Virginia Hostels
Located in the Appalachian region of southwestern Virginia, the Galax hostel has its roots deep in traditional American music. The site of some of the earliest recorded country music and musicians, Galax celebrates its musical heritage year-round. Since 1935, the town has hosted the Old Fiddler’s Convention, the largest and oldest of its kind in the world. Held during the second week of August each year, the convention is full of old time, bluegrass, and folk concerts and competitions. The Galax Leaf and String Festival is held every second weekend in June, and features crafts, instrument makers, and numerous concerts. The town’s renovated Rex Theatre hosts old time music year round, as does the nearby Blue Ridge Music Center, which was established by the U.S. Congress to commemorate the historic roots of American music. Learn about Galax’ rich history by talking the town-sponsored Walking Tour of Historic Downtown Galax or explore the New River Trail State Park, which offers 57 miles of continuous trails, perfect for hiking or biking. Visitors can also canoe, tube, or whitewater raft along the New River.
Virginia Beach, located on the southeastern coast of the state, is a thriving beach resort area with an always-entertaining boardwalk. The Virginia Beach hostel is just one block from the beach and in the middle of it all. One of Virginia Beach’s most popular destinations is the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center, which features hands-on exhibits and its famous 70,000-gallon sea turtle habitat and egg hatchery. The aquarium sponsors several cruise expeditions, including a salt marsh cruise, dolphin watching, and whale watching. The aquarium’s Harbor Seal Splash program is the only program in the U.S. that allows visitors to interact with harbor seals. Another popular Virginia Beach destination is Mount Trashmore Park, a former abandoned landfill that has been converted into a city park with walking trails, picnic areas, recreational areas, fishing, and a world-class state park.
Summers in Virginia Beach are hot and humid, with average highs in the mid to high 80s and lows in the low 70s. Most rain falls in the spring and summer months. Winters can be cold, with highs in the low 50s and lows in the mid 30s – snowfall is quite unusual with an average annual snowfall of 2.5 inches. Galax weather is generally colder, with summer highs in the high 70s and lows in the high 50s. Winter highs are in the mid to low 40s, with lows in the 20s.
