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2014 Blue Ridge Mountains Festival Preview

Congratulations to Karen Smith-Gratto of Greensboro, N.C. on her winning video from the Blue Ridge Folklife Festival in Ferrum, Va. Karen won a $200 Amazon gift card in our Reader Video Contest with her video. Check out her winning video in the gallery above, then check out our Jan/Feb 2014 issue for even more!

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A Virginia Historical Marker stands at the entrance to Green Pastures. Green Pastures’ picnic area was build by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the late 1930s.

Green Pastures Reborn

When it officially opened in 1940 — in the depths of the Jim Crow era — Green Pastures was likely the first U.S. Forest Service recreation area in the nation constructed for African Americans.
Chimney Tops Trail in Great Smoky Mountains National Park rewards a steep climb with exceptional mountain views. Inset: Gatlinburg, Tennessee’s Chimneys Picnic Area sits beside the West Prong of the Little Pigeon RIver.

11 Picnics with a View

These bucket-list destinations are perfect spots to kick back, enjoy a delightful meal and take in the great outdoors.
At Hayfields State Park in Highland County, Virginia, easy-to-moderate trails wind through quiet forests and past historic structures.

Greening the Blue Ridge Region

New Parks, Healthier Creeks, Solar Power, Protected Lands and More.
John Scrivani bags female flowers from atop a 40-plus-foot-tall chestnut.

The Good Steward

Veteran forester John Scrivani dedicated his career to restoring American chestnut trees — and helped lay the groundwork for the effort’s next generation.
The pond next to the visitor center entrance is easily accessible and a beautiful spot for a selfie or an afternoon of plein air painting.

How to Make a State Park

The opening of Virginia’s newest state park marked the culmination of a community dream carefully nurtured for more than a decade.
Several bridges help hikers make their way over the stream.

Kentucky’s Bad Branch Falls: A (Fairly) Tame Trek Through the Forest

You’ll know the impressive 60-foot cascade is near when the path turns rugged.
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March’s Mountain Wildflower: Rue Anemone

A member of the buttercup family and found in the open woodlands, rue anemone (Thalictrum thalictroides) has long, thin stems that tremble in the slightest of winds—prompting its other common name, windflower.
Pokeweed growing in Floyd County, Virginia.

January’s Wild Edible: Pokeweed

Pokeweed is one of the wild plants that is most associated with the Blue Ridge Region.
Hendersonville, North Carolina, offers a walkable downtown.

Slow Travel in 7 States

It's perfect for the mountains!
Confederate cannons had a clear shot at the city and river.

Chattanooga’s Lookout Mountain: Spectacular Views and Civil War Echoes

A moderate 3.5-mile walk on Lookout Mountain delivers a healthy dose of delightful scenery and American history.

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