Getaway to Southwest Virginia
Discover outdoor adventure in Southwest Virginia and the Heart of Appalachia. With breathtaking views and unforgettable experiences, there's something for thrill seekers and family vacationers alike. Visit and share what you love about it.
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Virginia
Which U.S. state has about the same population figures as Austria? Find out in the latest addition to our state video series: Judy Friedberg from the Management Section presents her home state. #50states #VA
Transcript:
Hi, I'm Judy Friedberg and I am happy to tell you about my home state of Virginia.
Officially known as the Commonwealth of Virginia, this mid-Atlantic state is
bordered by Washington, DC, Maryland, West Virginia and North Carolina. And,
to the East, the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean border Virginia's Eastern
Shore, another peninsula of Virginia land.
More than eight million people live in Virginia. Our state flower is actually a
flowering tree -- the dogwood. Our state bird is the cardinal.
Much of our state's natural beauty is protected by National Parks. My favorite is
Great Falls Park which highlights a rushing section of the Potomac River, which
flows to the Bay from the mountains in the west. Those mountains are also known
as The Blue Ridge Mountains, due to the coloring of the trees and shadows,
particularly in the early morning and early evening light.
Much of this area is included in Shenandoah National Park. Within the park is a
portion of the beautiful Appalachian Trail -- a rigorous hiking trail which extends
from Georgia to Maine. In the autumn, the leaves are at their most colorful.
Skyline Drive runs through the park. This is a fantastic way to see the beauty of the
mountains and the Shenandoah Valley from the comfort of your car.
The Shenandoah Valley is known for dairy farms and wineries. Virginia's farming
history also includes tobacco and cotton.
Virginia's nicknames refer to its rich history. The Old Dominion refers to its status
as one of the original 13 colonies. Virginia's other nickname is The Mother of
Presidents. Eight U.S. presidents were born here - more than any other state.
Some of their homes are open to the public as historic sites.
Mount Vernon, home of our first President, George Washington, sits high on a bluff
overlooking the Potomac River, not far from Washington, DC.
Monticello, home of our third President and drafter of our Declaration of
Independence, Thomas Jefferson, is located in Charlottesville, Virginia. The
University of Virginia, which Jefferson founded, is nearby.
But, back to some much earlier history...Native people, including the Powhatan,
Algonquin, and Iroquois, were already living in the area long before the English
settlers came. Some say the name Virginia was the settlers' way of honoring Queen
Elizabeth the First of England, who was also known as The Virgin Queen.
You may have heard of the story of Pocahontas? She was a native of the area and a
friend to the English settlers of the colony's first capitol, Jamestown, in 1616.
Williamsburg served as the capitol of the Colony of Virginia from the early 1700s
and was the center of political activity leading to the American Revolution.
Both Jamestown and Williamsburg have active historic centers where you can learn
more about colonial life.
Richmond became the state capital in 1780 and remains so today. In 1861, after ten
states seceded from the United States, Richmond became the capital of the shortlived
Confederate States of America.
After the Civil War ended, and these states re-entered the Union, Richmond
developed into a railroad crossroads for the region. These strong railroads helped
develop trade routes between the middle of the country and the Atlantic Ocean and
led to the founding of Newport News Shipbuilding which continues to produce
battleships and aircraft carriers. Nearby Hampton Roads is the largest naval base on
the east coast.
Virginia is also home to the world's largest office building, The Pentagon,
headquarters of the Defense Department.
Other Virginia coastal attractions are historic lighthouses including Cape Henry,
Fort Monroe and Assateague. Assateague is also the home of the Chincoteague wild
ponies. And, if you visit there perhaps you will order some delicious Chesapeake
Bay blue crab and a beer for your dinner.
Today, media, technology, software, communications, and consulting are the fastest growing sectors of Virginia's economy. The education sector, particularly Virginia's
200-plus colleges and universities, and the government employment sector are also
growth areas. All of this and more, make Virginia the wealthiest of the southern
United States.
I hope you enjoyed hearing about Virginia today.
Hillbillies, Coalminers, Treehuggers and God | Explore Films
- Travel to the heart of Appalachia and experience the hidden gem that is West Virginia. Feel the pulse of coal mining running through the veins of locals as well as hear the environmental opposition to the practice in this moving Explore special.
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Tourist Trains of Wild & Wonderful West Virginia
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West Virginia During the Great Depression: Works Projects Administration
Works Progress Administration (WPA) projects in West Virginia. The Tri-County Airport at Clarksburg is graded. Streets in Morgantown are repaired. Shows remodeled buildings at Marshall College in Huntington, WPA sewing room activities, and nursery school scenes. County roads are graded and resurfaced near Helvetia. Shows mountain scenes, a fish hatchery at Ridge, and a new bridge at Charleston. Flood waters rage in 1936. Shows a new bridge at Petersburg and rebuilt flood walls and dikes. Activities on a cooperative farm in Mercer County are shown. Orphans play and swim at Camp Fairchance.
The State Of West Virginia, USA - Unravel Travel TV
The scenic rural state of West Virginia with its abundance of natural resources provides a perfect backdrop for a true American adventure holiday. Driving tours lead to quaint B&Bs and renowned warm hospitality, breathtaking landscapes carve routes for mountain biking, motorbike journeys and RVs exploring state parks. The camouflaged tracks of the many hiking trails and fishing areas display the natural beauty while championship golf courses, ski runs and white water rafting offer seasonal sporting activities.
Offering unique Appalachian culture, John Denver's ballad adequately describes its state's country roads, dramatic scenery at every turn and the spectacular kaleidoscope of colour in the Autumn. It is a state which is 80% forested, with 7 state forests, 36 state parks and 200,000 acres of protected woodland parks interlaced by 2,000 miles of rivers and streams. Accommodation ranges from log cabins, motels, guest houses to the historical Greenbrier Resort, favoured by Presidents.
West Virginia boasts seven wonders of the natural world, from beaches, waterfalls, high plains plateau to river and mountain trails, rock formations and gorges. There are several lake beaches offering swimming and boating in lush green settings. The 2,700-acre Summersville Lake and 1,500-acre Sutton Lake are great for mountain biking and hiking trails. Walkers can follow the Gentle Trail at Blackwater Falls State Park for a great view of the state's largest waterfall at 63-feet and one of its most photographed spots. Named for its amber-coloured water, the falls spill into the Blackwater Canyon and great for hiking and biking.
The New River Gorge is the perfect landscape for rafting, rock climbing, hiking and mountain biking along one of the world's oldest and scenic white water rivers. The second-tallest bridge, the New River Gorge Bridge is close by. A visit here can be elevated by taking a walk on this 876-foot-highNew River Gorge Bridge catwalk for stunning views of the gorge from one of the top ten steel structures in the world.
Dolly Sods is a 4,000-foot high plains plateau in the Monongahela National Forest. Here blueberries and huckleberries can be picked and where mountain laurel and other flora bloom. Hike or ride horses along the trails near West Virginia's highest point, Spruce Knob. From its observation tower at 4,863feet, there are great views.
Walk the moderate Seneca Rocks Trail up to the summit for amazing scenery atop the 900foot rock formation overlooking the confluence of Seneca Creek and the North Fork South Branch Potomac River. The Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area offers world-class climbing, mountain biking and hiking. Or for a more relaxed pass-time, there's fishing for bass or trout at one of the state's many fishing hot spots: Williams River, Cranberry River, Cherry River, Cheat River, Birch River and Beech Fork Lake.
West Virginia is convenient to reach from Washington Dulles Airport, being just over one hour's drive to its eastern panhandle where Harpers Ferry National Historical Park is located, the heart of civil war history in this state, when back in1863, West Virginia became the 35th State in the Union, the only state born out of the Civil War and today celebrates its culture, beauty and independence.
Betty Cutlip, International Marketing Manager, West Virginia Tourism was interviewed at IPW 2013 in Las Vegas.
For more information, please contact the UK office +44 208 948 2388 or email wv@attachecommunications.co.uk or the West Virginia Tourism website:
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Amherst, Virginia
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For Sale - Farm and Farmhouse at 632 Roller Mill Rd., Shady Valley, TN
Additional photos and information is available on our ForSaleByOwner.com listing page.
Located in beautiful Shady Valley, this renovated farmhouse and 32-acre farm is a gem of Northeast Tennessee. This farm includes 11 acres of pasture and hay fields with access to water. These fields are subdivided and fenced. Beautiful year-round, this property is tucked away, out of sight from neighboring farms and houses. On the property are two barns suitable for livestock or storage, as well as an equipment building with 4 garage doors. Two brand new automatic livestock drinkers have been fully installed and inspected. Additionally, water is available via well.
Situated at the end of a state-maintained paved road, the farm and farmhouse have a private-drive feel without the worry of maintenance. From the farmhouse, much of the pastureland is visible. Additionally, the included 20 acres of wooded property are connecting, providing privacy and additional resources. This section of the property borders the Holston River.
The three bedroom, two bathroom house is located in the center of the property, ideally located, providing scenic and practical views to much of the farm property. The house has been renovated in key areas including the kitchen and bathrooms, while retaining the original feel of a farmhouse. Wood and tile floors are throughout the house. Although the house and land are located in a small farming community, fiber-optic-based high-speed broadband Internet and cable TV service is already available.
The main level of the house includes two family rooms, each with outside entrances. The family room connecting with the kitchen also has a gas heater and a decorative mantle. The house has a large kitchen, measuring 11 by 18 feet with an updated stove, dishwasher, cabinets and countertops. Two large, sliding windows above the sink allow plenty of natural light into the room, while providing impressive views to the outside. Also in the main area, the first bedroom has a very large walk-in closet and a connecting full bathroom. This bathroom has been renovated and is conveniently connected with the kitchen, providing access for guests.
Also convenient from the kitchen is a very large side room that can be used for many purposes as well as the laundry area, complete with washer and dryer hookups. In this part of the house is the second full bathroom, complete with updated cabinets and vanity, and includes a full bathtub. As with the rest of the house, this bathroom has a large window overlooking the scenic property.
Upstairs from the second bathroom is a loft. This space is easily used as a bedroom, office or playroom.
Attached to the house, and accessible from the connecting porch is an original cellar room, great for storage. Above this cellar room is an additional large room that can be used as a bedroom or nearly any other purpose.
Key features of this house are its many windows providing ample natural light, original architectural elements, versatility of the spaces and convenience of modern appliances. The house also has a front and side porch, just right for enjoying the area’s moderate summers.
This property is located in Shady Valley TN, which is a wonderful rural community in the northeast part of the state. This community is located approximately halfway between the towns of Damascus, VA, and Mountain City, TN, with quick access to the cities of Bristol, TN, Elizabethton, TN, and even Boone, NC. The area is rich with natural beauty, nestled in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains. Nearby points of interest are the Cherokee National Forest, South Holston and Watauga Lakes, Backbone rock and recreational area, and numerous hiking opportunities including the Appalachian Trail.
Although Shady Valley is a small community, it does have an excellent public school, post office, high-speed broadband and general stores. Additionally, the local community is vibrant with annual events such as the Cranberry Festival.
Please, contact us today for additional information and to make an appointment to visit the property.
Bruce Martin, M&M Consultants LLC.
Real. Jefferson County, West Virginia
Real. Jefferson County. Artisans, food, coffee, spirits. Wild, Wonderful West Virginia. You'll find it here.
Best Western Blue Ridge Plaza Hotel in Boone, NC
Welcome to Best Western Blue Ridge Plaza!
Visit this charming Boone, North Carolina hotel located at the recreational crossroads of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Escape to the Best Western Blue Ridge Plaza for the panoramic mountain vistas and a wide array of vacation options, including Grandfather Mountain, Tweetsie Railroad, Appalachian State University and the beautiful Blue Ridge Parkway. Hotel guests will also be a short drive to Sugar Mountain, Hawksnest and Beech Mountain ski slopes.
Each cozy room features all the extras that make a difference while traveling for business or pleasure. Choose a suite with fireplace, spa or a standard suite with mountain views. Guest accommodations are equipped with free high-speed Internet access, cable television with HBO®, microwave and refrigerator. A complimentary deluxe breakfast is available each morning.
Whether spending the day rafting, hiking, golfing, skiing or sitting in a rocking chair on the covered porch, the Best Western Blue Ridge Plaza offers the perfect balance between activity and relaxation.
Make an online reservation today at the Best Western Blue Ridge Plaza!