Martinsville, Virginia

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National Day of Unplugging

Sure, technology is great and nowadays the world truly is at your fingertips, but do you ever imagine what it would be like to spend a day unconnected from it all? The 2015 National Day of Unplugging is March 6th-7th, and if you are unsure of what to do with yourself, start by browsing the VisitMartinsville site to discover new ways to have fun, learn and connect with yourself and others at a slower pace.

Get Outdoors! Martinsville-Henry County is home to a variety of outdoor adventures including hiking, biking, paddling, fishing and more! From the beautiful Philpott Lake and Beaver Creek Reservoir to the enchanting Smith River, fishermen, canoers and kayakers have an abundance of opportunities to navigate the waters in MHC. The Smith River in Henry County is well known for its native Brown and stocked Rainbow Trout. Fly fishermen enjoy casting to these trout year-round in the tailwaters of Philpott Lake, which keeps the water cool and the fish active. And now that March is here, the Philpott Campgrounds will be opening for the season. If it’s too cold for you just yet, how about strolling through one of the gorgeous trails that run along the shorelines of the lakes and the river?

Read a Book! Martinsville-Henry County is home to the Bassett Historical Center; a world-class genealogical facility that houses over 25,400 books and items available for public use. If you have ever been curious about your family history or your online search has left you coming up short, take advantage of this day to dust off a book or artifact and look a little closer. Researchers from all over the state, country, even some out of country, visit the Bassett Historical Center every year. WSLS 10's Natalie Faunce came to the center to research her family and was impressed with the not only the facility and staff, but with all the information that she was able to find about her family history. Click here to watch "In A Day's Drive" featuring the Natalie's visit to the Bassett Historical Center or click here to discover more about genealogy in Martinsville-Henry County.

Parents, consider visiting the Fieldale Park in Henry County and borrowing a book at the Lending Library, located at the playground area. The kids can have fun on the playground while you enjoy a great book escape. Lending Libraries allow fellow book lovers to share books for free and another one is also located in the City at Corner Escape Park.

Discover! Did you know that Martinsville-Henry County is home to 8 museums? From local history to cultural heritage and the world of arts, MHC is packed with opportunities for everyone to learn a thing or two. That’s right, without the help of Bing or Google, you can open your eyes to a world of knowledge!

Embrace the Arts! Piedmont Arts is an award winning museum showcasing works by local, regional and national artists featured in different exhibits throughout the year. While visiting the museum, parents and children can visit the Discovery Room, a mini art studio where budding artists can create and display their work. Also be sure to visit Studio 107 located in Uptown Martinsville for the opportunity to meet local artisans and shop one-of-a-kind pieces from jewelry to woodturning, to stained glass and fiber arts. While in the Uptown area, you can also stop by Gallery 22 located on Walnut Street to browse the selection of glass art pieces created by Martinsville resident, entrepreneur, teacher and art enthusiast, Aileen Wilson. Martinsville-Henry County is also home to a large collection of public art including gorgeous murals and phenomenal barn quilt displays. Plus if you like what you can see, call Beth Cahill at Ace Heritage Home Center in Bassett to inquire about future barn quilt classes. You may also be lucky enough to find a barn quilt of your own for sale at Unique Gifts & More located in Ridgeway, VA.

Now that you have a few suggestions on how to spend a day unplugged, do you accept the invitation? You never know what new interest you may discover or what other ways that you can have Fun in Record Time in Martinsville-Henry County, VA. While you are out, be sure to snap your picture with the attached sign to show VisitMartinsville how you spent your day and share it with us at Tourism@YesMartinsville.com.