The deep Civil War history of the Dan River region

Battles fought during the Civil War forever transformed the places where they occurred. Whether a sprawling, epic battle involving tens of thousands of troops or a small-scale skirmish with just a few dozen, the Virginia and North Carolina landscape is filled with reminders of the conflict that nearly tore the nation apart. Today, those historic… Read the full article…

Insider’s tips for Martinsville’s NASCAR weekend

Racing fans from around the country will descend on Martinsville next weekend as NASCAR’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and Camping World Truck Series arrive with races holding major implications for the championships of both. The Monster Energy Series heads to the first race of the Round of 8 in the NASCAR Playoffs, while the… Read the full article…

Farming and folklife in the foothills

The Dan River Basin is rich with folk heritage. At the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains on the western side of the region, the Blue Ridge Institute & Museum was created by the adjoining Ferrum College in 1973 to celebrate that heritage. Today, the institute is a major venue on the Crooked Road, Virginia’s… Read the full article…

Rip-roaring rock climbing in Hanging Rock State Park

Stretching from the Blue Ridge Mountains of eastern Appalachia through the Piedmont, the Dan River Basin flows with foothills and rocky outcrops that make for plenty of bouldering opportunities—as well as world-class rock climbing in Hanging Rock State Park. Moore’s Wall Probably the more famous of the two primary climbing locations in Hanging Rock is… Read the full article…

Explore the haunted side of the Dan River region

Ghost tales abound in the Dan River Basin, and the landscape holds untold secrets. As the days grow shorter, our thoughts often turn to the eerier side of life—and death. And for a lot of people, the chill from a fright is a pleasure to be savored. If you thrill to a good scare, or… Read the full article…

An expert’s eye view of the Smith River

The Smith River flows from the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, through Henry County, Virginia, and down into North Carolina, where it empties into the Dan River at Eden. The annual Smith River Fest is a truly a celebration of all things associated with the Smith River, including running, biking and paddling. The 2018… Read the full article…

Wineries of the Dan River Basin

The Dan River lazily winds its way back and forth along the North Carolina/Virginia state line, and wineries have sprung up in the foothills and mountains that make up its watershed. The Dan River communities have a rich history with makers of alcoholic beverages. Brewers were a common part of colonial days, and the moonshine… Read the full article…

Find your weird this weekend

The communities along the Dan River in North Carolina and Virginia are home to great outdoor recreation, delicious food, and wonderful shopping. But if you’re looking for something a little more unusual, we’ve got that covered too. From the pages of “Weird Virginia” and the Roadside America website, we compiled a few suggestions for a… Read the full article…

7 romantic weekend getaways for every kind of couple

When two people get the chance to travel along to a special place, love often flourishes. With its mild weather and enchanting atmosphere, the Dan River region of North Carolina and Virginia is the perfect place for romance to bloom. Here are seven suggestions for destinations to make your heart flutter, along with recommendations on… Read the full article…

Biking the Basin: 6 mountain biking destinations

The Dan River Basin is thick with mountain bike trails, with opportunities for beginners and hardcore riders both. Whether it’s technical singletrack in the shadow of the Blue Ridge Mountains or a lazy dirt road ride in the woods along one of the many waterways that flow into the Dan, you find find your flow… Read the full article…

Explore 25 miles of waterway on the Philpott Lake Blueway

Paddlers now can experience Virginia’s eastern Blue Ridge Mountains through a new blueway trail that covers parts of Franklin, Henry, and Patrick counties. Announced the same year as Philpott Lake’s 65th anniversary, the Philpott Lake Blueway Water Trail became official on Saturday, May 6, but it connects water trails that local boaters have been running… Read the full article…

Children get their day on Saturday in Danville

Every year on Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, children around the world ask, ‘When is children’s day?” Answers vary according to the wit and mood of parents, but in the communities along the Dan River, the answer should be, “The day before Father’s Day!” On Saturday, June 16, the Danville Children’s Festival will celebrate “A… Read the full article…

37 years of beach music in the Blue Ridge

Surf, sand, and Stuart—it’s the 2018 Beach Music Festival at Wayside Park in Patrick County, Virginia. OK, so maybe it’s not ocean surf, but whitewater on the waterways of the eastern Blue Ridge Mountains. Sand is trucked in, and there’s something about the beautiful backdrop of Virginia’s Blue Ridge that makes it the perfect location… Read the full article…

The Piedmont Pottery Festival continues a 1,000-year-old tradition

The Dan River Basin has been associated with pottery since well before European settlers arrived. Distinctive pottery has been found along both the North Carolina and Virginia sides of the state line that dates back to A.D. 1000 – 1450, when a significant population of Eastern Siouan (Eastern Blackfoot Indians) Native Americans lived in the… Read the full article…

Watch movies under the stars at the Eden Drive-In

The Eden Drive-In dates its opening back to 1949, but that doesn’t mean it’s a relic of the past. The drive-in updated to digital projectors in 2014, making its picture and sound—broadcast locally on an FM station—cleaner and crisper than ever. The drive-in also has invested into turning its showings into full-blown events. The first… Read the full article…

Explore Piedmont North Carolina’s rich literary heritage

A wealth of writers sprang up south of the North Carolina/Virginia line in the Dan River Basin, emerging among tobacco fields and textile mills. In her book “Literary Trails of the North Carolina Piedmont,” from which much of this article was drawn, Georgann Eubanks guides readers through the haunts of many of the state’s most… Read the full article…

6 fun things to do on a rainy day

Traveling with children is tough. Figuring out what to do when you’ve scheduled a trip during a rainy week can leave even in the steeliest parents pulling their hair out. Fortunately, the Dan River Basin is loaded with options to keep children happy and parents sane during extended periods of rainy weather. In North Carolina… Read the full article…

7 must-visit parks along the Dan River

Summer is many people’s favorite season, with good reason. And the North Carolina and Virginia counties along the Dan River are renowned for their four-season climate. They’re home to six state parks and a national parkway, all of which provide ample opportunities to play amid the region’s beautiful summer. Hanging Rock State Park (NC) Do… Read the full article…

Racing tour of the Dan River Basin

Stock-car racing may have been created in the hills of the Blue Ridge, but it came of age in the Dan River Basin. Bootleggers looking to boost moonshine out of the hollers often drove suped-up cars to outrun law enforcement during Prohibition, and it wasn’t long before they started racing each other to see who… Read the full article…