The 8 Best Breweries in Roanoke VA, the Heart of Virginia’s Blue Ridge

Best Roanoke Breweries - A Few Old Goats

[Updated August 16, 2022] The fact that a Blue Ridge mountain town the size of Roanoke VA (population 99,411) has enough breweries to create an “8 Best Breweries” list tells you a lot about the city’s personality. Roanoke has a vibrant downtown area with lots of great restaurants, museums, and other fine activities and attractions. But … Read more

10 Best Cherokee NC Restaurants for Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Exterior of Sassy Sunflowers Bakery & Cafe in Cherokee NC

Choosing the best restaurants in Cherokee NC is an interesting challenge.  Most major tourist towns in the Blue Ridge Mountains– such as Asheville NC, Blue Ridge GA, and Roanoke VA– offer a wide array of upscale, chef-driven restaurants with their own signature culinary flair.  But the majority of the restaurants in Cherokee and the Qualla … Read more

25 Best Things to Do in Boone NC (Blue Ridge Parkway MM 291.8)

Downtown Boone, NC

[Updated January 9, 2023] Located just a couple of hours north of downtown Asheville, the town of Boone NC is the county seat for Watauga County. This hub of North Carolina’s High Country is a slice of the Blue Ridge Mountains that’s choc-a-block with outdoor activities and other attractions. Boone was named for American pioneer/explorer … Read more

The 20 Best Things to Do in Blowing Rock NC

Mary at The Blowing Rock Attraction in Blowing Rock NC

[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

Exploring Julian Price Campground & Memorial Park in Blowing Rock NC

Kayaks on Price Lake in Jullian Price Memorial Park

Much of the press on the Blue Ridge Parkway celebrates it as a wonderfully preserved 469-mile scenic route. But much of what makes the world-renowned road trip so wonderful is the incredible 200 or so Blue Ridge Parkway overlooks you can stop at along the way. Many of these special spots offer amazing vistas of the mountains of North … Read more

The 15 Best Blowing Rock Cabin Rentals (1 to 4+ Bedrooms)

Mountain Vistas Cabin Rental in Blowing Rock NC

Located just south of Boone, Blowing Rock is a tourism-driven North Carolina mountain town known as the “Crown of the Blue Ridge Mountains.” The town was named after The Blowing Rock attraction, a unique geological formation that offers spectacular views of the surrounding scenery. People come to see The Blowing Rock as well as other major … Read more

The 25 Best Blue Ridge Parkway Hikes for NC Day Trips

Beacon Heights Blue Ridge Parkway Overlook Fall

[Updated on March 9, 2022] The Blue Ridge Parkway road trip is truly an American classic. It’s possible to traverse the entire 469-mile route on rubber alone, stopping at some of the 200+ Blue Ridge Parkway Overlooks for those famously breathtaking mountain views, without ever breaking a sweat. The list of the area’s natural attractions … Read more