Featured
Washington County, VA Offers Many Outdoor Recreation Options
Washington County is beautiful on the outside, and offers a number of recreation options for those who enjoy fresh air and fun. Here are examples:
A Fine Kettle of Fish
Anglers of all types enjoy flocking to Washington County on a year-round basis, but from early spring through late summer, the focus is on fly-fishing. Specific sites that are best for fly-fishing fanatics are Big Tumbling Creek, Green Cove, Hidden Valley Lake, Holston River, Taylor's Valley and Whitetop Laurel Creek. All... Read More »
Washington County Residents are Art Smart
Residents of Washington County are fortunate to have numerous top-notch cultural institutions in their midst.
Barter Theatre
Perhaps the most famous is the historic Barter Theatre, an arts facility with a storied past and more than 160,000 visitors each year.
The Abingdon theater opened in 1933 during the Great Depression, when the price of admission was 40 cents – or the equivalent in food – a policy that gave the theater its distinctive name.
Today‚ the Barter Theatre... Read More »
Washington County, VA Offers Sustainable Food Choices
Washington County is good to the last crop, with farmers markets and food sustainability businesses that are successful. Here are examples:
Abingdon Farmers Market
Abingdon Farmers Market maintains a local-only market vendor policy, meaning vendors must have grown, raised or made the products they sell. That policy has created an appreciation for healthy choices, diversity and sustainability of foods produced in Washington County. The market runs from April through November, and... Read More »
Washington County Fair Is One of Virginia's Best
It began in 1950 as the Burley Tobacco Festival and Farm Show, and today is simply known as the Washington County Fair.
The fair today runs for six days in mid-September and draws more than 60,000 visitors to the Washington County Fairgrounds. The Virginia Association of Fairs named the Washington County extravaganza “The Best Overall Fair in Virginia for 2006.”
Activities include agriculture contests, cattle judging, carnival rides and country music concerts. Entertainers who have appeared in... Read More »
Fun Things To Do in Abingdon, Virginia
1. Visit Barter Theater, a historic, beautiful place to enjoy live drama, musicals, classics, and comedies along with acting classes and day camps in the summer.
2. Get some fresh air bike riding, hiking, camping, fishing and horse riding on the Virginia Creeper Trail's 34-mile rail; extending from Whitetop to Abingdon, Virgina.
3. Challenge your golfing skills at Greenway Creek Golf Course's public 18-hole course featuring 5,552 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 68.
4. Expand... Read More »
Dogsled Relay Has Abingdon Crying Mush
On a crisp morning in January, rescued Siberian huskies excitedly strain against their harnesses, pulling taut the cords that link dog to man. At an official's nod, the musher gives his command. The wheeled sled lurches into motion, building speed until it becomes a fluid canine locomotive.
This is the Alaska Serum Run Re-enactment dog sled relay from Abingdon to Damascus, the premier event of the annual Virginia Creeper Trail Winterfest. The relay commemorates the 1925 dog sled transit... Read More »
Golf in Washington County, Va. Is Right on Course
The Washington County club scene is always in full swing, with a number of fine golf courses. Here is some background on four of them – two public and two private:
Clear Creek Golf Club
This 18-hole municipal course in Bristol, Va. is owned by the city, and the 6,516-yard expanse was designed by Chris Chrisman and Jack Sykes. The greens are smooth and true, and several holes feature views of the mountains.
A signature hole at Clear Creek is No. 4, a tempting par-4 measuring only... Read More »
Virginia Highlands Festival Celebrates All Things Abingdon
The long-standing Virginia Highlands Festival has been celebrated in Washington County since 1948. The free, summertime event occurs for 16 days and 16 nights during late July and early August. The festival showcases 150 top artisans from all over the country who display their crafts on Abingdon’s Barter Green and on the lawn of the Martha Washington Inn. The event has garnered several accolades over the years, including Sunshine Artist magazine naming it one of the 200 best arts-and-... Read More »
Virginia Creeper Trail Is a Favorite for Hikers, Bikers in Abingdon, VA
One of Washington County’s greatest natural assets is the Virginia Creeper Trail‚ a 35-mile multipurpose rail trail that stretches from Abingdon to Whitetop near the North Carolina state line.
The trail traces its history to the 1880s when it began as a railroad owned by the Abingdon Coal and Iron Railroad Co. The railroad company changed hands several times over the next century‚ and the track was eventually removed in 1977 after it was damaged by hard rains and flood.... Read More »
Abingdon, VA's Historic Barter Theatre
Rich in historical significance and with an enduring cultural impact, the Barter Theatre in Abingdon has been entertaining audiences for more than 75 years.
Begun as a kind of entertainment-for-food swap meet during the Great Depression, the aptly named Barter would accept cash or produce for admission. The first stage sat atop the town jail and there were plenty of naysayers, but founder Robert Porterfield was able to make a success of the theater. That first year, in 1933, the Barter Company... Read More »
Abingdon Vineyard & Winery Is Toast of Washington County
A toast to Abingdon Vineyard & Winery: The local grape-grower now offers more than 20 varieties along with a tasting room that is open from March to December.
Winery owners began planning the 53-acre vineyard in 1997. Its first 500 plants took root in 1998, and that number had grown to 6000 plants 2001. Its first fermentation began with the year 2000 harvest.
Today, the Abingdon company is part of a growing number of vineyards and wineries in this far southwest side of Virginia. Its main... Read More »
Abingdon Offers Art Education
Abingdon's residents have plenty of resources to keep themselves art smart. For starters, there's the William King Museum, a former school building turned focal point of the arts. Hailed as a center for art and cultural heritage, the museum also excels in education. It offers in-houses classes for both children and adults, and operates several school programs around the city. Abingdon is also home to the Arts Depot, home to the 300-member non-profit Depot Artists Association. Like the museum,... Read More »
Abingdon, VA Has a Growing Wine Scene
A toast to Abingdon Vineyard & Winery: The local grape-grower now offers more than 20 varieties along with a tasting room that is open from March to December. Winery owners began planning the 53-acre vineyard in 1997. Its first 500 plants took root in 1998, and by 2001 grew to 6000. Its first fermentation began with the year 2000 harvest. Today, the Abingdon company is part of a growing number of vineyards and wineries in this far southwest side of Virginia, including Coltsfoot Winery. Its... Read More »
Washington County Offers Many Fishing Holes
Fishing in Washington County is a refreshing outdoor activity that can be good for the soul - and sole.
This community has become a popular fishing destination, especially in recent times, not only for residents of southwest Virginia but for people arriving from several other surrounding states.
In fact, the popularity and availability of top fishing holes in the county continues to grow in legend as more anglers hear about the opportunities that are available in Washington County.
Anglers of... Read More »
Coomes Recreation Center Keeps Residents Active and Fit
The Harry L. Coomes Recreation Center has grown to a membership of 2,300 people in its 15 years of existence.
The Abingdon facility still looks as good as it did in 1994 when the doors first opened. Besides its regular membership, the center also welcomes an additional 120,000 daily-fee visitors every year.
Membership dues vary at the Coomes Center, with different fee packages available for individuals, families, college students, senior citizens and corporate clients. For non-members, there is... Read More »
The Highlands Shopping Center Features Target, Old Navy, Other Retail Stores
It is one of the largest shopping centers between Roanoke, Va., and Knoxville, Tenn., and 80,000 households live within 10 minutes of the mall. Plus it is conveniently located along Interstate 81 at exit 7.
The Highlands opened in 2007 as a retail destination where residents of southwest Virginia and beyond can shop at several big-name stores. The open-air complex is home to retail giants such as Target, Old Navy, Bed Bath & Beyond, Books-A-Million, PetSmart, T.J. Maxx and Ross Dress for... Read More »
STAR Museum in Abingdon, VA
STAR Museum
Walk the red carpet to a vast collection of celebrity clothing, pictures and effects at this unique museum. The star-studded collection at the STAR Museum ranges from the the mundane – clothing worn in films – to the bizarre, like Marilyn Monroe's signature on a U.S. Senate letter about an Antarctic treaty and Errol Flynn's swim trunks. The collection spans from 1915 to 2003. The oldest item is a black bonnet worn by actress Lillian Gish in the film “Birth of... Read More »
Martha Washington Inn & Spa Mix History with Modern Luxury
First lady Martha Washington was known for her ability to make guests feel welcome and strangers feel at ease. So it seems appropriate that the elegant hotel bearing her name is known for exactly the same qualities.
The Martha Washington Inn & Spa was constructed in 1832 as a private residence, then later served as a finishing school for young ladies‚ a Civil War hospital and a women’s college before opening as an inn in 1935.
The building underwent an $8 million renovation... Read More »
Shopping in Abingdon, VA
Forget the mall and the big-name stores. In Abingdon, your style's sure to stand out as much as the collection of eclectic shops and unique boutiques. Historic District Abingdon's Historic District puts an eclectic spin on your shopping experience by replacing big names with local charm and offering an array of unique shops that are sure to hit the spot. Head over to Forget Me Not, voted Abingdon's Best Boutique, where you'll find all your feminine fashion needs. For more of your favorite... Read More »
