Nestled among Virginia's mountains, Floyd offers a number of nearby outdoor recreation opportunities. Buffalo Mountain's treeless summit reaches 3,971 feet and is home to a 1,140-acre natural preserve. Visitors can enjoy hiking, nature study and photography on the mountain. Scenic views are also abundant along the Blue Ridge Parkway (blueridgeparkway.org), which stretches from Pennsylvania to Virginia and North Carolina. Featuring 81 tent and 28 trailer sites, Rocky Knob Campground at Milepost 161 is close to the Chateau Morrisette winery, Mabry Mill and hiking trails. The site has restrooms, a picnic area and shelter, and a campfire circle for up to 150 campers.
While exploring downtown Floyd, visitors can see an 1846 schoolhouse, which has been converted into a fabric store, and an early 1900s bank that operates as a restaurant. Mabry Mill in Meadows of Dan, approximately a half-hour's drive south of Floyd, is a restored gristmill, sawmill, woodworking shop and blacksmith shop. Visitors can wander along a trail to see these restored buildings and learn basket weaving, seat caning, spinning and weaving. In October, apple butter demonstrations are also featured at the site.
Off the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway, visitors to Chateau Morrisette (chateaumorrisette.com) can enjoy daily tours and wine tasting. The winery features a restaurant, which is open for lunch Wednesday to Sunday and for dinner Friday and Saturday. Visitors can wander gardens and visit a gift shop. Visitors to Floyd can also tour Villa Appalaccia Winery (villaappalaccia.com), which is off the Blue Ridge Parkway. Primarily Italian grape varieties are grown on shale at the winery, which produces Sangiovese, Primitivo, Pinot Grigio, Malvasia, Corvina, Cabernet Franc and Aglianico wines.
Floyd is described by Frommer's as an intersection of modern and old-fashioned small town America. Downtown Floyd is home to the Floyd County Store (floydcountrystore.com), an old-fashioned general store with retail goods and a jamboree of bluegrass music every Friday night. Acoustic music enthusiasts can visit The Pickin' Porch (thepickinporch.com) for lessons or merchandise, and New Age and neo-hippie handicrafts can be purchased at the New Mountain Mercantile gallery and supply shop on Locust Street. One of the largest collections of bluegrass and old-time music can be found at County Sales (countysales.com) on West Main Street.
