Summer Events Along the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia

Celebrate the Blue Ridge Parkway’s 75th Anniversary with festivals and special events, all summer long. [...]

Historic Parkway Faces Challenges by Phil Francis

Back in March Phil Francis, Superintendent of the Blue Ridge Parkway, wrote an Op-ed in the Richmond Times-Dispatch. While it is a couple of months old. What he had to say has lost none of its relevance. For those of us who love these mountains and the roadway that runs their length his words [...]

State Parks In The Virginia Mountains

Map of the Virginia State Parks in the Appalachian Mountains

Located in the mountains of western Virginia are thirteen State Parks and five Natural Area Preserves.

Click on the map below to see the locations.
Map of the Virginia State Parks in the Appalachian Mountains

Virginia State Parks

  • Sky Meadows State Park – Clarke & Fauquier Counties

    With rolling pastures and woodlands, the park boasts beautiful vistas of the foothills and access to the Appalachian Trail. Its rich history is shaped by the development of agriculture and the impact of the Civil War.

  • Raymond R “Andy” Guest Jr. Shenandoah River State Park – Warren County

    The rolling, mountainous land features steep slopes and is mostly wooded. In addition to meandering river frontage, the park offers scenic vistas overlooking Massanutten Mountain to the west and Shenandoah National Park to the east.

  • Douthat State Park – Bath & Alleghany Counties

    Douthat is one of the original six Virginia State Parks that opened June 15, 1936. It’s nestled in the Allegheny Mountains and features some of Virginia’s most outstanding scenery. In addition, a 50-acre lake offers swimming, boating and seasonal trout fishing.

  • Claytor Lake State Park – Pulaski County

    Located on the 4,500-acre, 21-mile long Claytor Lake in the New River Valley of southwestern Virginia, Claytor Lake State Park offers a wide variety of activities for water and land enthusiasts.

  • Fairy Stone State Park – Patrick County

    Fairy Stone State Park, the largest of Virginia’s six original state parks, is home to its namesake “fairy stones.” These rare mineral crosses and the park’s scenic beauty, rich history and ample recreational opportunities make it a local and regional favorite. The 4,537 acres that make up the park were donated by Junius B. Fishburn, former owner of the Roanoke Times, in 1933. The Civilian Conservation Corps originally created the park, its lake and many structures still in use there.

    Continue reading State Parks In The Virginia Mountains

16 Hands :: The Tour

Each year, twice a year, the word trickles out from the Blue Ridge Mountains of southwestern Virginia about an event…It brings together artists and art lovers…In the artist’s own environment. From the Tours website, the history is explained like this…

In the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains there is an enclave of craftsmen [...]

Picturesque Botetourt County - A Girl Scout Project Video

This is a great video by two Girl Scouts from Botecourt County. I was impressed by the quality of the video and the information these two Girl Scouts put together. It wouldn’t surprise me if these two don’t find a career in television…

[...]