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Mountain Curios 2020

Wait, a face carved in stone at the New River Gorge? Tweetsie Railroad had three lives? And West Virginia’s Cheat Mountain four? Get details about these riddles and more in our annual collection of the strange but true.

The story above is from our January/February 2020 issue.

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Built in Roanoke, Virginia, in the 1950s, the “Queen of Steam” remains one of the nation’s most celebrated steam locomotives.

The Queen Still Reigns

More than 70 years after she first took to the rails, the legendary Norfolk & Western Class J No. 611 continues to inspire both passengers and the volunteers who keep her running.
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.
Interior designer Maisie Leach and her pup Stella Bea traded Roanoke’s bustling Grandin Village for a slower pace of life in Eagle Rock

Refuge in the Woods

A log cabin in Eagle Rock, Virginia, is the latest project for Maisie Leach of Hermione Interiors—and her most personal.
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.
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?
Carly Pearson smiles at the summit of McAfee Knob in Virginia

Trailblazer

Former wildland firefighter Carly Pearson became an accidental advocate for people with disabilities.
The hotel’s rooftop terrace, affectionately known as The Perch, offers exceptional mountain views.

Walking in the Footsteps of an American First Lady

The owners of Wytheville’s Bolling Wilson Hotel and Graze on Main make sure the town never forgets her legacy.
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.
Sunrise Landscape Great Smoky Mountains National Park Gatlinburg TN and Oconaluftee Valley Cherokee NC

Summer Fun in the Smokies

Our longtime contributing editor knows Great Smoky Mountains National Park like the back of her hand. Drawing inspiration from countless visits over the years, she shares some of her favorite spots to explore during the warm months, plus insider tips for spotting wildlife, discovering waterfalls, finding the best family-friendly experiences in the park—and more!

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