Embedded within the Blue Ridge Mountain foothills, outside journey waits for you round each flip in Franklin County, Va. If you happen to’re on the lookout for a time out on the water, the world’s rivers and lakes present an abundance of spots to swim, kayak, or fish. Bordering the Blue Ridge Parkway to the west, it’s simple to go for a scenic drive or bike journey on the winding street. If there’s one factor that’s for positive, you received’t need to miss all that Franklin County has to supply.
Take pleasure in a soothing day at Smith Mountain Lake Group Park, the place you’ll be able to entry Virginia’s second-largest freshwater lake and over 500 miles of shoreline. Positioned straight throughout the water from Smith Mountain Lake State Park, there are a number of actions you’ll be able to select from at this scenic park. Construct a sandcastle on the public seaside, go for a swim within the protected swimming lane, or forged a line from the fishing pier. Plus, with easy accessibility to lodging and eating choices across the lake, it’ll be onerous to tug the household away from this spot.
The campground at Jamison Mill Park on Philpott Lake is the right place to arrange camp earlier than you head out on the water. Because the smallest campground on the lake, that includes solely 11 websites, it is a quiet spot to benefit from the pure magnificence throughout you. Every website comes with a picnic desk and grill, in addition to entry to ingesting water and a bathhouse. From the park, launch your non-motorized boat as you paddle out to Picnic Level or Beards Creek Inlet. You may even hearken to stay music with out ever having to go away the water with the annual summer season Concert events by Canoe sequence. Held on the Twin Ridge Recreation Space, paddle up for some pickin’ and grinnin’ as native and regional Appalachian musicians courageous the floating stage
If you happen to desire to discover by land, try the 15 miles of multi-use trails and over 10,000 toes of play within the new disc golf course at Waid Park. Ensure to heat up on the favored bike expertise loops earlier than hitting the flowy singletrack. Mountain bikers are positive to take pleasure in options reminiscent of a soar line, river crossings, and picket ramps. The state-of-the-art disc golf course encompasses a nine-hole newbie course and an 18-hole professional course, so you’ll be able to good your expertise and problem your recreation all from one handy spot. On the weekends, hire a tube to drift down the Pigg River by means of the park, together with the flexibility to customise the size of your journey.
Along with all of its outside choices, Franklin County can be the japanese gateway to the Crooked Street, Virginia’s Heritage Music Path. This 330-mile route connects music venues, concert events, jam classes, and music historical past websites by means of 19 southwestern Virginia counties. If you happen to’re a music fan, see if there’s a present taking part in throughout your go to on the Harvester Efficiency Middle in Rocky Mount or Coves Amphitheater on Smith Mountain Lake.
After spending a day open air, head into the charming small city of Rocky Mount, Franklin’s county seat, for a chunk to eat. Replenish at Buddy’s BBQ, one of many tastiest spots within the space, earlier than visiting the award-winning Chaos Mountain Brewing or the newly opened Dwelling Proof Beer Firm to seize a drink within the “Moonshine Capital of the World.”
When it comes time to plan your subsequent journey, look no additional than the mountains, waters, and parks of Franklin County, Va. It’s a visit you’ll be considering again on for years to come back.
