The 10 Hiking Essentials Packing List for the Blue Ridge Mountains
From basic items like extra clothing, food, and water to survival gear, read on for our 10 hiking essentials packing list.
From basic items like extra clothing, food, and water to survival gear, read on for our 10 hiking essentials packing list.
If I’m being completely honest, visiting the Virginia Museum of Transportation in Roanoke VA, was not even on our itinerary. We literally hadn’t even considered going there during our 3-day trip. But, being fast hikers and busy bodies, my wife Emma and I had already managed to hike up and down McAfee Knob before noon. … Read more
Located in Virginia’s Blue Ridge region, Roanoke VA boasts a winning blend of the attractions and activities you’d expect from a small city, surrounded by the immense natural beauty of the best mountain towns. The McAfee Knob trail is by far the most popular place for hiking in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Roanoke. It … Read more
Exploring Mill Mountain Park is one of the most popular things to do in Roanoke, beloved by both visitors to and residents of Virginia’s Blue Ridge region. The 568-acre park is located in the city of Roanoke, which is just off the Blue Ridge Parkway in Southern Virginia. It’s accessible by both road and trail, via … Read more
Carvins Cove Natural Reserve is the fifth largest city park in the entire United States, and the second-largest run by a municipality. It encompasses more than 12,000 acres, and the 630-acre reservoir within it supplies the city of Roanoke and most of the Roanoke Valley with drinking water. In addition, Carvins Cove Natural Reserve is Virginia’s … Read more
Encompassing 43 square miles, with a population right around 100,000, Roanoke is the largest city on the Blue Ridge Parkway, with loads of great shopping, museums, and other attractions. In our eyes, Roanoke is one of the must-see mountain towns for anyone taking a Blue Ridge Parkway road trip. Downtown Roanoke is home to Virginia’s … Read more
The Blue Ridge Music Center was established by an act of Congress in 1985 to celebrate the rich cultural history and ongoing musical traditions of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The 17,000-square-foot facility is particularly immersed in the Round Peak style of the North Carolina mountains and the Galax and Grayson County style of Virginia. But the museum … Read more
If you’ve lived in the Southeast for a good portion of your life (as our team has), chances are you’ve been exploring Appalachia and the Blue Ridge range for years. Maybe you’ve visited state parks in North Georgia and North Carolina, hiked to various waterfalls, soaked in the scenery atop majestic mountains, or taken a road … Read more
[Updated September 14, 2021] In our opinion, taking a Blue Ridge Parkway road trip is one of the finest romantic getaways or family vacations the United States has to offer. The parkway stretches, winds, climbs, and descends some 469 miles through the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. It creates a marvelous conduit between two of the … Read more