Damascus Road Experience
Passing through SWVa? There are other small towns farther west you might want to see. Damascus, written up in WaPo this week, was one of the places we considered when looking for a compatible spot to settle in our return to Virginia in the mid-nineties. It is situated IN the mountains, while Floyd is on a plateau with the view of mountains in the distance. Both the Appalachian Trail and the Virginia Creeper Trails pass right through town (as well as other trails described in the article.)
Damascus is about the same distance from I-81 as Floyd is, and it benefits from a similar can't-get-there-from-hereness as Floyd. If anything, from our visits there, it has stronger back-to-earth qualities than Floyd, with more of an emphasis on outdoor activities and nature, less on farming, crafts and music.
The Virginia Creeper rails-to-trails path from Whitetop to Abingdon is a real gem, and a suitable grade for bikers of all ages. There's still plenty of time to plan an outting in (or passing through) Damascus. And there's the Appalachian Trail Days every May--a grand event for through-hikers and passers-by alike.
Damascus is yet another example of the adage that sometime less can mean more.
Comments
Fred:
I love the area of Virginia you are describing ... in fact, the western "angled" part of Virginia in general .... the Valley ... the mountains .... all the way down to the boot toe bit that sticks its way under Kentucky.
Somewhat missing it now as I think about and look out on downtown Abu Dhabi.
Middle of next month I will be relocating 165 kilometers along the coast (via an eight-lane divided expressway) to Dubai. About as far in spirit from your area and Western Virginia as you can get. Just miles of high-rise construction being built along the edge of the desert. Including the start of the latest "tallest building in the world". Impressive in a way for sure .... but I am glad that I won't be living here for here on out!
Steve
Posted by: Steve | July 28, 2005 9:14 AM
You can rent a bike and get a ride to the top of Whitetop, where you start the 17 mile downhill ride into Damascus along the old Creeper railroad bed. Crossing dozens of bridges along a beautiful trout stream. Once in your life, you should do this!
Jack
Posted by: Jack Price | July 29, 2005 5:53 PM
I road the trail...the mostly downhill part. It was weeee wonderful. I've been muzzled on your Floyd Fest post...for questionable content...but there is none. I'll try again later.
Posted by: colleen | July 29, 2005 8:12 PM
My wife and I have spent time in both Damascus and Floyd, we love both places. We are in the process of buying a place near Damascus. Damascus seems to be a little wilder and to have a little more of an edge to it than Floyd. More like Floyd was 20 yrs ago before a lot of outsiders moved in. The land around Damascus seems a bit cheaper than Floyd but its going up fast.
Posted by: Jim in Fl | July 30, 2005 12:09 AM