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June 29, 2026

Roanoke, Virginia, USA downtown skyline at dawn

2026 Happiest Mountain Towns

Ten years after this poll’s inaugural launch, we once again turned to our knowledgeable readers for their picks. The results? A brand-new collection of 71 exceptional Blue Ridge communities that excel at bringing big smiles to the faces of both residents and visitors.
Kayaks on Toccoa River Below the Falls

7 Fabulous Float-to-Stays

Paddling trips on scenic rivers to great mountain towns make for perfect summer getaways.
Mary Berry

Mary Berry: Founder and Executive Director of The Berry Center in New Castle, Kentucky

Mary Berry is the daughter of Wendell Berry—poet, conservationist, author of more than 50 books, and recipient of the 2010 National Humanities Medal.
The SMith House food

Buttermilk Fried Chicken Meets Georgia Gold 

Now in its fourth generation of ownership, The Smith House in Dahlonega remains closely tied to the state’s gold-mining history.
Grandmaw’s Pepperoni Roll

Mountaineers Are Always Free!

The Mountain State’s signature snack—just the way Grandmaw made it.
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Behind Blue Ridge Country

Even More Sweet Virginia Breezes

Casually cruising to Claytor Lake in southwest Virginia, I felt like I had come home – back to where it

April 12, 2018

CALENDAR OF EVENTS