Abingdon VA

Abingdon, Virginia sits just across the state line from Bristol and serves as the cultural and historic anchor of Southwest Virginia. Its beautifully preserved downtown, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is one of the finest small-town historic districts in the region - with brick sidewalks, flowering trees, and buildings dating to the early 19th century lining the main commercial corridor.

The Barter Theatre has been the centerpiece of Abingdon's cultural life since 1933, when founder Robert Porterfield opened it during the Great Depression - accepting produce and livestock as admission. Today it is Virginia's State Theatre, operating two stages year-round with a professional company producing everything from Broadway hits to world premieres. The Martha Washington Inn, a grand antebellum hotel adjacent to the theatre, completes the picture of gracious historic Abingdon.

For outdoor enthusiasts, the Virginia Creeper Trail is one of the premier rail-trail experiences in the Eastern United States. The 34-mile trail runs from the North Carolina border through Abingdon, passing through stunning mountain scenery, over trestle bridges, and alongside streams full of native brook trout. Mountain biking, hiking, and horseback riding are all popular on the trail.

Abingdon anchors the Heritage Music Trail, a 330-mile driving route through the musical and cultural heartland of Southwest Virginia - connecting traditional music venues, historic sites, and communities that have preserved Appalachian musical traditions for generations.