In A Day's Drive: Martinsville

Looking for a fun and affordable summer getaway to enjoy before school starts back up? Look no further than Martinsville-Henry County, Virginia, nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Martinsville-Henry County is located within a day's drive of 60% of the US population and known for its NASCAR racing, arts & culture and outdoor recreation. The area offers a variety of activities ranging from action packed NASCAR racing to top-notch theatrical performances and scenic beauty of  the area's rivers, lakes and trails. With so many activities to choose from, you'll quickly discover that "You'll Love the Pace!" in Martinsville-Henry County, 

The community was featured today on WSLS 10's program "Daytime Blue Ridge" in a segment called "In A Day's Drive." The segment features ideas for summer vacations and staycations located within the region and also offers travel information on a companion website.

The short film showed TV personality Natalie Faunce checking out a bike from the Activate Bike Barn located along the Dick & Willie Passage Rail Trail and enjoying a ride on the interpretive trail. It also showed her checking out a variety of area attractions such as TheatreWorks Black Box Theater, MHC Heritage Center & Museum, shopping and dining in Uptown, Studio 107, TGIF Summer Concerts, the Smith River Sports Complex and paddling the Smith River.

According to Jennifer Doss, Director of Tourism for Martinsville-Henry County, "We anticipate that this film will provide families throughout Central and Southwestern Virginia with ideas for an affordable family vacation in Martinsville-Henry County and also introduce residents to attractions and businesses in their own backyard that they might not be aware of."

 In addition to Doss, several local community leaders were also interviewed in the film including Pat Walmsley of TheatreWorks Community Players and Cari Zimmer of Activate Martinsville-Henry County. Business owner Ashley Simpson of Pieces Boutique in Uptown also made a cameo appearance in the film by taking a photo of Faunce in front of The Big Chair.

Click below for additional details on each of the places seen on the film: 

• Dick and Willie Passage- A 4.5 mile long multi-use rail trail set in the heart of Martinsville-Henry County.  The trail also features Activate's Bike Barn which has free bike rentals for anyone over the age of 5 to enjoy along the trail. 
• Martinsville-Henry County Heritage Center and Museum- Located in a restored 1920's courthouse, this museum houses exhibits representing the history of Martinsville-Henry County with artifacts, photographs, and articles of Native American fish weirs, the Civil War, tobacco, and local furniture industries.
• Scott Lobaido's "Old Glory" Mural-  Scott Lobaido is famous for his depictions of the American flag which have stretched across America on rooftops, murals, and flags.  LoBaido created this 38 ft. x 18 ft. mural on Franklin Street in honor of Cpl. JB Kerns, a local veteran who lost three limbs in an IED explosion during his third tour of duty in Afghanistan.   
• Fido's Finds and Kittie's Kollectibles- This antique collectibles shop, located on Main Street, is run by SPCA volunteers and all the proceeds go to helping those at the SPCA.   
• Studio 107- This attraction houses 15 artists at various levels in their professional careers all working in a collective studio space.  Visitors are encouraged to watch artists at work and browse the gallery shop for original artwork and gifts.
• Dining- Click for a full list of dining opportunities.
• Shopping- Click for a full list of shopping opportunities.
• The Big Chair -Built by Bassett Furniture Industries to celebrate its 100th anniversary, The Big Chair is now a reminder to the community of the furniture heritage in Martinsville-Henry County.
• Pieces -  Pieces is a wonderful boutique specializing in contemporary ladies apparel and accessories.  The owner, Ashley Simpson, seeks to find the latest fashion trends all over the country. 
• Smith River Sports Complex -  The Smith River Complex offers a variety of sports such as lacrosse, soccer, football, and field hockey. Walking paths, a river access and Evos Playground are open to the public daily. 
• Smith River Trail System- Featuring 44.5 miles of river, 20+ miles of trails and a nature preserve, the Smith River Trail System is the outdoor enthusiast's paradise.