Pick a summer passion and match it to a Virginia mountain town that not only offers that outdoor pursuit, but also the fun to go with it.
Lexington
Big outdoor lure: The Maury River and James River are destinations for tubing, paddling (class II, III, IV rapids), fishing and swimming. Goshen Pass, just west of Lexington, is particularly renowned for its beauty. lexingtonvirginia.com/canoeing.htm
Other outdoor lure: Natural Bridge Park & Caverns recently changed hands but remains a visitor favorite for its combination of history and scenery. The attraction doubles as a gateway to the town of Glasgow and thousands of acres of National Forest. naturalbridgeva.com
Big event this summer: Sept. 11-12, the Rockbridge Mountain Music and Dance Festival presents a laid-back chance for flatfooting and called dances against a backdrop of fiddle and banjo tunes. rockbridgefestival.org
Eat here: Bistro on Main serves healthy fare for brunch, lunch, and dinner. bistro-lexington.com
Southern Inn, a longtime favorite of locals and college students alike, has become a veritable institution. Even a devastating fire in 2010 couldn’t keep it down, as it reopened but a year later. southerninn.com
Sleep here: The Georges boutique inn has 18 themed rooms and two related restaurants, one being a piano bar. thegeorges.com/accommodations
Glen Maury Park Campground has tent and RV hookups, river access, pool, playing fields, tennis courts, playgrounds and music festivals throughout the year. glenmaurypark.com
Bonus item: Devils Backbone Outpost Brewery won medals at the 2014 Great American Beer Festival for Mid-Size Brewing Co. & Mid-Size Brew Team of the Year. dbbrewingcompany.com/theoutpost.aspx
Staunton
Big outdoor lure: Shenandoah National Park anchors the northern end of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Skyline Drive acts as the park’s backbone, with access to numerous trails, waterfalls and wilderness.
nps.gov/shen/index.htm
Other outdoor lure: The 6,518-acre Ramseys Draft Wilderness contains eight trails encompassing 24 miles. It’s the perfect place to get lost, on purpose. wilderness.net/NWPS/wildView?WID=482
Big event this summer: September 12-16, Virginia Mountain Challenge attracts bicyclists for a 4-day, 280-mile tour through the Blue Ridge Mountains. 2015velovirginia.bike
Eat here: Zynodoa Restaurant makes southern cuisine sourced from independent Virginia farmers and producers. zynodoa.com
Cranberry’s Eatery offers sandwiches and healthy eats. gocranberrys.com/menu.php
Sleep here: The Berkeley House Bed & Breakfast recently opened in a historic neighborhood within walking distance of downtown. BHBandB.us
The Stonewall Jackson Hotel, located downtown and steps away from the American Shakespeare Center, is one of the Historic Hotels of America. stonewalljacksonhotel.com
Bonus item: The Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library and Museum gives visitors a glimpse of one of the most important yet under-appreciated 20th century presidents. The centennial anniversary of World War I presents an opportune chance to visit. woodrowwilson.org/museum/the-birthplace-the-manse
Floyd
Big outdoor lure: Rocky Knob Recreation Area encompasses more than 4,000 acres of forest that include beautiful rock crystalline quartz formations and the 10.8-mile Rock Castle Gorge Trail, which loops from the Blue Ridge Parkway to the bottom of the gorge. recreation.gov/camping/rocky-knob-cg/r/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=NRSO&parkId=72350
Other outdoor lure: Buffalo Mountain Natural Area Preserve , which contains a number of rare plant and animal species, as well as a treeless summit that gives world-class views of the Blue Ridge Plateau. dcr.virginia.gov/natural_heritage/natural_area_preserves/buffalo.shtml
Big event this summer: July 22-26: Floyd Fest isn’t just for top-notch roots and progressive music acts. It also features the Belcher Mountain Beatdown mountain bike trek and a 5K trail run. floydfest.com
Eat here: Chateau Morrisette is known for its wines, but its restaurant just off the Blue Ridge Parkway deserves notice as well. thedogs.com
Mickey G’s Bistro & Pizzeria serves gourmet dishes and kid-pleasing pizza alike. mickeygsbistro.com
Sleep here: Little River Bed &Breakfast is located just a few minutes’ drive from town. If you play bluegrass or old-time music, bring your instrument and the owner may jam with you. little-river-bedandbreakfast.com
Hotel Floyd is located in downtown Floyd and offers a variety of themed rooms. hotelfloyd.com
Bonus item: The Friday Night Jamboree at the Floyd Country Store, a century-old tradition, brings together the community – old-timers and alternatives alike – to share a dance floor. floydcountrystore.com
Pulaski
Big outdoor lure: Claytor Lake State Park serves as ground zero for boating, swimming, hiking and camping. dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/claytor-lake.shtml
Other outdoor lure: New River Trail State Park, a 57-mile linear park, provides stellar birdwatching and fishing. www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/new-river-trail.shtml#general_information
Big event this summer: Triadventure Multisport Training puts on the Claytor Lake Sprint Triathalon on September 12. triadventure.com
Eat here: Steer House Restaurant has served comfort food, including steaks and an all-you-can-eat soup, salad and dessert bar, since 1978. steerhouserestaurant.com
Draper Mercantile’s Blue Door Cafe and Bakery serves up lunch and appetizers, wine and craft beer during its Wine Down Fridays. drapermerc.com/blue-door-cafe-and-bakery.html
Sleep here: Rockwood Manor Historic Bed and Breakfast works as a charming alternative to the numerous chain motels in Dublin. It arranges for evening socials with appetizers on its porch, as well as a three-course breakfast. rockwood-manor.com
Homestead Inn on Claytor Lake was built in the 1800s, is located within striking distance of Draper and offers five themed rooms. virginia.org/Listings/PlacesToStay/ClaytorLakeHomesteadInn
Bonus item: The Pulaski Yankees will play their first season this year after taking over the local franchise from the Mariners. The Yankees will look to impress, and everyone knows that small-town minor-league baseball is the best baseball. milb.com/index.jsp?sid=t425
Nellysford
Big outdoor lure: Crabtree Falls is the highest vertical-drop cascading waterfall east of the Mississippi River. A trail provides access to overlooks of five major cascades and numerous smaller ones. virginia.org/Listings/OutdoorsAndSports/CrabtreeFallsTrail
Other outdoor lure: Rockfish Valley Loop Trail, a network of trails providing public access to the South Fork of the Rockfish River and Reid’s Creek. The loop trail is recognized as part of the Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail. rockfishvalley.org
Big event this summer: The Virginia Craft Brewers Festival, August 22, highlights brewers from across the commonwealth compete. It’s pretty safe to say beer drinkers are the winners here. vacraftbrewersfest.com
Eat here: Wild Wolf Brewing Company includes a farm-to-fork restaurant that features local produce and meats. wildwolfbeer.com
Blue Mountain Brewery sells its own locally brewed beer and a full menu, all against a scenic backdrop. bluemountainbrewery.com
Sleep here: Wintergreen: Four-season mountain retreat Wintergreen Resort offers golfing, skiing, mountain climbing, hiking, biking and more. wintergreenresort.com
Mark Addy Bed & Breakfast is a conveniently located B&B on the sunrise side of the Blue Ridge Mountains. mark-addy.com
Acorn Inn is a Euro-style country inn with multilingual hosts and a variety of rooming options. acorninn.com
Bonus item: August 2 marks the Blackberry Harvest Festival at Hill Top Berry Farm and Winery, with fruit, wine and mead. hilltopberrywine.com
Rocky Mount
Big outdoor lure: Smith Mountain Lake remains unsurpassed as Virginia’s most popular lake, with bass fishing, water skiing and more. visitsmithmountainlake.com
Other outdoor lure: The variety of public takeout spots along the Pigg River and Blackwater River provides paddlers with a wealth of potential routes. franklincountyva.org/parks/images/blueways.htm
Big event this summer: June 20, 2nd Great Country 5 Miler takes competitors along dirt road, cinder trail and single track in Franklin County’s Waid Park. visitfranklincountyva.org/events/great-country-5-miler
Eat here: Bootleggers Cafe, a recent addition to Franklin County’s dining scene, serves comfort food sourced from local farms. bootleggerscafe.com
Bowling Place, located on Virginia 40 about halfway between Rocky Mount and Ferrum, serves a limited but memorable menu. Get hot dogs, a bowl of beans and a slice of wheel cheese, and wash it down with a cold beer.
Sleep here: Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast, located in downtown Rocky Mount, includes gardens and a 130-foot wraparound porch. claibornehouse.net
Early Inn at the Grove, a historic house in the heart of Rocky Mount, is located directly across the street from the Harvester Performance Center. earlyinn.com
Bonus item: The Harvester Performance Center opened just last year but has rapidly become a live music hotspot with a calendar of recognizable acts. harvester-music.com
