Hey, y’all. It’s Amie.

I’ll never forget the time we unexpectedly spent the night in Abingdon. We were traveling back from Tennessee when a rash appeared on Colton’s face and neck. Knowing that hospitals were few and far between along the swath of US Route 58 we’d be traveling to get home, we stopped in Abingdon for the night as a precaution. 

Thankfully, he was fine and dandy—and the following day became an opportunity for fun! We took advantage of the hotel pool, dropped by the Southwest Virginia Cultural Center and Marketplace, and explored the beauty of the region before hitting the road once again. If you’re looking for some fun this spring, Abingdon’s a great place to kick off the adventure. And as always, I’m so glad you’re here.

Here’s what you need to know: Discover local art at the William King Museum, browse the Abingdon Antique Barn for unique treasures, and catch a world-class performance at the Barter Theatre—whether you’re seeking relaxation or adventure, Abingdon has something for every traveler.

Top travel tips:

• Begin your Abingdon getaway at The Martha Washington Inn & Spa. This historic gem, once a home for General Francis Preston’s family and later a women’s college, exudes Southern charm and luxury. Since its transformation into a hotel in 1932, the inn has been a haven for relaxation and elegance, hosting several notable guests.

• Head to the Abingdon Farmers Market, open on Saturday mornings from mid-April through mid-November. Here, you’ll find a bounty of fresh, locally produced foods, including organic produce, artisan cheeses, and handmade crafts. It’s the perfect spot to pick up a few souvenirs or just enjoy the lively atmosphere of this community hub.
• Cap off your day with a visit to Barter Theatre, the nation’s longest-running equity theater. Founded in 1933, Barter Theatre’s unique origins—where patrons could trade produce for tickets during the Great Depression—set the stage for its continued legacy. 

Ready to explore? Your weekend itinerary awaits at the link below. 

Question of the Week: The spotlight’s on Southwest Virginia! What’s your favorite spring activity to do in the commonwealth’s mountainous region? Be sure to write to me at amie@couriernewsroom.com to weigh in.

Virginia Democrats are calling out the Trump administration for its brazen immigration policies after President Donald Trump suggested the possibility of deporting American citizens, our political correspondent Michael O’Connor reports.

“We always have to obey the laws, but we also have homegrown criminals that push people into subways, that hit elderly ladies on the back of the head with a baseball bat when they’re not looking, that are absolute monsters,” Trump recently told reporters at the White House. “I’d like to include them in the group of people to get them out of the country.”

Trump’s remarks have alarmed law school professors, who noted that immigration law does not give the government the authority to deport US citizens. “It is pretty obviously illegal and unconstitutional,” Ilya Somin, a professor at George Mason University’s Antonin Scalia Law School, told NBC News.

Trump’s remarks come as his administration aggressively pushes to deport people under questionably legal circumstances. 

• With over 120 family-owned Vietnamese businesses, this Falls Church hub depends on imports—and sudden tariffs of up to 145% are hitting hard. Leaders are still scrambling for a plan, but the impact? Already here (READ MORE HERE).

• “When I became a mother of twin boys in Virginia, joy and fear walked hand in hand. The fear wasn’t irrational. The fear was rooted in the data, in the history, and in the lived experiences of Black women across the commonwealth,” Jennifer Carroll Foy wrote in a recent opinion piece (READ MORE HERE).

• With rising construction costs and limited contractor availability, localities rely heavily on federal funds for flood protection. FEMA cuts on key disaster grants threaten long-term climate resilience efforts in coastal Virginia (READ MORE HERE).

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