Seniors Check Out Historic Abingdon, Virginia

Abingdon, with its brick sidewalks is a designated Virginia Historic Landmark. Senior travelers will find this historic town of around 9,000, 133 miles southwest of Roanoke.

Senior visitors can enjoy Abingdon’s festivals, concerts and special events. One of the best known is the Virginia Highlands Festival, which takes place each summer. The Abingdon Music Experience hosts performances and jams throughout the year.

In addition, The historic Barter Theatre is just one of the many reasons why Garden and Gun Magazine named Abingdon a Best Performing Arts Town. Barter Theatre alumni include Gregory Peck, Ernest Borgnine and Patricia Neal.

 Seniors Hike The Virginia Creeper Trail

Also in downtown Abingdon is the luxurious four-star Martha Washington Inn & Spa with 63 rooms and suites each of which feature their own unique character and personality.

 The Virginia Creeper Trail begins in Abingdon, offering seniors outstanding biking, hiking and horseback riding. The Virginia Creeper Trail was just inducted into the Rail-to-Trail Hall of Fame. This former railroad bed begins in Abingdon, and winds its way over 34 miles.

Located at the Virginia Creeper Trailhead on Green Springs Road, Abingdon’s Old Mollie Steam Engine is the same type of engine that pulled the Virginia Creeper Railroad for many years.

Historically, the settlement was known as Black’s Fort and in 1776 (remember that year?) the community of Black’s Fort was made the county seat of the newly formed Washington county. And two years later was incorporated as Abingdon.

Seniors Enjoy Historic Abingdon

The town is quite historic with the Abingdon Historic District and a number of buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places. When you stroll down Main Street Abingdon, you think about the Civil War soldiers involved in nearby battles who were treated by nurses on the grounds of what is now the elegant Martha Washington Hotel.

Abingdon, Virginia is a unique town lying in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia — rich in history, culture, outdoor recreation and old-fashioned hospitality.

The William King Museum of Art (WKMA) is the region’s premier visual arts facility. Visit the Abingdon Muster Grounds and you’ll be able to imagine citizen militia gathering to fight the British for American independence. At Fairview, a living history museum,  seniors can experience the story of the Hagy family, from their migration to America and Washington County, Virginia. In addition, there is the Abingdon Vineyard and Winery.

The Tavern Restaurant is in Abingdon’s oldest building from 1779. If that does not do it, grab a locally made craft beer and see more art plus live music at Wolf Hills Brewing Co. located in Abingdon’s Old Ice House.

I’d want my dinner at Bonefire Smokehouse, located inside the historic 1914 Withers Hardware building that includes a choice of barbecue smoked on-site and a choice of southern side-dishes.

So there it is…enjoy historic Abingdon  -jeb