Accessible Appalachia Exploring Virginia s Crooked Road

L ocated in Southwest              miles south of Roanoke. Just take  Virginia, the Crooked Road      VA 40 west towards Ferrum and      is more than just a driving     follow the Crooked Road signs.     route. This 200-mile heritage         Not only is this the easiest       music trail winds through             access point, but Ferrum makes a   Appalachia and connects music         great first stop; as the Blue      venues and heritage sites that        Ridge Institute and Museum offers  highlight the traditional music       a good overview on the regional    of the region; the gospel,            heritage.                          bluegrass and mountain music                                             that's been passed down for           Located on the campus of Ferrum    generations by local families.        College, the Blue Ridge Institute  Along the way you'll find stage       and Museum features indoor         shows, outdoor concerts,              gallery space plus an outdoor      festivals, Appalachian crafts,        heritage farm museum. The gallery  galleries and some great scenery;     space hosts exhibitions which      however it's the locals who bring     highlight the people and heritage  the Crooked Road to life. Be it       of the region. There is level      the banjo maker in Galax or the       access to the museum,              quilter in Floyd, they all have a     barrier-free access throughout     story to tell. And part of the        the galleries and plenty of        whole Crooked Road experience is      accessible parking outside.        simply taking the time to listen.                                                                              Across the street, take some time  Technically the Crooked Road          to look through the Farm Museum    isn't just one road, but a route      which has gravel and dirt          composed of many state routes and     pathways, ramps up to the barns    local roads. The best starting        and a few steps up into the        point is the eastern terminus,        farmhouse. The pathways are        Rocky Point; which is located 25      doable for most people in dry      weather and even though you can't     the bathroom include a low-step    access every display, you can         shower, a roll-under sink, grab    still get a good feel for what        bars in the shower and around the  Virginia farm life was like back      toilet and a portable shower       in 1800.                              chair. A commode chair is also                                           available upon request. All this   Traveling west on the Crooked         for a very affordable $65 per      Road, you'll cross the Blue Ridge     night.                             Parkway and enter Floyd County.                                          Here's where a little diversion       Continuing west, you'll pass       is in order. Although it's not on     through Galax and Abingdon before  the official route, I highly          coming to Bristol. Here you'll     recommend at least a short drive      find the Birthplace of Country     on the Blue Ridge Parkway, as         Music Alliance Museum, which       it's very scenic. Either way, a       features exhibits on the roots of  stop is Floyd is a must; and if       country music and the musicians    you are looking for overnight         that helped shape the genre.       accommodations, look no further       Access is excellent throughout     than the Oak Haven Lodge.             the museum, with a level entrance                                        and barrier-free access to all     Opened in 2003, this 10-room          the exhibits. Best of all,         rustic lodge features ramp access     admission is free.                 to the front porch and office,                                           with accessible parking available     There's plenty of live music to    in a gravel parking area next to      be had in Bristol too, with        the office. Room 1 is located         weekly concerts at the Birthplace  downstairs and has wide doorways,     of Country Music Mural on Monday,  two double beds, good pathway         Tuesday and Thursday nights and a  access and a 5-foot turnaround in     Thursday morning jam session at    the bathroom. Access features in      the Star Barbershop on State       Street. All of these musical          and no alcohol is served. That     events are free and open to the       said, each week there's a          public. And as far as access          different headliner, so no two     goes, there is good                   shows are exactly alike. The       wheelchair-access to the seating      energy however, is ever present.   area at the mural and level                                              access to the Star Barbershop.        Accessible parking is located                                            near the theater with level        Finally, no matter what you do on     access to the entrance.            your Crooked Road adventure, save     Accessible seating (with           time for a visit to the Carter        companion seating) is available    Family Fold for a Saturday night      up font and it's the only          concert. Granted some advance         reserved seating in the house.     planning is required to plan a        Indeed the front seats are the     Saturday night stay near the          ones with an up-close look at all  Hiltons, but fortunately it's         the action, because once the       only about 20 minutes from            music starts, the area in front    Bristol.                              of the stage turns into a massive                                        dance floor. But again, that's     Located on the AP and Sara Carter     all part of the show. All in all   homestead, the Carter Family Fold     it's great place to mix with the   is actually a large theater; and      locals and an excellent            in keeping with tradition, only       opportunity to enjoy a real slice  acoustic instruments are allowed      of Crooked Road culture.           About the Author: Candy Harrington covers accessible travel and is the author of 101 Accessible Vacations; Travel Ideas for Wheelers and Slow Walkers. Visit Accessible Vacations, or her blog, Barrier Free Travels. Published At: www.Isnare.com