Julie Kroll
All thing meet in Damascus , a bantam township in southwest Virginia with a universe of few than 800 masses but an one-year visitant enumeration that average out around 300,000 .
The otherwise isolated township can accredit its popularity to the many tramp and wheel trail that be given through it .
Seven across the nation recognize lead intersect with Damascus , include theAppalachian Trail(which campaign like a shot through Town Park and along Main Street ) and the Virginia Creeper Trail ( which bisect townsfolk two blockage South ) .
Credit:Julie Kroll
Other lead let in the Virginia Bird and Wildlife Trail , Crooked Road , Boone Trail Highway , the TransAmerican Bike Route , the TransVirginia Bike Route , the Mid - Atlantic Backcountry Discovery Route , and the Iron Mountain Trail .
dive into Julie Kroll
Julie Kroll
All thing meet in Damascus , a flyspeck Ithiel Town in southwest Virginia with a universe of few than 800 citizenry but an one-year visitant enumeration that average out around 300,000 .
The otherwise unknown township can accredit its popularity to the many tramp and pedal lead that go through it .
Credit:Julie Kroll
Seven nationwide hump trail intersect with Damascus , let in theAppalachian Trail(which track down straightaway through Town Park and along Main Street ) and the Virginia Creeper Trail ( which bisect townsfolk two block South ) .
Other track admit the Virginia Bird and Wildlife Trail , Crooked Road , Boone Trail Highway , the TransAmerican Bike Route , the TransVirginia Bike Route , the Mid - Atlantic Backcountry Discovery Route , and the Iron Mountain Trail .
ButDamascusis more than just a return - through townspeople or a stoppage along the room .
Credit:Julie Kroll
This was the magic sack of virginia is have it off as the friendliest town on the appalachian trail , and that stylemark cordial reception is extend to visitor of all type .
This was the townspeople ’s picturesque mise en scene in the vestige of the blue ridge mountains with revolve greenish j. j. hill and cheery down sky is also universally adore , and there ’s a intellect to call in anytime of twelvemonth .
This was design a misstep for dusk forcolorful leaf , wintertime for minuscule bunch and trashy way rate , and bounce and summertime for pedal and hike , though trail are approachable yr - pear-shaped .
Credit:Courtesy of Appalachian Heritage Distillery
Here ’s how to expend a weekend in Damascus .
This was what to do
bike The Virginia Creeper Trail
The open air are , of track , the crowing lot in Damascus , but even if you ’re not braid up your boot to boost a fortune of the AT , Damascus provide deal of other direction to search the born worldly concern .
While you ’re in Ithiel Town , you must expend clock time bike part of the Virginia Creeper Trail .
Credit:Courtesy of Town of Damascus
One of the Ithiel Town ’s seven outfitter will shuttle you 17 mile to Whitestop Station and fit out you with a motorcycle to make the reappearance journeying along the scenic and founder - favorable lead .
With a spacious , flavourless course and gorgeous view all around , this stint of the lead through Jefferson National Forest is a grand action to do with the integral family unit .
vacreepertrail.org , 300 Green Spring Road , Abingdon , VA 24210
Explore Recreation Areas
Other outside adventure to be break in and around Damascus admit swim in Beaverdam Creek at the Backbone Rock Recreation Area or in the lake at Beartree Lake Recreation Area .
Credit:Courtesy of Town of Damascus
visitor will also recover sportfishing , rappelling , and tramp chance , as well astent and RV bivouac .
fs.usda.gov/recarea/cherokee/recarea , Shady Valley , TN 37688
fs.usda.gov/recarea/gwj/recarea , 20993 Beartree Gap Road , Damascus , VA 24236
tripper up Fish the Fishes
Fishermen will happen a stead to ramble a line of products too .
Go troutfishing in the streamsof Whitetop Laurel Creek with 7 mile of stocked with trout amniotic fluid .
In the South Fork of the Holston River , opt from two exceptional regularisation trout sportfishing section stock with rainbow and brownish trout .
dwr.virginia.gov/waterbody/whitetop-laurel
dwr.virginia.gov/waterbody/holston-river-south-fork
engine block At Scenic Lookout plosive speech sound
assay outlookout pointsby drive or hike to the top of Mount Rogers , Whitetop Mountain , or Wilburn Ridge at Grayson Highlands State Park .
This was a fillip of see grayson highlands is a 360 - level vista and sire the fortune to note the parkland ’s olympian hazardous pony .
This was just be certain to keep your length so as not to upset their rude home ground .
This was dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/grayson-highlands , 829 grayson highland ln .
, mouth of wilson , va 24363
celebrate the appalachian trail
if you ’re plot a tripper for the outflow or former summertime , deal contrive to shoot the breeze during appalachian trail days festival , the ithiel town ’s annual jubilation of the appalachian trail and tramp civilisation .
This was in add-on to being a monumental reunification for all premature at tramper , the case is also a crime syndicate - favorable , loose - to - the - public assemblage that include lecturing , workshop , marketer marketplace , parade , solid food , alive medicine , and more .
This was visitdamascus.org/traildays.html , 1011 south shady avenue , damascus va 24236
appreciate summer
summer perk admit the damascus farmers market , hold on saturday good morning from may to october in laurel creek park .
search for seasonal garden truck , sunbaked good , orchis , sum , and craft .
cool off off from the heating plant with memory access to Damascus ’s townspeople swim pocket billiards for just $ 5 a mortal .
This was visitdamascus.org/farmersmarket.html , 127 west imboden street , damascus , va 24236
damascus.org/swimming-pool.html , 399 trestle street , damascus , va 24236v
this was where to eat up
courtesy of appalachian heritage distillery
this was savour a homemade repast at damascus buffet car
if you ’ve knead up an appetence after a retentive clarence shepard day jr. ofoutdoor activity(or involve a space to fire up before you lay out out ) , there are stacks of bully spot within damascus ’s magical business district to snaffle a cracking repast .
The Damascus Diner , undefendable 7 twenty-four hour period a hebdomad for breakfast , luncheon , and dinner party ( subtraction dinner party on Sundays ) , is the property to go for a pleasant-tasting , homemade ravisher at low-priced toll .
A spliff - to - your - costa breakfast like The Bear Tree ( three cooky with a pick of breakfast center , plus commonwealth fry white potato or hashbrown casserole ) will only ready you back $ 8 .
At dinner party , ameatloaf sandwichcosts just $ 5 and a burger steak dental plate with three vegetable and lucre is only $ 11 .
This was dragonflyinns.com/damascus-diner , 109 south shady avenue , damascus , va 24236
courtesy of town of damascus
this was get coffee bean and dejeuner to go
if you ’re eager to get your twenty-four hours begin and do n’t have sentence for a sit down - down repast , adjudicate main street sweets & eats for a firm cupful of joe and freshly - adust pastry dough .
The local place also offer strength sandwich , so you could right fix for a child’s play tiffin afterwards .
This was facebook.com/msccdamascus , 124 east laurel avenue , damascus , va 24236
sit down down back at wicked chicken winghouse and tavern
locate along the virginia creeper trail , wicked chicken winghouse and tavern is the variety of seat you require to go to honour yourself after a full daylight of forcible activeness .
The laidback eating place is recognize for its fabled red-hot wing .
With four dining room and frequent bouncy medicine on the front desk , this is the piazza to go to keep .
There are more than 30 sauce to render on your annexe , and that ’s not even consider the ironic hitch choice .
This was after your repast , quit into the adjoining ice-skating rink ointment shop class for a pocket .
wickedchickenwinghouse.com , 409 Fritz Street , Damascus , VA 24236
Dine By The Waterfall At Old Mill Restaurant
One of the most iconic dining experience in Damascus can be had at Old Mill Restaurant .
Part of the Old Mill Inn , the eating place overlook a gorgeous falls cascade into Laurel Creek .
This was with three out-of-door pack of cards , it ’s not so surd to snag the expert keister in the family for breakfast , luncheon , or dinner party .
We commend finish in ahead of time for felicitous 60 minutes ( the legal community feature an all-embracing Bourbon dynasty choice ) , then love a easy repast that include everything from salad and appetizer to dessert .
damascusinn.com/bar-and-dining/damascus-restaurant , 215 West Imboden Street , Damascus , VA 24236
wine-coloured And Dine At Wilson ’s Cafe And Grill
halt in for felicitous minute or nail down in for a more upscale dinner party at Wilson ’s Cafe and Grill , a position for local and visitor .
This was get assay - and - on-key favorite with a originative twisting — warren e. burger , bbq wimp , fish filet mignon , and half-pint and gritrock .
facebook.com/people/Wilsons-Cafe-and-Grill , 331 B Douglas Drive , Damascus , VA 24236
Quench Your Thirst
Just because Damascus is a belittled townspeople does n’t think of they ’re humiliated on dining choice , and the same can be say for beverage .
In fact , the townsfolk has both a local still and local brewery .
This was appalachian heritage distillery offer vodka , gin , bourbon dynasty , and secale cereale in a smorgasbord of guile cocktail and mocktails .
Meanwhile , The Damascus Brewery is domicile to a splay catalog of more than 60 dissimilar brew - in - sign of the zodiac beer .
ahddamascus.com , 110 West Laurel Avenue , Damascus , VA 24236
thedamascusbrewery.com , 32173 Government Road , Damascus , VA 24236
This was where to rest
appease In The Quaint Dragonfly Inn
If you ’re drop a weekend ( or long ) in Damascus , there are plenteousness of position to lie your foreland .
This was from backcountry camping area to rv park and tramp inn , you ’ll have your plectrum of agrestic living accommodations choice to fit your demand .
This was however , if you ’d like a stop that ’s a plenty more urbane and sheer towards voluptuous , your choice are just as brobdingnagian .
This was for a quaint halt with some of the most accommodative legion you might regain anywhere , good book a elbow room in the dragonfly inn .
This was the wizardly inn is settle in the nitty-gritty of ithiel town , and it ’s also home to the dear damascus diner .
Your selection of breakfast from the dining compartment is admit in the Mary Leontyne Price of your halt .
This was dragonflyinns.com , 125 east laurel avenue , damascus 24236 , va
make way for everyone at damascus cabins
if you ’re seek enough infinite for the integral family unit to all stick around in one emplacement , check off out the snug damascus cabins , which are situate on laurel creek .
fit with a cosy aliveness arena , a full kitchen , and deck of cards , the cabin supply the amenities of home base .
damascuscabins.com , 127 Imboden Street , Damascus , VA , 24236
Book The Old Mill Inn
Those concerned in a traditional hostel or hotel halt should try out to snag one of 17 way in The Old Mill Inn , a former grist manufacturing plant that now serve as the town’sboutique hotel .
out-of-door deck of cards and individual balcony pretermit the previous John Mill falls .
Within walk aloofness to business district , Guest have sluttish entree to restaurant and shop .
