Our Blue Ridge Towns

CURRENT Our Blue Ridge Towns

The rugged upper reaches of Grandfather Mountain State Park make a great pairing with Blowing Rock or Banner Elk, North Carolina.

Top 28 Mountain Town / State Park Trips In The Blue Ridge

Outdoor days and downtown stays: our readers pick the best trips to mountain towns with a nearby state park.
What’s a visit to Asheville, North Carolina without a stop at the Biltmore Estate?

Top Town/Park Pairs: Population 50,000+

Our readers pick the top 4 trips to mountain towns with a nearby state park and populations of over 50,000.
After a storm, a dramatic cloud-scape wreaths the town of Fries. Each season has its own distinct beauty. INSET: Spring is a good time for visiting along Chestnut Creek, part of the 57-mile New River Trail State Park. Numerous access points dot the trail.

COVID Comeback: One Old Town’s Rebirth

The COVID year was hard in Fries, Virginia, as it was everywhere, but the green shoots have been surprising and substantial.
Toccoa native Paul Anderson, 1956 Olympic gold medalist, is honored in downtown Toccoa not only for “his outer strength, but his inner strength and faith in Christ.”

Toccoa, Georgia: End of the Blue Ridge Line

Labeled the “Heart of Northeast Georgia,” the little city of Toccoa knows what it means to be a big-hearted hometown.
Main Street Walhalla circa 1900.

Walhalla, South Carolina: Deep in Cherokee and German Pasts

Rivers and mountains and waterfalls surround a town with deep German roots.

Departments

Much of the Oklawaha Greenway is lined with trees.
The Good Walk

Walking Oklawaha Greenway

Located just minutes from downtown Hendersonville, North Carolina, this 3.25-mile scenic pathway winds through forests and wetlands.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS