What in the world are you talking about? We’re soon moving 40 miles west of I81. Highland County, Va., beautiful county, hunting, fishing, Maple sugar.
You must be city folk. lol
Highland County
Welcome to Highland County, often referred to as "Virginia's Switzerland". This land of high mountain valleys, sheep and cattle grazing farms and vast woodlands is known for its pristine scenic beauty and rural charm. It is one of the least populated counties in the east and boasts one of the highest mean elevations of any county east of the Mississippi River. Originally settled by Scotch/Irish highlanders and German immigrants, Highland is now an eclectic mix of native farm families and new residents drawn to the high quality of life.
Points of Interest McDowell Battlefield - Civil War site, Monterey - County Seat, Blue Grass Valley - Spectacular scenery in a farming environment, Virginia Trout Company, Maple Sugar Orchards, Highland Wildlife Management Area, George Washington National Forest.
Tourism Visitors come to Highland County to enjoy outdoor recreational activities. Special attractions include the Highland Maple Festival held each March, the McDowell Battlefield and peak foliage colors in autumn. The Highland Maple Festival takes visitors back to earlier days when trees where opened and sugar water was boiled down to make syrup. Maple Sugar camps throughout the county welcome visitors to view the process of syrup making.
Climate Highland County's climate consists of moderately cold winters and comfortable cool summers. The normal average temperature is 47.6 degrees fahrenheit with summer temperatures averaging 70-80 degrees. The average annual precipitation is 42 inches.
History Highland County was formed in 1847 from Bath and Pendleton counties. The county encompasses 416 square miles of spectacular mountain terrain and received its name from its prevailing high altitude. Highland County is rich in historic tradition. The Battle of McDowell was waged in Highland County during the Civil War. This was a significant battle in Stonewall Jackson's 1862 Valley Campaign. Monterey, the county seat, was established in 1848. Highland County is also rich in its natural resources. Agriculture plays a major role in Highland's economy.
Beautiful, remote, unspoiled, and delightfully cool in summer, but a long way away from any really adequate town offering full services. Covington isn't much, you will find yourself going down to Staunton or even Charlottesville, Roanoke, or Lynchburg quite often.
And in WINTER! Winters are quite long at the Homestead. Cabin fever, no town near? So steep, so mountainous, so few towns to offer wrecker services, or a chance to ride the bus in snowy weather.
For instance, one could be almost as cool in summer, and live at Wytheville on both I-81 and I-77, and have large community hospital, fine community college, and instant transportation by car to anywhere in the East.
You are obviously someone whose remoteness and isolation preference exceeds mine, just as another poster has said mine exceeds hers.
It says July (midsummer) temperatures average 70 to 80 degrees. That is the MIDDAY AVERAGE HIGH, not the daily average, and it will go down and hoot at 55-60 deg every night in July up there, so the overall average July temp up there is a cool 68.9 degrees.
You are preferring cooler and more remote, nothing wrong with that. You could get that same climate at the Wintergreen townhouses high atop the Blue Ridge in Nelson County (Walton's Mtn) and have just one quick skidoo straight downhill to major towns and services on all sides, though.
Or much the same anywhere between Christiansburg and Blacksburg, and Abingdon, along I-81 in the southwest part of Va.
But there, you wouldn't get those AYCE buffets at the Homestead. Nowhere ELSE to eat in Highland Co, though, would it get old? Or fat?