If you’re looking for something fun to do this weekend, September 10th and 11th, take a drive to Pocahontas County, WV, for the Droop Mountain Studio Tour. Local artisans are setting up shop in five locations near Hillsboro to showcase their talents. While in the area, I highly recommend you visit Droop Mountain Battlefield State Park and Beartown State Park. Both are small parks with a lot to see on a quick visit.

By stopping at each studio location, you will have the opportunity to visit with the artists and to learn about their specific talent. While they have plenty of beautiful, handcrafted gifts for sale, each studio offers free “make it and take it” workshops. Last year, when I attended the studio tour for the first time with a good friend, I made a beaded bracelet and a dried flower and resin pendant. I also painted a gourd birdhouse which was actually occupied by a feathery family this spring! I didn’t make a broom, but I did buy a small one.

No trip is complete without good food and we found plenty to eat at each studio. From homemade applesauce bread to authentic gumbo, I ate well! We ate several times at the Greenbrier Grille in Marlinton, WV, because the food was excellent. Last year, we stayed in an Airbnb rental right in Hillsboro. Snowshoe Mountain Resort is also close enough to be an easy drive and if you like to camp, Watoga State Park is very near.

We drove home via the Highland Scenic Highway. It was a gorgeous late summer day and with the top down on my trusty, old, convertible, the music on the stereo forced us to sing along at full volume. We probably scared the birds and the wildlife, but when you’re living just a few steps beyond normal, you’ve just gotta do stuff like that sometimes.