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

The 10 Best Restaurants in Banner Elk NC for Foodies

Outdoor Patio at Sorrento's Italian Bistro in Banner Elk NC

Located 16 miles west of Boone and 18 miles from Blowing Rock, Banner Elk ranks high among the most beloved small towns in North Carolina‘s High Country.  It offers close proximity to major tourist attractions ranging from Grandfather Mountain State Park and the Linville Gorge Wilderness Area to Beech Mountain, Sugar Mountain, and some of … Read more

The Best Hiking in Asheville NC Bucket List (Top 25 Hiking Trails)

[Updated 2/16/22] Between the vast Pisgah National Forest, rolling Blue Ridge Mountains, wondrous waterfalls, and countless meandering creeks and verdant meadows, there’s no shortage of natural beauty in Western North Carolina. The area is also home to some of the most charming Blue Ridge mountain towns, from quaint towns such as Banner Elk and Burnsville to larger towns … Read more

Visiting Linville Falls Campgrounds, RV Park & Cabins in Linville Falls NC

Upper Linville Falls in Linville NC

Located about 55 miles northeast of Asheville NC at milepost 316.4, Linville Falls is perhaps the most famous of the many waterfalls on the Blue Ridge Parkway. The waterfall’s popularity is largely due to the ease with which it can be reached. But it also offers amazing geological formations, a spectacular three-tiered dance down to Linville Gorge, … Read more

The 10 Best Restaurants in Blowing Rock NC for Foodies

Elk at Timberlakes Restaurant in Blowing Rock NC

Located just 10 miles south of Boone, the tiny mountain town of Blowing Rock (population 1,163) is one of the most tourist-friendly towns in the Blue Ridge region of North Carolina.  The town is home to major attractions such as the Blowing Rock, Mystery Hill, and Tweetsie Railroad. And its proximity to the Blue Ridge … Read more

The 10 Best Restaurants in Roanoke VA (Virginia’s Blue Ridge)

Rockfish Restaurant in Roanoke VA

[Updated 1/12/2022]  The city of Roanoke VA has no shortage of great restaurants to choose from. With a population of around 100,000 people– the largest of the many mountain towns along the Blue Ridge Parkway– there are eateries of every ilk to satisfy any possible craving you could have. My wife Emma and I have been … Read more

The 15 Best VRBO Cabins in Asheville NC

VRBO Cabins in Asheville NC

Asheville, North Carolina is a special place where the excitement of city life and the thrill of outdoor adventure collide to offer a Blue Ridge mountain town with a seemingly endless list of things to do. In the city, there are countless critically-acclaimed restaurants, an impressive number of quality breweries, and the bustling cultural hotspot … Read more

The 15 Best Things to Do in Banner Elk NC

Banner Elk, NC

[Updated No 16, 2024] Located in the North Carolina High Country, less than 20 miles from Boone and Blowing Rock, Banner Elk is one of the most beautiful Blue Ridge Mountain towns we’ve ever visited. Once used by the Cherokee people for hunting and fishing, the area surrounding the Elk River was settled by Martin … Read more

The 10 Best Things to Do in Weaverville NC

Downtown Weaverville NC Town Hall

We started this website in large part because we wanted to explore the small towns of the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains in the search for our future home. We’ve since visited dozens of towns all across North Georgia, North Carolina, and Virginia, and found some potentially great places to live in each state.  In NC … Read more