The Nottoway River is designated a Virginia Scenic River; development along the river is limited, and fishing for a variety of fish species is considered good. There are also river activities, historical themes, and a local tradition surrounding Brunswick Stew. When planning a stay in Brunswick County, you can first consider which of these aspects you want to make the focus of your trip.
Rivers and Landscapes
There are public boat ramps and canoe launch sites at several bridge crossings along the Nottoway River. No permit is required. If you associate the river primarily with fishing, you’ll find different activities described here than on the Meherrin River, where canoeing, kayaking, fishing, and swimming are possible. Thus, the fishing opportunities and access points on the Nottoway River contrast with the four possible activities on the Meherrin River.
The County Park at Great Creek offers a different landscape perspective. It sits on the shore of the Great Creek Reservoir, a 212-acre flood-control lake. While the rivers are associated with activities such as paddling and fishing, the lake shapes the setting described here for the park.
History at Different Stops
The Fort Christanna Historic Site covers 25 acres and offers an overview of the fort founded in 1714 by Governor Alexander Spotswood. Another way to explore the past is the Civil Rights in Education Heritage Trail: this self-guided driving tour runs through Southside Virginia and includes five stops in Brunswick County. Together, a specific historic site and a tour with multiple stops offer different ways to engage with the past.
The Brunswick Museum & Historical Society preserves the cultural and natural history of Brunswick County, Virginia. The museum is housed in a former library building and contains numerous artifacts, with the collection continuing to grow through donations. The society was founded in 1990. For another glimpse of local history, there’s the Valentines Post Office: it was established in 1887 by William H. Valentine in the small community of Valentines.
Brunswick Stew and Local Stories
The food culture also has a history linked to a specific place. According to local tradition, Mr. Jimmy Matthews, who cooked for Dr. Creed Haskins, created the first known Brunswick Stew during a hunting trip in 1828 on the banks of the Nottoway River in Brunswick County. The Brunswick Stew Tour presents the dish from different perspectives, and local businesses support efforts to raise its profile. You can include both the origin story and the dish’s present-day themed presentation among your travel interests.
Planning and Getting Your Bearings
The Brunswick Byways Visitor Center informs the traveling public about the county’s two Virginia Byways: the Christanna Highway (Hwy 46) and the Lake Gaston Byway (Highways 903/626). The Brunswick County Visitors Map can be enlarged to view points of interest. Together, these resources offer two different starting points for planning: the named byways and individual map points you can explore according to your own interests.
If you’re looking for a vacation rental, you can first decide whether river activities, history, or regional cuisine will shape your stay. You can then use the map and byway information to focus on the points relevant to your plans. This way, your choice of experiences reflects your priorities without requiring the different themes to fit into a single fixed itinerary.
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