Blue Ridge Country July/August 2021 - 27

Sanatorium. Book a professional fishing
expedition or canoeing/rafting trip on
the New River during your stay.
The park: Come see the extensive accomplishments
for oak, hickory and
poplar forest restoration with a guided
ranger tour that will also reveal abundant
wildlife and human history stories.
Sailing programs on the 21-mile-long
lake are offered in summer. All six trails
(totaling seven miles) are rated as " easy "
for hiking; and for the runners, try the
5K cross-country trail.
8. Elizabethton, Tennessee/Sycamore
Shoals State Park
The town: Stroll through the Doe River
Covered Bridge, one of only 20 in the
nation designated a National Historic
Landmark and one of the few surviving
in an urban setting. The 1882 bridge is a
154-foot single-span wooden Howe Truss.
Tour the Carter Mansion (1775-1780),
the state's oldest frame house which has
an amazing 90% of its authentic interior.
About 30 miles south on Roan Mountain,
walk amongst the world's largest natural
rhododendron gardens.
The park: Spend the day on the Watauga
River and learn about events that
shaped the course of the American Revolution.
Hear about the victory of the Overmountain
Men; see a reconstructed 18th
Century fort; enjoy interpretive exhibits at
the visitor center and museum; and walk
the short loop trails (with a stop at the
butterfly gardens) in this 70-acre park.
9. Winchester, Virginia/Sky Meadows
State Park
The town: Stroll through Old Town for
centuries-old buildings, historical landmarks,
restaurants, shops and museums.
Be sure to stop by the Handley Library - a
stunning example of Beaux Arts with an
" open book " design (the rotunda is the
spine and the two wings appear to be a
book's cover!). Walk through the Mount
Hebron Cemetery with its grave stones
dating back to the 1760s. The George
Washington Office Museum and Patsy
Cline's House are open for tours.
The park: For an architectural delight
in a colonial farm setting, visit this 1,860acre
park at the northern edge of the Blue
Ridge. The Mt. Bleak-Skye Farm National
Register historic district has 23 buildings
and opportunities to learn of colonial
through modern life in the valleys and
mountains. Access the Appalachian trail;
hike the 22 miles of park trails; or ride the
10.5 miles of bridle trails.
10. Beckley, West Virginia/Little
Beaver State Park
The town: To experience the history of
coal mining and learn its impact on the
area, take a guest ride in a 'man car' underground
with a veteran miner at the
Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine. Then visit
the museum and restored Coal Camp
buildings. An outdoor amphitheater at
Wish you were here...
With more than 500 miles of shoreline filled with parks,
hiking, biking, horseback riding, frisbee golf, picnicking,
and stargazing in green open spaces, Smith Mountain
Lake offers more than water adventure.
When the sun hits the shore, be the seeker.
VisitSmithMountainLake.com
Filled with
GREEN OPEN SPACES
JULY/AUGUST 2021 27
http://www.VisitSmithMountainLake.com
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Blue Ridge Country July/August 2021
