I have a trip planned for this October starting in Monroe County (in SE West Virginia), working over to the New River Gorge area before returning to NC. But I need some help deciding on which route has better landscape photo ops getting to Union in Monroe County. Coming up I-77 from NC, there would be the second half of the day to get from either Princeton or Blacksburg to Union, so looking for the most scenic route.

The routes I am trying to decide between include:
1-Take I-77 close to around Princeton, WV, and then east on US #460 continuing onto US #219 at Rich Creek to Union;
2-Leave I-77 and get on I-81 to around Christiansburg, VA, and then get on US #460 north and northwest and go up through Blacksburg to Rich Creek, on the VA/WV line, and then pick up US #219 to Union.
3(?)-or possibly VA #100, from Dublin on I-81 thru Pearisburg to Rich Creek, but it looks really winding and slow--unless there are worthwhile photo ops.

The focus of the trip will be to explore old barns, covered bridges, old general stores, grist mills, waterfalls, and scenic landscapes. So these would be the attractions I'd like to find along whichever route I take.
Any photographers who can share their knowledge of the area would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance for taking time to give this some thought!

You haven't seen me much because I've been entirely immersed in puppy world. I'd forgot the band width they take!
We have been making fresh food topping for all the boys with some meat that was thawed and left in a turned off freezer for a couple of days, courtesy of the power company, then re frozen for just that purpose. Slow cooker 12 hours on medium, lots of liquid. The gravy is almost better than the meat! Their coats look great and their appetites as well.
Spinning on that, I took a chunk of a tough sirloin roast, pressure cooked it, shredded it, and used it in Fajitas. Not photogenic, or the classic, but good. More when I next come up for air!