Damascus, Virginia: Trail Town USA, Friendliest Town on the Appalachian Trail & Home of the Virginia Creeper Trail

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Damascus is a small town with a big claim to fame: Seven nationally known trails, including the Appalachian Trail and the Virginia Creeper Trail intersect within the town’s borders. The Damascus lifestyle is adventurous and creative, yet laid-back and well-paced. It’s a place where you can be super-active, or where you can reconnect with nature, rejuvenate, and find your inner peace.

Damascus is also a gateway town to Mount Rogers, the highest point in the state of Virginia with a summit elevation of 5,729 feet, as well as nearby Whitetop Mountain, and Grayson Highlands State Park.

In this episode I travel to Damascus and sit down with Beaty Jackson, Town Council Member, gear rep for several outdoor brands, and full-time Damascus resident. We talk about what makes this town so authentically special, and how Damascus has found ways to turn their trails and other outdoor recreation resources into a source of local pride and community revitalization. We also talk about the biggest event of the year in Damascus, the Appalachian Trail Days Festival - known locally as 'Trail Days' - where the town celebrates the Appalachian Trail and thru-hiker culture, and a massive reunion of thru-hikers past and present.

Damascus is the type of place you have to experience, not just visit and leave...and each time I visit, the town reveals a little more of itself to me, and I leave with even more reasons to return.
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
Visit Damascus
Town of Damascus
Appalachian Trail Days Festival
Appalachian Trail Conservancy
Mission: Empower visitors, volunteers, local businesses, and the regional economy by connecting people to the region’s outdoor resources. Educate visitors and volunteers through exhibits, interpretation, and programming. Protect the A.T. Landscape by being a hub to learn about environmental stewardship.

Damascus Trail Center
Mount Rogers National Recreation Area
Grayson Highlands State Park
Destination by Design

Mike Andress
Host, Exploration Local
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