You know what sounds really good right about now? Stepping back in time and away from our cares, all without leaving the car. In beautiful, peaceful Monroe County, you can.
Monroe County, West Virginia is not much different from what it was several generations ago: a rural farming community nestled in a landscape of wooded hillsides and rolling pastures.
Preserved within this peaceful setting is a tradition with roots as old as the state itself - quilting.
The country roads of Monroe County make up the Rural Heritage Quilt Trail, and painted on the sides of barns dotted around the countryside, you will find a wide variety of beautiful quilt patterns.
Some of these patterns date back to pioneer days, while others are relatively modern; all display rich artistry and a deep sense of connection with the past.
The ties to the past are not limited to the quilt blocks.
Many of the building structures found in the county - from barns to mills to churches - also date back centuries. Time indeed has moved slowly in this rural culture.
The original quilt squares are hung around the town of Union, the place to start your expedition.
After exploring the town, head out to the country. Each quilt pattern is painted on a barn somewhere along a road (or dirt lane) within the county.
Since its inception almost nine years ago, the Rural Heritage Quilt Trail has continued to grow, with new patterns added periodically. You can navigate it with the help of the trail's website and the I-Treks app; be prepared to download or print the map ahead of time, since cell service will not always be available as you drive.
Then follow the roads back in time, immerse yourself in the mountain beauty, and experience a time when life was lived closer to the land and communities were sewn more tightly to each other.
Oh, and don't forget to visit the oldest church in the whole state while you're in the area!
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