We have not seen a Barter Theatre production that we didn’t enjoy. The Million Dollar Quartet had the house rocking. The theatre troupe is accomplished, professional, and always on their A-game. The Barter complex includes two theatres, one the historic original and the second, a modern intimate playhouse. There are no bad seats in my opinion but be aware neither is spacious. I highly recommend adding the post-show discussions with the players when they are offered. The players freely share about all aspects of the play and being an actor in a regional theatre. Come and enjoy!

We decided late in the day to do the Virginia Creeper Trail. Another business recommended that we call here as most shuttle busses had ended service for the day. I spoke to Carlton and he told us to come on over. He held one of his drivers and assisted us with renting bikes. He was incredibly kind and helpful. Tucker, our driver, was very kind and informative. We enjoyed conversing with him as he drove us up the mountain. We are so very grateful to these fine gentlemen and this establishment for helping to create wonderful family memories! I HIGHLY recommend this business!

St. Mary's is a beautiful church. The church is left open 24 hours a day for people to visit and worship. The frescoes and stained glass windows are beautiful. There is a lovely step stone path as you approach the front of the church. The front door sticks a bit but it does open. When you enter the vestibule there is a button that plays a recording inside the sanctuary to the right of the door into the sanctuary. There are a lot of stained glass windows. They are mostly from the 1970's and 1980's. I really like the one that has the little children coming to Jesus and one of the kids is wearing tennis shoes. The recording provides a lot of info about the frescoes and the process to create. Such a lovely experience!

Wow, this was my first visit and it did not disappoint. Amazing views on the drive up the mountain and a well-maintained trail system and picnic areas at the summit.

The wild ponies at Grayson Highlands State Park were absolutely worth the hike! 🐴 The views throughout the park are breathtaking—rolling mountains, open balds, and endless skies. 😍⛰️ If you go, park at Massie Gap and take the Rhododendron Trail. It’s a beautiful, moderate hike and you’re very likely to see the ponies grazing along the way. Truly a one‑of‑a‑kind experience and a must‑visit spot in Virginia!

We were putting together a last-minute July camping trip and we remembered Hungry Mother from our time in Marion during our hike of the Appalachian Trail. I did more research and it seemed like a really nice place to spend some time, so we went online to try to find a campsite. Weirdly, the entire Creekside campground was open for the time we wanted to come. I ended up calling the park and they told me it was my lucky day, that a family reunion had booked the whole campground and just cancelled, and I wanted Site 19! We booked it and were so glad we did. The hosts were so great, and the facilities were clean and worked well. Laundry onsite for like $1.50 for washer and same for dryer Creekside Campground is awesome, but it's not for big rigs. They have another campground called Burson that will handle those, though, and some of the sites there have sewer if that's important to you. But Creekside is super cool, shaded, right on the creek, and you can walk to the beach, the trails, etc. Dump station is at the Visitor's Center on your way out. We would go hike in the morning, then sit and watch the three ducks that came every afternoon to the creek (and slip on the rocks, which was hilarious). There were deer in the morning in the meadow across the creek. If you're tenting, Royal Oaks looked really great. No water or electric, so you'd have to plan for that, but there are bathrooms/showers. We hiked Molly's Knob once during the day with our dog and then at sunset without her. We hiked the Lake Loop, but didn't get to the CCC and I think at least one more hike, so we left some on the table to come back! We rented kayaks one day and that was really fun and a way to cool off in the heat. Sunset at Molly's Knob was amazing (don't do it if you don't have headlamps and some experience night hiking). You're minutes from Marion, and we went downtown and hit all the spots from our AT hike. It's close to Mount Rogers and lots of other great hiking spots too. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!

A little off the beaten path, but worth it. It cost 8 dollars to climb the tower. It will give you a little workout, but not too challenging. The view from the top is stunning. When at the top the tower it did feel as if it had a little sway to it. The country store has lots of items to remind you of your trip. They also serve some food and ice cream.

We really enjoyed our visit to this small museum that honors this US First Lady who grew up in this very building (upstairs with an abundance of family.) The opening video was very well done, and our guide was very knowledgeable and kind. They have more they want to do, but what they have done so far is enlightening! Exhibits include timeline of her life and a genealogy showing her direct descendance from Pocahontas.

A true gem for music lovers. Amazing museum which highlights the rich music history of the Appalachians. The weekly summer concert series is not to be missed. Wonderful live music, outdoors on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Bring lawn chairs and a cooler and enjoy amazing music. The staff is so friendly it is a true feel good place.

Beautiful park that is one long bike/walking trail along the river. It was so peaceful yet captivating. The sights were breathtaking, the smells were calming, and the trails were perfect for a long bike ride. They had resting places and bathrooms every few miles along the trail. The miles are well marked and there are many maps to follow. At mile mark 24 they had a gift shop and a camp ground. There were other things along the trail, but we didn't check them out.

Walked in at 1 pm on a Monday. I wasn't sure what to expect but was pleasantly surprised with how beautifully laid out the museum was. Timelines and mentions of local Mount Airy are found throughout and how Andy paid homage to where he came from. I learned a lot about his life outside of the Andy Griffith show and enjoyed actual props from the show but samples of his stand-up comedic work as well. It was pouring rain so I wasn't able to stroll around and enjoy the other exhibits but was able to get a quick shot of the statue out front. Looking forward to coming back one day.

It is a great museum giving the history of the region around Mt Airy. The displays are high quality, engaging, and give a historical beakdown of many of the events and people that influenced and drove change and life in the region. I highly recommend visiting the museum next time you visit, it is well worth the price of admission. This museum is exceptional, but to find such an advanced museum in a relatively small town like Mt Airy was a pleasant surprise.

This by far was my favorite stop in Mt. Airy. The photos on the wall from throughout the years says a lot. Getting to see the antique barber chairs was amazing and meeting Floyd's grandson. He is an awesome man and educator. My son got one of the best haircuts he's ever gotten at Floyd's. So thankful for visiting and the experience. We also bought some merchandise while here that was very reasonably priced.

Very friendly and knowledgeable staff. You definitely want to stop in at the visitor’s center when you arrive in Mount Airy.

Claytor Lake State Park is one of my favorite spots for a relaxing outdoor escape in Virginia. The lake itself is absolutely beautiful—perfect for boating, kayaking, and especially fishing. I spent a quiet morning casting from the shore and saw several others out on boats enjoying the calm water. The beach area is great too, with a designated swimming zone that’s ideal for families. The hiking trails are well-marked and not too strenuous, making them perfect for a leisurely stroll or a short hike through the woods. I took the Lakeview Trail and was rewarded with some great views of the water and surrounding hills. Camping here is a pleasure. The sites are spacious and clean, with easy access to restrooms and showers that are better maintained than many other parks I’ve visited. There are also cabins and lodges if you prefer a more comfortable stay. What really stood out to me was the peaceful atmosphere. Even when the park was busy, it never felt overcrowded. It’s a great place to unplug and enjoy nature, whether you’re with friends, family, or solo. It struck the perfect balance between relaxation and recreation—I’ll definitely be back

Permanently CLOSED!

This is a hike I’ve wanted to do a few years. Moderate beautiful 4 mile hike. Public bathrooms. $3 basically to park. Try to get there early for parking. If you can wait a bit I am sure a spot will open. Don’t be disrespectful and park near the bathrooms or spots you shouldn’t. Dogs are allowed. There is an upper and lower level to hike. I took the upper level. Beautiful scenery along the way of the forest, boulders, waterway and bridges. Many places to stop along the way and relax. As you get closer to the falls you are basically climbing on rocks and boulders. Great hike for the whole family. I got caught in a 30 minute downpour yesterday and nothing I could do but continue to walk in it. Bring hiking boots. Your shoes will get ruined. Too many folks wearing all white sneakers. Please be respectful and leave no traces. Such as trash, shoes and just being generally disrespectful to Mother Nature

We went here today for our 27th anniversary. It was the best meal out we have ever had. The food and wine were fantastic but what made the evening perfect were the people who took care of us. Our server Robert was kind, considerate, and very helpful. The young person who checked us in offered us a glass of wine while we waited and was also very kind. They set us by a bay window so we could watch the sunset and mist roll over the mountains and Robert offered to take our picture! We drove 90 minutes from our place and the drive was worth it. You won’t regret your decision to eat here!

i loved the inspiration that Hahn Gardens gave me. I want my backyard to look like this. I want YOUR back yard to look like this🤣🤣 The flowers, vegetables, plants, trees, waterfalls, artwork, and pathways are all amazing and well kept. Im going back for more pictures. #8robinsonstv #mariodeblakrobinson

I drove in from Ohio to see Metallica. Arguably the largest event Virginia Tech has hosted outside of their football games. Not only was the entire event seamless the event staff was phenomenal. It's crazy to think an event of that caliber was so well constructed and organized... Fantastic Job!

Great cabins. Well appointed, even the original cabins. Heating, a/c, fireplace, kitchen -- all in great shape. Enjoyed kayaking, hiking, and being off-grid. Nice patio and picnic table. Highly recommended!

Great cave, great history - but be forewarned - you're in for a workout! This is a one hour tour that is almost all stairs. Do you like stairs? Then you'll love this tour! Ten feet into it the tour guide announces you will be climbing "Jacob's Ladder" - which is an eight story flight of steps. While that's the longest continuous flight of steps in the tour, the rest of it is a series of shorter up/down steps. This is not a cave for mobility challenged people. I reached my exercise goal for the day six minutes into the tour and the tour lasts for an hour! That said, it's a great little cave. The history of the discovery is amazing, and this is the only cave I've been to where you can see an actual earth fault line from below ground, which is amazing. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic and the time passed quickly. There was no dead time. I would definitely go again, but I'd do some cardio first!

Best sound I've heard in a really long time! Love this venue! Last night was my first time and I'll be going back tonight! Staff are very friendly and helpful!

My two sons, 8 and 2, and I spent a very fun afternoon here. You can take the free Star Line Trolly to get there, to add to the transportation experience! From the model sets to the giant real deal engines out back, everyone found something interesting. They especially loved climbing aboard the old caboose and seeing the Harry Potter-esque engines in person. Normally we aren’t gift shop people but it was so reasonably priced that I couldn’t help but support the museum. The older son had a wonderful time building his Lego steam engine later that night and the younger enjoyed playing with it after. We also got them matching tie dye screen-printed shirts that were made in Roanoke. Fun to be able to support local creators with a souvenir they can wear. Highly recommend this museum!

Very cool and super unique to Roanoke. The star is truly amazing along with the view is unbelievable. It lights up every night and even changes colors on special holidays. It definitely gets packed so good luck actually being to see the star during the holidays it changes colors.

This museum is lovely. They are free to the public and also offer a paid exhibit. They won available when we visited was $10 a person the art is varied and the building a work of art on its own! I highly recommend spending some time at Taubman Museum of Art

Charming museum that was once a train station dedicated to one man’s love of the now gone steam engine train where his passion was captured in the impressive grandeur photographs he took from the 1950’s. A master of light and engineering, Ogle spent much of his life documenting one of America’s lasting splendor in the era of the locomotive not just visually, but w audio as well where he released a number of recordings of the sounds of the traveling train through the West Virginian mountains. One can imagine his excitement from the surviving recordings, where you can here the glee he expressed in his voice while riding atop. You are transposed by his artistry to a time when life was simpler but somehow a lot more evolved than where we are today.