A willing distraction: Day trip to Fancy Gap, VA
I often find myself scribbling yet another event in my planner (yes, I keep an honest-to-God day planner) that my already over-scheduled Type-A ass will never actually make it to. We are overstimulated in our work lives by too much “synergy” and not enough “bandwidth,” and personal lives by the ‘Gram, the ‘Book, and more.
Sometimes distractions are awesome and sometimes you just want to look out as far as you can see without the threat of being “looped-in” to another flipping meeting or call. Fancy Gap, VA, is the answer to your stressed-out prayers… obviously Iggy Azalea’s hometown and your starting point for a cruise around the Blue Ridge Parkway, which was recently named one of America’s best road trips.
Getting going
Knowing I needed a break, I took a vacation day and headed off toward sanity and fresh air. Less than two hours up I-77, the fanciest gap of them all is a little slice of largely undisturbed and undeveloped countryside nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Although you’re hurling yourself around a mountain in a tremendous metal box, as you casually curve around the mountains and drive through the clouds, there’s something dreamily relaxing about traveling the parkway. Close your eyes and picture it. That’s exactly what it looks like.
Exploring
There are plenty of parks and trails to explore, including The Old Appalachian Trail, Cumberland Knob, Doughton and Stone Mountain. I took this trip with my family and after some good-natured, Fetty Wap and Solento-fueled torture for my dad while driving the parkway, we decided to stretch our legs at Stone Mountain State Park.
There are a few hiking trails to choose from, but we kept it short and sweet on the Stone Mountain Loop Trail to the bottom of Stone Mountain Falls. Here we found kids splashing in the water rushing off of the rocks while two ladies chatted and cooled off in the cool, still water. It looked like mountain paradise.
Just be prepared for the 298-step climb back up the stairs next to the falls’ 200-foot drop. It’s a doozy.
Making a food plan
This is not a culinary destination, folks. I suggest the sandwiches-in-coolers route. Bonus points for having a picnic at one of the overlooks while you explore the Blue Ridge Parkway on your way home.
Gold star if you stop at Horton’s Produce on HWY 52. Get the homemade apple butter and some seriously fresh-picked apples, cucumbers and tomatoes to add to your picnic.
If you’re really jonesing for a mediocre casual dining experience, there are a few restaurants in the nearby town of Hillsville, VA.
Soaking it in
Fresh air and shoddy cell service are good for the soul. Charlotte is a great place to live because, not only does she have all you’ll ever need, but she also isn’t jealous when you take a short trip to visit our mountain neighbors and unwind.
All it takes is a day and some gas money.
Photos by Nicole Brantley.
This story was originally published August 20, 2015 at 11:00 PM with the headline "A willing distraction: Day trip to Fancy Gap, VA."