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A statue of famed numismatist Chet Krause in his hometown of Iola, Wisconsin. — Chester L. Krause Legacy Park

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Bristol

The Atlas Obscura Guide To Bristol

3 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Bristol, Virginia

Updated July 9, 2024

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Unusual Attractions in Bristol

State Street

Bristol, Virginia

State Street

One street divides a single town that stands in two U.S. states.

Mural to Country Music in Bristol, Virginia

Bristol, Virginia

Birthplace of Country Music Museum

Country fans may flock to Nashville's music scene, but this Appalachian town is where the genre was born.

This ham-cured tomahawk pork chop is enlivened with a strawberry and hibiscus gastrique.

Bristol, Virginia

Hickory

This restaurant is devoted to celebrating Appalachia's cuisine.

Are we missing something unusual?

Backyard Terror's Dinosaur Park.

Bluff City, Tennessee

Backyard Terror's Dinosaur Park

A delightful park featuring homemade scale replicas of dinosaurs, tucked away in the Tennessee mountains.

11 miles from Bristol

Robert Porterfield Bartering at Barter Theatre

Abingdon, Virginia

Barter Theatre

At one of the nation’s longest-running professional theaters, the audience used to barter for tickets with produce and livestock.

14 miles from Bristol

Mountain Dew monument in Oak Hill Cemetery

Johnson City, Tennessee

Mountain Dew Headstone

This bottle-shaped monument pays tribute to the Appalachian drink that changed the pace of human life.

21 miles from Bristol

Great Channels of Virginia.

Saltville, Virginia

Great Channels of Virginia

This maze-like slot canyon is a unique gem within an already fascinating geological area.

22 miles from Bristol

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Bristol

This ham-cured tomahawk pork chop is enlivened with a strawberry and hibiscus gastrique.

Bristol, Virginia

Hickory

This restaurant is devoted to celebrating Appalachia's cuisine.

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