(sheri)
When Emily and I were talking about what to post this month all we could think about was how cool America is and how we can easily forget that sometimes. We decided this month we want to talk about some of the great places in America by introducing you to the staffs hometowns.
I love hearing the stories people tell about their hometowns and their childhood stories. For me, it is a bit confusing to try to tell stories about a hometown. I have grown up all over the country; I was born in Chicago, moved to Peoria, ILL, then moved to the L.A. area, after that moved to Abingdon, VA, then Atlanta, GA, then Valparaiso, IN then Lucca, Italy and now Richmond. In a certain way each of these places has been a hometown to me, they have all definitely changed me, and molded me into the person I am. They have given me new perspectives and new experiences. When I narrow it down I think the most "hometown" place I have lived would be Abingdon, VA. It is the place my sister and I love to visit in the summer, we love taking our husbands and families to Abingdon as well.
Abingdon is a small town in Southwest Virginia. It borders Tennessee and is within driving distance of North Carolina. We moved there when I was in highschool. I moved from Los Angeles to Abingdon. In LA my school had over 3,000 attendees, in Abingdon the town at that time had about 20,000 residents. It was a HUGE change. I wasn't well received at the school at first, I was an outsider in a tight knit community, and I had a very hard time adjusting to the changes.
I think I really started to settle in and feel attached to Abingdon when I attended Emory & Henry college. I loved and love the campus there, it is a gorgeous small campus with old brick buildings, a beautiful pond and rolling hills. I lived in Abingdon and worked at The Tavern restaurant, which was a Civil War hospital at one time.
Downtown Abingdon is quintessential America to me. It has a lovely downtown area with old brick sidewalks, beautiful trees and old buildings, each of which has their own story. The town is very walkable, even in summer, when so many places in Richmond are roasting. There is something about the hilly setting with the old trees that keep the town cooler. If you walk through the streets that are close to the Main Street you will be rewarded with picturesque homes, lovely landscaping and adorable Bed & Breakfasts.
Abingdon offers theatre, with the Barter Theatre, there is a lake close by which is great fun in the summer, and they have a great festival every summer called the Virginia Highlands Festival. One of the things that I think is so special about the area is the access to the Creeper Trail. The part of the trail that runs close to Abingdon is filled with waterfalls, streams, farm lands and a great little place to get ice cream along the way. Our family absolutely loves being on the Creeper Trail, it is the epitomy of the beauty of America.
We are never disappointed with what Abingdon offers. We come home relaxed, unwound and madly in love with small town America.