Home to the highest peaks in Virginia, the Blue Ridge Highlands of Virginia are also full of small-town charm and authentic Appalachian hospitality.
Here, you’ll find farm-to-fork food, artwork, local spirits, and handcrafts that are distinctly Appalachian.
In local music venues, traditional old-time music sits comfortably next to its cousins: bluegrass and country. Get a front row seat to the heritage music of the region at a recording of the famous PBS series Song of the Mountains. This award-winning show is recorded live each month at the Lincoln Theatre in Marion, VA.
Experience music like a local when you sit in on one of Smyth County’s three weekly jams. A community jam brings amateur and professional musicians together.
For those who want to get hands-on, visit the Wayne C. Henderson School for Appalachian Arts. Named after world famous luthier Wayne Henderson, it offers immersive classes in Appalachian craftsmanship. Build a guitar or fiddle, or learn letterpress, pottery and quilting.
The beauty of our mountains have historically fostered the ingenuity of free spirits and artisans. In Marion, you’ll find a fusion of traditional and contemporary arts at The Ford Studios, and a cooperative of regional artists who make their home at the Appalachian Spirit Gallery. Our bustling weekly farmers markets in Chilhowie and Marion are a great place to browse local arts and crafts, and sample homemade goodies.
For a taste of authentic Appalachia, sample the moonshine at Highlands Distilling Company, made with a traditional recipe and distilling methods. The local libations are expertly crafted at 36 Fifty Brewing, where you’ll find an impressive selection of craft beers, while Davis Valley Winery & Distillery offers wine and spirits at their beautiful hilltop tasting room.
Smyth County’s communities are packed with history that you can still experience today.
A historical marker notes that Chilhowie was once the westernmost point of the United States. Pronounced Chil-how-whee, a Cherokee word meaning “valley of many deer,” the town became a stagecoach stop along the famous Wilderness Road. Officially incorporated in 1913, the town still boasts beautiful turn of the century architecture in the recently restored historic district, listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Marion boasts a vibrant downtown, anchored by the historic Lincoln Theatre. Originally built as “the finest movie palace in the region,” it now offers live performances in a gorgeous Mayan Revival style theatre. Pop-culture lovers will be excited to know Marion also played a crucial role in the development of Mountain Dew.
Saltville can lay claim to 30,000 years of history, from prehistory through the modern industrial age, including two major Civil War battles fought over the saltworks. The natural salt deposits not only attracted prehistoric mammals, they’ve also made this town a popular eco-destination. Birders flock to the saltwater marshes of the Well Fields and hikers enjoy the unique slot canyons of Channels Natural Area Preserve. Head to the Museum of the Middle Appalachians to view the bones of prehistoric creatures and learn how the American chemical industry began in Southwest Virginia.
