September 2026

Sherwood Anderson and printer Howard White outside the Marion news office, in one of the last photos taken of Anderson.

Finding Home in the Mountains

In 1926, renowned writer Sherwood Anderson moved from center stage in Chicago to the mountains of far Southwest Virginia. Why?
Author Tim Carmichael’s grandmother, Granny Woman Stella Gosnell Norton, served her Madison County, North Carolina, community as a trusted healer and caregiver.

The Heart of the Hills

Long before modern healthcare reached many Appalachian communities, Granny Women became trusted healers and caregivers, delivering babies, treating illness and injury, and preserving generations of healing knowledge.
Sarah Riddell

Sarah Smiles: Choose Adventure

By the time you read this,  the brilliant reds, oranges, and golds of another Blue Ridge autumn will likely be just around the corner.
Named for its buffalo-hump silhouette, 725-acre Buffalo Mountain Park sits just south of downtown Johnson City, Tennessee, and features 20 miles of trails and stunning views. Photo by Jay Huron

Signature Peaks in Fall: A Photo Essay

Our contributing photographers capture the vibrant colors of fall from—and looking toward—some of the Blue Ridge’s most glorious summits.
In West Virginia, the rugged trails of Dolly Sods Wilderness lead to sweeping overlooks and untamed mountain scenery.

Blue Ridge Base Camp Towns

More than outposts for gearing up, these seven mountain communities are destinations in their own right, pairing easy access to some of the region’s best outdoor adventures with walkable downtowns, local flavor, and much more.

Departments

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

CALENDAR OF EVENTS