Thursday, September 30, 2010

Accessible Appalachia – Exploring Virginia’s Crooked Street

Situated in Southwest Virginia, the Crooked Highway is greater than just a driving route. This 200-mile heritage music trail winds through Appalachia and connects music venues and heritage websites that highlight the standard music of the area; the gospel, bluegrass and mountain music that’s been handed down for generations by native families. Alongside the way you may discover stage reveals, outdoor concert events, festivals, Appalachian crafts, galleries and some great surroundings; nonetheless it’s the locals who deliver the Crooked Street to life. Be it the banjo maker in Galax or the quilter in Floyd, they all have a narrative to tell. And part of the entire Crooked Highway expertise is simply taking the time to listen.

Technically the Crooked Street is not only one road, but a route composed of many state routes and local roads. The very best place to begin is the japanese terminus, Rocky Point; which is positioned 25 miles south of Roanoke. Simply take VA 40 west in direction of Ferrum and observe the Crooked Street signs. Not solely is that this the simplest entry point, but Ferrum makes a great first cease; because the Blue Ridge Institute and Museum presents a great overview on the regional heritage.

Positioned on the campus of Ferrum Faculty, the Blue Ridge Institute and Museum features indoor gallery area plus an outside heritage farm museum. The gallery space hosts exhibitions which highlight the folks and heritage of the region. There may be stage entry to the museum, barrier-free entry throughout the galleries and loads of accessible parking outside.

Throughout the street, take some time to look through the Farm Museum which has gravel and filth pathways, ramps up to the barns and a few steps up into the farmhouse. The pathways are doable for most people in dry weather and even though you possibly can’t access every show, you can nonetheless get an excellent really feel for what Virginia farm life was like again in 1800.

Traveling west on the Crooked Street, you’ll cross the Blue Ridge Parkway and enter Floyd County. Here is where a bit diversion is in order. Though it’s not on the official route, I highly suggest at the least a brief drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway, as it is very scenic. Both approach, a stop is Floyd is a must; and in case you are in search of overnight accommodations, look no further than the Oak Haven Lodge.

Opened in 2003, this 10-room rustic lodge options ramp entry to the front porch and workplace, with accessible parking available in a gravel parking space subsequent to the office. Room 1 is situated downstairs and has wide doorways, double beds, good pathway entry and a 5-foot turnaround in the bathroom. Access features in the bathroom embody a low-step bathe, a roll-underneath sink, seize bars in the shower and around the toilet and a portable shower chair. A commode chair can be available upon request. All this for a very reasonably priced $65 per night.

Persevering with west, you may pass by Galax and Abingdon earlier than coming to Bristol. Here you’ll discover the Birthplace of Nation Music Alliance Museum, which options reveals on the roots of country music and the musicians that helped form the genre. Entry is excellent all through the museum, with a level entrance and barrier-free entry to all the exhibits. Better of all, admission is free.

There’s plenty of dwell music available in Bristol too, with weekly live shows at the Birthplace of Country Music Mural on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday nights and a Thursday morning jam session on the Star Barbershop on State Street. All of these musical occasions are free and open to the public. And as far as entry goes, there may be good wheelchair-access to the seating area at the mural and level entry to the Star Barbershop.

Finally, no matter what you do in your Crooked Street journey, save time for a go to to the Carter Family Fold for a Saturday evening concert. Granted some advance planning is required to plan a Saturday evening stay near the Hiltons, however luckily it’s only about 20 minutes from Bristol.

Positioned on the AP and Sara Carter homestead, the Carter Household Fold is definitely a big theater; and consistent with tradition, solely acoustic devices are allowed and no alcohol is served. That said, every week there’s a totally different headliner, so no two exhibits are exactly alike. The power nevertheless, is ever present.

Accessible parking is situated near the theater with level access to the entrance. Accessible seating (with companion seating) is out there up font and it is the one reserved seating within the house. Certainly the front seats are the ones with an up-close have a look at all of the action, as a result of as soon as the music starts, the realm in front of the stage turns into a large dance floor. But again, that is all part of the show. All in all it is good spot to combine with the locals and a very good opportunity to enjoy a real slice of Crooked Street culture.

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