Bret and Mary 
[Updated January 13, 2023] We’ve explored 40-50 of small towns in North Carolina over the last few years, from tiny burghs like Bryson City and Little Switzerland to major tourism hotspots like Blowing Rock, Boone, and Cherokee. But none of these mountain towns has had more personal relevance for me than Waynesville NC. Located halfway between … Read more
[Updated January 5, 2023] For far too long, Hendersonville NC seemed like the Jan Brady to Asheville‘s Marcia, never quite garnering all the accolades and attention it deserved. But in recent years, Asheville’s immense popularity has proven to be a double-edged sword. Thanks to national media attention, Asheville’s population has grown by nearly 12% since … Read more
We’ve visited 40 to 50 towns in the Blue Ridge Mountains over the past two years, from like Asheville and Roanoke to tiny burghs like Burnsville NC and Hiawassee GA. But as we begin to narrow down the search for our future mountain home, few towns have impressed us quite as much as Brevard, North Carolina. There … Read more
[Updated October 27, 2024] For approximately 340 days a year, the tiny town of McAdenville, North Carolina (population 900) is a quiet community with a charming little downtown area. But every year from December 2-26, this quaint Charlotte suburb transforms into “Christmas Town USA,” one of the best Christmas light displays in North Carolina. Ranked … Read more
[Updated November 5, 2024] Growing up in North Georgia, you couldn’t drive very far into the Blue Ridge Mountains without seeing the famous “SEE ROCK CITY” signs painted on barns, birdhouses, and more. And yet, for some odd reason, my family never visited Rock City Gardens, which has been a popular Chattanooga-area attraction for 90 … Read more
[Updated November 16, 2023] As a boy growing up in the North Georgia suburbs east of Atlanta, Stone Mountain Park (the state’s most-visited tourist attraction) was a huge part of my childhood. So when I grew up and had a daughter, visiting Stone Mountain for its fun festivals (including the Pumpkin Festival and Stone Mountain Highland … Read more
[Updated December 9, 2022] The Western North Carolina mountains have practically everything you could possibly want if you’re looking for a back-to-nature getaway. Home to the five tallest mountains east of the Mississippi, countless cascading waterfalls, adventurous hiking trails, and bustling mountain towns, the region offers beautiful scenery every which way you turn. After a full day … Read more
[Updated November 16, 2023] Although Mary and I have been working as a travel writer/photographer team for over a decade now, we always make sure we’re home in time to spend Christmas in Georgia. Growing up in Atlanta, with extended family who lived far north of the city, I was blessed with so many … Read more
[Updated on November 20, 2023] Widely regarded as one of the best places in the North Georgia mountains to live, Dahlonega GA is one of those old-timey small towns that visitors often compare to Mayberry. It originally grew out of the gold mining boom of the early 19th century, when the Georgia gold rush brought thousands of … Read more
10 Fun, Festive Ways to Celebrate Christmas in Helen GA, including the Helen Christmas Parade, Lighting of the Village, Santa photos & more.
