“Great Crafters – a 7-state potpourri” On a seven-state journey through the Blue Ridge, in search of our artisans of music, mathematics, metallurgy, melting glass, memories of the ancients, and some really good ‘mud’, we found them all…and much more.
by Angela Minor
“State Parks Where a River Runs Through It” What is it about a river that draws us? Is it the sights, sounds, smells and cool waters—nature’s 3D action movie? Is it the meditative quality of water in motion? Is it some singular, esoteric feeling that lifts us…
by Angela Minor
“Going Green in the Blue Ridge Region” From a century-old school to generational farms, from environmental sustainability to clean energy efforts, the mountains are going strong.
by Angela Minor
“Blue Highways to Fall Color” Roads less traveled, where to find them and why they’re worth it.
by Angela Minor
“See, Dine, Stay” With the cooler season upon us let’s explore some unusual and wonderful destinations across the seven Blue Ridge-region states.
by Angela Minor
“35 Great Places to Go and 5 Reasons Why” Here, courtesy of Blue Ridge Country’s loyal, knowledgeable and enthusiastic readers, are 35 places to consider for your next getaway.
by Angela Minor
“Back in Touch – The Smokies” Everyone experiences the park in their own way. Yet we all leave with something in common—a desire to return.
by Angela Minor
“Perfect Pairs – Great Town/Park Visits” Based on reader poll results, these are the region’s top towns paired with a nearby state park.
by Angela Minor
“A River Runs Through It” No matter where we look in the Blue Ridge region, a river runs through it – at least 50 of them. Let’s explore 13 of our favorites!
by Angela Minor
“Ezra Staengl has His Eye on Nature” Wait, champion birder at age 14? The young Virginia naturalist is on a quest to protect nature and inspire others to do the same.
by Angela Minor
“We Davis Follows the Honeybee Buzz” Education is saving our bees, and here’s one young man’s part in that process.
by Angela Minor
“Science and Nature in the Blue Ridge Region” Whether altered, restored or untouched by humanity, the story of the Blue Ridge region told by nature and science is singularly inspiring. Let’s listen as she tells us her past, present and future.
by Angela Minor
“On the Trail of Grist Mills” Mills have anchored human communities around the globe for over 2,000 years. We are fortunate in the Blue Ridge to have a number of water-powered grist mills grinding fresh grains today and preserving the memories of yesterday.
by Angela Minor
“State Parks Worthy of National Status?” With some 339 state parks in the states of the Blue Ridge Country coverage area, there are at least a few in the mountains with enough size and superlatives to attract “national” attention.
by Angela Minor
“Go Native! Plant for Wildlife in Your Backyard” Every spring my mailbox is brimming with seed and plant catalogs. So how do I choose? This year citizen science will be my guide…
by Angela Minor
“The Little State Park that Burns Bright” The 263-acre Tennessee park has a history that goes back to 1830, and which, in 1984, completed a re-linking of Cherokee history.
by Angela Minor
“WWII Storage Bunkers at a Nature Preserve?” The Chattanooga preserve offers an odd combination of great birding and wildlife watching with 100 tree-topped bunkers.
by Angela Minor
“12 Great RV Treks in the Mountains” Whether your RV-journey goals are natural wonders, outdoor play, stunning scenery or just a beautiful spot to relax, the Southern Appalachians are full of welcoming and accommodating spots.
by Angela Minor
“Great Mountain Driving Trails” Pick a passion – history, scenic beauty, music, wineries, agri-visits, gardens and more – and the mountain region has a driving trail…
by Angela Minor
“Books of the Earth. Virginia’s Soapstone Legacy” It is said that rocks are the history books of the Earth. If so, the Blue Ridge region has a geo-library of favorite reading material for humans—soapstone.
by Angela Minor
“15 Best Mountain State Parks for Birding (and other stuff too)” While contemplating on how to celebrate the Migratory Bird Treaty Act centennial, I could see the Blue Ridge just on the horizon of my hometown. The following birding journey is now the plan.
by Angela Minor
“Pearl Rush on the Clinch River? Yes.” Barefoot and pushing against the swift currents of the mountain waters, Joseph Gossett reads the bottom of the Clinch River with his toes, searching for treasure— freshwater pearls.
by Angela Minor
“Strange Arrows Upon the Land” They’re oftentimes visible only from the sky. They point in seemingly random directions. They’re about 70 feet long and made of deeply sun-bleached concrete. What are they?
by Angela Minor
“Heirloom Rivers in the Blue Ridge: Wild & Scenic Rivers Act Turns 50” Five heirloom rivers meander, splash and tumble through
our beloved Blue Ridge Mountains.
by Angela Minor
“The Smokies” Our favorite must-see places, to-do events, best-of experiences in and around the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in both Tennessee and North
Carolina.
by Angela Minor
“Upcountry South Carolina” Our favorite must-see places, to-do events, best-of experiences in and around the Blue Ridge for six South Carolina counties.
by Angela Minor
“Northeast Tennessee” Our favorite must-see places, to-do events, best-of experiences in and around the Blue Ridge in northeastern Tennessee.
by Angela Minor
“Northeast Georgia” Our favorite must-see places, to-do events, best-of experiences in and around the Blue Ridge in northeastern Georgia.
by Angela Minor
“Middle East Tennessee” Our favorite must-see places, to-do events, best-of experiences in and around the Blue Ridge in middle east Tennessee.
by Angela Minor
“Blue Ridge Parkway” Shenandoah to the Great Smoky Mountains – 6 fun itineraries with 77 things to do. contributions-
by Angela Minor
“Hand Made in the Mountains: Dogwood Crafters Co-op” Tucked into the western North Carolina mountains is “the land in the sky” town of Dillsboro – a quaint 19th Century, artisan dense community of 200 residents. Amongst the historic downtown buildings a whisker away from the Tuckasegee River sits the Dogwood Crafters Co-op…
by Angela Minor
“Birds of the Blue Ridge: Chickadees” Of the seven chickadee species in North America, two call the Blue Ridge home –
Black-capped (northern region) and Carolina (southern region) with overlap between.
~series created and written by
Angela Minor
“Birds of the Blue Ridge: Red-tailed Hawk” Of all the avians belonging to the genus Buteo, the red-tailed hawk is the most familiar to anyone who glances about for birds.
~series created and written by
Angela Minor
“Birds of the Blue Ridge: Ruby-throated Hummingbird” Over 350 species of hummingbirds have been documented in the New World, their only home address on the planet.
~series created and written by
Angela Minor
“Birds of the Blue Ridge: American Goldfinch” The acrobatic sunshine-yellow males and their olive-yellow female mates that we’ve named American Goldfinches are seasonally some of the last birds to nest in the Blue Ridge.
~series created and written by
Angela Minor
“Birds of the Blue Ridge: Green Heron” While many people quickly spot the statuesque form of a great blue heron, the secretive and smaller green heron can be elusive.
~series created and written by
Angela Minor
“Birds of the Blue Ridge: Orchard Oriole” A friend sent me a beautiful snap of a jumble of healthy nestlings and asked if I knew the species. I leaned into a (mis)identification-goldfinches. Happily, she continued her research…
~series created and written by
Angela Minor
“Birds of the Blue Ridge: Rose-breasted Grosbeak” With Global Big Day* approaching (and travel restricted), we arranged the back porch, kept the feeders stocked, and waited.
~series created and written by
Angela Minor
“Birds of the Blue Ridge: Sandhill Crane” Early holiday gifts are flying overhead as the Sandhill Cranes return to and through the Blue Ridge from points north!
~series created and written by
Angela Minor
“Birds of the Blue Ridge: Wood Duck” Is there a duck that perches high in the trees and nests in cavities? And, sports some of the most stunning male breeding plumage in the waterfowl world? Yes!
~series created and written by
Angela Minor