Jonathon Engels 
Tennessee is a perfect place for anyone interested in exploring the stunning array of natural wonders to be found near the Blue Ridge Mountains and other sub-ranges of the Appalachian Mountains. Eastern Tennessee is particularly riddled with amazing rivers and lakes, awesome parks and forests, and stunning mountain ranges. So perhaps it’s no surprise that many of … Read more
[Updated 6/26/2023] Just east of the Blue Ridge Mountains, rocky ridges smooth out into the rolling hills and lively mountain streams known as the North Carolina Piedmont. North of I-40, Mt. Airy often steals the headlines. The charming mountain town is best known as the home of Andy Griffith and the setting for The Andy Griffith … Read more
Virginia is for lovers, but it’s easy to love because the state is blessed with an abundance of natural beauty. Visitors are constantly wowed by the state’s diverse landscapes, from the Grayson Highlands, Shenandoah Valley, and Blue Ridge Mountains to the beautiful Virginia coastline and barrier islands. The state is also full of rich American … Read more
Mount Airy is often called Mayberry because it inspired the small town setting of The Andy Griffith Show. But quite a lot has changed in the decades since Griffith left his hometown. In addition to the Andy Griffith Museum, theater, and stores that make the town a major tourist draw, Downtown Mount Airy NC has grown … Read more
Visiting Bristol TN/VA means getting to explore awesome places in two states, because the Blue Ridge mountain towns‘ main street literally acts as a state boundary. The Virginia side of the street is to the north, while the Tennessee side is to the south. The town of Bristol is renowned for its history, beloved for its quirky … Read more
[Updated June 16, 2023] With a population of around 100,000 people, Roanoke is both the largest city along the Blue Ridge Parkway and the largest in Virginia’s Blue Ridge region. Roanoke has a lot of the small Blue Ridge mountain town charm that’s customary to the region, with a historic town center, wilderness just minutes … Read more
River rafting in Tennessee is one of the great outdoor adventures to be found in the Blue Ridge Mountains. In our experience, the best white water rafting in Tennessee is in the eastern part of the state, in the Appalachian region. Opportunities for Upper Pigeon River rafting and Ocoee River white water rafting are so good, the … Read more
Once you start digging into all the different Virginia waterfalls, you’ll quickly realize that there are far too many Virginia hikes with waterfalls to possibly see them all in one trip. It would be difficult just to see all the best waterfalls in Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park during a single getaway, or to visit the … Read more
Although it has a population of less than 2,000 residents, Ellijay GA is the seat of Gilmer County. It’s a town so nice that President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalyn, had a second home there. Ellijay is located about 22 miles north of the southern terminus of the Blue Ridge Mountains, at the confluence of … Read more
“Where are the Blue Ridge Mountains?” is a question we get fairly often, and it’s understandable why so many people are confused by the geographical definition of the region. Stretching 550 miles from North Georgia to Southern Pennsylvania, the Blue Ridge Mountain range is part of the larger Appalachian Mountain range. So all Blue Ridge … Read more
