For some drivers, the Blue Ridge Parkway is the portal to our state’s soaring peaks and offers the sights and routes that remind them of home.
North Carolina’s Blue Ribbon
The Blue Ridge Parkway stands out among America’s national parks: Unfurling across six Appalachian mountain chains, it connects dozens of rural communities and binds together generations of families through shared memories.
Appalachian Spring
The story behind Andrews Geyser is deep, complex, and as irrepressible as the man-made fountain itself. It goes back to the 1870s, when the railroad finally climbed the Blue Ridge Escarpment near Old Fort. The tragic cost of that achievement is still being uncovered today.
The Magic of Mountain Monarchs
Every September, Gorges State Park celebrates the monarch butterfly — and the awe and wonder of its annual migration — with a festival fit for a king.
How to Make a Seed Bomb for Your Garden
Creating habitat for migrating monarchs can be a blast. Make this easy mixture to support wildflower growth in your yard and draw in pollinators.
Hitch a Ride on the Hoover Cart
Saddled with high prices brought on by the Great Depression, enterprising North Carolinians came up with a unique way of getting around that became an international fad.
Winston-Salem’s Ambassador of the Arts
A 91-year-old woman has been a passionate supporter, volunteer, and patron of the arts since she was a child. Along the way, she’s captured the heart of an entire community.
Lassie’s Showstopping Slide
In 1966, America’s favorite collie proved herself to be one cool customer as she went down Sliding Rock for an episode of one of the country’s most beloved TV shows.
The Richmond Temperance and Literary Society
In Wagram, a circa-1860 red-brick hall offers a revealing glimpse into the lives of Scottish immigrants who answered a higher calling.