My husband and I live in a cabin we built near Doughton Park and Elkin NC, about 20 miles south of the VA border. So we tend to spend a good bit of time in Southwest Virginia (a.k.a. SWVA). Because we’re professional gardeners, we love spending time in nature, tending to shrubs and flowers that … Read more
[Updated July 3, 2023] Over the last decade, Asheville has emerged as a progressive haven of arts and culture in the middle of the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. The town is known for its fiercely independent spirit, with myriad “green” restaurants, breweries, and countless Asheville art galleries and artists’ studios popping up over … Read more
[Updated June 26, 2023] It’s been said that the most important considerations when it comes to real estate are “location, location, location.” If that’s truly the case, then the town of Waynesboro VA might as well be sitting on a gold mine. With a population of 22,000+, this delightful mid-sized mountain town is located in … 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
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
