Visit Abingdon, VA
In honor of National Travel and Tourism week, who knew what was a thing, I am sharing some of our favorite places in our current home, Abingdon, VA.
Abingdon is a small town founded in 1778, located in the Blue Ridge mountains of Southwest Virginia, with a population of just over 8,000. It’s hard to believe that a town this size can pack so much culture into just about 3.5 square miles.
If a small town in the mountains is on your list of places to visit, Abingdon would be a great place to check out.
Up and At ‘Em
A good day starts with breakfast, brunch, or at the very least coffee.
I love the Biscuit & Gravy or Farm Food Biscuit with a Golden Milk Latte. They are also open for lunch and have a great burger. Breakfast/Lunch served until 4 PM each day.
My go to order here is the Hip to Be Square or the Bluegrass Biscuit and a latte
Pal’s is a fast food drive thru, but trust me. Get the cheddar rounds. Get a large. Get one for each person. No sharing. It’s basically a deep fried hash brown casserole bite type of situation. It’s so crunchy and cheesy and potato-y. It’s perfect. Their biscuits are also good, but they don’t have eggs, so it’s kind of weird. We usually just get cheddar rounds and bounce.
Get Outside
Abingdon is a particularly beautiful place to be outside. Weather you just want to walk around town, check out the trails, or take a boat out on the water, it’s here.
The Virginia Creeper Trail is a 34.3 mile rail to trail that begins in Abingdon and runs through Southwest Virginia and Northwest North Carolina. The Creeper Trail is the perfect place for a stunning ride and there are several bike shops with bike rentals and shuttles to drop you off and pick you up from the trail head.
Just a block off Main Street, between Plumb Alley and Valley Street is a public meditation labyrinth. It also happens to be next to a house with one of the most gorgeous yards full of plants and flowers that attract birds, butterflies, and bees. It’s a lovely place to take a quiet break.
The Abingdon Farmers Market is open on Saturday mornings year round and Tuesday evenings April - September. You can buy fresh, local produce, juices, baked goods, flowers, handmade wares, etc. It’s a great place to walk around, people watch, and grab a few things to snack on, a souvenir, or some flowers to brighten up your space, even if you’re staying in a hotel, AirBnB, or RV.
Get Caffeinated
I love coffee. This is where I get my caffeine in town.
This is where I go multiple times a week to drink coffee and write. My go to beverage order is a large iced or hot latte, but they have a great beverage menu including other coffees, teas and hot chocolate. Plus, if you bring your own mug you get 50¢ off.
Not just a breakfast and lunch spot, The Girl and The Raven has great coffee and a drive thru. You can order ahead for pick up or just pop in the drive thru line for a cup of joy to go.
Let’s Eat (again)
Great places for unch and/or a casual dinner.
This is hands down one of my favorite places for lunch or a casual dinner. I love the chicken souvlaki platter with rice or the chicken souvlaki pita with fries. They have coke products, which is very important to me and my love of coke. Christopher loves the salmon souvlaki. The greek salad is huge and comes with a scoop of potato salad on top. The servers are all so nice and you have the option to eat inside or outside on their Main Street patio, or get it to go from the drive thru.
Luke’s is another great option for lunch or a casual dinner. Get the french onion soup, just do it. My other favorites are the chicken tender basket, because I’m as basic as they come, and the hot club sandwich. They also have coke, yay!
Bella’s is a weekly staple for us. If we aren’t sharing a pizza, I usually order either a turkey or club sub, or a calzone. Their baked chicken wings are also good. This is one of the only Italian places in town that uses fresh, not canned, mushrooms and I love mushrooms so this is important information in my opinion. Plus, they also have coke.
OK so this is technically in Bristol, BUT it’s so cute and barely outside of town that I had to include it. Ladybug is only open for lunch and cupcakes on weekdays. Their primary offerings include salads and sandwiches, the club is my favorite, but a real fan favorite is the homemade chicken casserole special on Friday. Plus, the cupcakes are half price on Friday.
Get Some Culture
Abingdon is full of art. Theater art, studio art, live music, and beautiful green spaces.
Barter Theater opened in 1933 and was designated the State Theater of Virginia in 1946. This historic theater produces at least a dozen shows a year, plus special events, and kids programming, including sensory friendly performances. The space is cozy and comfortable, and the performances are top notch.
WKMA has a permanent collection of art focused on the European settlement of the SW Virginia area that includes textiles, furniture, pottery, and more. They also play host to several visiting exhibits each year, two that we enjoyed were Head Over Heels and Tangible: Where Art and Technology Converge. If you are thinking of visiting, check out their Current Exhibits page. In addition to the exhibits indoors, there is also a sculpture garden as part of the grounds surrounding the museum building.
Southwest Virginia Cultural Center and Marketplace
At the SWVA Cultural Center you can find information about the region and peruse handcrafted art and wares for sale by local artists.
Wolf Den Games has an excellent selection of board games, table top games, card games, and live action role playing game accessories. You can pop in to shop and chat with the friendly staff, or reserve a spot for an upcoming game night.
Date Night or Fancy Dinner
Abingdon has an impressive fine dining scene. We’ve only been to two of the fancy places in town, but they are outstanding.
The Tavern, established in 1779, is the oldest bar in Virginia and the 8th oldest bar in the nation. With several intimate dining areas and an outdoor patio, the Tavern is the perfect setting for a date night or special occasion dinner. The menu is filled with delightful foods, drinks, and desserts, and the staff is incredible. My recommendations are stuffed mushrooms and the brie cheese to start, Springer Mountain chicken and risotto or New Zealand full rack of lamb as a main, and if you get a salad get the garlic parmesan dressing, it’s so good. And of course creme brulee for dessert. Sunday brunch is offered seasonally, I love the creme french toast
Rain has a great menu with regular fresh seafood specials. Their signature butternut squash soup is a knock out with just a hint of spice and crunch from the chopped spicy nuts on top. Their filet is great, and they used to do a weekly Prime Rib night and we would literally try and plan our trips to visit my parents around them, but they haven’t done it in a long time and I miss it terribly. We’ve never had dessert there, but I’m sure it’s worth a try if you have room.
Treat Yo Self
Vacation days should end with a treat.
If your sweet tooth is actin’ up, this is the joint to get something sweet. They have homemade ice cream, mini cheesecakes, brownies, bars, cookies, and fancy pastries.
This is a brand new place in town, opened last week I think. We haven’t been yet, but it looks amazing and I cannot wait to try it.
Again, I know this isn’t technically in town, but who doesn’t love a simple cupcake. The cupcakes are baked fresh, normal size, and well priced. They have a rotating menu of flavors each week, including seasonal offerings. And don’t forget, cupcakes are half price on Fridays!
Bottoms Up
Want to enjoy a glass of beer, wine, or a craft cocktail? These are the spots.
Wolf Hills is a local brewery with live music or trivia most nights they are open. They have inside seating as well as a ton of outdoor seating and both indoor and outdoor stage areas. They also occasionally host food trucks. Open Wednesday - Sunday.
Nestled along the South Fork of the Holston River, Abingdon Vineyards is a picturesque setting to enjoy a wine flight and pet the vineyard dogs. They have snacks available daily, and host food trucks and live music on Saturdays.
Tumbling Creek Cider Company uses Virginia apples and presses, and ferments their products locally. They currently have a taphouse inside The Spring House, which also houses Wolf Hills Coffee and soon to open, The Book Cellar used bookstore.
Rain, The Tavern, and White Birch Food & Juice all have full bars as well.
Be Extra
Want to relax a little bit with a manicure & pedicure? My favorite places in town are Dragonfly Spa and Ombre Nail Bar.
I hope this list is helpful in planning your time in Abingdon, VA. Keep in mind we are still relatively new in town and haven’t yet visited every business, restaurant, or cultural event. These are just some of our personal favorites so far.
If you try something on or off the list, leave us a comment and let us know how it was!
Happy Traveling.