Published: June 13, 2008 09:52 pm      

Tourism officials emphasize option of ‘staycations’

TAZEWELL, Va. — Local tourism officials are hoping record-high gas prices will help to spark interest in “staycations” across Southwest Virginia.

“We haven’t actually used that word, but we encourage folks to see what we have available in the region,” Margie Douglas, economic development and tourism coordinator for Tazewell County, said. “We’ve got a lot of nice museums, bed and breakfasts, etc. So it is an opportunity for them to get acquainted with our area.”

The staycation concept, or the idea of vacationing in one’s own city or state, is being actively promoted by the Virginia Tourism Corporation. The agency has created a Web site promoting popular staycation travel destinations in the Commonwealth, including towns, cities, parks and other popular destinations close to home.

Douglas said an entire staycation package can be created — on a single tank of gasoline — along the new Virginia Coal Heritage Trail in Tazewell County.

“With the Coal Heritage Trail, they can take a day and visit Tazewell County,” Douglas said. “If they want to come in from Bramwell, and go through Pocahontas into the Exhibition Mine, from there they could come down 19-460 from Virginia and they could certainly stop at the Visitor’s Center and get all kinds of information. From there they could stop and have lunch if they want to at the New Graham Pharmacy, or one of the restaurants in the Bluefield area. From there they could go visit the Crab Orchard Museum or they could go to Burkes Garden. If they are interested in coal heritage or civil war trails or wilderness roads, we have all kinds of historical or cultural sites. If it is mining heritage, they certainly have plenty of sites they can visit as far as mining heritage. If they like the arts they could go by the Appalachian Arts Center at Wardell. We just have a lot of opportunities and a lot of fun things for them to do. They can do all of that on one tank of gas. And with today’s gas prices that is saying a lot. So the county is pretty well covered as far as good eating places and fun things to do.”

Douglas said the Historic Pocahontas Exhibition Mine is a “absolute treasure” in our own backyard that many have yet to visit. “Because a lot of people can go in there and see what it is really like,” she said. “Really, when I first went in there, I was amazed. I found it very interesting. The folks who were giving the tour were very knowledgeable.”

Douglas said other possible detours along the Coal Heritage Trail include bike riding in Burkes Garden, bird watching at the Sandyhead Ostrich Farm in Gratton and the Crittersville playground in downtown Richlands.

“The staycation (term) is very new,” Douglas said. “But it’s nice to use new and innovative ideas. There are a lot of folks interested in coal heritage. This gives them an opportunity to visit what we have left.”

The Virginia Tourism Corporation launched its staycation and “Park the Car Getaway” promotion several weeks ago.

— Contact Charles Owens at cowens@bdtonline.com