About

A Different Side of Virginia

Framed by the magnificent Appalachian Mountains, Southwest Virginia boasts a vibrant culture that is bursting with a robust music heritage, outdoor adventure, spectacular scenery, and rich natural resources. Rooted deep in history, the culture is authentic, unique, and alive.

We continue to build a sustainable creative economy that preserves, protects and interprets our rich heritage and natural resources, creates jobs, and welcomes both visitors and new businesses to our region.

Southwest Virginia – we’re authentic, distinctive and alive – and a great place to visit or an incredible home where you can spend a lifetime. But that’s just the beginning. We’re enhancing opportunities for outdoor recreation in our mountains, forests, rivers, and lakes – and for appreciation of the incredible diversity of plants and animals that make their home here.

Plan Your Trip

Downtowns

We’re revitalizing our downtowns, with artisan studios, coffee shops, community centers, gift, specialty and antique shops and more. At these cultural centers, people can hear live music, find one-of-a-kind treasures, talk to interesting folks and get a delicious home-cooked meal.

‘Round the Mountain

The ʼRound the Mountain artisan network helps craftspeople build their businesses, learn new skills and share their inspiration. The network publishes 15 artisan trail maps guiding visitors to studios, craft shops, farms, wineries and more throughout the region and maintains a directory of artisans, craft venues and artisanal agriculture and winemaking.

The Crooked Road

The Crooked Road, Virginia’s heritage music trail, connects eight major sites where our region’s unique music can be heard. Music jams – informal chances to get together and play – happen almost every night of the week and in almost every town and city. And there are festivals, concerts, and competitions every weekend in spring, summer, and autumn.

Cultural Center & Marketplace

Your welcome mat to this vibrant region, the Southwest Virginia Cultural Center & Marketplace (formerly Heartwood) is a 29,000 center that introduces Southwest Virginia (SWVA) to the world.

Learn More

Holiday Magic for the Whole Family: Must-Visit Christmas Adventures in Southwest Virginia

Spending time with your family is one of the many things that make the holidays so very special. In Southwest Virginia, where family gatherings are near and dear to our hearts, there are always plenty of fun activities to enjoy together at Christmas. Mountain Lake Lodge’s Magical Christmas Village and Marketplace One of the most joyful places to create holiday memories is the Magical Christmas Village and Marketplace at Mountain Lake Lodge in Pembroke. Nestled......

December 5, 2024

Savor the Season: Festive Holiday Experiences and Culinary Delights in Southwest Virginia

Whether it’s homemade Christmas cookies and hot chocolate, a breakfast buffet, or a winter wonderland-inspired dinner, you can experience an authentic taste of the holidays all over Southwest Virginia. Breakfast With Santa Jolly old St. Nick will land his sleigh at the Southwest Virginia Cultural Center & Marketplace on Dec. 7, ready to enjoy a delicious meal with his elves at the Family Breakfast with Santa. Enjoy a delightful family experience that includes reindeer games,......

December 4, 2024

Small Town Charm: Christmas Parades in Southwest Virginia 🎄✨

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Across Southwest Virginia, towns and cities are decking the halls, tuning their band instruments, and rolling out the floats to kick off the holiday season in style with festive Christmas parades. Each parade comes with its own unique flair, making every event a magical experience worth attending. 🎅 Bristol: A Century of Holiday Magic (December 5) For over 100 years, Bristol has dazzled parade-goers with its Christmas......

December 1, 2024

Wineries

The picturesque mountainsides of Southwest Virginia are home to a number of well-established wineries, thanks in large part to a good climate for growing grapes, as well as a loamy and gravelly soil with good drainage and stunning elevations. Throughout the region, you’ll find a wide variety of enjoyable wines, ranging from reds and whites to sweet and limited releases. A brief description of each of Southwest Virginia’s offerings follows: ABINGDON VINEYARDS With more......

December 15, 2019

Distilleries in SWVA

Virginia, which has a long and fascinating history regarding distilled drinks, produced the first batch of whiskey on American soil way back in 1620. A rich tradition has followed, with numerous distilleries and tasting rooms now open all across the Commonwealth, including several in Southwest Virginia. Each has its own distinct flavor and story, as you’ll see when you visit the following distilleries: FIVE MILE MOUNTAIN Floyd’s first distillery since prohibition, Five Mile Mountain......

December 15, 2019

Beautiful Southwest Virginia Is Home to 11 State Parks

Southwest Virginia is within a day’s drive of more than half of the United States population, giving plenty of folks the opportunity to enjoy some of the most beautiful state parks in the country. At roughly the same size of Rhode Island, scenic Southwest Virginia, which sits among the majestic Appalachian Mountains, covers 19 counties that feature thousands of acres of public land and more outdoor recreational destinations than you can imagine. With a......

December 15, 2019

Motorcycle Adventures in Southwest Virginia

The route known as the Back of the Dragon has become a top destination for motorcyclists, but any motorists will enjoy the amazing views. Virginia State Parks Sturgis, South Dakota, is what pops into most people’s minds when they think of motorcycle adventures. While this rip roaring party of a motorcycle rally is perhaps the most iconic, it hardly speaks for the lot of ‘em—there are a variety of places and ways to embark on a......

December 15, 2019

How to Have an Adventurous Weekend in Southwest Virginia

The Virginia Creeper Trail is one of the area’s top destinations for cyclists. The scenic path stretches 34 miles from Whitetop Station to Abingdon. Perry Smyre After the grit and grime, the best way to cap off an epic outdoor adventure is with a little well-deserved pampering. Southwest Virginia offers the best of both worlds—it’s an outdoor lover’s paradise brimming with adventure, from mountain-swaddled lakes to wilderness-cloaked trails to cloud-splitting summits with plenty of epicurean delights,......

December 15, 2019