The 7 Best Train Rides for Christmas in the Blue Ridge Mountains

Christmas Train Rides in North Carolina

Train rides for Christmas chug back into our lives with a payload of nostalgia on board. Railroads come from a historic era before automobiles and airplanes had been invented. Yet they come rumbling in from afar with an odd sense of odd familiarity, even for those who’ve never been on a train ride before. In our … Read more

The 10 Best Places to See Christmas Lights in Tennessee (2023)

Best Christmas lights in Tennessee

There’s nothing remotely dull about spending Christmas in Tennessee.   In fact, there are literally millions (maybe even billions) of twinkling Christmas lights in Tennessee designed to ensure the holidays are as merry and bright as possible.   If shimmering lights help to fuel your holiday spirit, visiting Tennessee in Winter offers endless options to … Read more

30 Facts About Mennonite History, Culture & Amish Connections

Mennonites at Natural Bridge State Park in Natural Bridge VA

My wife, Heather, and I both grew up in the Mennonite community and attended Mennonite churches and schools. If you met us, you’d see that we live a modern (a.k.a. “mainstream”) Mennonite lifestyle. We both drive cars, have college degrees, and dress according to current fashion. But still we have a great appreciation for our … Read more

The 30 Best NC Christmas Events (2023-2024)

Tweetsie Railroad

[Updated November 9, 2023] There’s nothing quite like celebrating the holiday season in a magical place, and many small mountain towns offer special NC Christmas Events. From parades and shopping to dazzling Christmas lights and meetings with Santa, these Blue Ridge Mountain Towns are the perfect place to celebrate and get into the holiday spirit. … Read more

The 10 Best Smoky Mountains Hotels to Visit in NC & TN

Best Smoky Mountains Hotels

Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Gatlinburg TN, and Pigeon Forge TN are huge vacation destinations complete with theme parks, ski resorts, and other fun attractions. Smoky Mountains Hotels provide a comfortable place to recharge for the next day’s adventures. The southern boundary of GSMNP in North Carolina is the town of Cherokee in the Qualla … Read more

The 15 Best Waterfalls in Tennessee to Visit

Tennessee waterfalls - Laural Run Falls

The state of Tennessee is widely known for its music scenes, including the Delta blues of the Memphis area and the Appalachian music (including bluegrass, country, and folk) created by the Scots-Irish people of central and eastern TN. But anyone who’s explored the state in any depth knows it also boasts stunning natural beauty, including the Blue Ridge … Read more

The Birthplace of Country Music Museum in Bristol TN/VA

Birthplace of Country Music Museum - Outside

While Nashville may be considered the home of country music today, many experts consider Bristol TN/VA to be the birthplace of the genre. After all, it was in Bristol where the earliest recordings of country music took place. To my pleasant surprise, rather than being a museum focused on modern music, The Birthplace of Country … Read more

The 15 Best Christmas Tree Farms in Virginia (2023)

Choose and Cut Christmas Tree Farms in Virginia

[Updated November 24, 2023] Boone NC is the undisputed king of Christmas trees in the Appalachian Mountains region, annually providing millions of Frasier firs for families from Georgia north to New England. But there are lots of great Christmas Tree Farms in Virginia too.  The Virginia mountains are nothing to sneeze at when it comes to … Read more