Page 11 - DreamScapes Magazine | Spring/Summer 2022

Southwest
VIRGINIA
Take the Road Less Travelled
BY LINDSAY DAVIES AND STAFF
PHOTOS: VIRGINIA TOURISM CORPORATION
Windows down, radio cranked, I drove along a wedge of South- west Virginia that could easily be overlooked if you put on your autopilot. Instead, I was haphazardly following my GPS on the main artery known as Interstate 81. My heart racing with each flick of my turn signal, I pondered the possibilities that were beyond each bend.
In this scenery-rich road trip where the tales are as tall as the Blue Ridge Mountains around me, it was easy to imagine myself as the storybook char- acter Alice whose wonderland became Southwest Virginia.
From Bristol to Roanoke in an area known as the Appalachian plateau, the region is a magical realm of wilderness. Blessed with honeycomb caves, rushing rivers, and terrain that changes from some of the oldest mountains on earth to forested floors, I discovered that Southwest Virginia is an out- door adventurers’ dream for all ages at all skill levels. An under-the-radar destination open for exploration anytime of the year, don’t be surprised by the chilling-out effects as you veer off the big highway, slow down on scenic drives and hit the brake by eye-candy vistas.
I HAVEN’T MET A VIEW I DIDN’T LIKE IN SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA
They say the best views are off the beaten path, so I rode less travelled roads whenever possible. One exception was the highly popular Blue Ridge Parkway! Revered as “America’s favourite scenic drive,” my drive easily became a crawl as I stopped at every overlook, present in the moment, watching the cumulus clouds drift atop the Blue Ridge Mountains. It was as if Mother Nature herself painted the natural setting.
DID YOU KNOW?
By renting a Polaris Slingshot at the tourism centre in Tazewell, you can take the Back of the Dragon to the next level. Tackle the curvy roads inches from the ground in an open cockpit!!
SPRING/SUMMER 2022 DREAMSCAPES 11
PHOTOS: SCOTT K. BROWN | JOSHUA T. MOORE | SAM DEAN