Big Stone Gap is waaaaayyyy down in the deep southwest of the state. It took us a while to get there. On the way we stopped at a farm to table restaurant in Meadowview called Harvest Table where I got the best grilled chicken sandwich ever. I never even knew chicken could taste like that. On homemade focaccia with a remoulade sauce, it was the most tender, most flavorful chicken in existence. If you are ever out that way (and you probably won't be), be sure to stop in.
Eventually, we made it to Big Stone Gap, deep in the Appalachian mountains. The bookstore didn't disappoint. The boys had a blast exploring all the rooms and carrying around the six (!) foster kittens in residence. We all found a few books we needed.
It was a lot of driving for one day, but included unique experiences, and I got to see some beautiful areas of the state I had never seen before. Plus, that chicken sandwich? Totally worth seven hours of driving.
Readers - have you ever gone out of your way to see a place from a book or a movie?
Good looking guys.
ReplyDeleteI so enjoyed reading about your trip,..... the sandwich, and the book store, and your Grandad's place, and the Appalachian mountains and I love the way you write about your life.
ReplyDeleteYou forgot to say that Harvest Table is Barbara Kingsolver's restaurant (for people who have read her books, especially Animal, Vegetable, Miracle). This truly was a literary journey. Love the picture of Dad and the boys!
ReplyDeleteThis book and bookstore sound familiar--could I have heard a story about it on WVTF? Sounds like a place I would love--books and cats in the same place. :-) I see the comment above that the restaurant is Barbara Kingsolver's--cool!
ReplyDeleteWow, a seven hour journey too! I just love it when a book or something else can inspire us so much that it moves us to respond, and especially when it involves the whole family! It's sounds all so wonderful I might have to find this book too, and read it! Great story.
ReplyDeleteThat is a long way, I have never been out there but is sounds like a neat trip that didn't involve an expensive theme park for the boys, I'm sure they learned a lot.
ReplyDeleteLisa, such a wonderful day y'all had! An excursion like this is so very good for the soul. :)
ReplyDeletexoxo
Now, that's my kind of day. Especially, visiting your father's old stomping grounds. I took a trip like that with my mama a few years ago. Enjoyed the heck out of it.
ReplyDeleteI love finding quaint bookstores. There is one we found on vacation, off the beaten path...I like to visit whenever we make it back to the area.
ReplyDeleteLooks like fun day :)
Yep. Athens, Greece. Paestum, Italy. Ephesus in Turkey. Knossos in Crete. The battlefield of Sekigarrah in Japan. Thermopylae and Marathon. Waterloo. Kennesaw Battlefield outside Atlanta. Gettysburg, Vicksburg, Antietam. Bastogne, Belgium.
ReplyDeleteI still want to see the Armor and Air Force museum in Israel.
what a lovely outing!
ReplyDeleteI've not done this that I can remember, but your day sounds fantastic. I'm sure the boys enjoyed the adventure as well!!
ReplyDeleteThis would be my kind of trip! It sounds just lovely! Well, we did go see the ark that was built for that movie that was a big hit, but I just cannot remember the name! It was the one before Bruce Almighty. It was as close of a replica as they could make it from the bible. And they built it right here and filmed the movie here. In Crozet. When they were done filming they took the whole thing apart! The townspeople were mad, because they wanted it to be the center of a theme park, of course they wanted to keep it. I still think it would have cost them nothing to let us keep it, versus the manpower to tear it all down.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a great trip. It's good your parents got to go with you.
ReplyDeleteWe did visit the Little House museum in South Dakota when I was younger. I'd like to go back. I only remember bits and pieces of it.
What a fun trip! Tell those adorable boys to keep traveling - they'll never regret it.
ReplyDeleteHave I ever gone out of my way - you bet I have, and in many places around the planet!
Next on the list, and hopefully I can make it, is visiting Karen Blixen's home in Kenya - where the movie about her life - Out of Africa - was filmed. It's now a museum and although I only have a half day available after I arrive in Nairobi, I want SO MUCH to make it there if possible! Will let you know in September!
Mary x
This sounds like my kind of place. Going to check out the book.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great adventure.I like the farm to table idea, we have been putting a commercial kitchen in on the farm.
ReplyDeleteDidn't you know that this is my HOMETOWN??? I've written and talked about it SO much..... I spent the first 18 years of my life there. Did you get to the museum? My childhood home was near there. Daddy worked for the railroad.... I graduated in 1960---and haven't been back too much since. Dad died in 1969 --and Mom moved to FL to live closer to one of my two brothers. SO--I don't have many relatives left there. But--I have great memories. They made a movie this past year entitled Big Stone Gap... Cute little movie with Whoopie Goldberg and other great actors and actresses.... Oh how I love those mountains. Glad you enjoyed your short visit there.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Betsy
Sounds like a great trip and worth the drive. We once drove to the southern part of Georgia to visit where Fried Green Tomatoes was filmed. That was a fun day also.
ReplyDeleteSometimes it's worth it to make the long drive. Glad you all got to experience the bookstore from the book! Definitley cool. :)
ReplyDeleteIt's been several years since we have ventured out looking for neat places like this. So many have been over commercialized until they really aren't the same anymore. I'm glad the kiddos enjoyed the experience- y'all have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteLooks like a fun venture! New to your blog, and I like!
ReplyDeleteFun trip!
ReplyDeleteI am hoping to visit the Ingall's homestead in MN on the way to our South Dakota trip in a few weeks. I really hope we have time to see it!
I have..several spots. What I wanted to see now is the place of Laura Ingals Wilder and her family :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun day
ReplyDeletelove
tweedles