Three Free Fall Activities

Posted on November 4, 2019 by Dorothy Stephenson

Traveling on a budget is sometimes hard, but Blue Grass Cabin guests can easily have a memorable and relaxing time in Highland County with these free-to-inexpensive activities:

BARN QUILT SELF-GUIDED TOUR: With over 50 barn quilts in Highland County, our mountain paradise is home to the first barn quilt tour in Virginia. “What’s a barn quilt?” you may ask. This unique piece of artistry, which decorates country barns, is a hand-painted square featuring a pattern similar to a quilt square. The first barn quilt trail began in 2001 with Donna Sue Groves of Adams County, Ohio. Today, Highland County is one of the thousands of communities nationwide that participates in this newer tourism and heritage trend. A majority of squares featured on the Highland County Barn Quilt Tour were created by local barn quilt artist Margie Boesch of Highland Barn Quilts while others were created by local residents. Take a look at this online brochure from HighlandCounty.org to see the variety of shapes and colors you can find along the trail. It can be a learning experience for kids or even a kind-of scavenger hunt for all ages!

SCENIC DRIVING SELF-GUIDED TOUR: Another Highland County self-guided tour includes a Scenic Driving option that points drivers through the beautiful Bullpasture, Cowpasture, and Blue Grass valleys. Explorers will also pass through Big Valley, Back Creek, and Doe Hill – all of which are little corners of Highland County that are even less-populated and showcase true country and remote living. Additionally, the McDowell Battlefield Drive holds something for history buffs as it highlights the Highland County Museum & Heritage Center, Sugar Tree Country Store, the historic and cannonball-hit McDowell Presbyterian Church, as well as Sitlington Hill and the McDowell Battlefield, itself. Click here to download the online brochure through HighlandCounty.org!

HIGHLAND COUNTY MUSEUM & HERITAGE CENTER: As mentioned above, this educational stop is part of the Scenic Driving tour; however its also a great stand-alone attraction. Enter the museum through the massive door of what is locally-known as the “Mansion House,” which was originally owned by George Washington Hull. Believed to be the first large brick home in the village, the house served as a hospital during the Battle of McDowell in 1862. Around the turn of the century, the Bradshaw family operated the Mansion House Hotel, which catered to those traversing the historic Staunton-Parkersburg Turnpike. Today, it houses the McDowell Battlefield Orientation Center as well as other exhibits that feature local history as well as civil war info. It is also home to the Highland Historical Society – a group of volunteers and one employee, who passionately document Highland County’s history. (The Center is closed from the end of October until the first weekend of the Maple Festival in March, but they are available at other times by appointment.)

BONUS TIP! If a getaway where you stay tucked away sounds ideal, Blue Grass Cabin is fully-equipped with a full kitchen and features a spacious back deck for warmer days as well as a cozy fireplace with a nearby comfy couch where you can curl up in a large blanket with a good book, your favorite movie, or settle in for a Netflix binge.