PULASKI, Va. – 10 News is continuing In Your Town – this week, in the New River Valley.
The New River Valley has something for everyone, especially if you love the outdoors.
Pulaski County is filled with picturesque views from mountaintops, and one spot that locals and tourists can enjoy is the Draper’s Valley overlook. One side of the overlook overlooks Draper, and the other overlooks the Town of Pulaski.
“If you show up here in the morning you can catch the sun – really beautiful,” Nathan Repass with the Town of Pulaski said. “And off of the overlooks here are a variety of hiking and mountain biking trails.”
Repass is a fan of hiking himself and said that Draper Mountain has a 9.5-mile trail system for people to hike, bike, and even bring their pets along with them.
And while you’re enjoying the outdoors, you can stop by Draper Mountain’s amphitheater.
Those that love to bike, but need a bit of extra practice before hitting the mountain trails will be in luck – this fall, a bike park is set to open off of Route 99.
“The new mountain bike park will have a lot of rolling features, wooden features, technical features so that people can go out there and develop the skills they need to come out here on a mountain bike and succeed,” Repass said.
If you’re in the mood for some different outdoor fun, look no further than Sinkland Farms.
Sinkland Farms has been operating for over 31 years and is currently gearing up for their Pumpkin Festival, which opened on Sept. 22, and will run Thursdays through Sundays until Oct. 30.
Susan Sink, the owner of Sinkland Farms, said that the farm is a spot where anyone can visit and learn more about life on a farm.
“We are known as a premier venue in Southwest Virginia,” Sink said. “I think the best way to describe Sinkland Farms is ‘agri-tourism.’”
Adventures in the NRV don’t stop there, though.
If you’ve heard of Dirty Dancing, you’ll know the significance of Mountain Lake Lodge, which can be found in Giles County.
Heidi Stone, the CEO of Mountain Lake Lodge, said the film has helped to boost tourism in the area.
While the Mountain Lake Lodge is widely known for its part in Dirty Dancing, Stone said there are plenty of outdoor activities to enjoy, too, including 22 miles of trails.
If you want to learn more about what the NRV has to offer, you can head to the Visit NRV website.