Do you want to go on a scavenger hunt across the state of Virginia? This summer, travelers can replicate the outdoor adventures outlined in the book “Virginia is for Adventurers”, or participate in mini scavenger hunts inspired by the story (during the summer of 2022, there will even be real prizes hidden around Virginia!).
Photo Credit: Tara Fisher, @virginiaisforadventurers
The story follows 10-year-old Meg and her friends as they compete in a ten-day
scavenger hunt across Virginia. The chapters are organized by region and the
characters complete three adventures each day. The itineraries in the book are easy to
replicate and travelers can modify them to best fit their interests.
Adventure lovers will also have the opportunity to compete for real prizes by
participating in mini scavenger hunts across the state! These will occur in every
region at various locations mentioned in the book during the summer of 2022. Details can be found at virginiaisforadventurers.com/2022-scavenger-hunt.
On the first page of the book, readers learn that Meg and her family are from
Wytheville. This Southwest Virginia town provides the perfect backdrop for an adventure, and is known for its giant pencil, world-famous Skeeterdogs, and a 100-foot lookout tower.
Photo Credit: Tara Fisher, @virginiaisforadventurers
Let’s start with the giant pencil; it is 30 feet long and hangs above the Wytheville
Office Supply store on West Main Street. It’s not the world’s biggest pencil, but
the jokes about making it a point to stop in Wytheville are, well, on point. The
yellow pencil and pink eraser command your attention as you drive through the
town’s historic district.
Inside the office supply store, another surprise awaits. A giant pair of scissors
with moving blades is plugged into a wall above the shelves of paper. It’s not as big
as the giant pencil, but it’s definitely cutting edge!
Photo Credit: Tara Fisher, @virginiaisforadventurers
After you take a photo of the giant pencil and scissors, walk across the street to
Skeeter’s. This is Meg’s favorite place. The local eatery has been around since
1925, and you can get a Skeeterdog for less than $4.00 any day of the week.
Photo Credit: Emily Miller
What comes on a Skeeterdog, you ask? The short answer is mustard, onions, and
chili. But the winning combo has something to do with the fact that the hotdog is
steamed, the mustard is minimal, the onions are diced, and the chili has just the
right amount of spice.
For the optimal dining experience, order a side of crinkle fries. They’re served up
crispy and hot in a red plastic basket. While you’re waiting for your food to arrive,
you can spin on the stools at the lunch counter and take in the vintage
décor.
photo Credit: Sam Dean, @sdeanphotos
When your stomach is satisfied, enjoy a 20-minute drive to Big Walker Lookout.
The 100-foot tower has 360-degree views and on a clear day, you can see West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, and North Carolina. The journey up the tower may make you weak in the knees, but it rewards you with breathtaking views.
For some travelers, the views at the top of the tower are the best part. For Meg,
it’s the old country store below the tower that makes the trip worthwhile. This is
where you will discover mystery boxes and F.R.O.G. jelly.
In the book (and at the Big Walker Store), mystery boxes are wrapped in plain white paper with only two things written on the outside—the cost and category. Unwrapping these boxes is the best surprise because you never know what you’ll find inside. As for F.R.O.G. jelly, it stands for fig, raspberry, orange, and ginger. It may not sound like a winning combo, but just like mystery boxes, you could be surprised by what you find inside.
photo Credit: Sam Dean, @sdeanphotos
When your day of exploration draws to a close, you can rest your head on a pillow
at the Bolling Wilson Hotel. This boutique building has 30 beautifully restored
rooms and a rooftop view of Skeeter’s. When it was established in 1927, you could
rent a single room for $1.50 and a double for $2.50.
The hotel is named after Wytheville’s most notable citizen, Edith Bolling Wilson.
She was President Woodrow Wilson’s second wife, and she’s often referred to as
“The Secret President” because of the role she played in the White House during
World War I. You can learn more at the Edith Bolling Wilson Museum, which is
right across the street.
Before you drive out of town, there are two more things Meg would want you to
explore. Both will provide a colorful conclusion to your trip. One is the water tower
and the other is the LOVEwork.
The tower is designed to look like a huge hot air balloon, and you can see it when
you’re driving on I-81. It’s tied to the Chautauqua Festival, a week-long music and arts festival featuring colorful hot air balloons. The festival takes place in Wytheville
over the summer.
photo Credit: Sam Dean, @sdeanphotos
The image of a hot air balloon is one that’s commonly associated with Wytheville,
and it’s woven into the town’s LOVE sign too. The O in the word LOVE matches the
colorful balloon on the water tower, while the V showcases Wytheville’s location at
the intersection of I-77 and I-81. As for the L and the E, they are tied to the
town’s railroad and baseball history.
So, if you’re in search of an adventure that includes big balloons, a giant pencil,
world-famous hotdogs, and a 100-foot lookout tower, look no further than
Wytheville!
And if you want to go on a real-life scavenger hunt this summer for mystery boxes in Wytheville or any other region of the state, you can find details at www.virginiaisforadventurers.com. Like Meg’s mystery boxes, these will be wrapped in plain white paper and will hold an array of fun prizes.
Miss out on finding one of these special mystery boxes? You can still win a big prize! Anyone who participates in one of the mini scavenger hunts this summer and turns in their completed clue sheets will be eligible for the grand prize–$250 cash and a $2,500 donation to the winner’s elementary school of choice. The fun is free for everyone and no registration is required.
May your journeys be filled with blue mountains, green valleys, and sweet Virginia
breezes. Hope to see you out there!
This post is written by Tara Z. Fisher, author of the kid’s book, “Virginia is for Adventurers”
The post Virginia is for Adventurers: Kid-Friendly Scavenger Hunts Around Virginia appeared first on Virginia's Travel Blog.