Virginia Travel Guide - Virginia Travel Guide 2026
Southwest Virginia: Blue Ridge Highlands
2025-11-22 09:16:13
5 WAYS TO SPEND YOUR DAYS
Hike 4 miles roundtrip to Cascade Falls for an epic summer swimming hole experience.
Put on your dancing shoes for a Friday Night Jamboree at Floyd Country Store, an old-time general store home to traditional Appalachian music.
In summer, celebrate Appalachian arts, culture, and heritage during Abingdon’s weeklong Virginia Highlands Festival.
Hike trails 5,729 feet up to Virginia’s highest peak at Mount Rogers National Recreation Area.
Learn the story of the 1927 Bristol Sessions, which included Jimmie Rodgers and the Carter family, at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum.
Blue Ridge Parkway Overlooks with Stellar Views
Whether you’re hoping for a quick glimpse or simply enjoying nature, these Blue Ridge Parkway overlooks offer a front-row seat to Virginia’s vibrant wildlife.
The Blue Ridge Parkway is more than a scenic drive — it’s a window into the heart of the Appalachian Mountains. Stretching through some of Southwest Virginia’s most breathtaking landscapes, Blue Ridge Highlands offers countless stops where travelers can soak up the views, photograph iconic sites, and — with any luck — spot wildlife in their natural habitat.
Near Milepost 188.8, Groundhog Mountain Overlook is aptly named for one of the parkway’s most charming residents. Here, visitors can catch glimpses of groundhogs sunning on rocks or scurrying through the grassy meadows. The overlook features a picnic area and observation tower, making it a great place to hang out and take in panoramic views. Don’t forget to look to the skies; hawks and songbirds frequently glide through the air above.
One of the parkway’s most picturesque — and most photographed — spots is the historic Mabry Mill at Milepost 176. The weathered structure complete with water wheel is impressive in itself, and each season only adds to its appeal: bright blooms in spring and summer, reflections of foliage off the millpond in fall, and falling snow in winter.
Rock Castle Gorge Overlook at Milepost 168.8 sits above Rock Castle Gorge — more than 3,500 feet above it. With binoculars or keen eyes, you may spot hawks riding thermal currents or deer and wild turkeys below. In spring and summer, the slopes light up with wildflowers; in fall, the gorge glows vibrant with changing foliage. Look for Rocky Knob, rising like the crest of a wave over the gorge.
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