Transylvania County NC is justifiably known as “the Land of Waterfalls.” There are more than 250 waterfalls in the area surrounding Brevard to check off your list, but in our experience Rainbow Falls in Gorges State Park is easily among the most magical. When my husband Jonathon and I lived in Brevard and visited Gorges … Read more
Spring has officially sprung, and with it comes the seasonal mixed blessing of beautiful wildflowers and bountiful pollen (ah-choo!). One of our favorite things to do as the weather turns warmer is to go for walks where we can see nature’s blossoming beauty in full bloom. And whether it’s the Atlanta Botanical Garden, Asheville’s NC … Read more
If you’re visiting Great Smoky Mountains National Park, a journey up to the summit of Kuwohi (pronounced koo-WHOA-hee, and formerly known as Clingmans Dome) is an absolute must. Straddling the NC/TN border, the 6,643-foot Kuwohi is the highest point in GSMNP, in the state of Tennessee, and on the entire Appalachian Trail. It’s also the … Read more
Blue Ridge Mountain resorts come in all shapes and sizes. Some upscale luxury resorts in the Blue Ridge Mountains focus on foodie-friendly restaurants, outstanding golf courses, and top-notch spas. My favorite mountain resorts go all-in on the rustic feel, offering breathtaking scenic vistas, hiking trails and/or waterfalls. Of course, there are also Blue Ridge Mountain ski resorts for … Read more
Over the 5 years since we launched Blue Ridge Mountains Travel Guide, our team has visited 70-80 different towns in Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia (not including those we’ve driven through, but not actually stayed in). So narrowing it all down to a list of 30 mountain towns was no easy feat! What makes … Read more
After recovering relatively quickly from Hurricane Helene, the North Carolina mountain town of Murphy (and surrounding Cherokee County) is making the most of the holiday season. Inspired in part by their Cherokee County Holiday Itinerary Guide for this Winter, we’ve decided to put together our own guide for celebrating Christmas in Murphy NC. This slice of … Read more
Since Hurricane Helene devastated North Carolina in late September, we’ve received hundreds of requests on our Facebook page to create a guide to Western NC stores that offer online shopping. We always try to shop small businesses when we travel, because for every $1 you spend at a small business, around 67¢ stays in the … Read more
After Hurricane Helene wreaked havoc throughout Western NC in late September 2024, it was a wonderful thing to see so many small towns able to reopen to visitors for Christmas. Located about an hour north of Asheville in Yancey County, the town of Burnsville NC was one of those places that faced a seemingly insurmountable … Read more
You can’t swing a stick in Western NC without hitting a wonderful place to celebrate Christmas. But you’d be hard-pressed to find one more splendid than Bryson City NC! This little town in the Great Smoky Mountains has it all– great restaurants and shopping, weekly holiday events, and even the beloved Polar Express Christmas train … Read more
This holiday season is extra special for the town of Banner Elk NC, especially after having spent the last two months climbing out from under the devastation Hurricane Helene brought. As a small North Carolina mountain town whose economy is largely tourism-dependent, it was quite a blow. But while 2024 brought much heartache and loss … Read more
