Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, May 13, 1990 TAG: 9005090422
SECTION: DISCOVER THE NEW RIVER VALLEY PAGE: 33 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: SU CLAUSON SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
The New River Valley has many close escapes (what, you thought it was one?). You can take a jaunt out to Floyd County for blue grass music and Blue Ridge views. Or head west to for Giles County, the land of trout, bears and high Alleghenies. Or take a trip back in time to Pulaski County's historic Newbern village.
\ Floyd County
If you want to avoid traffic, modern conveniences and four-line highways, head out Virginia 8 east from Christiansburg to the Town of Floyd, where the county's only stoplight is practically an attraction itself.
You can also browse in Floyd's bluegrass records store, stop at Cockram's general store where live bluegrass performances are held every Friday night and check out the local art work at Old Church Gallery.
The Blue Ridge Parkway is only four miles farther on Virginia 8. Two particularly popular times of year for the parkway are spring, when the dogwood is out, and fall, when the maples are changing colors. But anytime is a good time for a meandering drive that can include stops at a winery, a country inn and the old favorite, Mabry Mill.
When you reach the parkway, head south over Rocky Knob. Keep your eyes peeled for Chateau Morrisette, on Winery Road between Mileposts 171 and 172. Tours are conducted during the spring, summer and fall.
During warm weather, you can sip the fruit of Floyd's vine on a large stone terrace overlooking the mountain vineyards.
Owner David Morrisette claims his chardonnay, riesling and seyvals are made at the highest winery in the East. This can't help but have an effect on the wine or the tasting, right? The winery also features jazz concerts on Sunday nights.
Call the new winery restaurant, Le Chien Noir, at (703) 593-2865 for a schedule.
The Woodberry Inn, where you can exit for antique browsing, trout fishing and lunch, is located two miles south on the parkway at Milepost 174.
Two miles farther south at Milepost 176 is Mabry Mill, where stoneground buckwheat flour and corn meal are produced and where a breakfast of the best buckwheat cakes to be found anywhere can cap your morning excursions. The mill is open to tourists, but its undergoing renovations this year and is not grinding fresh flour.
\ Giles County
For a Giles County day trip, I recommend Mountain Lake. By the time you wind up Salt Pond Mountain on Virginia 700 for about 10 miles, you feel as though you've escaped.
And you have. You've escaped the heat (Mountain Lake is 10 to 15 degrees cooler than the valley) and much of civilization.
Birds and wildlife that don't take too much to crowds hang out up here - hawks, bears, vireo and other semi-rare birds. There also are at least five flowers in the orchid family and rhododendron a whole month after you saw the last one in the lowland.
Short hikes that originate on the Mountain Lake Hotel grounds take you around the lake, up to Bald Knob or over to a lookout at Bear Cliffs. Not to worry. No bears have been spotted here in years.
You can take the dirt road Virginia 613 past the hotel to trails at Minie Ball Hill, named for the lead bullets used in Civil War muskets. They were discarded here by retreating Union forces.
Farther down the road, you can see the white blazes of the Appalachian Trail. Park your car in the lot and take a right on the trail for a spectular view at Windrock.
Sunsets here are so terrific you may find others toasting the end of the day with wine and cheese.
But hiking is not the only activity you can enjoy at the resort where "Dirty Dancing" was filmed. Mountain Lake Hotel is adjoined on the left by craft shops and studios. If you're lucky, Bob Evans (alias Larry the Leprechaun) will tell you a story. You also can sign up for horseback riding or see the woods from a horse-drawn carriage.
But watch out - if you get within scent of the kitchen you may want to linger a little longer. The hotel serves formal five-course meals (jacket recommended in the evening) in the dining room and tasty snacks like black bean tortillas and salads in the barn.
\ Pulaski County
For a different sort of day trip, you can get away to the past - about 150 years ago - to the little town of Newbern in Pulaski County.
It seems incongruous to travel to this quaint little town by zooming south on Interstate 81 to Exit 32. The entire town, which has been designated a Virginia Landmarks Historic District, looks like nothing has been moved in about 100 years.
Newbern was the first community and county seat of what later became Pulaski County.
Adam Hance, who lived in the house that is now Wilderness Road Museum, founded the town in 1810. He chose the site for its proximity to the stage coach route along the Wilderness Road.
But later the town's elevation, 2,135 feet above sea level, became an obstacle to its growth. First the railroad bypassed the community through the lower terrains of Pulaski and Dublin.
In 1893, the courthouse burned. At Newbern's elevation, there wasn't enough water to fight the fire. Instead of rebuilding the courthouse, residents voted to relocate the county seat to Pulaski.
For your tour, start at the Wilderness Road Regional Museum. The main house was built in 1811 and specializes in exhibits in the 1810-1865 period.
Open from 2-5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, this museum features a large doll collection, artifacts illustrating the 19th century life in this area, a livery and a number of other outbuildings.
The museum board hosts periodic meals, including a Father's Day luncheon and garden tour, a harvest dinner, a fall festival and a Christmas party. You can often find culinary specialties of the earlier years featured in these meals - dishes like smearcase and spring greens.
On down the street, you can view the 1853 jail, a furniture repair shop, many 19th century homes, a doll factory, an antique reproduction shop and several craft outlets.
The Valley Pike Inn, near the museum, was built prior to 1839 as a stagecoach stop on the Wilderness Road. It was originally called the Haney Hotel, and its overnight guests included Andrew Johnson and Winfield Scott.
by CNB