Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2017 - 55

Worth a Click!

Will Miller

For more themed drives in North Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, West Virginia and Kentucky, please
visit BlueRidgeCountry.com/ThemedDrives

The beautiful New River Gorge is a bonus attraction along the National Coal Heritage Trail.

Key feature: Explore 1,500 feet
below ground at The Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine, one of the largest coal heritage destinations in the
region. Visitors travel into the mine
along tracks in authentic "man cars"
with stops along the way to discuss
the history of coal mining. Bring a
jacket-the mine is always a chilly
50 degrees. While there, you can also
tour a restored school, home and
church that represent early 20th century coal camp life.
Not to miss along the way: Historic Hinton in Summers County is a
quaint town situated near the confluence of the New, Greenbrier and
Bluestone rivers. Established in 1872
and listed in the registry of National
Historic Places, Hinton has several
museums filled with collections of
artifacts reflecting the history of the
railroad, as well as miles of hiking
trails at nearby Bluestone State Park.
A great town: Once a center for
the county's coal production, Fayetteville has emerged in recent years
as a top destination for outdoor recreation, as it's situated near the New
River Gorge area where there's rafting, hiking, biking, climbing and
camping. The quaint downtown has
charming shops and parks, along
with great restaurants like Pies and
Pints which, as the name suggests,
has yummy pizza and cold beer.
Details: coalheritage.org

Historic Eastern Panhandle
Trail
Distance: 45 miles
Get a glimpse into the early history of our nation in Jefferson, Berkeley and Morgan counties. Along the
way enjoy spectacular scenery, geologic wonders and more. The drive
starts at Harpers Ferry on the Potomac River and heads west through
the Eastern Panhandle and crosses
the Shenandoah Valley before culminating at Berkeley Springs.
Key feature: Harpers Ferry is situated at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers
where Maryland, Virginia and West
Virginia meet. Part of the town-
which includes a charming historic
district-is within the Harpers Ferry
National Historical Park, which has
museums, hiking trails and historic
trades workshops.
Not to miss along the way: Part of
the trail goes through the breathtaking Shenandoah Valley, which
is bounded to the east by the Blue
Ridge Mountains and to the west by
the eastern front of the Ridge-andValley Appalachians. Through this
section you'll encounter the historic
towns of Shepherdstown and Martinsburg, where you'll find shops, cafés, artistic and theatrical groups and
music venues.
Great town: After entering the Valley and Ridge province and climbing

Bristol is celebrating the 90th anniversary of "the birth of country
music" during 2017.

and descending several small ridges,
the trail ends at Berkeley Springs. The
town is known for luxurious resorts
and spas as well as the 22,928-acre
Sleepy Creek Wildlife Management
Area, which has a scenic lake and
miles of hardwood forests. There are
plenty of dining options in Berkeley Springs, including Lot 12 Public
House, with seasonal upscale comfort cuisine.
Details: gotowv.com/explore/byregion/eastern-panhandle/

Tennessee

White Lightning Trail
Distance: 200 miles
Named for the area's history as
a moonshine-running corridor, the
White Lightning Trail is chock-full
of history, Appalachian culture,
quaint small towns and delicious
Southern cuisine. Beginning and
ending in Knoxville, the trail highlights many of east Tennessee's hidden gems and breathtaking scenery.
Key feature: Visit Bush's Beans
Visitor Center in Chestnut Hill to
learn the story of the iconic product
that's made in Tennessee. The visitor
center traces events that made the
company what it is today, and it's
all housed in the original A.J. Bush
& Company general store, founded
in 1897.
Not to miss along the way: Located
on the beautiful campus of Lincoln
September/October 2017 55

http://www.BlueRidgeCountry.com/ThemedDrives http://www.gotowv.com/explore/by http://www.coalheritage.org

Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2017

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2017