The Southern Dozen are twelve rides based in Johnson City Virginia that travel all around the region.
Each one is an adventure in itself that will take you through winding curves, breath taking natural scenery, historic landmarks, local points of interest, and fun attractions.

Whether you feel like exploring caves, seeing wolves, touring historic sites, leaning into heart-pounding curves or just taking in the views, you’ll find a ride that’s exactly what you’re looking for.

This route is Part 1 of the Southern Dozen and is a 112 mile ride that starts in Johnson City Virginia.
It is a mix of beautiful winding roads through the mountains and the rolling Virginia landscape.
Along the way you pass several villages where you can schedule a break.

Ride the Snake through the Tennessee mountains, through Stoney Creek and across into the pastoral Shady Valley (RP11) where you can have a quick lunch and do some souvenir shopping at the Country Store. The Snake is said to have "489 curves, 3 mountains, 1 valley packed into 33 miles!" The Southern part of the snake is not included in this review. If you want to ride it, then stay on the HW421 at RP11.
We drive on up to the extraordinary Backbone Rock, with outcroppings, hiking trails, and beautiful photo opportunities. One of them is the Backbone Rock Waterfall (RP13), there is a small parking area on the right side of the road.

Continue into Damascus (RP14) home of the Virginia Creeper Trail, and return through peaceful Mountain City (RP18) and continue along the beautiful Watauga Lake (RP20).
At RP21 you can visit the Carter Mansion, which is the oldest standing frame house in Tennessee, dating back to the mid to late 1770s.
At RP22 you can visit the Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area, which protects the land that was the location of several important historic events that occurred in the late 18th century.

I rate this route with 5 stars, because of the beautiful scenery and twisty roads through the mountains.

Useful links:
Promotional video of The Snake Ride
RP21 Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area
Source of The Snake Ride

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René Plücken (RouteXpert)

Virginia

Virginia ( (listen)), officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States located between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth are shaped by the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Chesapeake Bay, which provide habitat for much of its flora and fauna. The capital of the Commonwealth is Richmond; Virginia Beach is the most populous city, and Fairfax County is the most populous political subdivision. The Commonwealth's estimated population as of 2019 is over 8.54 million.The area's history begins with several indigenous groups, including the Powhatan. In 1607 the London Company established the Colony of Virginia as the first permanent English colony in the New World. Virginia's state nickname, the Old Dominion, is a reference to this status. Slave labor and the land acquired from displaced Native American tribes each played a significant role in the colony's early politics and plantation economy. Virginia was one of the 13 Colonies in the American Revolution. In the American Civil War, Virginia's Secession Convention resolved to join the Confederacy while the First Wheeling Convention resolved to remain in the Union, leading to a split that created West Virginia. Although the Commonwealth was under one-party rule for nearly a century following Reconstruction, both major national parties are competitive in modern Virginia.The Virginia General Assembly is the oldest continuous law-making body in the Western Hemisphere and is made up of a forty-member Senate and a one-hundred member House of Delegates. The state government is unique in how it treats cities and counties equally, manages local roads, and prohibits governors from serving consecutive terms. Virginia's economy has many sectors: agriculture in the Shenandoah Valley; federal agencies in Northern Virginia, including the headquarters of the U.S. Department of Defense and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA); and military facilities in Hampton Roads, the site of the region's main seaport.

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