Let us introduce you to our travel mascot, Roadie. We aren’t 100% sure whether its male or female, a moose or a reindeer – but it doesn’t matter. It’s just Roadie. Roadie has the best seat and view in the car, right in front of our GPS (we refer to as Gloria). Roadie is excited for what should be the first of many road trip adventures with us.
This is the first day of our ten week cross country fall adventure in 2021!
The Drive from Round Hill, VA to Marion, VA
Round Hill VA to Marion VA
The day we left was the first Sunday for NFL season – and we enjoy watching multiples games in sports bars. Therefore, we want to reach Marion, VA by kick-off so we left the house just after sunrise. We still want to savor the magnificent scenery and the weather is beautiful.
There are only so many roads from your home that you can start an adventure south, and we’ve traveled this initial route many times. We finally do jump on I-81, then pull into Marion.
Farms and Scenic Driving on Rt 340
As far as we are concerned, it never gets old traveling south in Virginia on Rt 340. There is so much beauty with the mountains, farms and small towns.
Old School Road Attractions
We pass by familiar sites like Dinosaur Land in Winchester, VA as we drive south on Rt 340 and pass through Front Royal, Luray and Waynesboro, bypassing the crowded, fast-paced interstate I-81. This route offers scenic views of hills, mountains and farm after farm. We pass by a fairly new place in Luray, VA we haven’t been to yet (Cooter’s In The Valley – A Dukes of Hazzard museum that also has Daisy’s Dixie Diner) and make a note for a future trip. We even go by the Coors brewer that’s out in the middle of now where by the mountains. That’s right most the Coors your drink on the east coast is brewed just south of where we live in Virginia.
Marion History
In the late 18th century, the Virginia General Assembly ordered the opening of a new road, known as the Wilderness Road, over the Cumberland Mountains to Kentucky. In 1832, Smyth County was formed and an area selected for its county seat named Marion, in honor of General Francis Marion of Revolutionary War fame. Marion grew with the opening of the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad in 1849. Salt works, gristmills and iron works were the primary local industry. The rail system was destroyed during the Civil War but was rebuilt and the new railroad introduced an era of coal and freight transportation. The town thrived through both World Wars. With the construction of I-81 in the 1960s, Marion’s downtown started to decline. The Marion Historic District was listed in the National Register in 1992. Marion’s claim to fame today is something called “Song of the Mountains” that showcases the best talents in Bluegrass, Americana and Old-time music. It is an award winning public TV series that shows recordings of the monthly live concerts held at the Lincoln Theatre in Marion.
Lunch and NFL Football at Macadoo’s
It is too early to check into our hotel so we head straight to Macadoo’s. There are only 4 bar stools open and we grab 2 bar as another couple grabs the other 2. Annette and Bill were awesome locals to share the afternoon with. They are both recently retired from working at the Virginia Asylum for the criminally insane which is also in Marion. We traded some stories from our recent adventure to the Trans Allegany Museum in Weston West Virginia over Halloween. Macadoo’s is a small chain regional restaurant, but fits the bill with great sandwiches and inexpensive beer. It was built into the old post office building and had a lot of really cool things to look at.
The General Francis Marion Hotel
We head to our hotel after the first series of games are over. The General Francis Marion is beautifully restored. Our room is smaller than we are used to, but that’s part of the charm of these older hotels. Before Interstate 81 was built, this was a major stop going south on Route 11. It recently won an award for best restored historical hotel. We agree!
We settle into the room, then head out to Moon Dog, a pizza place Annette and Bill must have recommended at least 5 times during our afternoon conversation. Another excellent choice! We split a small pizza (they make the dough in-house), try a local craft brew, then head back to the room for the night.
Our Morning Walk in Marion
We get up bright and early the next morning, grab our complimentary breakfast at the hotel and head out for a walk. We walk through town about a mile to River Bend Park. We walk the park, then back. Marion has some interesting, well-marked historical places and items.
Verdict
Marion was a great little town with good infrastructure for traveler’s like us. We are definitely adding it to our list places for future stop overs
Next up
We are headed to Bryson City, North Carolina via the Blue Ridge Parkway in order to ride the Great Smokey Mountain Railroad.
Great start!
Love this now I will travel 340 to 81 next time I go to KY
Sounds like your trip is off to a great start. Be safe, and we look forward to your next post.
Sounds like a great start. Looking forward to more stories.