20 Best Things to Do in Bryson City NC & Swain County

Downtown Bryson City seen from the Oconaluftee Loft Balcony

[Updated February 13, 2023] Bryson City is surrounded by Great Smoky Mountains National Park to the north, Fontana Lake to the west, Cherokee NC to the east, and the Nantahala National Forest to the south.  So even a shortlist of the best things to do in Bryson City NC could include dozens of exciting activities … Read more

The 15 Best Bryson City Restaurants for Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Bar at the Everett Hotel Bistro, one of the best restaurants in Bryson City NC

[Updated February 11, 2023] Compared to burgeoning mountain towns like Asheville NC and Roanoke VA, Bryson City is a fairly small town encompassing just 2.3 square miles, with a population of around 1800 people.  But the town, which is known as “the Gateway to the Great Smokies,” offers an exceptional array of things to do, … Read more

The 15 Best Hendersonville NC Restaurants for 2023

Outdoor Patio at Never Blue, a Downtown Hendersonville Restaurant

[Updated January 20, 2023]   From Blue Ridge and Dahlonega GA to Asheville and Waynesville NC, nearly every great mountain town we’ve visited has had a fantastic, foodie-friendly assortment of restaurants to lure visitors.    The Hendersonville eateries we explored during our recent visit proved the town, which lies just 20 miles south of Asheville, … Read more

Top 20 Things to Do in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Georgia

Black Rock Mountain in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Georgia

I’ve been exploring the North Georgia mountains since I was a young boy, camping and hiking with my parents and our church youth group (which they led).  In my 20s I got my start in professional photography by exploring the North Georgia State Parks, whose myriad hiking trails and waterfalls provided a great escape from … Read more

The 14 Best Restaurants in Waynesville NC for Foodies

Patio Dining at Best Restaurants in WaynesVille NC

[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

The 20 Best Things to Do in Hendersonville NC

Hendersonville NC Main St in downtown

[Updated September 10, 2025] 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

The 10 Best Restaurants in Brevard NC for Foodies

Outdoor Patio at Wild Morel Restaurant in Brevard NC

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

Christmas Town USA: 10 Ways to Celebrate in McAdenville NC

McAdenville NC Town Hall during Christmas Town USA Celebration

[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

Christmas Fun at Rock City Enchanted Garden of Lights

Christmas at Rock City Enchanted Garden of Lights in Lookout Mountain GA

[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

10 Fun Things to Do at Stone Mountain Christmas (Stone Mountain GA)

Snow Angel Christmas Parade at Stone Mountain Christmas in Stone Mountain GA

[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