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{{Text hero
|title=Things to do in the Blue Ridge Highlands
|subtitle=Virginia regional guide
|kind=regional
}}
<div class="vw-photo-hero-fallback-source" style="display:none">
{{Place header
|name=Things to do in the Blue Ridge Highlands
|image=
|alt=
|kicker=REGIONAL GUIDE
|summary=Mountain drives, Appalachian music, outdoor trails, and small-town culture in Southwest Virginia.
}}
</div>

{{Place quick facts
|label1=Region
|value1=Southwest Virginia
|label2=Experience
|value2=Mountains, music, trails, and heritage
|label3=Good bases
|value3=[[Abingdon, Virginia|Abingdon]], [[Bristol, Virginia|Bristol]], [[Galax, Virginia|Galax]], and [[Blacksburg, Virginia|Blacksburg]]
|label4=Plan around
|value4=Driving distances, seasonal conditions, and current trail and road status
}}
<div class="vw-place-intro">
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 in Virginia|Blue Ridge Parkway]] and the high country around Mount Rogers to the music communities of [[The Crooked Road|The Crooked Road: Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail]]. In towns such as [[Abingdon, Virginia|Abingdon]], [[Bristol, Virginia|Bristol]], [[Floyd, Virginia|Floyd]], and [[Wytheville, Virginia|Wytheville]], visitors can pair outdoor days with live performance, museums, and local history.<ref>{{Cite web
|url=https://www.virginia.org/places-to-visit/regions/blue-ridge-highlands/
|title=Blue Ridge Highlands
|website=Virginia Is for Lovers
|publisher=Virginia Tourism Corporation
|access-date=October 22, 2026
}}</ref>
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|destination=VA-THINGS-TO-DO-IN-THE-BLUE-RIDGE-HIGHLANDS
|name=Things to do in the Blue Ridge Highlands
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{{Viator maybe
|destination=VA-THINGS-TO-DO-IN-THE-BLUE-RIDGE-HIGHLANDS
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== 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.<ref>{{Cite web
|url=https://www.virginia.org/things-to-do/arts-and-entertainment/music/the-crooked-road/communities/
|title=The Crooked Road Communities
|website=Virginia Is for Lovers
|publisher=Virginia Tourism Corporation
|access-date=October 22, 2026
}}</ref>

== Highlights ==
<div class="vw-place-card-grid">
{{Place card
|title=Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia
|link=Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia
|text=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.
}}
{{Place card
|title=The Crooked Road
|link=The Crooked Road
|text=Follow Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail through communities where traditional music remains part of local cultural life.
}}
{{Place card
|title=Abingdon, Virginia
|link=Abingdon, Virginia
|text=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.
}}
{{Place card
|title=Bristol, Virginia
|link=Bristol, Virginia
|text=Discover the story of the 1927 Bristol Sessions at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum, then explore the city’s musical heritage.
}}
{{Place card
|title=Grayson Highlands State Park
|link=Grayson Highlands State Park
|text=Make time for high-country scenery and outdoor recreation. Check park information for current trail, facility, and access conditions.
}}
{{Place card
|title=Floyd, Virginia
|link=Floyd, Virginia
|text=Add a stop for local music and the Floyd Country Store, a noted gathering place for Appalachian music.
}}
{{Place card
|title=Blacksburg, Virginia
|link=Blacksburg, Virginia
|text=Pair a mountain-region visit with the university town’s cultural attractions and Virginia Tech campus setting.
}}
</div>

== 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.<ref>{{Cite web
|url=https://www.virginia.org/places-to-visit/regions/blue-ridge-highlands/
|title=Blue Ridge Highlands
|website=Virginia Is for Lovers
|publisher=Virginia Tourism Corporation
|access-date=October 22, 2026
}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{Cite web
|url=https://birthplaceofcountrymusic.org/museum/
|title=Museum
|website=Birthplace of Country Music
|publisher=Birthplace of Country Music
|access-date=October 22, 2026
}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web
|url=https://bartertheatre.com/history/
|title=Barter Theatre History
|website=Barter Theatre
|publisher=Barter Theatre
|access-date=October 22, 2026
}}</ref>

== 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 in Virginia|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.<ref>{{Cite web
|url=https://www.nps.gov/blri/planyourvisit/roadclosures.htm
|title=Road Status and Closures
|website=Blue Ridge Parkway
|publisher=National Park Service
|access-date=October 22, 2026
}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{Cite web
|url=https://www.virginia.org/things-to-do/outdoors/hiking/bucket-list-hikes/
|title=Bucket List Hikes in Virginia
|website=Virginia Is for Lovers
|publisher=Virginia Tourism Corporation
|access-date=October 22, 2026
}}</ref>

For performances, festivals, museums, and other scheduled attractions, confirm dates, reservations, and opening details with the venue before traveling.

== Explore nearby ==
<div class="vw-place-explore-grid">
{{Nearby card
|title=Things to do in Southwest Virginia
|link=Things to do in Southwest Virginia
|text=Explore the wider region’s mountain communities, outdoor destinations, and cultural routes.
}}
{{Nearby card
|title=Things to do in the Alleghany Highlands
|link=Things to do in the Alleghany Highlands
|text=Continue east and north for another Virginia mountain region with its own small towns and outdoor escapes.
}}
{{Nearby card
|title=Southwest Virginia
|link=Southwest Virginia
|text=Get a broader introduction to the state’s southwestern counties and communities.
}}
{{Nearby card
|title=Blue Ridge Mountains
|link=Blue Ridge Mountains
|text=Learn about the mountain range that shapes much of the region’s scenery.
}}
</div>

<div class="vw-amazon-flow">
'''Travel books and maps:''' [https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Things%20to%20do%20in%20the%20Blue%20Ridge%20Highlands%20Virginia%20travel%20guide%20map&tag=virginiawiki-20 Browse related Virginia travel books and maps on Amazon]
<div class="vw-affiliate-disclosure">As an Amazon Associate, this site earns from qualifying purchases.</div>
</div>

== References ==
<references />

== External links ==
* [https://www.virginia.org/places-to-visit/regions/blue-ridge-highlands/ Blue Ridge Highlands] — Virginia Tourism Corporation
* [https://www.nps.gov/blri/planyourvisit/roadclosures.htm Blue Ridge Parkway road status and closures] — National Park Service
* [https://birthplaceofcountrymusic.org/museum/ Birthplace of Country Music Museum] — Birthplace of Country Music
* [https://bartertheatre.com/ Barter Theatre] — Official site
</div>

[[Category:Virginia travel guides]]
[[Category:Virginia guides]]

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