[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
Growing up as a lower middle class kid in Georgia, horseback riding wasn’t really something me and my friends in Atlanta ever did. But from the very first time we visited Blue Ridge GA, horseback riding has been one of our favorite things to do in North Georgia. Though it’s been nearly 20 years, I … 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
The Blue Ridge Mountains are home to an extensive array of caves and caverns, many of which have significant historical importance. There are more caves and caverns in Tennessee than any other U.S. state, with more than 8,000 having been officially registered to date. So no matter which region of the state you plan to … Read more
Although we’ve visited 50+ Blue Ridge Mountain towns over the past 3 years, the town of Hot Springs NC remained a fixture on our bucket list until April 2023. Located just 5 miles east of the border with Tennessee, the tiny town is home to one of the most famous natural hot springs in North … Read more
[Updated Jun 20, 2023] Located in the heart of Virginia’s picturesque Shenandoah Valley, Luray is the county seat of Page County and one of just four access points for entering Shenandoah National Park. Established in 1812 on 10 acres of land near Hawksbill Creek, the small town of around 4,800 residents is a warm, welcoming … Read more
[Updated August 17, 2025] 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
Before the advent of automobiles, Georgia railways were essential for both transportation and business. Railways in Georgia began in the mid-1830s with the Central of Georgia Railway (Savannah to Macon), Georgia Railroad (Augusta to Athens), Monroe Railroad (Macon to Forsyth), and the Western & Atlantic Railroad (to Chattanooga). By the 1850s, trains in Georgia had linked all … Read more
