Jonathon Engels 
After moving to Western NC, I fell in love with the vast array of small Blue Ridge Mountain Towns to explore. My wife Emma and I eventually built our little cabin and homestead near the towns of Wilkesboro, Elkin, Sparta, and West Jefferson. Each of them is close enough to call our own. In the … Read more
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of the most visited parks in the USA. It straddles the boundary of North Carolina and Tennessee, with the park headquarters located in Gatlinburg TN. The natural beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains is certainly enough of a draw on its own to bring visitors to the Tennessee … Read more
The town of Blue Ridge GA has long been one of the biggest draws to the Blue Ridge Mountains of Georgia. So when this little town is throwing a party, it’s best to take notice. Sponsored by the Blue Ridge Lodging Association, the Blue Ridge Blues & BBQ Festival has been entertaining and feeding people … Read more
[Updated on 8/14/24] Fall in North Carolina is a wonderful time, particularly in the Blue Ridge Mountains, where the leaves put on amazing shows and the cooler weather seems to summon us all outside. For those of us who love festivals and fairs in North Carolina, no season is more alluring than autumn! North Carolina … Read more
Without a doubt, Fall in the Blue Ridge Mountains is my favorite season. The colors start to change, the heat starts to subside, and the farm markets, apple orchards, and pumpkin patches are putting out awesome produce. Simply put, it’s the right time to be out and about, enjoying the natural beauty of this region we … Read more
It’s insane to realize that there are two different Crabtree Falls that are commonly associated with the 469-mile Blue Ridge Parkway, but that is the world we’re living in. These two popular waterfalls get confused all the time– so much so that the Crabtree Falls page on Virginia.org (the state’s official tourism website) actually links to the … Read more
Located about 7 miles north of the Blue Ridge Parkway, Galax VA is the epitome of the ideal small mountain town in Southwest Virginia. Some of our favorite places to visit in Galax include a historic downtown area, beautiful natural surroundings, and outstanding live music venues. The modern history of Galax VA is largely steeped … Read more
Camping in North Carolina is uniformly fantastic, from the coastal islands and the rolling hills of the Piedmont to the high-flying peaks of the Western NC mountains. North Carolina is home to 3 massive national forests and the 2 most visited national parks in the United States. So many of the best NC campgrounds are … Read more
Located less than 18 miles from the Virginia border, the town of West Jefferson is a jewel in the crown of North Carolina’s best small mountain towns. Downtown West Jefferson has a picturesque, pedestrian-friendly Main Street, with classic components like antique shops and vintage theaters. But the town also offers quirky surprises, including an escape … Read more
There are over 200 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia. That stretch is riddled with marvelous Blue Ridge Mountain views that leave little doubt why the BRP is the most popular of all US National Parks. Virginia’s BRP highlights include the Peaks of Otter, Mabry Mill, Groundhog Meadow, and Mill Mountain. There are … Read more
