North Carolina: Yadkin Valley Wine Trail
Description: The Yadkin Valley Wine Trail is an area that covers about 40 wineries and vineyards, including parts of Surry, Yadkin, and Wilkes counties. From Round Peak in the north to Childress in the south, it’s about 55 miles long as the crow flies. From Raffaldini in the west to Medaloni in the east, it’s about 35 miles wide as the crow flies. With rich soil and abundant sun, the Yadkin Valley American Viticulture Area was North Carolina’s first, and consists of more than 1.1 million acres.
Key feature: The 14th Annual Yadkin Valley Grape Festival is Saturday, Oct. 21. The event features wine tastings, local vendors, and more.
Not to miss along the way: Pilot Mountain State Park in Pinnacle boasts a distinctive 2,400-foot peak, with miles of trails, breathtaking scenery, and a shady picnic area located near the summit parking lot.
A great town: Famous for being the hometown of Andy Griffith, Mounty Airy is a wonderful and charming place to visit. Not-to-miss attractions include the Andy Griffith Museum, filled with mementos and memorabilia from the iconic TV show. While in Mount Airy, stop in at Snappy Lunch for one of its famous pork chop sandwiches.
Details: yadkinvalleywinetrail.com
Virginia: Monticello Wine Trail
Not only is the bucolic countryside and mountainous landscape around Charlottesville prime territory for leaf peeping, it’s also one of the state’s most prolific regions for wine production. The Monticello Wine Trail consists of more than 30 wineries. Most are located on wooded, pastoral acreage off I-64 and U.S. 29 along scenic country roads.
Key feature: Monticello, the mountaintop home of Thomas Jefferson and a UNESCO world heritage site. Situated on a 5,000-acre plantation, Monticello provides sweeping views of the area’s gorgeous landscape. Guided tours of the house and grounds are available.
Not to miss along the way: Just minutes from Monticello, Carter Mountain Orchard overlooks dramatic mountain vistas. Here you can pick fresh apples and enjoy fresh-pressed apple cider, apple pies, and go for a hayride.
A great town: Home to about 47,000 people, Charlottesville is a growing, bustling city with lots of fun attractions and activities—from breweries to music venues—but still manageable and easy to navigate. For dining options, try Parallel 38, a popular Mediterranean restaurant with tapas-style dishes like goat meatballs, lamb, and swordfish.
Details: monticellowinetrail.com
West Virginia: Devil’s Den Trail
Distance: 643 miles
The Devil’s Den trail system curves through the mountains deep in the heart of coal country, through Cabell, Lincoln Boone, Logan and Wyoming counties. There are two popular routes. One heads west to east on Route 10 from Huntington to Mullens through Cabell, Lincoln Boone, Logan, Wyoming counties to Route 16 in the Beckley area. Or, go further south for a historic trek on Route 52 from Williamson to Bramwell.
Key feature: The West Virginia Mine Wars Museum in Matewan tells the story of when ten thousand armed miners marched 50 miles across Southern West Virginia to battle for their rights as working people in 1921. The museum details this journey beginning at the Paint Creek-Cabin Creek strike of 1912-1913, winding through the 1920 Matewan Massacre, and culminating with the 1921 Miners’ March and Battle of Blair Mountain.
Not to miss along the way: Hatfield and McCoy Moonshine in Gilbert offers 90-proof, hand-crafted moonshine using a recipe that’s been handed down for generations. Public distillery tours are available, during which you can get a behind-the-scenes look at how the company produces the premium white corn whiskey.
Great town: Huntington is a historic and bustling city located on the Ohio River at the mouth of the Guyandotte River. The city is home to museums, amusement parks, a vibrant business district and Marshall University, made famous in the 2006 film “We Are Marshall.” One of the more popular local restaurants is Jim’s Steak and Spaghetti House, founded in 1938. The family-owned and operated downtown restaurant is noted for its haddock fish sandwich, homemade pie and, of course, famous spaghetti.
Details: gotowv.com/drive/devils-den
Georgia: Northeast Georgia’s Historic, Artistic, Scenic Highway 197:
Distance: 25 miles.
Scenic Highway 197 passes through Haberesham and Rabun counties and into the 750,145-acre Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest, noted for its abundant wildlife, sparkling Lake Blue Ridge and miles of hiking trails. Along the way there are charming restaurants, shops offering regional, handmade arts and crafts, local entertainment and other attractions.
Key feature: The Habersham Community Theater (HCT) in Clarkesville showcases live theater, including drama, comedy, musicals, dinner theater, children’s productions, art exhibits and other special events. HCT is located in a renovated 1937 movie theater.
Not to miss along the way: The 2,777-acre Lake Burton in Rabun County has 62 miles of shoreline and is the largest of Georgia Power’s lakes in north Georgia.
The lake is noted for Moccasin Creek State Park as well as its abundant fish species, including bass, crappie, sunfish, catfish and trout.
A great town: Clarkesville, the county seat of Habersham, is near the starting point for Highway 97 and has a variety of attractions. The historic downtown boasts century-old buildings, tree-lined streets and lots of great stores and galleries. When your stomach starts to rumble, head to Harvest Habersham, a farm-to-table eatery featuring local ingredients.
Details: scenic197.com
Kentucky: Cumberland Cultural Heritage Highway
Distance:197 Miles
This scenic, rural drive through southern Kentucky meanders past rivers, lakes, small town, historic sites and recreational opportunities. It traces the route of early settlers from the 1700s who traveled through the Cumberland Gap for new, pristine land, and in the process created unique culture, language and architecture.
Key feature: Located near the town of Whitley City in McCreary County, the 125,310-acre Big South Fork National Recreational and River provides a wealth of opportunities to experience outdoor activities along the Cumberland River. Known for having one of the highest concentrations of natural bridges in the eastern United States, the area boasts miles of scenic gorges and sandstone bluffs, along with unique historic features, including the Blue Heron Mining Community, which operated from 1937 to 1962.
Don’t miss along the way: Take a break from the car and climb aboard the Big South Fork Railroad, a heritage railroad in Stearns that takes passengers on a 16-mile ride through the lush countryside. Adjacent to the train station is the McCreary County Museum, which showcases life in Kentucky’s coal company towns during the early 20th century.
A great town: Corbin, located in Whitley and Knox counties, is situated next to the 1,657-acre Cumberland Falls State Resort Park, named for the dramatic, 68-foot-tall Cumberland Falls. The town hosts an annual music festival called NIBROC and is also the site of Kentucky Fried Chicken’s first restaurant, which opened in 1930. You can get chicken, barbecue, heaping helpings of vegetables and other Southern favorites at Bubby’s BBQ.
Details: www.go-kentucky.com/Cumberland-Cultural-Heritage-Highway