Sweet notes of mountain music still ring out in the Blue Ridge Highlands of Virginia, where heritage and tradition are held close. The natural notes of birdsong echo from soaring peaks at Mount Rogers National Recreation Area accompanied by the soft symphony of a mountain stream.

Traditions are valued and preserved in Virginia' s Blue Ridge Highlands. Everyday life and culture of the area is on display at Blue Ridge Institute & Museum. Ancestral music is celebrated with annual events such as the Old Fiddlers' Convention in Galax and the Rhythm and Roots Reunion in Bristol, the birthplace of country music. Mountain music is preserved for future generations at Blue Ridge Music Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Take time out to enjoy swimming or paddleboating at Hungry Mother State Park or visit Mabry Mill, one of the most photographed sites on the parkway. As the parkway winds its way through these rugged hills, discover the State Theater of Virginia in the Commonwealth' s oldest town, Abingdon. Enjoy fine dining, art galleries, museums plus the excitement of NASCAR racing
near the parkway.