The Shadow
COVINGTON, Va. (VR) – On the east coast of the U.S., bounded by the Appalachian Mountains on one side and the Atlantic Ocean on the other is the state of Virginia. Virginia has four different geographical regions: the Coastal Plain with barrier islands, the Piedmont region with rolling farmland, the Blue Ridge Mountains with peaks over 5,000 feet in elevation and the Valley and Ridge region with forested wild areas such as Shenandoah National Park. Each of these creates a variety of experiences for residents and visitors.
Virginia is also home to some of the first American colonies. Unique among all the states, the cities of Virginia are independent, meaning that they have more power over their own political and administrative decisions than similar cities in other states. That’s just one thing that makes these cities special, as many are also beautiful places to visit and live. They draw this beauty from their natural surroundings, their colonial history or a mixture of the two.
For enjoying the spectacular beauty of the Alleghany Highlands, Covington is the place to go. It is the best base camp for several of the area’s most popular and photographed attractions. The first is the Falling Springs waterfall, a majestic 80-foot cascading waterfall in a lush setting just a short drive from town.
Second is the Jackson River Scenic Trail, a converted railroad bed that runs along the Jackson River where hikers can enjoy the fields and mountains of the Highlands or even rent kayaks and canoes to try out the river itself.
Last is the Humpback Bridge, the only covered and arched bridge still standing in the country. At almost 110 feet long, it is an example of incredible craftsmanship that was originally built in 1857 using just a broad ax and hand-hewn locust pins. A joint effort among locals and organizations began to restore the bridge in 1953, and it is now on the National Register of Historic Places and surrounded by a five-acre park.
