The 10 Best Restaurants in Roanoke VA (Virginia’s Blue Ridge)

Rockfish Restaurant in Roanoke VA

[Updated 1/12/2022]  The city of Roanoke VA has no shortage of great restaurants to choose from. With a population of around 100,000 people– the largest of the many mountain towns along the Blue Ridge Parkway– there are eateries of every ilk to satisfy any possible craving you could have. My wife Emma and I have been … Read more

The 20 Most Beautiful Wildflowers in Virginia (& Where to See Them)

Groundhog Meadow Overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway VA with Coreopsis Wildflowers in the foreground

The Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia offer a rich, biodiverse terrain with lots of mountain streams, waterfalls, high-altitude meadows, and extensive forests. It’s a perfectly fertile place for the beautiful Virginia wildflowers to flourish. Not only is this an ideal setting for catching amazing scenic vistas and spotting wildlife, but the many microclimates found within the … Read more

The 15 Best Lakes in the Virginia Mountains to Visit

VA Things to Do - Sunrise on Smith Mountain Lake in Virginia

Nothing quite ups the ante on a trip to the Blue Ridge Mountains like nestling in beside a beautiful mountain lake. In our eyes, Virginia lakes are some of the most remarkable in the nation. The lakes of Virginia– particularly those in the western reaches of the state- tend to be geared towards tourists, with … Read more

The 30 Best Waterfalls Near Asheville NC

Waterfalls near Asheville NC

[Updated December 28, 2021]  Asheville NC’s reputation as a forward-thinking, nature-loving town in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains precedes it. Despite being only the 12th largest city in the state, Asheville still ranks among the most popular tourist destinations in North Carolina. In addition to the famous Biltmore Estate, the mountain town has … Read more

The 15 Best Pisgah National Forest Waterfalls to Explore

Graveyard Fields Waterfall near Asheville NC

The waterfalls in Pisgah National Forest rank among the best waterfalls in Western North Carolina. Some of their cascades plummet over 100 feet, pushing thousands of gallons of water per minute into crystalline pools. Pisgah NF occupies over half a million acres in the Blue Ridge Mountains, stretching from the border with Virginia in the … Read more

The 25 Best Small Towns in North Carolina to Visit

Black Mountain NC - Best Western North Carolina Small Towns

[Updated 12/20/2021] Personally, I’d argue that the best small towns in North Carolina easily rank among the best small towns in America on the whole. Western North Carolina is perhaps best known as home to historic Asheville, one of the most deservedly popular up-and-coming small cities in the United States. However, the Blue Ridge region … Read more

Camping and Hiking in Natural Bridge State Park, VA

The back of Natural Bridge

Though it wasn’t designated as one of Virginia’s State Parks until 2016, Natural Bridge of VA has been listed on the National Registry of Historic Places since 1988. It has also been one of the most popular Virginia attractions ever since before the USA was even a country. The famous 215-foot-tall Natural Bridge is so ingrained in … Read more

Camping and Hiking in Grayson Highlands State Park, VA

Grayson Highlands State Park Wild Ponies

One of the most popular Virginia State Parks, Grayson Highlands State Park is in a fantastic location. It’s set in the beautiful high country in Mouth of Wilson VA, close to some of the state’s most renowned natural wonders. Adjacent to the park are Mount Rogers, Virginia’s tallest mountain, and Whitetop Mountain, the state’s second-tallest … Read more

The 7 Best Hikes on the Appalachian Trail in North Carolina

Clingmans Dome on the Appalachian Trail

Of the 2,000-plus miles of AT stretching up the East Coast, the Appalachian Trail in North Carolina has just under 100 miles of the world-famous trail coursing through it. Another 217 miles are shared along the Tennessee border. Nevertheless, some of the most beloved sections are part of the Appalachian Trail in NC, including Clingmans … Read more