity to view the scenic mountain ranges from the water, attempt tubing at New River Junction. It’s a lazy float over mild, shallow waters, so everybody from the youngsters to grandpa can take part. Order a cooler tube so you’ll be able to sip chilly drinks on the experience.

Additional quench your thirst with the six craft beers brewed at Southwest Virginia’s oldest brewery, Bull & Bones Brewhaus & Grill. If vino is your vibe, Beliveau Farm Vineyard pours award-winning wines like Loopy Professor Vidal Blanc. And if you happen to get pleasure from each beer and wine, you’re in luck as Beliveau operates the one gluten-free brewery in Virginia. 

When you’re having a lot enjoyable that you simply don’t wish to depart, keep at The Inn at Virginia Tech. Absorb campus life, peruse the galleries at Moss Arts Heart, and stroll the floral walkways at Hahn Horticulture Backyard. 

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Store, be taught, and discover in Roanoke, Virginia. 

The most important metropolis on the Appalachian Path, Roanoke is only a 40-minute drive north on Interstate 81. Identified for its climbing and biking trails, Roanoke turned Instagram-famous when trekkers standing on the jagged precipice of McAfee Knob made it probably the most photographed spot on the route. If strolling isn’t your factor, go for a customizable e-bike tour with Roanoke Mountain Adventures, the place you will select the trail and size that greatest match your skill.  

Exploring the newly revitalized downtown Roanoke is a should. Begin on the Harrison Museum of African American Tradition, the place the contributions of individuals of the African diaspora are highlighted. Sit and ponder the not too long ago unveiled statue of Henrietta Lacks, whose cells have been used for medical analysis with out her consent. 

Subsequent, spend a while at Black Canine Salvage, dwelling of TV’s Salvage Dawgs, the place they reclaim and repurpose architectural waste into one-of-a-kind dwelling items. Wander the warehouse showroom, peek into the workshop, and take dwelling a memento from the Star Metropolis. On the third Sunday of every month, Black Canine Salvage hosts the Canine Bowl Market, that includes native musicians, distributors, and artisans of handmade, upcycled merchandise.

When you’re staying an evening or two, hold your hat at Hearth Station One, a 100-year-old hearth station that reopened in 2023 as a boutique resort. When you gained’t be capable of slide down a fireman’s pole, you’ll be able to keep in certainly one of seven distinctive rooms and dine on the in-house Inventory Cafe, which serves Nordic and Scandinavian fare. Or, spend the night time within the transformed financial institution constructing, The Liberty Belief, accomplished in 2022. It’s listed on the Nationwide Register of Historic Locations and affords on-site eating and cocktails at The Vault. 

Lastly, end your journey with a hearty sigh and a nod to John Denver, who precisely dubbed this neck of the woods “nearly heaven.”