Blue Ridge Country January/February 2021 - 68

By SU CLAUSON-WICKER

;; Our favorite must-see places, to-do events, best-of experiences in and around the Shenandoah Valley of western Virginia
and eastern West Virginia. Items grouped loosely into increasing activity levels. See = relaxed. Do = some walking/standing
required. Play = option for longer activity.
;; *Time of year key: Spring (Sp) Summer (Su) Fall (F) Winter (W) Year-round (YR)

;; North House Museum (Lewisburg)
North House offers eight rooms chock full
of surprises, such as prison drawings by the
" Greenbrier Ghost " murderer and the 47-lb.
gun used by a slave to defend the town
against Shawnees. YR (greenbrierhistorical.
org)
;; Pipestem Drive-In (Athens) Old drivein shows family movies in the open air
weekends May - October. (www.driveins.org/
wv-athens-pipestem.htm)

PHOTO COURTESY VISITWV.COM

Carnifex Ferry Battlefield State Park, near
Summersville, is one of the nation's oldest
state parks.

SEE
;; Gary Bowling's House of Art (Bluefield)
Whimsical, funny, and dazzling are how
visitors describe this gallery that feels like a
wild playroom. Recycled-art has a big role-
look for car parts repurposed as fish. Sat.
YR (gbharamseyschool.org)
;; Canyon Rim Visitor Center-New

River Gorge National River (Lansing)

Interprets the natural and human history of
the gorge and gives a spectacular view of
one of the world's oldest rivers. YR (nps.gov/
neri/planyourvisit/crvc.htm)

68

BLUERIDGECOUNTRY.COM

;; Carnifex Ferry Battlefield State
Park (Summersville) Set on the rim of Gauley
River Canyon, the park commemorates
the 1861 Union victory that hastened the
Confederate withdrawal from western
Virginia. One of the nation's oldest
state parks, Carnifex Ferry hosts Civil
War reenactments on even years. YR
(wvstateparks.com/park/carnifex-ferrybattlefield-state-park)
;; Coal Heritage Trail This driving trail
visits coal communities, old company
stores, tipples, and other coal history points
of interest. YR (coalheritagetrail.org)
;; Historic Fayette Theatre (Fayetteville)
This 1937 volunteer-run theater showcases
regional talent, Appalachian art, and drama.
YR historicfayettetheater.com
;; Greenbrier Valley Theatre (Lewisburg)
West Virginia's official professional theatre
presents dramatic productions, concerts,
poetry readings, or live broadcasts of the
NY Metropolitan Opera most weekends. YR
(gvtheatre.org)

;; Railroad Museum (Hinton) Displays dial
back to C&O's steam engine era. Wood
carvings of the legendary John Henry
working every railroad job is a must-see.
YR(visitwv.com/company/hinton-railroadmuseum)
;; Wake Robin Gallery (Forest Hill) Marcia
Springston-Dillon produces stunning oneof-a-kind stoneware in an old general store.
Handmade baskets, glass, and other crafts
by regional artisans also stock the shop. YR
Thurs-Sat (wakerobingallery@gmail.com)
;; Sweet Springs Resort Park (Gap Mills)
Thomas Jefferson reputedly designed
the 1839 Georgian Colonial lodge of this
antebellum springs resort, which stands
empty as a nonprofit raises funds for its
preservation through festivals, concerts,
ghost hunts, and other events. April-Oct
(www.sweetspringsresortpark.org)
;; Historic Bramwell Tour of
Millionaire's Homes (Bramwell) This village
boasted more millionaires per capita than
anywhere in the nation 100 years ago. You
can still explore Millionaire Row, and during
the annual spring and Christmas tour of
homes-held on the 2nd Saturday of June
and December-you're invited inside these
historic homes. (bramwellwv.com)
http://www.BLUERIDGECOUNTRY.COM
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Blue Ridge Country January/February 2021
