[Updated on December 5, 2023] Growing up in North Georgia, some of my favorite childhood memories involved camping and hiking in the mountains with my family. My parents led our church youth group on incredible excursions, hiking up to the summit of Blood Mountain, trekking 14 miles on the Appalachian Trail, and going to visit … Read more
From the sultry Smoky Mountains all the way west to Memphis, there are some fantastic romantic getaways in Tennessee full of enchanted experiences (for those who manage to leave the room). Weekend getaways for couples in Tennessee are loaded with entertainment options, while the abundance of parks, lakes, scenic routes, and waterfalls make the state perfect … Read more
The Southern Appalachian Mountains are renowned for their beauty, and in our experience there’s no better way to see them than taking scenic train rides in Tennessee. East Tennessee train rides are one of the top tourist attractions in the Smoky Mountains along the North Carolina border. But there are also great train trips that pair … Read more
As longtime Harrisonburg residents, we love celebrating Christmas in Richmond VA to get into the holiday spirit! Coming from the more rural Shenandoah Valley, we really appreciate Richmond VA’s stately old hotels, department stores, and big city charm during the Christmas holidays. The beautiful city of Richmond seemingly transforms into a Hallmark movie set, with … Read more
Christmas events in the Shenandoah Valley can be delightfully old fashioned, and yet also quite modern. We’ve lived in Harrisonburg VA for several decades now, and we never get tired of exploring things to do for Christmas in the area. From candlelight to LED Christmas lights, from horse-drawn carriages to camels, Christmas in the Shenandoah … Read more
Located 3 miles from Downtown Staunton VA, the Frontier Culture Museum is the largest living history museum in the Shenandoah Valley and one of the top family-friendly tourist attractions in Virginia. This self-guided walking tour has a wheelchair and stroller-friendly pathway. There’s also a complimentary shuttle available, or you can opt to rent a golf … Read more
As a longtime Western North Carolina resident (formerly of Brevard, currently of Elkin NC), I’ve spent a lot of time in Asheville over the years. From critically acclaimed restaurants and hip breweries to trendy boutiques and swanky museums, there’s an ever-increasing array of fun things to do in Asheville NC. This burgeoning mountain metropolis is … Read more
Though we live just off the Blue Ridge Parkway near Elkin NC, we’ve enjoyed visiting the Tennessee mountains numerous times over the last few years. In our experience, there’s something undeniably quaint and charming about the Tennessee Mountain Towns, no matter what time of year you visit. But when we visit Tennessee during … Read more
[Updated on November 17, 2023] The Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina are known as “the Fraser Fir Capital of the World” and Boone NC Christmas Tree Farms have some of the best trees in the eastern United States. Fraser fir needles are soft, dark green, and have a silvery underside. These trees are native to … Read more
After living just off the Blue Ridge Parkway near Elkin NC for years, I’ve come to realize that there are an endless array of things to do for Christmas in North Carolina. Whether you’re looking for a choose-and-cut Christmas tree, top-notch Christmas light displays, or shopping in charming Christmas towns, there are loads of … Read more