Camping in North Carolina is uniformly fantastic, from the coastal islands and the rolling hills of the Piedmont to the high-flying peaks of the Western NC mountains. North Carolina is home to 3 massive national forests and the 2 most visited national parks in the United States. So many of the best NC campgrounds are … Read more
Located less than 18 miles from the Virginia border, the town of West Jefferson is a jewel in the crown of North Carolina’s best small mountain towns. Downtown West Jefferson has a picturesque, pedestrian-friendly Main Street, with classic components like antique shops and vintage theaters. But the town also offers quirky surprises, including an escape … Read more
There are over 200 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia. That stretch is riddled with marvelous Blue Ridge Mountain views that leave little doubt why the BRP is the most popular of all US National Parks. Virginia’s BRP highlights include the Peaks of Otter, Mabry Mill, Groundhog Meadow, and Mill Mountain. There are … Read more
Though it may not be as well-known as California’s Napa Valley, the climate and geography of the Blue Ridge Mountains offers great conditions for growing grapes and producing wines. Wine grapes have been growing in the state of Georgia for hundreds of years, and there are countless respected wineries near mountain towns like Dahlonega, Ellijay, … Read more
Ghost Town In The Sky (later rebranded as Ghost Town Village) was a beloved Wild West-themed amusement park in Maggie Valley NC. Conceived by Virginia native R.B. Coburn, Ghost Town opened atop Buck Mountain (elevation 4,650 ft) in 1961, and was widely known as “North Carolina’s Mile High Theme Park.” In its ’60s and ’70s … Read more
Blowing Rock is a quintessential little North Carolina mountain town with an upscale vibe, located right in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains. It’s one of our favorite places to visit in the North Carolina High Country, and it’s located about 1 mile off of the Blue Ridge Parkway (at Milepost 291.8). The first time … Read more
Located on US-19, just 1.5 miles off the Blue Ridge Parkway at Soco Gap (Milepost 455.7), Soco Falls is an extremely popular place to visit in Summer and Autumn. In addition to being very close to the BRP, people love Soco Falls because it’s a rare (and gorgeous) twin waterfall, meaning that two streams come … Read more
Though it’s nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains and steeped in a long history, Downtown Boone NC has the vibe of a young, hip, and happening town. We live about 90 minutes from Boone, but try to visit every month to sample the great restaurants. We often spend a little time exploring Boone NC hiking trails on … Read more
Blowing Rock NC is located just a couple of miles south of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Drivers simply exit onto US-221N between Moses H. Cone Memorial Park and Julian Price Memorial Park. The Blowing Rock, the namesake of the town, is located at the edge of town a couple of miles south of that. This unique … Read more
The state of North Carolina is home to over half of the Blue Ridge Parkway’s 469 total miles, and the mountain overlooks in NC are by far the most high-flying along the route. In our experience, many of the best views on the Blue Ridge Parkway are found along the ridges of the Craggy Mountains, … Read more
