I was lucky to have spent a summer going to school at JMU in Harrisonburg. Aside from the town smelling like a bag of dog food (Purina plant) the area has a pastoral beauty that is unequaled.
Ancestors were in Goochland County, VA way back, colonial era. Baptists. Run out by the Episcopalian authorities, ended up in NC where they remained, mine at least, quite a few of the younger sons went west when TN opened up.
I found a sort of amusing YouTube video of I-40 heading west from Asheville to Newport, low and slow with camping trailer in tow and the chattiest lady, she just goes on and on about the sights they’ve seen and places they’ve stayed. More pleasant than annoying, they sound like they’d be fun.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66qjE_qSjnU