Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 42

GREAT SCENIC BYWAY S
LEFT: Breaks Interstate
Park, a stop along Virginia's
Lonesome Pine Trail,
features one of the deepest
gorges in the eastern U.S.
ABOVE: Bristol, along
Virginia's Daniel Boone
Wilderness Trail, is home
to the Birthplace of Country
Music Museum.
PAT AND CHUCK BLACKLEY
Mountain Heritage Center in Townsend.
This community is on the " quiet side of
the Smokies " and contains the " best Native
American heritage interpretive presentation
along the byway. "
Follow US 321 through Wears Valley to
reach two of the most active and popular
tourist destinations-Pigeon Forge and
Gatlinburg. Fun and entertainment for the
whole family includes Dollywood, dinner
theatres, museums, games and arcades
and hundreds of lodging and restaurant
options. The road to Gatlinburg changes
to forest as you climb to this iconic location.
Visit and shop in the Arrowmont
School and Arts & Crafts Community.
Continue north to the town of Cosby,
once known as " The Moonshine Capital
of the World. " Find many access points
to the Smoky Mountains, and even take
a hike with a llama. Enjoy the ride to our
next stop in Greeneville-home to the
17th U.S. President, Andrew Johnson.
Tour his home and tailor shop, walk the
historic downtown (90% period architecture),
shop for antiques, eat in a historic
tannery and explore some of the many
marked Civil War trails in the area.
42 BLUERIDGECOUNTRY.COM
The state's
oldest town, Jonesbor- Ä VIRGINIA
ough, is also home to the country's first
abolitionist newspaper. Listen to tales
at the famous International Storytelling
Center, stay at the 200-year-old Eureka
Inn and tour the Chester Inn, considered
the best hotel on the 18th Century
Tennessee frontier. Then, go seven miles
up the road to Johnson City for outdoor
adventures like dropping over a Class IV
waterfall, hiking the Appalachian Trail,
visiting an arboretum and viewing the
fossil remains of a saber-tooth cat, rhinoceros
and mastodon at the Gray Fossil
Site & Museum.
Follow US 19E/321 to our final destination
at Watauga Lake. Nestled in the
mountains, this reservoir is the highest
in the state at 1,959 feet above sea level.
Visit the museum in " new " Butler and
learn about the fate of " old " Butler where
First Nation and colonial settlers traded,
pioneers farmed and Daniel Boone visited.
With miles of public shoreline, end your
journey swimming, fishing and boating at
this pristine lake.
Length: 200 miles.
greatsmokymountainsbyway.com/
Daniel Boone Wilderness Trail. Journey
across the mountains and through
the valleys that have welcomed both
traveling humans and migrating animals
throughout history.
Start at the eastern terminus of this
journey with a visit to Bristol. The first
thing you'll likely notice is the iconic sign
across historic State Street. Since 1915, it
has reminded visitors of the dual-state
address of this town. Visit the Birthplace
of Country Music Smithsonian-affiliated
Museum, bass fish on South Holston Lake
and fly fish at the Holston River, watch
a minor league baseball game and grab a
bite at the Burger Bar.
Pickup US 58 on the western side
of Bristol and go 25 miles west toward
Gate City. See one of the first openings,
Moccasin Gap, used to travel west. Stop
at the Homeplace Mountain Farm and
Museum-authentic pioneer structures
and artifacts reflecting daily pioneer life.
Arrive in town for a stay at Estillville
Bed & Breakfast or in a mountain cabin,
and take a hike on the trail that winds
around the town.
http://www.greatsmokymountainsbyway.com/ http://www.BLUERIDGECOUNTRY.COM
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023
