Blue Ridge Country - Exploring the Mountains of the South

Great Themed Drives in 7 States

From wine to cheese, from music to quilts, we provide the routes to your favorites. more

Fall Magic in 7 States

Our on-the-road contributing editor is back with a bounty of experience-filled excursions. more

Spooky Stories: West Virginia's "Dark Tourism"

Tony Urban's book is full of odd places in West Virginia. We visit two of them. more

Eastern Kentucky's Country Music Highway

The hardships of the region have inspired its musical artists. more

Wait, Sonkers?

Tracking down a dessert unique to one North Carolina county. more

The Elk of Cataloochee Valley

The population at Cataloochee in the Smokies has grown and thrived. more

Recent Stories

Kurt Rheinheimer

New Hikes at Big House, Rumbling Bald

Big views, pleasant loops and ice cream rewards can all be found in Kurt's August hikes. more

Sep 18, 2017 8:30 AM Kurt Rheinheimer Kurts Hikes

Our Favorite Facebook Photos: 9/15/17

Ready to see week 158 of our Favorite Facebook photos? Tell us your favorite shot in the comments! more

Sep 15, 2017 7:30 AM Liz Long Our Favorite Facebook Photos 1 Comments

Raising Children on a College Campus

Mallory McDuff has raised her two daughters on the campus of Warren Wilson College for the past 17 years. more

Aug 28, 2017 9:48 AM Mallory McDuff Guest Columnists

Hiking by the Light of the Moon

Evening begins to gather along the Greenbrier River Trail before a moonlight hike. more

Aug 28, 2017 9:13 AM Su Clauson-Wicker Country Roads

New Mary Ingles Trail Follows Pioneer Woman’s Path

Walkers can now walk next to the New River in Virginia and West Virginia, following the path of Mary Drapler Ingles. more

Aug 28, 2017 9:12 AM Su Clauson-Wicker Country Roads

Joe Tennis

Driving to Bell Mountain

The view onto Lake Chatuge can now be realized by car as well as by foot. more

Aug 28, 2017 9:10 AM Joe Tennis Country Roads

Joe Tennis

Sky Lift Comes Back

The rebuilt Gatlinburg Sky Lift features three-seater chairs instead of the former two-seaters. more

Aug 28, 2017 9:08 AM Joe Tennis Country Roads

Leonard Adkins

The Riverwalk at Lynchburg, Virginia

This pleasant, flat walk combines out-in-the-woods with right-next-to town. more

Aug 28, 2017 9:04 AM Leonard Adkins The Hike

Molly Dugger Brennan

On the Porch

The days before air conditioning held treasures of their own, not the least of which revolved around the stringing of the beans. more

Aug 28, 2017 9:02 AM Molly Dugger Brennan Mill Creek Stories

A Week to Remember

In September, bird lovers band together to watch and record spectacular migrating hawks. more

Aug 28, 2017 8:59 AM Nancy Henderson Creature Feature

COURTESY ROANOKE CITY PUBLIC LIBRARY VIRGINIA ROOM

A Short History of the Ice Cream

You start early enough in life with way too much at one serving, you could well be hooked for life. more

Aug 28, 2017 8:57 AM Kurt Rheinheimer From the Editor

Seeing Southern

Seeing Southern: A Total Eclipse of the Sun

It’s one of those things you’ve always heard about but never really given it much thought. A total solar eclipse, the first one to crisscross the United States in over 100 years. And part of the Blue Ridge Mountains is in the path of totality. more

Aug 24, 2017 12:03 PM Seeing Southern