44. Breaks
Interstate Park - 540-865-4413
Location: On the Virginia-Kentucky border, off VA-KY State
Route 80. The park features
the largest canyon east of the Mississippi. Sometimes called the
"Grand Canyon of the South," the canyon is five miles
long, 1,600 feet deep and 250 million years old. The
spectacular beauty of the park can be seen along the hiking,
mountain hiking, and horseback riding trails and while boating
and fishing on Laurel Lake. The park offers a restaurant and
conference center located on the rim of the canyon as well as 70
lodging rooms and four vacation cottages.
7. Claytor
Lake State Park - 540-643-2500
Location: Off Interstate 81 (exit 101) near Dublin in
Pulaski County.
Wooded hills and a sparkling lake
provide an ideal setting for boating, swimming, camping, hiking,
and picnicking. Sport fishing is especially popular.
Boating
supplies, fuel, and refreshments are available at the marina.
Twelve cabins overlook the 4,500-acre lake. The historic Howe
House features interactive exhibits describing the ecology of
the lake and the surrounding areas.
Special Events: Arts and
Crafts Festival, Labor Day weekend.
15. Grayson
Highlands State Park - 540-579-7092
Location: Interstate 81 to exit 45 in Marion, then Route 16
to Volney and west on U.S. 58.
Located near Mount Rogers and
Whitetop Mountain, Virginia's two highest mountains, this park
offers scenic views of alpine-like peaks more than 5,000 feet
high. Facilities include picnic areas, a visitor center,
campgrounds, and hiking trails leading to waterfalls and
overlooks. Scenic horse trails and a horse camping area with
stables and parking for trailers are available. The park is a
trail head for the Appalachian Trail and within 20 minutes of
the famous Virginia Creeper Trail, a continuous multi-use trail
connecting Abingdon, Virginia, with the Virginia-North Carolina
border 1.1 miles east of Whitetop Station, Virginia.
Special Events: Wayne C.
Henderson Music Festival and Guitar Competition the third
Saturday
in June, Grayson Highlands Fall Festival the last full
weekend in September.
18.
Hungry
Mother State Park - 540-781-7400
Hemlock
Haven Conference Center - 540-781-7425
Location: 4 miles north of Marion on State Route
16.
Long a family favorite, Hungry
Mother is known for its beautiful woodlands and placid 108-acre
lake in the heart of the mountains. The park features a sandy
beach with bathhouse, boats and boat launch, universally
accessible fishing pier, campgrounds, cabins, a newly renovated and
expanded restaurant, a new visitor center, a five-bedroom guest
lodge that sleeps 16 with master bedroom and bath, hiking,
biking, and horseback trials.
Hungry Mother also is home to
Hemlock Haven Conference Center, available for retreats,
conferences, and special events.
Special Events: Hungry
Mother Arts and Crafts Festival in July and Virginia Outdoors
Weekend,
September 29 - October 1, 2000.
25. Natural
Tunnel State Park - 540-940-2674
Location: North from Weber City via U.S. 23, then 1 mile
east on Route 871.
More than 850 feet long and as
high as a 10-story building, Natural Tunnel was naturally carved
through a limestone ridge over thousands of centuries. William
Jennings Bryan called it the "Eighth Wonder of the
World." Other scenic features include a wide chasm between
steep stone walls surrounded by several pinnacles or
"chimneys."
Facilities include camping,
picnicking, amphitheater, swimming pool, and chair lift to the
tunneled floor. The park also offers wild cave tours, canoe
trips on the Cinch River, as well as the new cove Ridge Center,
which offers environmental education, conference facilities and
limited overnight dorm accommodations.
26. New
River Trail (w/Shot Tower) State Park - 540-699-6778
Location: Take exit 24 on Interstate 77 and go north on
Route 52 for 2 miles. There are access
points to River Trail at
Ivanhoe, Fries, Galax,
Cliffview, Draper, Pulaski, and Foster Falls.
New River Trail is a 57-mile
linear park, or greenway, that follows an abandoned railroad
right-of-way. The park parallels the scenic and historic New
River for 39 miles and serves as a link to a number of other
recreational areas. The gentle slope of the trail makes it great
for visitors of all ages to hike, bike, and ride horses. Portions
of the park include horse, boat and bike rentals, boat launches,
gift shops, and a concession stand.
Fishing and picnicking also are
popular, and primitive camping sites are at various sites along
the trail.
Overlooking the New River, Shot
Tower was built more than 190 years ago to make ammunition for
firearms of the early settlers.
Lead from the nearby Austinville
Mines was melted in a kettle at the top of the 75-foot tower and
poured through a sieve, falling through the tower and an
additional 75-foot shaft beneath the tower into a kettle of
water. Visitors may ascend the tower, a National Historic
Landmark. Picnic facilities, restrooms, and a hiking trail are
available.
Special Events: Wythe County Days
in June held at Historic Foster Falls near the Shot Tower.
35. Southwest
Virginia Museum - 540- 523-1322
Location: At 10 West First
Street and Wood Avenue (Alt. Route
58), just off Route 23 in Big Stone
Gap.
Now in its 52nd year, Southwest
Virginia Museum in Big Stone Gap chronicles the exploration and
development of the town and surrounding area.
A lovely Victorian parlor in the
four-story mansion is available for rent for meetings and other
small gatherings. The gift shop features many
one-of-a-kind
items. A small admission fee is charged.
Special Events: A Stitch
in Time: Quilt Show in April through May 31 and Festival of
Trees in
mid-November through December 31.
41. Wilderness
Road State Park - 540-445-3065
Purchased in1993 and previously known as Karlan
State park, Wilderness Road State Park is one of Virginia's four
new state parks. Approximately 200 acres are open for picnicking
and hiking, and visitors can enjoy the 10-mile stretch of the
Wilderness Road hiking, biking and equestrian trail that passes
through the park. The late 1870's mansion is available for
weddings, meetings and other special functions.
Special Events: Wilderness
Road Festival, October 14, 2000.
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