Exploring Groundhog Meadow & Groundhog Mountain Picnic Area

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

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

Visiting Kuwohi (& Why They Changed Clingmans Dome’s Name)

Clingmans Dome/Kuwohi in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

If you’re visiting Great Smoky Mountains National Park, a journey up to the summit of Kuwohi (pronounced koo-WHOA-hee, and formerly known as Clingmans Dome) is an absolute must. Straddling the NC/TN border, the 6,643-foot Kuwohi is the highest point in GSMNP, in the state of Tennessee, and on the entire Appalachian Trail. It’s also the … Read more

20 Must-Visit Blue Ridge Mountain Resorts for 2025

Best Blue Ridge Mountain resorts NC

Blue Ridge Mountain resorts come in all shapes and sizes.  Some upscale luxury resorts in the Blue Ridge Mountains focus on foodie-friendly restaurants, outstanding golf courses, and top-notch spas.  My favorite mountain resorts go all-in on the rustic feel, offering breathtaking scenic vistas, hiking trails and/or waterfalls. Of course, there are also Blue Ridge Mountain ski resorts for … Read more

The 30 Best Blue Ridge Mountain Towns to Visit in 2025

Best Blue Ridge Mountain Towns to Visit in 2025

Over the 5 years since we launched Blue Ridge Mountains Travel Guide, our team has visited 70-80 different towns in Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia (not including those we’ve driven through, but not actually stayed in).  So narrowing it all down to a list of 30 mountain towns was no easy feat! What makes … Read more

10 Awesome Events for Christmas in Murphy NC/Cherokee County

Christmas in Murphy NC & Cherokee County- LEAD

After recovering relatively quickly from Hurricane Helene, the North Carolina mountain town of Murphy (and surrounding Cherokee County) is making the most of the holiday season. Inspired in part by their Cherokee County Holiday Itinerary Guide for this Winter, we’ve decided to put together our own guide for celebrating Christmas in Murphy NC. This slice of … Read more

Help Western NC Stores by Shopping Online (Jackson Co Edition)

North Carolina Shopping - Jackson County Cashiers Cherokee Dillsboro Sylva

Since Hurricane Helene devastated North Carolina in late September, we’ve received hundreds of requests on our Facebook page to create a guide to Western NC stores that offer online shopping. We always try to shop small businesses when we travel, because for every $1 you spend at a small business, around 67¢ stays in the … Read more

Exploring the Chattahoochee Nature Center on the Chattahoochee River

Chattahoochee Nature Center's Kingfisher Pond Reflection

Growing up in the heart of Atlanta GA in the 1970s, nature was something we really only explored during our school field trips. Whether it was the Atlanta Botanical Gardens, the Atlanta Zoo, or Stone Mountain Park, these magical places offered a taste of peace and serenity we rarely experienced in the city. The first … Read more

10 Fun, Festive Things to Do in Burnsville NC at Christmas

Christmas in Burnsville NC

After Hurricane Helene wreaked havoc throughout Western NC in late September 2024, it was a wonderful thing to see so many small towns able to reopen to visitors for Christmas. Located about an hour north of Asheville in Yancey County, the town of Burnsville NC was one of those places that faced a seemingly insurmountable … Read more