There is much to celebrate throughout Southwest Virginia, including regional art and culture, welcoming communities and world-class music attractions
ABINGDON, VIRGINIA–DECEMBER 2025–Southwest Virginia spans 19 counties and is filled with diverse landscapes known for outdoor adventure, welcoming cities and towns with unique personalities and a passion for celebrating regional culture and traditions. Nowhere is that passion more evident than throughout Round the Mountain, Southwest Virginia’s premier artisan network. The program is celebrating its 20-year anniversary in 2025 and since its founding, has been dedicated to showcasing and supporting the region’s rich heritage of craftsmanship.
Southwest Virginia Cultural Center & Marketplace (1 Heartwood Circle, Abingdon, Virginia 24210; 276-492-2400) is the “home” of Round the Mountain and serves as a gateway to Southwest Virginia. With its exhibits promoting the region’s distinctive heritage, great outdoor recreation and scenic beauty and galleries showcasing the best in crafts and art from Southwest Virginia’s artisan network, it offers the perfect introduction to the region. From here, there are numerous other spots showcasing local craft and culture, and many have become centers for activities in their small communities. The small town of Floyd is just one example. The Floyd Country Store (206 South Locust Street, Floyd, Virginia 24091; 540-745-4563) is a restaurant and music venue filled with arts, crafts, preserves, soaps, lotions, music and books made by locals. This is also home to the Handmade Music School, dedicated to teaching old time, bluegrass and traditional music and dances from throughout the Blue Ridge Mountains. Nearby, Bell Gallery & Garden (112 North Locust Street, Floyd, Virginia 24091; 540-745-4494) features the work of nearly 100 talented local and regional artists and craftspeople. That work includes pottery, baskets, jewelry, woodworking, leatherwork, weaving, blown glass and more.
Burke’s Garden Artisan Guild (7154 Burkes Garden Road, Tazewell, Virginia 24651) is a hub of creativity in the small Tazewell County town dubbed “God’s Thumbprint” because of its bowl-shaped valley that offers breathtaking views. The guild’s gallery is filled with handmade quilts, paintings, woodworks and more, all made by local regional craftspeople. In Grayson County, The Treasury (1908 Courthouse, Independence, Virginia 24348; 276-773-3711) is filled with hand-crafted gifts and a fine art and craft gallery in a unique setting. There are traditional and contemporary works including pottery, woodwork, baskets, quilts, original paintings and books.
Many Southwest Virginia spots have been named as favorites by the writers and readers of “Travel & Leisure” this year. The 2025 lists of Best Small Towns in Virginia and Best Getaways include:
Damascus, known as a trail town because of its location on both the Virginia Creeper Trail and the Appalachian Trail, has a charming, walkable downtown, complete with an art trail, a mix of retail shops and the Damascus Trail Center (209 West Laurel Avenue, Damascus Virginia 24236; 276-323-3046) which serves as a regional hub for outdoor recreation, offering visitors information about the wide range of natural resources in the region. This is also home to the world’s largest celebration of the AT, Appalachian Trail Days, held each Mother’s Day weekend. The event combines a reunion of thru hikers with music, artisan vendor displays, hiking gear demos and a slate of activities.
Abingdon is surrounded by mountains, entrenched in history and filled with creative arts venues, but this picturesque revolutionary-era downtown is perhaps best known as a culinary destination. More than 30 locally owned restaurants bring flavor, atmosphere and creative culinary flair to any visit. The Tavern (222 East Main Street, Abingdon, Virginia 24210; 276-628-1118), is in one of Abingdon’s oldest buildings, built in 1779, and the atmosphere, both inside and on the courtyard, is unique. The diverse menu is complemented by an extensive beer and wine list and full bar. Rain (283 East Main Street, Abingdon, Virginia 24210; 276-739-2331) is a local favorite that has an inventive menu and artsy atmosphere. From soups, seafood and steaks to distinctive drinks and desserts, the choices are creative and yummy. Foresta (190 East Main Street, Abingdon, Virginia 24210; 276-206-8490) offers an ethereal atmosphere with its ever-changing Italian/Mediterranean menu.
Wytheville, the only town in the world with its name, is truly one of a kind. Its classic downtown area is full of gems, including unique lodging, dining and entertainment options. Wytheville is known for its homegrown attractions. One-of-a-kind stops here include Big Walker Lookout (8711 Stoney Fork Road, Wytheville, Virginia 24382; 276-663-4016), the oldest and highest private attraction in Virginia. It sits at an elevation of 3,405 feet and offers a spectacular view of the Appalachian Mountains and Virginia farmlands. Beagle Ridge Herb Farm (1934 Matney Flats Road, Wytheville, Virginia 24382; 276-621-4511) is Southwest Virginia’s premier lavender farm, featuring 14 themed display gardens and the Flying Flowers butterfly house. The Wohlfahrt Haus Dinner Theatre (170 Malin Drive, Wytheville, Virginia 24382; 276-223-0891) is a 200-seat German-themed venue which presents outstanding Broadway style professional musical productions. Before each performance a four course, themed, plated meal is served.
Meadows of Dan, located on the Blue Ridge Parkway, is known for its charming rural character. One of the parkway’s most photographed places, the historic Mabry Mill (Milepost 176, 266 Mabry Mill Road SE, Meadows of Dan, Virginia 24120), is just up the road and offers beautiful scenery in every season. The small community includes a host of specialty shops and it is said that musical performances sometimes just spring up in unexpected spots around town. This is also home to Primland (2000 Busted Rock Road, Meadows of Dan, Virginia 24120; 855-876-6593), an upscale resort popular with golfers, families and travelers who enjoy curated experiences, from outdoor adventures to food and wine events.
Bristol is known as the birthplace of country music and is home to the popular Birthplace of Country Music Museum (101 Country Music Way, Bristol, Virginia 24201; 423-573-1927). The 24,000-square-foot Smithsonian-affiliated museum documents the famous 1927 Bristol Sessions and highlights how this rich musical heritage still thrives in the Appalachian region and beyond, through multiple theater experiences, interactive displays and stationary exhibits. Its downtown is Bristol’s shining star. It features an Arts and Entertainment District, Shopping District and a historic downtown walking tour.
There is a diverse collection of music attractions across the region. Significant stories and amazing experiences can be found at out-of-the-way venues like these:
Country music is celebrated and music royalty is remembered at the Carter Family Fold (3449 A P Carter Highway, Hiltons, Virginia 24258). Every Saturday evening from February to November, performers take the stage at the unassuming Carter Family Memorial Music Center, where the first family of country music came of age and the legendary Johnny Cash held his final live performance.
Dr. Ralph Stanley is known for his distinctive style of singing and banjo playing. Stanley and his brother, Carter, began performing as the Clinch Mountain Boys in 1945, and later as The Stanley Brothers. His Dickenson County roots and primitive Baptist upbringing are chronicled in the Ralph Stanley Museum (249 Main Street, Clintwood, Virginia 24228; 276-926-8550). Exhibits depict his life, from his musical beginnings playing what he referred to as “mountain music” to his Grammy Award-winning performance in the film “O Brother, Where Art Thou?”
The Wayne C. Henderson School of Appalachian Arts (203 North Church Street, Marion, Virginia 24354; 276-706-4010) is fulfilling a mission to preserve, promote and provide learning experiences rooted in the culture and heritage of the Southern Appalachian Mountains. Letterpress, painting, pottery classes and many others range from beginner classes for four or more to once-in-a-lifetime workshops with instruction from world-renowned luthier Wayne Henderson.