More than a ‘jumping off’ spot

To paraphrase a humorous line from Des Moines native and noted author Bill Bryson, I spent all but the last 19 years in New York, “somebody had to!”

Seriously, though, I wouldn’t trade my youth in the Bronx and on Long Island and the next 40 years enduring miserable winters in Western New York for any-

thing.

That said, beginning in the early-70s I traveled southbound roads a lot, vacationing, visiting my wife’s family and taking my son to college in Charlotte. Eventually we would move to Upstate South Carolina, only to reverse our route and travel back to Western New York many, many times. The route is always the same. Road construction goes on and on. Only the billboards change.

There is, however, an unusual stretch of highway for about 10 miles. If you aren’t on the ball, you can easily miss a turn. In Virginia, Interstates 81 and 77 run together in a “wrong-way concurrency,” meaning you find yourself traveling on I-77 northbound and I-81 southbound at the same time while actually traveling due west. Confusing? Maybe the first time, but after one trip it becomes easy. At this intersection is Wytheville, which, until recently, had been merely an overnight place to stay.

Located in southwest Virginia, Wytheville continues to be the perfect stop for north-south travelers. However, like me, many are discovering Wytheville is more than a stopover location. Beyond its convenience to interstate travelers, there are locally owned restaurants and shops and unique local attractions. There are trails, parks and rivers, and a picturesque downtown that beckons visitors to stay a while. In fact, it is an ideal spot for a relaxing getaway or adventurous vacation … and it’s only 3-4 hours up the pike.

“Wytheville … there’s only one!” is the city’s apt marketing slogan given that there is only one town of that name, apparently, in the entire world.

Wytheville’s classic Americana downtown is where the uniqueness begins. Along walkable streets visitors will find exclusive lodging, diverse dining and serious shopping, all surrounded by Wytheville’s storied history.

Two special lodgings pay homage to the past. The boutique Bolling Wilson Hotel on East Main, named after First Lady Edith Bolling Wilson, offers 30 luxurious guest rooms, the Graze on Main restaurant and a rooftop lounge. The Trinkle Mansion Bed and Breakfast on

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{left} Seven Sisters brewery offers an extensive list of craft beers as well as a great line of food trucks and live entertainment. It is one of two new craft breweries in downtown. • {right} Fine dining is available at the 1776 Log House Restaurant where traditional favorites are served in an 18th century, two-story log cabin.

West Main has four guest rooms in the historic home of gentleman farmer William Trinkle, as well as a quaint garden cottage. Trip Advisor has named the mansion among the top 10 B&Bs in the country.

There is no shortage of culinary options in downtown Wytheville. For fine dining, the 1776 Log House Restaurant’s extensive menu includes traditional favorites, served in an 18th century, two-story log cabin. Its popular nightspot, Christopher’s Lounge, and an outside country garden add to its warm ambience.

Over at Grayson’s Restaurant, home-cooked and hearty Southern-style meals are served all day.

No visit to Wytheville would be complete without taking in a dinner and a show at the Wohlfahrt Haus Dinner Theatre. The 200-

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seat, German-themed venue presents professional musical productions accompanied by a four-course, themed meal before every performance. The theatre also houses the Matterhorn Restaurant and Bier Garden, serving German favorites.

Wytheville now has two craft breweries — Seven Sisters and the 7 Dogs Brew Pub — both of which are family-friendly and feature live music. 7 Dogs offers pub-style dining, and Seven Sisters has a great line of food trucks.

Part of the spring ritual in Wytheville is Brews & Bands, a one-day festival celebrating local bands and craft beers, typically held on the third Saturday of May.

Other local signs of spring include the reopening of the Fort Chiswell Animal Park (safari park) on weekends in April, and the wildly popular Lavender Academy at Beagle Ridge Herb Farm on April 23-24. The farm opens for the season on April 30.

Historians have often referred to President Woodrow Wilson as the “secret president” and his wife as the “first woman president.” Not far from the hotel named in her honor is the Edith Bolling Wilson Museum. It is one of five museums dedicated to telling the story of Wytheville’s past. Visitors can find out about the “summer without children” polio epidemic at the Thomas J. Boyd Museum and look back to a time when Route 21 was the primary route to Florida at the Great Lakes to Florida Highway Museum. The region’s only African American heritage museum, the Wytheville Training School Cultural Center, explores the history of African American education in Wythe County. The stories at each museum are endless and intriguing and, together, they reveal the role Wytheville has played in America’s history.

You can’t necessarily “shop ’til you drop” in downtown, but there is an impressive array of local shops that will satisfy your quest for antiques, crafts and unique gifts. Fine jewelry, local crafts and handmade furniture abound.

The 200-seat Wohlfahrt Haus Dinner Theatre presents professional musical productions that are accompanied by a four-course, German meal.

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And don’t forget to take a photo next to “the biggest pencil in Virginia!”

Away from downtown, the southwest Virginia landscape offers additional reasons for choosing Wytheville as a hub for an extended stay. There are scenic mountain views, premier hiking and biking trails, protected lands and pristine waters for some of the best fishing in the region.

Panoramic vistas from the top of the 100-foot tower on Big Walker Lookout offer breathtaking views where “Only the Birds See More.” At 3,400 feet, Big Walker Mountain offers a 360-degree perspective of the surrounding area and is home to BW Country Store, which features handmade wares by regional artists, as well as old-fashioned fudge, homemade jams, jellies, relishes and delicious, Virginia made, hand-dipped ice cream.

At 58 miles long, the New River Trail is one of America’s premier rails-to-trails routes. Along the trail is Foster Falls, the state park headquarters and home to The Foster Falls Boat and Livery, which is your destination for bike rentals and a shuttle service. The livery also rents canoes, kayaks and float tubes to explore the trail and its 32 miles of waterway. For the anglers, brown, brook and rainbow trout abound in the trophy category. Guides and outfitters are ready to take you to their prime locations.

Close to town, the Crystal Springs Recreation Area is home to a natural reservoir and has multiple trails, loops and one connecting link. Its mountain bike terrain park features all the obstacles needed for novice to advanced trail bikers.

And then there’s the Fort Chiswell Animal Park, the Beagle Ridge Herb Farm, the West Wind Farm Vineyard and Winery and … well, the list of attractions goes on and on.

If you’re looking for a spring getaway or if your travel pattern takes you north in the summer, there are plenty of reasons to make Wytheville more than just a jumping off spot. If you want to plan an experience, check out visitwytheville.com, the town’s website for lodging, dining, shopping, entertainment and attractions. n

The Crystal Springs Recreation Area’s mountain bike terrain park features all the obstacles needed for novice to advanced trail bikers.