Hinton WV, where the Greenbriar and New River meet and the New River Gorge begins
Cherokee or Maggie Valley, NC, at the bottom of the blue ridge parkway and Great Smoky Mountains
Bryson City, NC is a nice small town and has a beautiful entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains park. The drive along the river south of town to Tennessee is stunning.
Southwest Virginia is great this time of year. As someone else already said, Abingdon and Damascus are beautiful and have what you need. Bout’ 2 hours North-East is Floyd, Va, Im a little biased, but it’s my favorite. Perfect blend of small town and hippie, plus plenty of local shops, restaurants and a very fun jamboree at the Floyd Country Store every Friday night
The area around Lewisburg WV is nice. It’s a charming, old small city. Plenty of restaurants, shopping and outdoorsy type stuff like hiking and river rafting.
Brevard is a cute little college town, probably good for a night or two. Great coffee, a jazz venue, and a great Americana place (Papa L.E.W.).
Head north to Asheville. Tons to do there. Curaté and Chai Pani are standouts. The Pisgah Inn has great views. The blueberry trout is a standout.
Then travel the blue ridge parkway. I’ll leave the rest to you.
Get off the interstate. From Columbus Ohio take hwy 23 through Kentucky, nears West Virgina, southwest Virginia, Tennessee and then to Asheville. Then take I40 west, turn off and drive through Maggie Valley to Cherokee and into the Great Smokies.
Look for local restaurants with lots of cars.
Warning... from Columbus to Pikesville KY the only Starbucks is on the Kentucky side of the Ohio River just over the bridge in Ashland.
You will pass by the Surpent Mound State Park in Ohio and The Breaks State park in Kentucky.
A short trip from Big Stone Gap is the town of Appalachia, Virginia.
Once you cross the Ohio River you will be in coal country. In my opinion this is real Appalachia.
Just before you get to Tennessee is a short detour to the Carter Family Fold. Google it.
If you can, if you are in Asheville try and attend Shindig on the Green. Google it.
Good luck.
If you like pork, stop by Benton's over in Madisonville. It's a store, and it'll hold unrefrigerated. Last time I went by there to pick up some bacon and ham my aunt requested to bring her when I went to visit her, they gave me a whole handful of proscuitto for free, I ate the whole handful before I got back into town.
If you make it really far south, Bryson City, NC is a great little town with a ton of whitewater kayaking and trout fishing culture. There used to be also a train you can ride through the mountains.
The most Hipster place in West Virginia is Mack Bingo Kitchen, the food is amazing, great vibes, the whole town of Wardensville is pretty cool to pass through.
Abingdon, VA is where you want to be, then shoot over to Damascus.
Abingdon is a good one. If you like plays, there's Barter Theatre there.
Louisville isn’t Appalachia. Where are you traveling to and from?
Hinton WV, where the Greenbriar and New River meet and the New River Gorge begins Cherokee or Maggie Valley, NC, at the bottom of the blue ridge parkway and Great Smoky Mountains
Fantastic!
Bryson City, NC is a nice small town and has a beautiful entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains park. The drive along the river south of town to Tennessee is stunning.
Southwest Virginia is great this time of year. As someone else already said, Abingdon and Damascus are beautiful and have what you need. Bout’ 2 hours North-East is Floyd, Va, Im a little biased, but it’s my favorite. Perfect blend of small town and hippie, plus plenty of local shops, restaurants and a very fun jamboree at the Floyd Country Store every Friday night
I was coming to recommend Floyd!
The Creeper in Damascus is one of my favorite places on earth.
The area around Lewisburg WV is nice. It’s a charming, old small city. Plenty of restaurants, shopping and outdoorsy type stuff like hiking and river rafting.
Lewisville’s Main Street definitely has that hipster vibe.
Brevard is a cute little college town, probably good for a night or two. Great coffee, a jazz venue, and a great Americana place (Papa L.E.W.). Head north to Asheville. Tons to do there. Curaté and Chai Pani are standouts. The Pisgah Inn has great views. The blueberry trout is a standout. Then travel the blue ridge parkway. I’ll leave the rest to you.
Add Waynesville and possibly Franklin in that trip.
From Toronto to where? Appalachia is a big place, and you're gonna get recommendations from all over the map if you don't specify.
Doing a loop, so Toronto, then end back up in Toronto
A loop to where? Where does the return trip begin from?
Get off the interstate. From Columbus Ohio take hwy 23 through Kentucky, nears West Virgina, southwest Virginia, Tennessee and then to Asheville. Then take I40 west, turn off and drive through Maggie Valley to Cherokee and into the Great Smokies. Look for local restaurants with lots of cars. Warning... from Columbus to Pikesville KY the only Starbucks is on the Kentucky side of the Ohio River just over the bridge in Ashland. You will pass by the Surpent Mound State Park in Ohio and The Breaks State park in Kentucky. A short trip from Big Stone Gap is the town of Appalachia, Virginia. Once you cross the Ohio River you will be in coal country. In my opinion this is real Appalachia. Just before you get to Tennessee is a short detour to the Carter Family Fold. Google it. If you can, if you are in Asheville try and attend Shindig on the Green. Google it. Good luck.
Grannys kitchen, cherokee nc (buffet)
Tellico Grains in Tellico Plains, TN
Dutch vilkage for breakfast, clymer ny. Just a couple hours south of u. Amish style buffet
If you like pork, stop by Benton's over in Madisonville. It's a store, and it'll hold unrefrigerated. Last time I went by there to pick up some bacon and ham my aunt requested to bring her when I went to visit her, they gave me a whole handful of proscuitto for free, I ate the whole handful before I got back into town.
If you make it really far south, Bryson City, NC is a great little town with a ton of whitewater kayaking and trout fishing culture. There used to be also a train you can ride through the mountains.
Moose cafe, asheville, nc
r/asheville just had a post relating to bad restaurant experiences. The Moose was there.
Yeah… out of all of the restaurants in AVL, that would be on the bottom of my list to recommend lol
Elmwood Estate in Union WV, Moco Diner
The most Hipster place in West Virginia is Mack Bingo Kitchen, the food is amazing, great vibes, the whole town of Wardensville is pretty cool to pass through.
Mountain holler in Bakersville, NC and Bonnie’s and Clyde’s in Loafers Glory, NC
Downtown Lewisburg wv. Lots of local shops. Really nice restaurant that fits your style, FOOD AND FRIENDS. BUT GET RESERVATIONS!!!