Roaring Run Furnace is the site of a former iron furnace that operated in and around the 1840s, and this site is the only spot within the massive George Washington and Jefferson National Forest’s jurisdiction that is registered as a historical place, making it unique and an interesting spot to visit!
Read MoreThe silver lining of this year of Covid is, for us, more incentive to explore our local area besides the standard, well-known spots. Because of the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the Roanoke, Virginia, vicinity, there are a lot of very popular hiking spots, particularly during the shoulder seasons and especially for the fall colors. A few weeks ago, we headed to one such spot and ended up simply eating our picnic lunch in the car before heading home. Being on a crowded trail right now? No thank you!
Read MoreA man of the Revolution and a man of the Renaissance all in one, Thomas Jefferson was a man uniquely of and beyond his time. In some of his most public actions, Jefferson was the primary author and signatory of the Declaration of Independence.
Read MoreIf you are looking for a beautiful fall drive in the Blue Ridge, absolutely add this one to your list! En route to the hike and then taking an extra long return trip home (No, GPS, we will not make a U-turn!), we found gorgeous rolling hills, golden fields, the protruding tops of mountains, and trees all shades of color from lemon through burnt umber.
Read MoreThe town of Appomattox, Virginia, is nestled in a county by the same name. They are named for the local Algonquin-speaking Appomattoc tribe that lived in the area and were one of the five original tribes of the so-called Powhatan Confederacy and were one of the tribes that John Smith and early European settlers interacted with upon landing at Jamestown.
Read MoreIn April 2012, my mother and I booked a long-weekend trip to explore some new parts of the state. We stayed in Lynchburg as a central point, explored that city as well as made short trips to both Poplar Forest (Thomas Jefferson’s home, a retreat from Monticello) and Appomattox, a small town most famous as the site where Robert E. Lee surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant in April 1865, officially concluding the American Civil War.
Read MoreWhen the weather in Southwestern Virginia hits the mid-60s in late December, you don’t ask any questions, you just head outside and get some hiking in while you can!
Below we’ll provide some information about Poor Mountain Natural Area Preserve and its location, information on the 4 trails contained within, and some information on what to expect when you visit.
Read MoreSince James Madison died at his home, Montpelier, in 1836, the home has gone through renovations and updates - most notoriously by the DuPont family. In more recent years, time has been unraveled as archaeologists and historians have sought to remove the more modern updates and return the home to the most accurate version of James and Dolley Madison’s home.
Read MoreMonticello is more than a quick house tour - we spent most of a day there exploring the house, museum, gardens, and Mulberry Row, the center of the world for Monticello’s enslaved population. Read more about our visit and discover tips for yours.
Read MoreIn April 2018, I spent a long weekend in Charlottesville, Virginia, with my mom. We both have an affinity for history and archaeology. If you have similar interests, you will find this itinerary to your liking and a long weekend a perfect amount of time!
Read MoreIn April 2018, I visited Charlottesville for a long weekend and enjoyed spending time as a tourist in a town that used to be mine. But it also led to some interesting reflections on how the city has always been and how it has changed, as well as how my own view as an adult has evolved.
Read MoreThe annual Blue Ridge Folklife Festival held at Ferrum College in Ferrum, Virginia, has been my window into learning more about the history of my local region: Appalachia. There is an entire culture of mule jumping, clogging, and more that I had no idea existed until my three visits over the last decade to this event.
Read MoreShenandoah National Park has some amazing campgrounds that we have enjoyed over years and years. Read about our favorite spots and hikes here!
Read MoreAs a lover of hiking, the outdoors, and history, the Harkening Hills and Johnson Farm trails near Peaks of Otter along the Blue Ridge Parkway are a perfect blend for a perfect day!
Read MoreDid you know that running through the hills and valleys of Virginia and North Carolina is the 469 mile long Blue Ridge Parkway? Chances are if you live in one of those two states, you do, but if you are from outside of the area, you may not be aware of this hidden gem that offers back-road scenery through beautiful vistas and interesting hikes and historical sites along the way.
Read MoreLooking to explore some of Virginia’s small towns? Bedford is an easy drive from Roanoke, Lynchburg, and Smith Mountain Lake.
Read MoreMabry Mill construction began around 1903 by Edwin Mabry. Within a few short years, it was an operating gristmill. Today, the mill sits off of the Blue Ridge Parkway and is one of the most photographed mills with large numbers of people visiting it per year.
Read MoreHigh on a bank looking eastward over the Potomac River sits Mount Vernon, George Washington’s home. The setting is so beautiful, it’s a wonder he was ever lured from there to engage in the founding of and leading a new country. Washington’s father owned the land, which had some smaller buildings on it. By 1758, Washington started building an expansion to the existing building and by 1774, he started adding the wings onto the house, the cupola, and other elements that define it today.
Read MoreThe Battle of Antietam or Sharpsburg? The battle is referred to both ways, and it’s not uncommon for Civil War battles to have two names, one named by the North, one by the South. Learn more about our trip to the site, how photography impacted our experience of the hiking trails we took, and why Antietam is known as the bloodiest day of the Civil War.
Read MoreI do not like winter - whether it is the actual winter season or a neighboring season playing at being winter on any given day. But, I do appreciate the beauty that can be unique to the season in the form of snow and ice. In my mind, a gorgeous snow is winter's crowning achievement. A few years ago in late winter, some friends and I (and a couple of dogs) trekked out to Cascades waterfall in Pembroke, VA on a warm day and discovered that the shade rendered huge chunks of the 4-mile round-trip hike dangerously slick and icy.
Read More
