What makes a particular mountain town great? From walkable downtown areas with great shops and restaurants to a wealth of natural beauty and outdoor adventures, everyone has their own qualifying traits. But, for us, historic sites and cultural attractions are two major X factors that elevate our favorite Blue Ridge Mountain towns above the pack. … Read more
If you visit Bedford VA (located about 28 miles east of Roanoke), you won’t get far before you realize how much of an impact World War II had on this charming small town. Bordered by the Blue Ridge Mountains to the north and Smith Mountain Lake to the south, the town dates back more than … Read more
The Blue Ridge Parkway (and the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountain towns) is heaving with options for amazing outdoor adventures. But whether it’s a rainy day, unseasonably cold, or a brutally hot scorcher, sometimes you just want to be inside for a few hours. There are countless museums along the Parkway and in neighboring towns that … Read more
Now in its twentieth year, this popular event was originally held in Blairsville GA, where it was known as the Blairsville Scottish Festival and Highland Games. Every year hundreds of bagpipers, drummers, Clan representatives, athletes, artisans, and food vendors would gather in beautiful Meeks Park for a weekend-long celebration of traditional Scots-Irish culture and sport. … Read more
Hayesville NC is a tiny mountain town (0.64 sq miles, population under 500) located near the northern shores of Lake Chatuge, which straddles the NC/GA border. Established in the 1860s, the town was named after 19th-century politician George Hayes, who helped the Cherokee people resist deportation and enabled some Cherokee communities to remain after the … Read more
The North Carolina High Country has been a tourist destination for centuries, and one of its earliest attractions was the famous “Blowing Rock.” That unique geological feature is the namesake for the wildly popular town of Blowing Rock, which makes a fantastic base for the exploring the NC High Country. In addition to the Blue … Read more
Transylvania County NC is justifiably known as “the Land of Waterfalls.” There are more than 250 waterfalls in the area surrounding Brevard to check off your list, but in our experience Rainbow Falls in Gorges State Park is easily among the most magical. When my husband Jonathon and I lived in Brevard and visited Gorges … Read more
Spring has officially sprung, and with it comes the seasonal mixed blessing of beautiful wildflowers and bountiful pollen (ah-choo!). One of our favorite things to do as the weather turns warmer is to go for walks where we can see nature’s blossoming beauty in full bloom. And whether it’s the Atlanta Botanical Garden, Asheville’s NC … Read more
With all apologies to TLC, chasing waterfalls in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains is one of our favorite pastimes. And while my native state of Georgia may not have as many waterfalls as Western NC, the ones we do have are truly a sight to see, and often surprisingly easy to access! To that end, … Read more
The 469-mile Blue Ridge Parkway is roughly split evenly between North Carolina and Virginia, linking two of the most beloved US National Parks– Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Shenandoah National Park. Along the world-renowned scenic route, there are many fantastic places for hiking, biking, camping, swimming, and further exploring one of the prettiest regions … Read more
