You finally have the opportunity to enjoy a long weekend and have booked a cabin getaway to Fairy Stone State Park. Your plan is to take in as much outdoor recreation and nature loving as you can at the park, but also visit nearby sights of interest as time allows. 

Three days is probably not enough time to see and do everything that you want to do when you visit Fairy Stone State Park, but it is enough of a sampling to make this a memorable getaway.

Your cabin awaits at Fairy Stone State Park

SAMPLE THREE DAY ITINERARY

DAY 1

MORNING

Go for a morning stroll down near the lake to take in the scenery and possibly encounter morning wildlife, before the park officially wakes up. Arrive back at the cabin for a hearty breakfast of bacon and eggs with the one you love out on the deck. Sip coffee and take in the natural setting surrounding your rustic cabin.

Early morning reflections on the lake from the cabin area

AFTERNOON

Pack your water bottles, camera and a few snacks then head to the trail head near the group campground to hike to Little Mountain Falls which is 3.3 miles in length. There are two great photo-op stops along the trail before you reach the falls. .

Take in the fresh air and mountain scenery on a hike to Little Mountain Falls

LATE AFTERNOON

Bring or rent a canoe/kayak to paddle around the lake. At one end of the little Fairy Stone Lake you see turtles sunning themselves on a log, as you quietly cruise past, they watch you but remain stolid on their rafts. The trees form a canopy over the water as you glide slowly to where a creek feeds the lake.

There is an old iron mine with its entrance locked with a metal grate, you wonder about it and the role it played generations ago, and make a mental note to ask a Ranger about it later.

Paddle your kayak or canoe under the canopy of trees

EVENING

The cabin has an outdoor grill so you decide to grill those hamburgers topped with blue cheese crumbles and Frank's Red Hot you planned as one of your three dinner meals. Chilling on the porch as the sun sets.

Bring your own charcoal and fire up the grill 

DAY 2

MORNING

Take two from the previous morning, only this time you grab your coffee travel mug and wander a portion of the 10 miles of park trails, some of the trails adjacent to the lake are perfect for spotting colorful wildflowers in bloom. Oak Hickory Trail is a one mile loop, so you know you will return safely and in time to help make breakfast.

You can't miss the stunning Fire Pink along the trails

AFTERNOON

The beautiful Blue Ridge Parkway is just a short drive from Fairy Stone State Park. You can spend endless hours and days exploring it, but have chosen Mabry Mill as your destination with a side trip to Nancy's Candy Company, both in Meadows of Dan.

Dining at the Mabry Mill Restaurant and walking about the old grist mill make for a lovely afternoon. You tour Nancy's Fudge and Candy factory, enjoying a sample or two before purchasing handmade truffles for later.

Visit Mabry Mill on the Blue Ridge Parkway as an outing from the park

Nancy's Candy at Meadows of Dan is a delectable addition to the day 

EVENING

Chicken on the grill is in order this evening. You're tuckered out from the day's outings but hey you are on vacation, so you light up that charcoal and grab a cold beverage. As the sun begins to set the fireflies start to flash on and off signaling to each other. This is an idyllic getaway.

You ponder the incredible seemingly remote location that is just an hour's drive from Roanoke, but feels like a million miles away. Even the stars shine brighter here.

DAY 3

MORNING

A decidedly nice day to sleep in. When you awake you watch the deer as they feed outside your cabin while you make that first strong cup of coffee. You enjoy the porch with a good book this morning, taking in the breezes as they drift across the lake.

Observe the deer feeding outside the cabin kitchen window

AFTERNOON

Hunting for fairy stones is a unique experience

You have heard about the magical but somewhat elusive fairy stones, and now it's your chance to hunt for them. You have received a park visitor guide with directions to "the dig" when you checked-in. You've read a Virginia State Parks blog about the Legend of the Fairy Stone and the best way to find them, so you push ahead armed with that knowledge.

These stones are most commonly shaped like St. Andrew’s cross, an "X," but "T" shaped Roman crosses and square Maltese crosses are the most sought-after. The rare staurolite stones are found elsewhere but not in such abundance as at Fairy Stone State Park.

LATE AFTERNOON

Just down the road a few more miles from the "sacred fairy stone hunting site" is the scenic Philpott Dam and Visitor Center. You have packed a picnic and head down to explore this historic structure and take in the sweeping lake views (see first image at top).

Philpott Lake with the Blue Ridge Mountains as the backdrop as viewed from the overlook

The Philpott Lake Dam and Visitor Center makes a lovely picnic location

EVENING

Back at the cabin, board games are in order and maybe even a few hands of cards. Spending time together is what this getaway is all about, with technology kept to a minimum, you discover that it is okay to be in a cabin in the woods with the one you love.

It's always good to rekindle that romance, and sometimes you need to escape the rigors of the day to do so.

Board games and cards are part of the cabin fun

BONUS

1. Harvester Performance Center and other Rocky Mount/Franklin County Sights of Interest 
2. Martinsville Speedway and other Martinsville/Henry County Sights of Interest
3. Wood Brothers Racing Museum and other Stuart/Patrick County Sights of Interest 

ABOUT FAIRY STONE STATE PARK

Home of the legendary fairy stones, this park is well known for its 168-acre lake adjoining Philpott Reservoir. The park is just minutes from the Blue Ridge Parkway. Attractions include cabins, a campground, group camping, an equestrian campground, a conference center, hiking trails, lake swimming, rowboats, canoes, paddle boats, kayaks, picnicking and two playgrounds, including one in the water.

Most of the park's Little Mountain Trail System, 10 miles, is multi-use. Multi-use trails are open to hiking, cycling and horseback riding. The remaining trails, parts of the Little Mountain system and all of the Stuart's Knob system, and are for pedestrian use only. Learn more about Fairy Stone State Park recreation here.

Click here to learn more about the cabins and campgrounds at this woodsy park, or call 800-933-7275.