After moving to Western NC, I fell in love with the vast array of small Blue Ridge Mountain Towns to explore. My wife Emma and I eventually built our little cabin and homestead near the towns of Wilkesboro, Elkin, Sparta, and West Jefferson. Each of them is close enough to call our own. In the … Read more
Want to keep one foot in nature while simultaneously turning up the dial on luxury? Try a weekend of glamping in the Blue Ridge Mountains! Glamping (a.k.a. luxury camping) allows you to immerse yourself in the forest, creeks, and mountains while also enjoying modern conveniences like cozy beds, AC/heat, kitchens, private terraces, and maybe even … Read more
There’s hardly an inch of the Blue Ridge Parkway that wouldn’t make a lovely spot to have a picnic. Whether you’ve been taking a scenic drive or hiking for miles, there’s something very nostalgic about pulling out a blanket, a basket full of goodies, and soaking up some nature while you nosh. Thankfully, the US … Read more
(Updated August 11, 2025) Without a doubt, Fall in the Blue Ridge Mountains is my favorite season. The colors start to change, the heat starts to subside, and the farm markets, apple orchards, and pumpkin patches are putting out awesome produce. Simply put, it’s the right time to be out and about, enjoying the natural … Read more
It’s insane to realize that there are two different Crabtree Falls that are commonly associated with the 469-mile Blue Ridge Parkway, but that is the world we’re living in. These two popular waterfalls get confused all the time– so much so that the Crabtree Falls page on Virginia.org (the state’s official tourism website) actually links to the … Read more
Located about 7 miles north of the Blue Ridge Parkway, Galax VA is the epitome of the ideal small mountain town in Southwest Virginia. Some of our favorite places to visit in Galax include a historic downtown area, beautiful natural surroundings, and outstanding live music venues. The modern history of Galax VA is largely steeped … 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
Spanning 469 miles in North Carolina and Virginia, the Blue Ridge Parkway should be on the bucket list of any avid hiker or road trip enthusiast. With more than 200 overlooks along the ever-popular scenic route, you don’t have to get out of the car to savor stunning scenic views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. … Read more
There are over 200 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia. That stretch is riddled with marvelous Blue Ridge Mountain views that leave little doubt why the BRP is the most popular of all US National Parks. Virginia’s BRP highlights include the Peaks of Otter, Mabry Mill, Groundhog Meadow, and Mill Mountain. There are … Read more
There’s a wealth of beautiful things to see while driving the Blue Ridge Parkway. But the 200+ scenic mountain overlooks found along the way are the main attractions for most road trippers. That being said, stopping at all (or even most) of these overlooks while driving the 469-mile scenic route can be overwhelming. We know, … Read more
