Things to do in the Blue Ridge Highlands
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Region
Southwest Virginia
Experience
Mountains, music, trails, and heritage
Good bases
Abingdon, Bristol, Galax, and Blacksburg
Plan around
Driving distances, seasonal conditions, and current trail and road status
The Blue Ridge Highlands is Virginia Tourism Corporation’s name for a broad Southwest Virginia region of mountain scenery, small towns, and Appalachian cultural traditions. Its visitor highlights range from the Blue Ridge Parkway and the high country around Mount Rogers to the music communities of The Crooked Road: Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail. In towns such as Abingdon, Bristol, Floyd, and Wytheville, visitors can pair outdoor days with live performance, museums, and local history.[1]
Plan a trip to Things to do in the Blue Ridge Highlands
Why go
This is a region for travelers who like to combine scenic drives with time outdoors and stops in independent-minded mountain towns. A day might mean a Parkway overlook or a trail in the morning, traditional music or a theater performance in the evening, and a meal in a historic downtown in between.
The region is especially rewarding for visitors interested in Appalachian music and storytelling. Virginia Tourism Corporation highlights Bristol, Galax, and Floyd among its music destinations, while The Crooked Road connects communities and venues across Southwest Virginia.[2]
Highlights
Take a mountain drive with opportunities to pause at overlooks and explore nearby trails. Check the National Park Service road-status page before setting out; closures and detours can change.
Follow Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail through communities where traditional music remains part of local cultural life.
Explore a historic downtown, see what is on at Barter Theatre, or plan an outing on the Virginia Creeper Trail. Confirm current performance and trail information before your visit.
Discover the story of the 1927 Bristol Sessions at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum, then explore the city’s musical heritage.
Make time for high-country scenery and outdoor recreation. Check park information for current trail, facility, and access conditions.
Add a stop for local music and the Floyd Country Store, a noted gathering place for Appalachian music.
Pair a mountain-region visit with the university town’s cultural attractions and Virginia Tech campus setting.
History and character
The Blue Ridge Highlands is a tourism region rather than a single municipality, and its character is shaped by mountain landscapes, rural communities, and long-running cultural traditions. Virginia Tourism Corporation describes the area through a mix of outdoor recreation, music, theater, and historic towns.[3]
Music is one of the region’s best-known cultural threads. Bristol’s 1927 recording sessions are central to the story told at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum, which explores the recordings and their influence on country music and related traditions.[4] In Abingdon, Barter Theatre opened in 1933 with an unusual Depression-era offer: audiences could exchange produce and other goods for admission. The theatre later became the State Theatre of Virginia.[5]
Planning a trip
The region covers a wide area, so plan around a few towns or activities rather than assuming every highlight is close by. A car is useful for connecting mountain roads, trailheads, and small communities. For a first visit, consider choosing one base—such as Abingdon, Bristol, or Floyd—and adding day trips that fit your interests.
Conditions can affect outdoor plans. Check the National Park Service’s current road-status and construction updates before driving the Blue Ridge Parkway, and confirm details directly with the relevant park or attraction. Parkway closures and detours may change with weather, maintenance, and other events.[6]
The Virginia Creeper Trail is a popular option for walking and cycling near Abingdon and Damascus. Sections of the trail have been affected by storm damage; check current trail conditions and access information before planning a ride or hike.[7]
For performances, festivals, museums, and other scheduled attractions, confirm dates, reservations, and opening details with the venue before traveling.
Explore nearby
Things to do in Southwest Virginia
Explore the wider region’s mountain communities, outdoor destinations, and cultural routes.
Things to do in the Alleghany Highlands
Continue east and north for another Virginia mountain region with its own small towns and outdoor escapes.
Southwest Virginia
Get a broader introduction to the state’s southwestern counties and communities.
Blue Ridge Mountains
Learn about the mountain range that shapes much of the region’s scenery.
Travel books and maps: Browse related Virginia travel books and maps on Amazon
References
- ↑ Blue Ridge Highlands, Virginia Is for Lovers, Virginia Tourism Corporation. Retrieved October 22, 2026.
- ↑ The Crooked Road Communities, Virginia Is for Lovers, Virginia Tourism Corporation. Retrieved October 22, 2026.
- ↑ Blue Ridge Highlands, Virginia Is for Lovers, Virginia Tourism Corporation. Retrieved October 22, 2026.
- ↑ Museum, Birthplace of Country Music, Birthplace of Country Music. Retrieved October 22, 2026.
- ↑ Barter Theatre History, Barter Theatre, Barter Theatre. Retrieved October 22, 2026.
- ↑ Road Status and Closures, Blue Ridge Parkway, National Park Service. Retrieved October 22, 2026.
- ↑ Bucket List Hikes in Virginia, Virginia Is for Lovers, Virginia Tourism Corporation. Retrieved October 22, 2026.
External links
- Blue Ridge Highlands — Virginia Tourism Corporation
- Blue Ridge Parkway road status and closures — National Park Service
- Birthplace of Country Music Museum — Birthplace of Country Music
- Barter Theatre — Official site