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From The Editor

CURRENT From The Editor

Sarah Smiles: The Lake Effect

Growing up, many of my weekends were spent at my late step-grandmother’s house on Smith Mountain Lake in Virginia.

Sarah Smiles: This Place We Call Home

“I just really liked the name.”

Sarah Smiles: The Great Garden Debate

Sarah Smiles: Slow Travels in East Tennessee

Burgers, Bobcats and Big Firsts

New Day for Blue Ridge Country

Same Pages, New Owner

Current Issue

Smith Mountain Lake Virginia is a hidden gem within the Blue Ridge Mountains. This beautiful area features boating, sailing, hiking, shopping, fishing, and much more.

Sarah Smiles: The Lake Effect

Growing up,  many of my weekends were spent at my late step-grandmother’s house on Smith Mountain Lake in Virginia.
The Great Craggy Mountains along the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina, USA with Catawba Rhododendron during a spring season sunset.

Sarah Smiles: This Place We Call Home

“I just really liked the name.” 
Jane Magnolia Bud

Sarah Smiles: The Great Garden Debate

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Sarah Smiles: Slow Travels in East Tennessee

Burgers, Bobcats and Big Firsts
Randy Thompson, Owner and Publisher, VistaMedia Inc.

New Day for Blue Ridge Country

Same Pages, New Owner
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Departments

At Coopers Rock State Forest, new Stargazer cabins invite guests to look up through skylights and telescopes.
Country Roads

Even Closer to Almost Heaven

New Stargazer cabins at Coopers Rock State Forest offer a skyward escape in the mountains of West Virginia.

June 29, 2026
©Duncan Seaman
Country Roads

A Mountain Tradition Turns 90 

Visitors flock to Galax, Virginia, each summer for the Old Fiddlers’ Convention, a days-long celebration of Appalachian music.

June 29, 2026
Synchronous Fireflies
Creature Feature

The Light Fantastic

Fireflies are struggling with the effects of artificial light.

June 29, 2026

CALENDAR OF EVENTS