The area is rich in mountain culture, unpretentious and relaxed lifestyles. Small towns are scattered throughout Southwestern Virginia, many with art galleries, unique shops, antique malls, country stores, craft’s for sale and mountain music.
The Great Outdoors
There are numerous state parks and federal natural areas where hiking, horseback riding, biking or camping is open for public use. The largest of these is Jefferson National Forest containing 1.8 million acres of National Park Lands with 139,461 acres of wilderness. The Jefferson National Forest is located in the Southern Appalachian Mountains, with 703,000 of these acres located in Virginia and the remainder in West Virginia and Kentucky.
Mount Rogers is the highest natural point in Virginia with an elevation of 5,729 feet above sea level. Stately overlooking Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, Mount Rogers is the entrance to the famed Appalachian Trail which travels 166 miles through Southwestern Virginia.
Appalachia Music
This area is the home of Bluegrass music. Here you will find traditional mountain music, string bands, Appalachia ballad singers, and dance. Throughout the area there are music festivals in any town you want to visit, whether it is a large outdoor Bluegrass festivals or a small group making music in a local country store. The people of this area enjoy their heritage and keep it alive through mountain music, song and dance.
Virginia Farm Land
Farms in the area have been in families for many generations. Throughout the generations, the large farms became mini-farms as divisions between families members occurred.
In early 1970, llamas became a great addition to this region, mostly as a hobby but those that owned llamas soon realized the sale of fiber and breeding could become a family business. Llama’s lifespan can vary from fifteen to twenty-five years. Llamas can be bred to come in many different colors and various shades.
The alpaca was later introduced to the area and is known for its fiber production. Virginia is perfect for the breeding of alpacas and it doesn’t take a large tract of land for farming these animals. The alpaca is a gentle animal and can be a loving pet for children. The idea diet is lush green grass and hay. The breeding of alpacas can also be a very profitable business.
The fertile gentle rolling pasture land yields top beef cattle as dairy farming has been the main farm product for many years. Virginia has the perfect climate for raising and breeding show horses; for years Virginia has been well known for horse lovers. Horse farms are scattered throughout the hill and lowlands of the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. These farms have rodeos, horse shows, thoroughbred and steeplechase racing, and polo matches. These events are very much a part of life for those who own Virginia horse farms.
Four Distinct Seasons
The area offers four distinct seasons and each season will provide the magic of nature’s treasures. From the beginning of spring, nature will bring the first explosion of colorful wildflowers lasting through the lush green, lazy summer days. As the cool foggy mornings of late summer turn the green leaves of summer into reds and gold, we know the winter season will soon return. As the snowflakes begin to cover the mountain peaks and valleys, an unusual quietness surrounds the area. Winter in Southwestern Virginia is a beautiful time of the year.
Retire to Southwestern Virginia
Only in recent years, people have discovered this area as a great place to retire. The area offers so much for those who enjoy a more relaxed lifestyle and presently, real estate is less expensive in Southwestern Virginia than other areas of Virginia and neighboring states.
If you are looking for a place where life is as it should be, and where the people will welcome newcomers with a handshake and a smile.
Take a look at our inventory of Virginia farms for sale. If we don’t have what you are looking for, we can find it for you.
In Southwestern Virginia nature’s order never changes, and perhaps that is good.
