Small wooden piece of public art tucked into some untamed weeds and bushes next to a gas station in…read moresmall town Castlewood Virginia. My buddy and I was on a small road trip and we both always enjoy finding public art and adding and reviewing to Yelp so we noticed this and stopped. Overall solid and cool little piece. Be nice if they took care of the shrubbery around it so it is more visible.

Welcome Home to the Pound is a massive and well down expressway mural located in Pound Virginia…read more My buddy and I was on a few day road trip when we passed this massive mural and had to stop to take it in. I may have let my adventurous side take over too much as I climbed up the side for a photo op. Overall a very cool mural and a fun memory for our small road trip through the area.

My buddy and I stopped in here and took some photos. It's on the side of the expressway. We had to…read morepull over and get in the grass and go take some photos and get creative.

Have you ever experienced that kinda eerie, but very delightful feeling that comes of unexpectedly…read morefinding a something relevant to your personal special interests in a seemingly unlikely place? The first time I caught sight of this fountain, located in the plaza between the Barter Theatre and Barter Stage II, I thought: cool--it's a hulking, partying depiction of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream in fountain form. Moving in for a closer look, I began to get that feeling like something was off about the sculpture, but in a good way. The figures depicted, the way their forms are rendered, seemed uncannily familiar. Then I got the memo: "designed and sculpted by Charles Vess and David Spence". I'm not sure who David Spence is [hastily googles his name, confims he's a sculptor], but if you're into Fantasy and comics/graphic novels the name Charles Vess might ring a bell. He is an artist famous for illustrating many works, perhaps most notably Neil Gaiman's Stardust a few issues of The Sandman, Sandman #19 ("A Midsummer Night's Dream") being particularly relevant to my revelation. Standing up close to this giant fountain was almost like finding myself within a footstep's distance of Vess' illustrations and Morpheus' world of Dreams. In a word, this monolithic piece of art, done up in bronze and water like a vision of high Summer for all seasons, is, as I've already stated, cool. Very cool. Do be sure to take a moment to let the enchantment set in whether you're in between acts or just waltzing by.

The "Where the Mountains Begin" mural in downtown Wilkesboro was completed in 2015 by artist Wes…read moreGregory and local students. It celebrates Wilkes County's heritage, featuring Stone Mountain, W. Kerr Scott Reservoir, and a portrait of folk legend Doc Watson, the legendary blind guitarist and folk musician who helped launch MerleFest at Wilkes Community College. The mural's title reflects Wilkesboro's role as a gateway to the Blue Ridge Mountains. The mural is part of the Appalachian Mural Trail and remains a vibrant civic landmark. It honors local pride, artistic collaboration, and the region's musical and natural legacy - all in one striking visual narrative. It was the final major work of Wes Gregory who passed that year.

Red's cafe mural is a downtown Sevierville, Tennessee mural on the side of some commercial…read morebusinesses down the street from the court house and the famed Dolly Parton statue. I'm not sure the history of Red's cafe or even if it was a legit cafe. The mural paints a picture of a 50's/60's sofa fountain car hopper type establishment that you know probably serves burgers and coke floats. Overall the artist from the Smokey mountain mural company does a nice job. Gatlinburg and the surrounding cities like Sevierville have this nostalgic all American feel to them so this mural goes hand in hand with that vibe.

Dolly Rebecca Parton Jan 19, 1946 - August 25, 2026…read more Country music icon. Philanthropist. Beautiful soul. She will be missed. The Dolly Parton Statue at 125 Court Ave in Sevierville is a must-stop -- right in front of the Sevier County Courthouse and easy to find with street parking. The bronze of a young, barefoot Dolly with her guitar in hand is beautifully kept and such a perfect tribute to our hometown hero. More than just a great photo op, it really represents everything Dolly has given back to East Tennessee through her music, Dollywood, and the Imagination Library. A beautiful, heartfelt memorial to a living legend who changed this area forever. Worth the detour if you're near Dollywood or downtown Sevierville.

There a no shortage of love for Dolly Parton in Sevierville. They even have erected a bronze statue…read moreof Dolly on the Courthouse lawn. And with good reason. Dolly has invested a lot of money in Sevier County with several theme parks. Dolly was born not too far from Sevierville, in Pittman Center. I'm a big Dolly fan and have listened to her music for decades. I love the reading programs for kids that she has championed throughout the country. The bronze statue by Gatlinburg artist, Jim Gray, depicts a young Dolly holding her guitar with her big smile and curly hair sitting on a rock. The statue was dedicated in 1989. Dolly looks casual and approachable. There is limited free parking around the Courthouse.

The Blowing Rock Art & History Museum is located in downtown Blowing Rock and offers free…read moreadmission, along with a convenient free public parking deck and garage. The museum officially opened its doors in 2011, but the community planning started much earlier, following a generous donation of artwork from the family of celebrated local artist Elliott Daingerfield. The building utilizes a beautiful mountain-modern design explicitly crafted to blend into the natural landscape of Watauga County. It is an impressive 21,000 square feet, but it feels like it fits into downtown. It had an inviting feel the minute I walked in. The front desk staff was exceptionally friendly, asking if it was my first time visiting before suggesting I start with the introductory video, guiding me through the main artwork galleries, and directing me to the local history exhibits upstairs. There is a large elevator to access the second level if you would prefer not to take the stairs. It features a unique built-in wooden bench. I had never seen a bench inside an elevator before, but I thought it was an absolute genius accessibility feature. The introductory video was very informative, providing a fantastic background on Blowing Rock's heritage. The downstairs gallery spaces are beautifully organized, making it easy to walk naturally from one piece to the next. I was absolutely delighted to tour the temporary exhibition "Silver & Smoke: George Masa & Ansel Adams." As a lifelong fan of Ansel Adams, getting to see an exhibit of his legendary work for free was a massive highlight. I had no idea he photographed so extensively in Western North Carolina. Ansel Adams was awarded a fellowship by the Guggenheim Foundation in 1947 to photograph all the national parks and monuments in America. So he traveled east to photograph the lush, ancient forests of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the winding roads of the Blue Ridge Parkway. The downstairs gallery space has a great layout. Immediately after the video, your eyes will be drawn to a delicate flower installation that is suspended from the ceiling. I was also drawn to a powerful wall of historical photographs showcasing early local residents and vintage landscapes of the town. Another fascinating contemporary exhibit featured a collection of artistic photographs of tree stumps. It is a wonderful reminder that you never know what a creative mind can transform into art that you will truly appreciate. If you choose to take the stairs to the second level, the Open Door Gallery utilizes the towering vertical space beautifully with eye-catching art running all the way up the stairwell wall, making the walk feel like a continuous gallery experience. Upstairs was a textile exhibit showcasing the deep heritage of Appalachian weaving, quilting, and coverlets, highlighting how mountain women used local flora to dye wool and create intricate geometric patterns to keep their families warm. This textile section blends seamlessly into the local history room, which chronicles how Blowing Rock evolved from a rugged settlement into a premier resort destination. The room is packed with fascinating artifacts, vintage memorabilia, and engaging storyboards detailing the golden age of grand mountain hotels. They even have an interactive section where you can write a postcard to someone, and the museum will mail it out for free! Make sure to stop in the curated gift shop before you leave for some great regional finds. Between the local crafts, history books, and unique souvenirs, I never seem to leave a museum gift shop empty-handed.

This place was closed due to COVID the last time we were in town but we were pleasantly surprised…read morethat they were open on July 4 when we were walking around downtown. This is a cute little museum that has rotating art displays on the bottom floor and a smaller history museum upstairs. We saw a whimsical display of chickens, and another from a collection of art from a school in California. When we were there the upstairs had an exhibit about the annual horse show in town. The museum is free to visit but we gladly left a donation.

I went for the Year in Wise program and had a great time! Lots of opportunities for such a small…read moreschool.

From the owner: A public, four-year residential college located in the lush mountains of Southwestern Virginia, The…read moreUniversity of Virginia's College at Wise is recognized as one of the top public liberal arts colleges in the nation. UVa-Wise was founded in 1954 and currently enrolls 2,000 students. UVa-Wise is home to Virginia's only undergraduate degree program in software engineering. UVa-Wise offers 30 majors, 32 minors, seven pre-professional programs and 24 teaching licensures. For several consecutive years, students at UVa-Wise have graduated with the lowest debt load of any public liberal arts college in the nation, according to U.S. News and World Report. UVa-Wise has been selected for inclusion in "Colleges of Distinction," which recognizes institutions for engaged students, great teaching, vibrant communities and successful outcomes.

I'm definitely not a history buff, but I do like true crime shows, and this place was fantastic! We…read morespent about 2.5 hours inside and honestly could have spent even more time. It wasn't crowded when we went, which made it really easy to take our time and look around. There are a ton of cool and interesting stories and exhibits covering everything from the late 1800s all the way up to more current crimes and events. I was surprised by how much there was to see. We did the basic package with the family and, in my opinion, that was plenty. If you have younger kids, probably under 11 or 12, they may not get as much out of the museum until you get toward the end. There are some hands-on activities there, including half of a police car they can sit in and turn the lights on, drunk goggles, a police motorcycle you can sit on, and a tunnel where you can try to "escape" from jail. Overall, just a really cool place. I'm sure there was stuff I missed even after spending 2.5 hours there. I would definitely go back and do it again!

I am beyond a true crime enthusiast. I pretty much only read and watch true crime oriented media…read more This was my second trip to the museum. I was worried that there wouldn't be any new exhibits but I was surprised and happy to find the opposite to be true. They have definitely expanded and updated since my last visit. If you enjoy true crime and/or history this is a great spot to visit. On the crime side of things they have a wide range of crimes-not just serial killers or murder. (They do have a Ted Bundy VW beetle and 2 John Wayne Gacy clown costumes on display). They also have areas for financial crimes, etc. History wise they start off in medieval era, then the Wild West, mafia to present day. Nice exhibit on 911. Interactive exhibits too, like DUI and autopsy. Well worth the price of admission to me. Easily a couple hours of stuff to do. Especially nice on a rainy day!