THE ULTIMATE HEART o APPALACHIA BU C KET

There's so much to love about the Heart of Appalachia. Here are 25 can't-miss places to eat, drink, see and stay while in the region. 

See the map on pages 18-19

For Instagram

Like to take and share photos? So do we. Here are the photo ops you don't want to miss while in the Heart of Appalachia.

#HeartOfAppalachia

Get Wild With Wildlife

Do you know where the buffalo roam?

We do. We know where the elk roam, too. Yup, in the Heart of Appalachia.

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#1: What's a Woodbooger?

Snap a selfie with the Woodbooger, or at least his statue. The legendary Bigfoot-like creature is said to roam the woods of Southwest Virginia. He's partial to Norton's Flag Rock Recreation Area, which was designated a "Woodbooger Sanctuary" by the Norton City Council in 2014.

 #3: Eyes to the Sky

You'll swoon over vibrantly-hued sunsets in the Heart of Appalachia. Revel in colorful panoramas across the vast Appalachian Mountains from Birch knob Observation Tower near Clintwood. Alternatively, savor a glorious evening sky from Powell Valley Overlook and High knob Observation Tower near Norton.

 #2: So Much to LOVE

Dozens of road trip-worthy LOVEwork sculptures can be found across Virginia. Share your photos on social with the hashtag #LoveVA and #HeartOfAppalachia.

Back of the Dragon, Tazewell

A motorcycle-inspired LOVEwork greets visitors to the famed 32-mile Back of the Dragon on winding State Route 16.

Town Heritage, Pennington Gap

A heritage-focused LOVEwork pays homage to the Lee Theatre and Stone Face Rock, as well as the tobacco farms and railroad legacy.

Rustic Roots, Southern Gap

A LOVEwork made from logs and galvanized tin reflects the area's rustic nature and coal mining heritage.

 #4: Super-Size Surprise

A drive along U.S. Route 58 Alternate through Coeburn practically requires a stop at Red Oak Trading Company to check out the larger-than-life Muffler Man. This red-capped Paul Bunyan statue may hold a fish, a paint bucket, even a jack-o-lantern. You never know. It's always changing. Go see for yourself.

 Round Up the Herd

Long before Daniel Boone doggedly trudged a path through the notch in the Cumberland Mountains, it was the mighty buffalo that ruled the land, forging the great buffalo migration path westward to Kentucky. Today, a small herd of buffalo graze in a viewing pasture at Wilderness Road State Park in Ewing.

Bugler's Dream 

There's only one destination in the state where Rocky Mountain Elk freely roam the hills and valleys. That's the Heart of Appalachia. Book a guided elk viewing tour at Breaks Interstate Park. The hills come alive with distinctive bugling sounds on tours that set off nightly from March to mid-May and from late-August through October.

GET YOUR RIDE ON Get your motor running, or maybe just toss a tube in the river, for a spectacularly scenic ride through the Heart of Appalachia.

#7: Trail Towns 

Ride an ATV down the middle of Main Street, or at least through town in any one of the ATV-friendly towns in the Heart of Appalachia, like St. Paul and Coeburn. These two towns are on either end of the Mountain View Trail , a popular trail in the Spearhead Trails System.

#9: Take it Off-Road

Book a two-seat or four-seat side by side through Southern Gap Outdoor Adventure in Grundy for a day of rough and tumble off-roading on the Coal Canyon Trail , one of the most popular trails in the Spearhead Trails System, which spans more than 600 miles across the Heart of Appalachia.

 #10: Totally Tubular

Rent a colorful inflatable tube from Clinch River Adventures or Clinch Life Outfitters in St. Paul for a leisurely float along the Clinch River. Ride the on-site shuttle upriver, then bask in warm sunshine as you drift along gentle currents to the parking area. You can also rent kayaks for self-guided paddles.

 #8: Cycle in Paradise

Rent a bicycle from Mattie's Place in Burke's Garden for a bucolic ride along the rolling 12-mile loop that encircles Burke's Garden, the largest rural historic district in the state. Take in stunning scenery and lush farmlands as you pedal across this largely Amish-tended natural paradise.

 #11: What a Rush

Rent a Polaris Slingshot (available at Trailhead Resort & Back of the Dragon Welcome Center) and experience an adrenaline rush like no other with 438 curves, including hairpins and serpentine sections, on the Back of the Dragon. This thrilling section of scenic byway runs from Marion to Tazewell.

Stay Awhile

Settle in with a full-flavored beverage and a piled-high plate of barbecue before turning in for an evening filled with sweet dreams.

#12: We've Got Spirit

The Spirits of the Clinch are said to haunt the region, as in the former moonshiners and bootleggers who once operated on the Clinch River. Today, noted spirits (the distilled kind) are made with water from the Clinch. Scan the code to learn more.

 Axe Handle Distilling, Pennington Gap

A 600-gallon still produces bourbon and gin, among other distinctively crafted spirits. Free tastings/ tours.

#13: Grill Masters

Your taste buds are eager to visit, if only because we've got some of the best barbecue in the entire state.

Black Bear BBQ, Appalachia

Smoked-BBQ, grilled favorites and a daily country plate special.

Piggy Went A Smokin’ , Wise 

This outside dining & takeout joint features BBQ pork, fried catfish and freshly made specialty desserts.

Crooked Road BBQ, Coeburn & Pound

Need we say more than Pulled Pork Egg Rolls, BBQ Pizza and BBQ Quesadillas? Nope.

Fat Boys BBQ, St. Paul

Satisfy your craving for the best in slow-smoked BBQ and ribs. Try the “Heart Attack,” a huge baked potato stuffed with BBQ and all the fixins.

Cuz's Uptown BBQ, Pounding Mill 

This barbecue is the talk of the town. Ask for extra White & Red BBQ sauce on the side or seating in the silo of this historic dairy barn.

Fisher & Company, Tazewell

This former general store offers up some of the most sought after BBQ in the entire region.

MountainRose Vineyard, Wise

A family owned, award-winning winery and vineyard offering daily tastings, tours, and lovely weddings.

#14: Hit Snooze

Make it a long weekend with a dreamy stay in the Heart of Appalachia.

Appalachian Mountain Cabins, Duffield

Four rustic-inspired mountain cabins keep it modern with microwaves, wi-fi, even air hockey tables.

Nottingham Place, Wise

Built in 1898, this exquisite threebedroom Airbnb exudes historic charm. It's also one of the most recognized homes in Wise.

Foxtail Orchards, Tazewell 

Situated on the Back of the Dragon, Foxtail Orchards offers lodging options such as two wooden cabins and a mini airplane hangar, all with unparalleled panoramas.

Natural Wonders

There's much natural beauty in the Heart of Appalachia, like a massive sandstone cave, crystal-clear swimming holes and wondrous waterfalls.

 #15: Sand-Filled Surprise

You may not find ocean waves in the Heart of Appalachia, but you will find a large tract of beach-like sand inside the geologically wondrous Sand Cave . A four-mile hike in Ewing leads to the 250-foot-wide half-domed Sand Cave. Continue on a clockwise loop to reach the famed White Rocks overlook for spectacular south-facing mountain views. From ground-level, these rocks were used as a guidepost for westward-bound settlers in the late-1700s.

 #16: Waterfall Watchers

There's something about the tumbling cascades of a majestic waterfall and the Heart of Appalachia is home to more than a few Instagram-worthy falls. Among our faves:

Tank Hollow Falls, Cleveland

This 60-foot-tall waterfall may be one of the most peaceful places on earth. You decide.

Little Stony Falls, Dungannon

A foliage-filled hike in Jefferson National Forest leads to a tumbling waterfall with a refreshing swimming hole.

Big Falls, Cleveland

(Pinnacle Natural Area Preserve)

A playful swinging bridge welcomes those taking their first steps to reach breathtaking Big Falls.

#17: Devilish Oasis

The wooded hike to Devil's Bathtub in Scott County rewards with a refreshing crystal-clear swimming hole that's a welcoming oasis on a summer day. Revel in a small, cascading waterfall and two rope swings, as well as the bathtub-shaped basin that lies just beyond the swimming hole.

#18: Need a Lift? 

At Natural Tunnel State Park in Duffield, ride the chairlift to the floor of Natural Tunnel, which is 850 feet long and tops out at 10 stories tall. Former Secretary of State William Jennings Bryan famously called this naturally-carved limestone marvel the "Eighth Wonder of the World."

 #19: Get Lost

Slot canyons may be an enduring hallmark of the American West, but we have our own version in Southwest Virginia. A three-mile hike leads to the Great Channels, a curious labyrinth of sandstone crevices set high atop rugged Clinch Mountain in Rosedale.