For hundreds of years, Virginia has been celebrated for her music. With much of our traditional music stemming from the mountains of the southwest, Virginia’s distinct vocal and instrumental styles are often called “old-time music” or “mountain music.” For many Virginians, this music is much more than just a way to pass the time; it’s an integral part of their traditions, culture, and identity.

“The Crooked Road” is a 333-mile scenic road trip through Virginia designed specifically to celebrate the music of our state – and those who make it. Winding through the mountains of Southwest Virginia, The Crooked Road covers 19 counties, four cities, and more than 50 towns and communities. Ready to hit the road and learn all about Virginia’s fascinating music history? We’re right with you! Check out the customizable Google Map and let’s get started:

Jimmy Emerson, DVM / flickr
1. Ralph Stanley Museum and Traditional Mountain Music Center, Clintwood
Ralph Stanley Museum and Traditional Mountain Music Center / Facebook
The music of Ralph Stanley has spanned generations. Today, the Ralph Stanley Museum and Traditional Mountain Music Center in Clintwood provides a closer look at the life of this legendary performer, songwriter, and musician. Stanley himself provided much of the material for the museum, including vintage instruments. The museum and music center is set in a large, historic Victorian home and includes exhibits and displays on both Ralph and Carter Stanley, as well as showcasing artists who they inspired, such as Ricky Skaggs and Patty Loveless.
2. Country Cabin II Appalachian Traditions Village, Norton
Country Cabin II / Facebook via Shirley Smith
The Country Cabin is hailed as the longest continuously running traditional music venue along The Crooked Road. The original cabin was built in 1937 through the inspiration of local singer and songwriter Kate O’Neil Peter Sturgill and today is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. "Country Cabin II" came about in 2002 when more space was needed to accommodate the crowds drawn to this performing arts haven. In addition to local bluegrass and old-time music performers most Saturday nights, the site hosts clogging and line-dance classes, as well the Dock Boggs Festival every September.
3. The Carter Family Fold, Hiltons
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr
Southern Foodways Alliance / flickr
At the foot of Clinch Mountain sits the Carter Family Fold. The Carter Family is known as "The First Family of Country Music," having been part of the original Bristol Sessions in 1927. Today, visitors can see the cabin where the famous Carter Family lived and made the music that has inspired generations. A museum, housed in A.P. Carter’s old general store, showcases the music and life of the Carter family. The adjacent 800-seat music venue offers live music performances on select Saturday nights. 
4. The Birthplace of Country Music Museum, Bristol
The Birthplace of Country Music Museum / Facebook
Bristol is known as the "Birthplace of Country Music" because of the famous 1927 recordings that took place on State Street, featuring legendary artists like Jimmie Rodgers and the Carter Family. The museum offers visitors an inside perspective on the sounds and history of Bristol's famous music scene. If you visit in September, be sure to catch the Rhythm and Roots Reunion, a three-day festival featuring more than 20 stages set up for concerts, jams, and musical demonstrations.
5. Southwest Virginia Cultural Center & Marketplace
Heartwood: Southwest Virginia's Artisan Gateway

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Heartwood: Southwest Virginia's Artisan Gateway
At the Southwest Virginia Cultural Center & Marketplace, you can shop for local juried crafts and instruments, hear old-time, bluegrass and gospel music, meet artisans and musicians, and enjoy local foods and fine dining. As one of the premier destinations on The Crooked Road, Heartwood offers some of the best traditional country, folk, and bluegrass music anywhere in the world. 
6. The Old Fiddler’s Convention and Rex Theater, Galax
Eli Christman / flickr 
Brent Moore / flickr
Galax has long been a haven for old-time music lovers. Since 1935, this small mountain town has hosted the Old Fiddler's Convention, one of the most prestigious competitions for traditional music in the world. Every year, the convention takes place at Felts Park during the second week of August. Thousands of musicians and music lovers convene from around the world to play and hear some of the finest fiddling and traditional music available anywhere.

Just down the road, the historic Rex Theater hosts a live Friday night radio program, highlighting the theater’s bluegrass and old-time stage performances. The show, called "Blue Ridge Backroads Live," can be found on WBRF 98.1FM or online where it is streamed to audiences around the world.
7. Blue Ridge Music Center, Galax
Blue Ridge Music Center / Facebook
Also located in Galax, The Blue Ridge Music Center offers year-round opportunities to learn about Virginia’s musical traditions. The center has played host to some of the finest old-time musicians in the world and from May through October, they host Mid-Day Mountain Music, a daily concert series featuring regional musicians. Be sure to visit The Roots of American Music Museum, a free museum showcasing the origins of traditional mountain music.
8. The Floyd Country Store & County Sales, Floyd
The Floyd Country Store / Facebook
Bruce Tuten / flickr
For more than 100 years, The Floyd Country Store has been a regional favorite with well-stocked shelves, a café, and barrels of candy set by the front door. But what draws hundreds of visitors every week is the Friday Night Jamboree, an ongoing concert series that features local heritage music and dancing. If you miss Friday night, be sure to come back for Americana music on Saturdays and traditional mountain music jams every Sunday. Just down the street, you’ll find County Records/Sales, a shop that is known for having the largest catalog of old-time and bluegrass music in the world.
9. Blue Ridge Institute and Farm Museum, Ferrum
Blue Ridge Institute and Museum / Facebook
Blue Ridge Institute and Museum / Facebook
The final stop on our scenic road trip through Virginia is a fascinating cultural institute that's considered the "State Center for Blue Ridge Folklore." With galleries and exhibits, the BRI examines the folk traditions that define the Blue Ridge culture, showcasing music, crafts, food, and arts. The accompanying Farm Museum provides a living history interpretation of life on a Virginia-German farm in 1800, complete with costumed guides, dramatic interpretations, heirloom gardens, historic livestock breeds, and interactive displays. Be sure to catch the Blue Ridge Folklife Festival in October where as many as 40,000 visitors come to see crafts, music, and events.

With so many more amazing affiliated venues and wayside exhibits, there’s no way to do The Crooked Road justice in a single article. For a complete list of venues and exhibits or to plan your trip with an interactive map, be sure to visit The Crooked Road online.

If you’ve already traveled The Crooked Road, we would love to hear about your experience. What did you think? Be sure to tell us about it in the comments below…and we’re pretty sure you’ll agree, this is a scenic road trip through Virginia that everyone should take at least once in their lifetime!

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More to Explore

Scenic Road Trip Through Virginia

Beth C. | July 06, 2020

What are Virginia's best road trips?

Virginia is a state that is best explored from the road. Whether you consider yourself to be a history buff, paranormal investigator, nature enthusiast, or waterfall chaser, there's bound to be a road trip to satisfy your adventurous soul. While The Crooked Road outlined in the article above highlights some of Virginia's most distinguished historical music venues, there are countless other trips that showcase our state's myriad attractions. For your first road trip in Virginia, you can't go wrong with our hidden gems road trip. Or, if you're a foodie at heart, you might consider embarking on this taco trail that will take you to some seriously delicious restaurants throughout the state.

What are the best little known attractions in Virginia?

Chances are you've explored Virginia's most popular destinations: Shenandoah National Park, Luray Caverns, the Blue Ridge Parkway, Great Falls Park, Historic Jamestowne, and more. However, it's arguably the little-known destinations that make Virginia the fascinating place that it is. If you're looking to explore the best little known attractions in Virginia, you might start by venturing to the Crozet Tunnel in Afton, Kiptopeke's Concrete Fleet in Cape Charles, Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, the Barboursville Ruins, Mout Rogers, the Emancipation Oak, or Patsy Cline's Childhood Home. Each of the above offers a unique perspective of Virginia's history and culture.

What are the most unique towns in Virginia?

While the bigger cities in Virginia are certainly worth visiting, it's the small towns that provide our state with such charm, beauty, and history. No matter which region of the state you travel to -- from the Eastern Shore to the mountains of western Virginia -- you're bound to find a small town that makes you feel right at home. Visitors and residents alike agree that some of the most unique towns in Virginia include Staunton, Abingdon, Chincoteague, Lynchburg, Damascus, Lexington, Onancock, Smithfield, Culpeper, and Charlottesville. For more on Virginia's small towns, check out this list we put together. You'll find that virtually all of Virginia's small towns are worth a visit, although no two places are exactly alike.

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Featured Addresses
Clintwood, VA 24228, USA
6034 Kent Junction Rd, Norton, VA 24273, USA
3449 A P Carter Hwy, Hiltons, VA 24258, USA
Birthplace Of Country Music Way, Bristol, VA 24201, USA
1 Heartwood Cir, Abingdon, VA 24210, USA
113 E Grayson St, Galax, VA 24333, USA
700 Foothills Rd, Galax, VA 24333, USA
Floyd Country Store, 206 S Locust St, Floyd, VA 24091, USA
20 Museum Dr, Ferrum, VA 24088, USA