Blue Ridge Mountains

"Blue Ridge offers outdoor activities, local shopping, and dining. Highlights include Lake Blue Ridge, high-end arts and crafts stores, and trout fishing opportunities." - Travel + Leisure Editors

"Kim and David Bryant, the husband-and-wife team that owns and operates Bryant Farm, are growing Dunstan chestnuts..." - Claudia Geib

"Hiking, berry picking, boating, and breathing in clean mountain air. Outdoor activities are within easy reach of mountain town Blue Ridge, an hour and 30 minute drive north of Atlanta. Visit Mercier Orchards to pick your own berries, peaches, or apples, depending on the season. There’s also a cider tasting room on site, as well as a cafe that sells just about every apple-flavored pastry you can imagine. Enjoy a day on the water by renting a pontoon, kayak, paddleboard, or canoe at the Lake Blue Ridge Marina. Or take your pick of hikes in the nearby Aska Trail System. Wrap up your day by eating barbecue in downtown Blue Ridge." - MATADOR_NETWORK

"Outside of town, running across Virginia and North Carolina, the Blue Ridge Parkway connects Shenandoah National Park to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It’s one of the most beautiful drives in the United States, and many people choose to experience this peak-top road by car, motorcycle, or bicycle. There are also plenty of hiking trails along the way, including access points to the Appalachian Trail.Typically open from spring to late fall, the park is free to enter. Plan ahead and pack a picnic to enjoy at one of the pull-offs or at the top of a trail with a stunning view like Devil’s Courthouse. There are also hotels and restaurants — though few and far between — which are fun to visit and often offer stunning views of the signature blue-hued mountains. " - MATADOR_NETWORK

"I chose the Blue Ridge Parkway in Roanoke, Virginia because my focus this summer is trips that are outdoorsy, either to parks and mountains, and away from people and bustle of crowds. It's a six-hour drive from New Jersey, and just to drive the Parkway itself is exciting. With 469 miles of road, there's a lot of exploring we can do. We're not going as far south as the Pisgah region in North Carolina, but will explore the Ridge region, and possibly parts of Shenandoah (further north from Roanoke) on our way back, including Crabtree Falls. We're excited to see natural attractions like Mill Mountain, Carvins Cove natural reserve, and will probably grab a takeout bottle from a local vineyard, like Valhalla, or swing by a local brewery like Soaring Ridge. We've booked a charming two-bedroom Airbnb a 10-minute drive away from the Parkway to use as our home-base."