Neighborhood Guide

The Claypool Hill shopping area is right next door, with a supermarket, pharmacy, fast food restaurants and gas stations. For long stays, it is easy to stock the refrigerator and handle practical needs without driving far. Italian Village, a long established local restaurant, offers a sit down dinner for those tired of fast food.

The Clinch River, which flows through Cedar Bluff and Richlands, is one of the most biologically diverse rivers in North America, known for its freshwater mussels and fish species. Anglers find smallmouth bass and other fish, and canoeing and kayaking are possible on calmer stretches. The Clinch River Trading Post, a local outfitter about a mile and a half away, can advise on access points and conditions.

The Historic Crab Orchard Museum and Pioneer Park, near Tazewell town around fifteen miles east, tells the story of the region from prehistoric times through Native American life, pioneer settlement and the coal era. Reconstructed log cabins and farm buildings show how early families lived in these mountains. It is one of the best small museums in southwestern Virginia and deserves a morning.

Burke's Garden, about thirty miles east, is a high bowl shaped valley surrounded by mountains, often called God's Thumbprint. Its Amish farms, quiet roads and wide views make it a favourite for scenic drives and cycling. The narrow mountain road leading in is steep and winding, and not suitable for large trailers.

For history of the coal industry, the Pocahontas Exhibition Coal Mine and Museum in the town of Pocahontas, around thirty miles away, allows visitors to walk into a real mine that operated for decades. The town itself, a former company town, preserves buildings from the coal boom. Opening days are seasonal, so checking in advance is necessary.

The Spearhead Trails, spread over several counties of southwestern Virginia, offer hundreds of miles of ATV, dirt bike and off road trails through mountain forests and former mining land. Trailheads in Tazewell County are within a short drive. Permits are required, and riders should follow trail rules strictly.