An important aspect of North Carolina’s state history, NC moonshine is filled with legends, folklore, and lots of liquor. In short, NC distilleries are something of a cultural institution. North Carolina auto racing heroes like Junior Johnson are reputed to have developed their formidable driving skills while running bootleg liquor. This morphed into stock car … Read more
Located in Southeast Tennessee, the Ocoee River is a 93-mile river that flows northwest through the southern Appalachian Mountains. It’s known as the Toccoa River in the state of Georgia, where it passes through the towns of Blue Ridge and McCaysville. The river is world-renowned for its Class III-V rapids, which served as the dramatic … Read more
Although many people wait for the fall colors to reach their peak, summer is truly prime time for visiting the North Georgia mountains. The Chattahoochee National Forest is lush and green, the temperatures are 5º to 10º cooler than they are in metro Atlanta, and the myriad lakes and waterfalls offer excellent options for cooling … Read more
The state of Georgia was home to some of the most famous Civil War battles, and subsequently has many fascinating historic sites for visitors to explore. The Civil War battlefields in Georgia span from Lookout Mountain in the west to Savannah in the east, along the route the Union Army took to defeat the Confederacy between … Read more
Spanning more than half a million acres, Great Smoky Mountains National Park straddles the border of North Carolina and Tennessee. Averaging over 14 million visitors a year, GSMNP is the most visited of all the US National Parks. The park was commissioned by the US Congress in 1934, and officially dedicated in 1940 by President … Read more
A guide to the 15 Best Blue Ridge Parkway hotels, cabin rentals, and B&Bs in NC & VA, spanning nearly the entire length of the BRP.
There are dozens of charming Blue Ridge Mountain towns in North Georgia, each of which has a certain something for which they are widely renowned. For example, Helen GA is known for its Alpine-influenced architecture and Bavarian-style restaurants. Dahlonega GA is known for being the site of the first major U.S. Gold Rush, while Blue Ridge GA is … Read more
[Updated June 14, 2022] Known as the “Crown of the Blue Ridge Mountains,” Blowing Rock NC is widely regarded as one of the most charming North Carolina villages. Located in the NC High Country 10 miles south of Boone and 24 miles east of Banner Elk, the town of Blowing Rock was established in 1889. … Read more
From hiking and horseback riding to rock climbing and ziplining, there are tons of adventurous ways to enjoy the outdoors in Georgia. As the heat and humidity start to rise, finding water to cool off in is a must. So a Georgia kayaking trip down some of our many scenic waterways makes for the perfect … Read more
Spending a sunny day on a glistening lake is one of our favorite ways to enjoy time in the Blue Ridge Mountains. And in our opinion, the region has few lakes that are more beautiful than Lake Blue Ridge. Comprising 3,290-acres of clear blue water, Lake Blue Ridge is arguably among the best lakes in … Read more
