Bret and Mary 
Located about halfway between Roanoke and Waynesboro, just over 10 miles west of the Blue Ridge Parkway, Lexington is arguably the most historic town in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. Created in 1778 and named after Lexington MA (where the first shot was fired in the American Revolution), the town of around 7,500 people is home to Washington … Read more
[Updated No 16, 2024] Located in the North Carolina High Country, less than 20 miles from Boone and Blowing Rock, Banner Elk is one of the most beautiful Blue Ridge Mountain towns we’ve ever visited. Once used by the Cherokee people for hunting and fishing, the area surrounding the Elk River was settled by Martin … Read more
Located about 35 miles northeast of Asheville and 40 miles southwest of Banner Elk, the town of Burnsville NC has long lived in the shadow of its more famous neighbors. In fact, when we told a friend who lives near Boone that we were headed to Burnsville for a 4-day visit, his first reaction was, … Read more
From basic items like extra clothing, food, and water to survival gear, read on for our 10 hiking essentials packing list.
Located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Cartersville GA, the Etowah Indian Mounds State Historic Site is considered the most intact Mississippian culture site in the Southeastern US. The prehistoric archaeological site contains one of the largest Indian mounds in North America. So it’s designated as a National Historic Landmark– one of just 49 … Read more
We started this website in large part because we wanted to explore the small towns of the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains in the search for our future home. We’ve since visited dozens of towns all across North Georgia, North Carolina, and Virginia, and found some potentially great places to live in each state. In NC … Read more
[Updated April 3, 2022] It’s not difficult to understand why Horse Trough Falls is one of the least visited waterfalls in Helen GA once you decide to explore the area for yourself. The Horse Trough Falls trailhead is located at the back of the Upper Chattahoochee River Campground, which is tucked about 5 miles off … Read more
It’s an undeniable fact that getting outside and exploring nature is good for your mind, body, and soul. But is it good for the natural world? That depends. Have you ever stacked rocks in creeks or waterfalls? Do you intentionally veer off established hiking trails and into the wilderness? Do you pick wildflowers when you visit … Read more
[Updated December 30, 2021] Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Georgia, about an hour north of the I-285 perimeter, Helen GA is known for its Alpine architecture, quirky character, impressive array of hiking trails, and annual Oktoberfest festival. There are lots of great attractions and activities in “Alpine Helen.” But until recently this unabashedly unusual … Read more
[Updated November 26, 2021] Cities like Blue Ridge, Ellijay, Helen, and Dahlonega GA have all earned accolades among the most beautiful Blue Ridge Mountain towns in GA. But after our visits to the city of Clayton, Georgia, we believe this gem of Northeast Georgia also deserves a place near the top of that list. The extensive … Read more
