Wise
Around Wise
Photo: Eli Christman (user Gamma Man) · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Countryside and towns · Virginia · 73k people
Wise
“The Coalfields”
Mountain music, coal country warmth.
Burnt orangeDark slateForest green
Welcome to Wise County and the surrounding hills! Here, the mountains are close, the music runs deep, and folks still wave to each other on the back roads. Pull up a chair, grab some soup beans, and stay a while.
Clubs for Wise
No clubs for Wise yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Wise. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Wise. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Cumberland Gap National Historical Park Historic mountain pass and pioneer gateway.
- Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park Mansion in Big Stone Gap with regional history exhibits.
- Ralph Stanley Museum Honors the bluegrass legend in Clintwood.
- High Knob Recreation Area Scenic overlook and trails in Jefferson National Forest.
- Crooked Road: Virginia's Heritage Music Trail Connects music venues across Southwest Virginia.
- Outdoors Hike High Knob
- Outdoors Fish the Clinch River
- With kids Visit the Ralph Stanley Museum
- With kids Tour the Southwest Virginia Museum
- Evenings Bluegrass concerts
- Evenings Jam sessions
- Locals love Country stores
- Locals love Bluegrass jam sessions
Through the year
- Home Craft Days October Craft fair with local artisans and food in Big Stone Gap
- Ralph Stanley Festival May Bluegrass and old-time music celebration in Clintwood
- Wise County Fair August Carnival rides, livestock shows, and local exhibits
- Cumberland Gap Heritage Festival September Living history and music at the national park
The climate is humid subtropical with mountain influences, featuring four distinct seasons and cooler temperatures at higher elevations. Best: Spring and fall are ideal for outdoor activities with mild temperatures and colorful foliage.
Talk like a local
- “holler”
- a mountain hollow
- “crick”
- a creek
- “fixin' to”
- about to
- “y'all”
- you all
Getaways
- Kingsport, TN Shopping and entertainment hub
- Pikeville, KY Medical services and dining
- Harlan, KY Outdoor recreation and festivals
- Lebanon, VA County seat with historic courthouse
Local flavour
Rooting for Virginia Tech Hokies, Tennessee Volunteers
Eat and drink
- Soup beans with ham A staple of Appalachian home cooking
- Cornbread Often served with soup beans
- Country ham Salt-cured and smoked, a regional favourite
- Ramps (wild leeks) Foraged in spring, celebrated in local festivals
- Apple butter Slow-cooked, often homemade
- Fried apple pies A sweet treat at country stores
- Dr. Enuf A regional soft drink from nearby Tennessee
Where people go
- Coal mining towns Historic company towns and tipples
- Mountain hollows Narrow valleys between ridges
- Country stores Gathering spots with local goods
- Cumberland Gap National Historical Park Historic mountain pass
- Crooked Road music trail Heritage music venues and festivals
Make this page better
Know a place, a festival, a word locals use, or something here that's wrong? Suggest it; someone at Popchat checks every one.
Sign in and join a club here to suggest.
Nearby
Every areaHarlanKentuckyWhere every holler has a storyKingsport–BristolTennesseeWhere the mountains meet the music, and the race never stops.HazardKentuckyHeart of the Appalachian hillsLebanonVirginiaMountain hospitality, coal country pride.PikevilleKentuckyWhere the mountains hold the musicJohnson CityTennesseeMountain charm, Appalachian spiritGreenevilleTennesseeWhere the hills hold the history.MorristownTennesseeApple country and lake life in the foothills.
Wise County, Lee County, Dickenson County and Norton city, VA. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.