Apartments in Johnson City, Kingsport, Bristol,Tri-City, TN

On the northern side of State Street, Bristol, Virginia may share many attractions with its counterpart in Tennessee, but it has a great deal of its own to offer in the commonwealth.

Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Appalachia, the city of Bristol is a charming combination of town and country. Residents and visitors have the option of enjoying time in town or journeying only a short distance away to enjoy the scenic natural surroundings away from it all.

Spending time in the Blue Ridge Mountains is great way to shed stress and reconnect with nature. The area is a prime place for hiking, being located near various small hiking trails and close to a portion of the famous Appalachian Trail. The Lee Highway Campground in Bristol is located a short distance off Interstate 81. It is a cozy camping spot located far enough away from town for campers to relax and enjoy the mountains, but is also close enough to town to make it convenient. Bristol, Virginia is also home to Sugar Hollow Park , which is a vast 400 acre park complete with a list of outdoor recreational options. Sugar Hollow Park is home to many campgrounds, five soccer fields, three softball fields, six picnic shelters and even more picnic sites, and the Waldo Miles Pavillion and pool.

In the metropolitan part of Bristol, there are still plenty of scenic escapes located right in the city. Bristol is home to a number of parks scattered throughout the city, many with playgrounds and picnic areas. The Cumberland Square Park is home to a sculpture fountain memorial to American veterans. In the near future, two Vietnam era military planes will be added to the memorial, making the park not only a good place to enjoy the outdoors, but educational as well.

A great part of Bristol’s history is its importance in the popularization of country music, which began many years ago when country music was much closer to its Bluegrass and Old Time roots. The Crooked Road Trail is a 300 mile route through Appalachia with markers all along to pinpoint locations of historical importance or current musical venues where old time American music is still alive. Bristol, being the birthplace of country music, is an integral stop on the trail. Bluegrass, Country, Old Time, and Americana are regular staples of the local music scene and can be heard at a number of venues or even out in public performed by buskers. The Birthplace of Country Music Alliance Museum, an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, is located in Bristol right across the state line in Tennessee. Visitors of the museum can learn about the city’s deep roots in music and how it helped shape the path leading to contemporary country music.

Bristol’s Virginia side is a short drive away from the town of Abingdon, where there are even more attractions and fun activities. Like Bristol, Abingdon is a small historic town with a keen interest in the arts. Heartwood is a contemporary reflection of Virginia’s rural past, housed in a modern barn inspired building. It is an art gallery, restaurant, coffee and wine bar, and venue for musical performers. In downtown Abingdon, the Barter Theatre is a well renowned theater with a unique past. The Barter originally opened during the Great Depression and admittance was allowed with local farmers’ produce equaling the amount of forty cents, hence the name “Barter”. The theater still has a performance once each year in this style, allowing food in exchange for admission. Aside from its interesting beginnings, the theater is a well renowned playhouse, with a robust calendar of performances each season.

Whether you prefer to stroll around town and visit Bristol’s shops or get away from the bustle of everyday life, Bristol can be the perfect place for both. What’s not to love about this historic small town nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains? They say Virginia is for lovers after all.