As you plan your travels for 2024, consider taking a break from the hustle and bustle of big cities. Sometimes choosing a small town leads to unique travel experiences and surprising discoveries. From the unlikely home of a First Lady to a southern gem where polo reigns to the birthplace of a music genre, these charming small towns have plenty of big stories waiting to be discovered.
Wytheville, Virginia
Driving through Virginia on Interstate 81, it’s easy to exit at Wytheville and pick up a quick bite to eat, fill up the car, and get back on the highway. But venture beyond the standard road trip stops into the heart of Wytheville and you’ll discover a small town with plenty of big stories.
Driving along Main Street, it’s impossible to miss the giant yellow pencil protruding from the Wytheville Office Supply Store. A quirky roadside attraction, the pencil provides a not so subtle hint at what’s inside. Across the street, Skeeter’s World-Famous Dogs has served “skeeter dogs” since 1925. It’s a tasty Wytheville tradition you’ll want to sample.
Discover the Stories of Wytheville
Above Skeeter’s sits the birthplace of the 35th First Lady of the United States. The Edith Bolling Wilson Birthplace Museum shares the story of the second wife of President Woodrow Wilson. The humble beginnings of the First Lady from Appalachia are equally captivating and inspiring. The museum is one of only eight historic sites in the country dedicated to the interpretation of a First Lady.
Nearby, the Thomas J. Boyd Museum shares the story of a summer without children when the polio epidemic in 1950 mysteriously hit Wytheville more than any other location.
Performing Arts in Wytheville
Wytheville also boasts an enticing theatre and music scene. One of the crown jewels in town is the family-owned and operated Wohlfahrt Haus Dinner Theatre. Themed for the Sutphin family’s German heritage, this state-of-the-art venue hosts concerts, musicals, plays, and other special events throughout the year.
On Main Street, the historic Millwald Theatre has been an integral part of the Wytheville community since 1928. Originally a place for Vaudeville and silent movies, the Millwald Theatre also served as the social center of the community. After an extensive renovation, the Millwald reopened as a center for cultural arts. The theatre hosts a wide variety of performers and events each year in the heart of Wytheville.
Log House 1776 – More Than a Restaurant
While there are plenty of delicious restaurants to try in Wytheville, none deliver the eclectic experience of Log House 1776. Housed in a log house just like the name suggests, the Log House 1776 serves up delicious fare with a side of history. While the main courses comprised of steak, seafood and tempting chicken entrees are fabulous, the corn nuggets with honey on the appetizer menu and a side of stuffed squash were my favorites. But Log House 1776 is much more than food. History lives within the walls and roaming from room to room, the discoveries are unending. Be sure to add this Wytheville treasure to your travel plans.
Where to Stay
In 1912, the William Trinkle family moved into what is now known as the Trinkle Mansion. This stately yet unpretentious home now serves as a Bed & Breakfast on Main Street in Wytheville. Innkeepers Patti and Bernie Pizinger restored the inn to its original grandeur and now welcome guests with luxurious linens, thoughtful touches and a delicious homemade breakfast. I can’t imagine a better place to spend the night after exploring the charming town of Wytheville! www.trinklemansion.com
Aiken, South Carolina
Driving into downtown Aiken along South Boundary Road, enormous live oak trees form a shady canopy. It’s your first hint that this is no ordinary small town. In the late 19th century, Aiken was known as a winter colony for wealthy northerners. These winter residents built sprawling cottages and brought the sport of polo to this South Carolina town.
The polo tradition continues today, and you’ll find those aristocratic cottages in the horse district where street signs feature horses, and the sand-covered streets go easy on the horse hoofs. Be sure to snap a photo at the corner of Whiskey Road and Easy Street – an unbeatable intersection! Learn about local equestrian superstars at the Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame nearby.
Stories and Treasures of Aiken
Discover another intriguing layer of Aiken’s history at the Savannah River Site Museum located downtown. The brainchild of Walt Joseph, who worked at the site for 39 years, the museum shares the stories of sacrifice and resilience demonstrated by the more than 6,000 residents who gave up their homes to make way for the Savannah River Site. Other museum exhibits reveal the role Aiken played in producing materials used in the fabrication of the nuclear weapons that helped the U.S. win the Cold War with Russia.
In the center of town, you’ll find Hitchcock Woods – the largest privately owned urban forest in the country. Hitchcock Woods harbors 2,100 acres of long-leaf pine forest and offers 70 miles of trails. If you’re up for a hike, consider the moderate 3.3-mile Devil’s Backbone Loop which follows a wide trail of sand aptly named Sand River. You’ll likely encounter riders on horseback along the way. Be sure to yield to riders because horses always have the right of way here.
Shopping in Aiken
For shopping enthusiasts, Aiken delivers a bounty of eclectic options to explore. While women scout for fashionable finds at quaint shops like White Rose Eclectics, Fox & Lady and Caroline’s Boutique, gentlemen up their style game at an Aiken classic, Lionel Smith, Ltd. and children get into the act at Pitter Patter. Trot into Equine Divine to peruse a one-of-a-kind selection of horse-themed riches. Or peruse through charming antique shops to renew old treasures.
Where to Stay:
In 1900, Frederick Willcox opened the grand Willcox Hotel. In an era when wealthy Northerners flocked to Aiken to escape the cold and enjoy leisurely pursuits, The Willcox quickly became the social hub of the community. Over a century later it remains an elegant living room where locals and out-of-towners gather to enjoy a cocktail and reminisce about their day. A place of superb personal service, comfortable luxurious accommodations and exceptional cuisine, The Willcox continues to serve as an intriguing piece of history in the Aiken community. www.thewillcox.com
Clarksdale, Mississippi
Widely known as “Ground Zero” for blues aficionados from around the world, Clarksdale, Mississippi is unlike any other small town in America. Here you’ll find tumbledown shacks, juke joints and friendly residents eager to share their stories.
Dive right into the experience at Ground Zero Blues Club – a place for finger lickin’ and toe-tapping. On the menu, fried green tomatoes, Mississippi Delta catfish, and peach cobbler compete for your tastebuds’ attention. On the stage, the soulful sounds of the blues permeate the air. Next door, the Delta Blues Museum shares the stories of blues legends like Muddy Waters, B. B. King and more. More soulful sounds of the blues await in local juke joints around town including Bad Apple Blues where artist Sean Apple will no doubt be decked out in a flashy suit and hat as he shares his music and the story of his road to the blues.
The music theme continues as you browse the local shops. At the one-of-a-kind Deak’s Mississippi Saxophones and Blues Emporium you can order a custom-made harmonica and possibly catch a one-man-band show by Deak himself. Nearby, the mom-and-pop shop Bluestown Music showcases guitars and amps. Named for southern biscuits the size of a cat’s head, the eclectic Cat Head shop features folk art, records, and a host of unique souvenirs.
Beyond the Blues
Blues isn’t the only claim to fame in this fascinating town. One of America’s most prolific playwrights, Tom “Tennessee” Williams grew up here. Best known for favorites like A Streetcar Named Desire and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Williams drew his inspiration for the famous characters from his Clarksdale neighbors. Delve into his stories at the Tennessee Williams Rectory Museum housed in the former rectory of St. George’s Episcopal Church, once occupied by Williams and his family.
Where to Stay
Immerse yourself in living history with a stay at the Shack Up Inn where restored sharecropper shacks serve as cabins. On the grounds, an original cotton gin converted into today’s bar and lobby provides a venue for live music and an unbelievable collection of pretty much anything you can imagine! www.shackupinn.com