The October 2025 Issue

Like a warm hug from an old friend, it’s time, once more, for a trip to the mountains. Here are some of our favorite destinations that are welcoming autumn’s explorers and leaf peepers with open arms.

In forests, chimneys, and caves across North Carolina, bats carry out silent, vital work — devouring pests, protecting crops, and defying their spooky reputations.

In 1895, a Presbyterian minister arrived in the High Country. A bold and visionary leader, he brought churches, schools, a hospital, a children’s home, and even electricity to Banner Elk.

As a child, an Asheville writer was enthralled by the spooky tales her father told her. Years later, those iconic stories helped her write one of her own.

More than 20 years ago, the Ramblin’ Man found a hairstylist and a kindred spirit — and discovered the transportive power of a well-told story.

From pumpkin patches to main streets, lakes to football fields, autumn calls us to gather in some memory-making places.

From Ferris wheels to funnel cakes, this timeline highlights 172 years of food and fun.

In Carteret County, fall brings schools of silvery mullet — and one of the last crews on the East Coast that rolls tractors onto the beach to gather them.

Our state’s Waterfall Byway overflows with mist opportunities — many visible from the car or worth the short walk. Follow a writer’s quest to check a few favorites off her list.

In North Carolina, apples fill more than our pastries and pies. They’re forever baked into our family trees and tales.

Inspired by a recipe from a Parisian cookbook, writer Sheri Castle shares her Southern-style version of a honey-sweetened apple cake.

No matter what happens inside the stadium, there are no losers at the tailgate.

Medium-rare steak, sautéed peppers and onions, and melty provolone are the makings for a sandwich that travels well and feeds a crowd.

This bubbly, baked game day appetizer sports a bright garnish of fresh herbs and a crunchy side of chips for dipping.

Dress up dark chocolate slabs with a shower of dried apricots, crushed pistachios, and flaky salt for an easy dessert that travels well and is designed for sharing.

A food writer explores the North Carolina State Fair for the first time — and finds a buffet of global tastes hiding in plain sight.

After Hurricane Helene turned their world upside down, a neighborhood in Fairview pulled together to find a way through.

Ethan Clark’s passion for meteorology helped save lives and direct aid to residents reeling from the destructive force of Helene.

People in western North Carolina have come to rely on a popular weather forecasting website to help them navigate their everyday lives — especially a year ago, when the wind and rain turned deadly.

Left without power, cell service, or Internet for weeks after Helene, western North Carolinians turned to a reliable source for vital information: radio.

A performance by an Asheville dance company illustrated the healing power of music and movement — for both choreographer and audience.

After the flood, a mountain town and its iconic hotel became symbols of recovery.

Neighbors in Swannanoa planted thousands of flowers to help their community envision a more hopeful future after Hurricane Helene’s destruction.

A Saluda native uses the experience and equipment from his grading business to help his neighbors clear their land, shore up what remains, and find closure — free of charge.

After the New River threatened the small community of Todd, a pair of waterwomen led the charge to restore their home — and the tributary they love.

After Hurricane Helene, an Old Fort artist gathered what was broken — and made something beautiful.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, the beekeepers of Ashe County found strength and resilience in their community — just like their honeybees.

In the aftermath of disaster, a family watches the river shift — and finds themselves reshaped by resilience, memory, and community.