Top Town/Park Pairs: Population of 10,000-49,999

Top 10: Population 10,000-49,000

1. Hendersonville, North Carolina / Chimney Rock State Park

2. Boone, North Carolina / Elk Knob State Park

3. Sevierville, Tennessee / Seven Islands State Birding Park

4. Blacksburg, Virginia / Claytor Lake State Park

5. Staunton, Virginia / Natural Chimneys Regional Park

6. Bristol, Tennessee / Warriors’ Path State Park

7. Radford, Virginia / Claytor Lake State Park

8. Elizabethton, Tennessee / Sycamore Shoals State Park

9. Winchester, Virginia / Sky Meadows State Park

10. Beckley, West Virginia / Little Beaver State Park

1. Hendersonville, North Carolina / Chimney Rock State Park

The town: Choose historic downtown as your launch point for a variety of family fun activities. Rich with restored National Register buildings, this area beckons with restaurants, galleries and museums based on the city’s roots including the Mineral and Lapidary Museum and the Pisgah Forest Gem Mine (where you can pan for your own treasures). Add a literary element to your trip with a tour of the 267-acre home of Carl Sandburg – “Poet of the People.”

The park: If you see rocks and want to climb them, this is your park! Certified guides will lead the way through world-class bouldering and rock climbing (no maximum age and no gear or experience necessary) across this 535-million-year-old granite and gneiss landscape. Spend a more relaxed day searching for the 550 species of vascular plants; identifying migratory birds; and studying the mountain from the inside (in the 198-foot tunnel, which leads to the 258-foot elevator to the top of The Rock).

2. Boone, North Carolina / Elk Knob State Park

The town: Reserve a seat at the outdoor drama “Horn in the West” (performed since 1952) for a look at early 18th Century Appalachian life through Daniel Boone’s adventures. Next door the native gardens display the High Country’s biodiversity; and the Hickory Ridge Living History Museum has pioneer skill demonstrations and log cabins. For winter fun in the ski capital of the South, hit the slopes at three nearby resorts.

The park: Add to your list of rare plants and a visit to the headwaters of one of the planet’s oldest rivers at this park. “Sweet” soils of these weathered amphibolite mountains are perfect for Gray’s lily, orchids, flame azaleas and trailing wolfbane. And, the New River (name aside) begins its journey at Elk Knob. This relatively “secret” hardwood-treed wilderness is one of North Carolina’s newest state parks.

3. Sevierville, Tennessee / Seven Islands State Birding Park

The town: Find outdoor fun for the whole family in this destination packed with adventures including multiple parks for ziplining, climbing and ATV rides, mini-golf, go-carts, petting zoos, an outdoor gravity park, car museum, helicopter rides over the mountains or forge your own knife. For the nature scene, fish the streams, paddle the waterways, ride horses and hike the trails.

The park: Plan a relaxed exploration of the eight miles of trail and one paved greenway on this peninsula of aquatic and grassland habitats. Get the checklist ready for 200 avian species including songbirds, waterfowl, hawks and barn owls. Access the French Broad River for a paddle at this 416-acre refuge paradise that’s a shining example of decades-long habitat management.

4. Blacksburg, Virginia / Claytor Lake State Park

The town: If you enjoy towns with open spaces, then make this one your next stop. With 20 public parks (totaling over 500 acres), there are ample opportunities for picnics, strolls, family fun and doggie exercise. To witness the intersection of our country’s past (colonialism, expansion, slavery and indigenous peoples), visit Smithfield Plantation. Learn native flora at the shade and meadow habitats in Hahn Horticulture Garden—a teaching and display destination.

The park: Begin your visit at the historic Howe House, whose fine craftsmanship is evident inside and out. Its owner was an environmental advocate and lifetime campaigner to protect the New River from mining pollution. Have a scenic retreat at the 4,500-acre lake; fish from the pier; enjoy a picnic under the day use shelters; and stay at one of the three lodges or 15 cabins.

5. Staunton, Virginia / Natural Chimneys Regional Park

The town: Take a Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation driving tour of 11 significant Civil War sites, or embark on a guided walking tour for historic architecture and gardens. See the outdoor exhibits and catch a living history show at the Frontier Culture Museum, and tour the organic, sustainable Polyface Farm. Travel a few minutes north to stand amongst ancient underground geology at the country’s oldest “show” cave, Grand Caverns (open to the public since 1806).

The park: Read the rocks for a glimpse back in time—500 million years or so! These seven “chimneys” (65 to 120 feet tall) record early life from the inland sea, a volcanic eruption nearby and the continuous work of wind and water. Hiking and biking trails await, along with a bit of fishing, camping and birding. This location holds a unique distinction as the site of the oldest sporting event in North America—continuous jousting tournaments since 1821.

6. Bristol, Tennessee / Warriors’ Path State Park

The town: Start your culture tour at the 24,000-square-foot Birthplace of Country Music Museum to learn of this town’s contributions to a uniquely American style of music. Watch a movie at an authentic drive-in theatre; cheer the minor league baseball team to victory; and, of course, experience the roar and rumble at the legendary NASCAR Bristol Motor Speedway and Dragway.

The park: Plan a visit to the nation’s first boundless playground in a state park where ADA-accessible trails, a treehouse and amphitheater welcome all. Explore eight sensory stations along the Braille Trail; relax on the reservoir; choose a campsite from 94 available spots; or, play a round of golf at the popular 18-hole course set in the rolling countryside.

7. Radford, Virginia / Claytor Lake State Park

The town: Connect with the state’s southwest Artisan Network to support local artists, crafters and farms. Next, stop on points along the famed westward migration Wilderness Road including museums, interpretive villages, forts and a planetarium. Get the shivers during a ghost tour of the infamous St. Albans Sanatorium. Book a professional fishing expedition or canoeing/rafting trip on the New River during your stay.

The park: Come see the extensive accomplishments for oak, hickory and poplar forest restoration with a guided ranger tour that will also reveal abundant wildlife and human history stories. Sailing programs on the 21-mile-long lake are offered in summer. All six trails (totaling seven miles) are rated as “easy” for hiking; and for the runners, try the 5K cross-country trail.

8. Elizabethton, Tennessee / Sycamore Shoals State Park

The town: Stroll through the Doe River Covered Bridge, one of only 20 in the nation designated a National Historic Landmark and one of the few surviving in an urban setting. The 1882 bridge is a 154-foot single-span wooden Howe Truss. Tour the Carter Mansion (1775-1780), the state’s oldest frame house which has an amazing 90% of its authentic interior. About 30 miles south on Roan Mountain, walk amongst the world’s largest natural rhododendron gardens.

The park: Spend the day on the Watauga River and learn about events that shaped the course of the American Revolution. Hear about the victory of the Overmountain Men; see a reconstructed 18th Century fort; enjoy interpretive exhibits at the visitor center and museum; and walk the short loop trails (with a stop at the butterfly gardens) in this 70-acre park.

9. Winchester, Virginia / Sky Meadows State Park

The town: Stroll through Old Town for centuries-old buildings, historical landmarks, restaurants, shops and museums. Be sure to stop by the Handley Library – a stunning example of Beaux Arts with an “open book” design (the rotunda is the spine and the two wings appear to be a book’s cover!). Walk through the Mount Hebron Cemetery with its grave stones dating back to the 1760s. The George Washington Office Museum and Patsy Cline’s House are open for tours.

The park: For an architectural delight in a colonial farm setting, visit this 1,860-acre park at the northern edge of the Blue Ridge. The Mt. Bleak-Skye Farm National Register historic district has 23 buildings and opportunities to learn of colonial through modern life in the valleys and mountains. Access the Appalachian trail; hike the 22 miles of park trails; or ride the 10.5 miles of bridle trails.

10. Beckley, West Virginia / Little Beaver State Park

The town: To experience the history of coal mining and learn its impact on the area, take a guest ride in a ‘man car’ underground with a veteran miner at the Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine. Then visit the museum and restored Coal Camp buildings. An outdoor amphitheater at the edge of New River Gorge offers plays all summer; and shop for authentic Appalachian goods at the Tamarack art center.

The park: Hike throughout this 562-acre park situated around an 18-acre lake. With 17 different trails totaling 20 miles, you can challenge the steep rocky terrain on Billy Goat’s Gruff, Crooked Rock, Stone Trough, Topper’s Ridge and Turkey Spur. Or enjoy stands of virgin forest on Beaver Creek Trail, Hemlock, Easy Street and Weaver Way. See wildflowers and meadows along Rhododendron Run, Laurel Creek and Railroad Grade.

The story above first appeared in our July/August 2021 issue. For more like it subscribe today or log in with your active BRC+ Membership. Thank you for your support!