Backcountry Notes

Here are some interesting, informative, and fun places in my world.  

ABINGDON - An old frontier town in Washington County, Virginia, Abingdon contains many well-preserved buildings from the Colonial and Early American periods.  Attractions include the Barter Theatre, the William King Regional Center for the Arts,  antique/junktique and specialty stores, and an excellent annual arts, crafts and music fair, the Virginia Highlands Festival. 

APPALACHIAN ARTS CENTER - The Appalachian Arts Center is in the Wardell community in Tazewell County, near the Southwest Virginia Community College, which sponsors the Center.  The AAC features an excellent selection of arts and crafts by local residents.

BILTMORE HOUSE - George Vanderbilt's spectacular country estate in Asheville, NC.  Biltmore is a day trip from my much more modest abode.  Totally worth the price of admission. 

BREAKS INTERSTATE PARK -  Straddling the Virginia-Kentucky border, the Breaks Interstate Park features pretty fall foliage and some nice walking and hiking trails.  Country and bluegrass groups come here to practice and perform in the picnic areas.  Another easy day trip from my house. 

BURKE'S GARDEN - Located between the towns of Tazewell and Wytheville, Burke's Garden is a spectucular geological feature.  Sometimes called "God's Thumbprint," Burke's Garden is a huge, natural mountain cove; it is less well known than the similar Cade's Cove in Tennessee, which would fit inside Burke's Garden about four times. The Appalachian Trail runs along the eastern crest of Garden Mountain.  The realtively flat interior of the Garden has areas suitable for biking (bring your own) and birding (hawks! eagles!).  Public facilities are limited.  The BG Community has an annual festival in late September.

HILLSVILLE - Famed among local historians as the site of the 1912 Hillsville Court House Massacre, a criminal trial gone bad which resulted in a gunfight in the Circuit Courtroom that spilled out onto the court house lawn. Hillsville is now better known for its annual Labor Day Flea Market & Gun Show, which draws an estimated 500,000 visitors.  Arrive early and be in shape to walk.

                              
HISTORIC CRAB ORCHARD MUSEUM & PIONEER PARK - Located near the Town of Tazewell, Virginia, Crab Orchard Museum & Pioneer Park features an excellent collection of vintage log and stone structures.  The log cabins and other log buildings were donated to or purchased by the museum from the local area, moved to the site, and reconstructed there.  The stone structures (such as a root cellar) were obtained in like manner and reconstructed on site to appear as original as possible.  Crab Orchard has an annual July 4th event which showcases pioneer artisanship and activities, along with old-time music. 

HUNGRY MOTHER STATE PARK - Located in Smyth County, Hungry Mother State Park is a favorite site for 4th-of-July picnics, family reunions, campsites, cabins, and taking hikes around Hungry Mother Lake.

Situated adjacent to Hungry Mother, Hemlock Haven Conference Center has cabins and meeting facilities, and is a good site for familiy reunions.

MOUNT ROGERS NATIONAL RECREATION AREA -  A part of the Jefferson National Forest, the Mount Rogers NRA is located in Smyth and Washington counties.  Best access is through the Town of Damascus in Washington County, Virginia.  Great trails, good fishing in Whitetop Laurel Creek and other, smaller creeks.  Biking, horseback riding, wildlife-watching, and other outdoor activities abound.  Transected by the Virginia Creeper Trail and the Appalachian Trail.

OLD SALEM - Located in Winston-Salem, NC, Old Salem is the "Williamsburg" of the Backcountry.  There are many well-preserved structures from the Moravian period and the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts is located here.

SEAGROVE, NC -  Located in the center of North Carolina, this small Piedmont town has become synonymous with traditional North Carolina pottery.  The North Carolina Pottery Center is located here, as is the Museum of North Carolina Traditional Pottery  The NCPC has an annual benefit auction in late April which features both contemporary and vintage pieces.  The Museum sponsors the annual Seagrove Pottery Festival (the weekend before each Thanksgiving) and other events.  If you would like to browse the individual pottery shops, allow for plenty of time - there are more than ninety in the area.  Check the Web site of the Seagrove Area Potters' Assocation for a listing of area potters and samples of their wares.