We’ve visited more than 50 towns in the Blue Ridge Mountains over the last 4 years, staying in some truly exceptional cabin rentals, hotels, and resorts. But Lakeview at Fontana Soaking Cabana Resort, which is located about 7 miles southwest of Bryson City and overlooks Lake Fontana, was like no other place we’ve stayed. This Smoky … Read more
We’ve visited 50+ Blue Ridge Mountain towns in the 4 years since we launched this site, and several of them we’ve visited numerous times. Blowing Rock NC is one of our favorites, because it’s located right off the Blue Ridge Parkway, in the heart of the North Carolina High Country, with an amazing array of … Read more
We’ve written about how much Mary and I both love the water many times before. She grew up spending weeks every summer with her grandparents on the Merrimack River in New Hampshire, and I grew up spent weeks every summer with my grandparents on Lake Hartwell in Georgia. Those formative experiences gave us both a … Read more
What would the 4th of July be without a few fireworks? Thankfully, many Blue Ridge Mountain towns in GA & NC are intent on making sure your Independence Day celebrations go off with a bang! In addition to fantastic firework displays, some of these mountain towns go all out, offering enough family-friendly fun to fill an entire … Read more
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
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
