We’re all limiting our social interactions due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, but the Dan River region has opportunities to pursue outdoor adventures individually or in twosies and threesies. We’ve gathered some of our favorite destinations and activities here to provide a safe but effective cure for cabin fever. Y’all stay safe out there. And… Read the full article…
Birding hotspots of the Dan River region
Braided with rivers and streams that run through mountains and foothills, the Dan River region makes for excellent birding. Birding trails and sites can be found on both the North Carolina and Virginia sides of the state line. The region’s varied geography makes for great birding and wildlife watching. Come visit us and catch the… Read the full article…
Eden’s outdoor recreation + a creek hike at DRBA’s annual meeting
Learn about current and future outdoor recreation in Eden. Rub shoulders with others who care about the Dan River State Crossings region. And take a relaxing two-mile hike alongside a peaceful creek. You can do all of these things at the annual meeting of the Dan River Basin Association (DRBA) on Saturday, March 7, at… Read the full article…
Three awesome country roads cutting through the Dan River region
Who doesn’t love cruising a beautiful country road in the Piedmont and foothills of the Blue Ridge? Waterways define the Dan River State Crossings, natch, but most people find cars to be the easiest way to explore it. We’ve charted out three roads that slice through welcoming towns, gorgeous countryside views and fun places to… Read the full article…
Wonderful waterfalls of the Dan River region
Waterfalls have mesmerized us for millennia. Even today, amid a fast-paced world driven by smartphones and social media, a waterfall can freeze us in time, causing us to pause and appreciate the simple beauty of water falling onto rocks. Visit the Dan River region to find variety of waterfalls. Find a moment of peace and… Read the full article…
The Dan River region’s best places to say, “I love you”
With Valentine’s Day this week and love in the air, look no farther than the Dan River region to find romantic places to say “I love you” to your favorite person. From the Blue Ridge Mountains, through the rolling Piedmont hills, to the lakes and rivers in the bottomlands, come enjoy what the Dan River… Read the full article…
10 restaurants for enjoying a romantic meal in the Dan River region
The Dan River region holds endless possibilities for romance. But after hiking, paddling, biking and gazing across scenic vistas, there’s really nothing like enjoying a romantic restaurant. The Dan River Basin offers many great dining options. These aren’t the only restaurants for romance, but they do offer a great combination of atmosphere and cuisine. Whether… Read the full article…
Follow the Great Wagon Road through the State Crossings
The Dan River State Crossings region played an important role in the settlement of the early American frontier as home to a crucial section of the Great Wagon Road. History of the Great Wagon Road Tens of thousands of immigrants used the road in the late 1700s and 1800s. They arrived in the United States… Read the full article…
5 Dan River destinations for people who love cars, trains, and things that go
Kids sure do love cars, trucks, and things that go. And by “kids,” we mean everyone from toddlers who love to see fire trucks to senior citizens who fiddle with antique tractors. The Dan River region has plenty of opportunities to embrace your inner gearhead. Check out some of our favorites. Tank Museum, Virginia Danville’s… Read the full article…
7 outdoor winter adventures in the Dan River State Crossings
We love winter here in the Dan River State Crossings. The air feels crisp and invigorating, and you can smell adventure in the air. You can find plenty of ways to follow that impulse and play outside in the Dan River Basin, even during the winter months. We’ve picked out seven great outdoor adventures to… Read the full article…
The joys of winter fishing in the Dan River State Crossings
Temperatures have dropped and icy weather has arrived, but grab your rod and tackle box because winter is a great time to go fishing in the Dan River Basin. You can find fishable streams, rivers, and lakes all throughout the Dan River region. And the action on the water never stops, even during the winter…. Read the full article…
10 ways to ring in the New Year in the Dan River State Crossings
Celebrate the new year in style in the Dan River region. Local events offer a host of ways to celebrate, from a traditional midnight champagne toast to an adventurous plunge into the chilly waters at Hanging Rock State Park on New Year’s Day 2019. We’ve gathered a list of celebrations taking place on December 31… Read the full article…
Find sweet treats in the Dan River region this holiday season
Holiday lights, parades, evergreens—they’re all great. But let’s be honest—the most delicious part of the winter season is the yummy pies, cakes, cookies and other sweet treats from bakeries and kitchens across the Dan River region. Looking for scrumptious baked cookies, cakes and pies this season? Try a few of these spots, organized by locality…. Read the full article…
Celebrate the holidays in the Dan River region
It’s the holiday season, and the Dan River region is celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah, Yuletide, Kwanzaa and New Year’s Day. The communities of the Dan River Basin are a wonderful place to celebrate the holidays, with parades, tree lightings, and more coming up in the next few weeks. Here’s a partial listing by date. ANNUAL WESTLAKE… Read the full article…
25 different ways to explore the Dan River region
Thanksgiving marks a time for food, gratitude and family. And if you live in or are visiting southern Virginia or Piedmont North Carolina, it also makes a great opportunity to check out what Dan River region has to offer. The North Carolina and Virginia communities along the Dan River offer countless destinations for every kind… Read the full article…
Best weekend ever in Martinsville and Henry County
There’s so much to do in Martinsville and Henry County, Virginia, that you can build separate weekends around auto racing, family fun and inspiring Instagram locations. Or for the ultimate weekend, jam all three themes together in a mishmash spree through Southside. For more ideas of things to do and places to visit in Martinsville… Read the full article…
Explore the weird (road)side of the State Crossings region
The communities along the Dan River in North Carolina and Virginia are home to thrilling outdoor recreation, delicious food and great shopping. But if you’re looking for something a little more unusual along the roadside, we’ve got that covered too. From the pages of “Weird Virginia” and the Roadside America website, we compiled a few… Read the full article…
Find your rhythm in the State Crossings region’s rich music heritage
Music echoes through the mountains and foothills of the Dan River State Crossings. Melodies and rhythm have run through the region for centuries, leaving a rich legacy. Inspired in part by Fred Fussell’s 2003 book, “Blue Ridge Music Trails: Finding a Place in the Circle,” we decided to make a list of some of the… Read the full article…
Fishing the Dan River, from brookies to striped bass
Flowing down from the mountains into the foothills of southern Virginia and Piedmont North Carolina, the Dan River’s offers a wide variety of fishing for beginning and experienced anglers alike. No matter the season, the Dan makes for a tremendous fishing experience. In the river’s upper reaches, high in the eastern slopes of the Blue… Read the full article…
Enjoy epic racing at Martinsville Speedway
NASCAR returns to Martinsville Speedway this weekend, so this marks a good time to recall the epic races that the historic track has hosted over more than seven decades. The track opened in 1947, and two years later hosted the sixth race in the racing series that eventually became the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup. The… Read the full article…
Lakes of the Dan River State Crossings region
If you like lakes, you’ll find a lot to love about the Dan River State Crossings region. While Southern Virginia and Piedmont North Carolina are defined largely by the Dan and Smith rivers, they’re also home to awesome lakes. You can find great fishing, swimming, boating and more in a variety of settings at lakes… Read the full article…
Spooky spectacles of the Dan River region
October has arrived, and with it the season of spiders and spooky things. Ghost tales abound in the Dan River Basin, and its landscape holds untold secrets. This time of year, the nights grow longer. And our thoughts often turn to the eerier side of life—and death. For a lot of people, the chill from… Read the full article…
Life is great on U.S. 58
You can get your kicks on Route 66, but in Virginia, you’ll find that life is great on U.S. 58. The road, Virginia’s longest, at 508 miles, runs just north of the commonwealth’s southern border, connecting Virginia Beach to the Cumberland Gap. In between, U.S. 58 runs through Halifax County, Pittsylvania County, Henry County and… Read the full article…
Come find fall foliage in the Dan River region
People love fall, and with good reason. The crisp air invigorates the blood. And the landscape pops with explosive red, yellow, and orange as trees prepare to shed their leaves for winter. Autumn presents the perfect chance to visit the Dan River region along the North Carolina/Virginia border. Because the region stretches east from the… Read the full article…
10 fun fall festivals in the Dan River region
Crackling colors, temperatures that find the right balance between chilly nights and mild days, and perfect-length days come together to make autumn many people’s favorite time of the year. Here in the Dan River Basin, we know how to celebrate fall. Find yourself in the region and we’ll find you a fall festival. Here are… Read the full article…
A one-of-a-kind look at the lower Dan River
If you’ve never floated the Dan River, take advantage of a free guided float this Saturday, Sept. 7. The Dan River Basin Association is leading a paddle along 6.5 miles of the Dan River. The float begins at 10 a.m. at the boat landing in Milton, North Carolina, and concludes at Leggett’s Bottom, a public… Read the full article…
The history & heritage of the Dan River region’s tobacco barns
The counties of the Dan River State Crossings grew up as tobacco powerhouses. That legacy has largely faded but is still visible in the region’s beautiful tobacco barns. Farmers used the barns to cure tobacco, mostly with flues—furnaces about two feet across and three feet high that burnt wood to produce heat and generate smoke…. Read the full article…
Paddle the blueways of the Dan River State Crossings
The Dan River crosses the North Carolina-Virginia border as it meanders over its 214-mile length. The Dan and the rivers that flow into it provide awesome opportunities for paddling. The Smith River and Philpott Lake blueways both serve as great entry-level experiences. Philpott Lake Blueway Water Trail Paddlers looking for a way to experience Virginia’s… Read the full article…
Plan a packed weekend in Patrick County, where the Blue Ridge meets the Piedmont
Whether soaring vistas, historic sites, water adventure or sheer relaxation, Patrick County has it all. Located where the Blue Ridge Mountains meet Virginia’s Piedmont, Patrick County contains all the elements for a perfect weekend getaway. Here’s our recipe for a jam-packed weekend trip to Patrick County. For a more leisurely pace, stretch this out to… Read the full article…
Ag-tourism and 60+ more ways to get yr farm on in the Dan River region
The communities that make up the Dan River Basin were long renowned for ability to grow world-class tobacco, so it’s not surprise you can find delicious, farm-fresh food here, too. Whether attending a festival or planning a weekend of agricultural tourism, the Piedmont North Carolina and Southside Virginia communities of the Dan River Basin offer… Read the full article…