Homepage
-
Do Not Miss These Donuts
The problem of donuts becomes apparent as soon as you start earnestly looking for them. Finding a donut is easy, but finding a really good one? That’s something else.
-
Wild, Wonderful, Waterfalls
As the only state fully engulfed in Appalachia, West Virginia has always stood out for its wild and wonderful expanses that include 1.5 million acres of parks and public lands.
-
Beyond the Beaten Path
Graham County is a hiker’s paradise. From towering ancient forests and picturesque waterfalls to wildflower-blanketed balds and shimmering lake views, these trails aren’t just walks in the woods—they’re your pathway to adventure.
-
Steve Rapport photo
Brighter Days, Where Did They Go?
When you find yourself in conversation with JJ Grey, you walk away from the interaction with a kick in your step.
-
Raiding the Garden for a Refreshing Cucumber
Ever wonder where the expression “cool as a cucumber” originated? Apparently, a certain John Gay penned a poem titled “New Song on New Similes” in 1732.
-
The Glory Of Grits
Grits have long been a staple of mountain diet along with its sister, food hominy. In old-time mountain parlance, as a matter of fact, you more commonly heard “hominy grits” than just hominy.
Regional Content:
David Cohen illustration.
A Fondness for Box Turtles
In the 1960s, my Marion, North Carolina, neighborhood had yards with flower beds and vegetable gardens, with cow pastures and woods nearby. One day my father called me from play and said, “Come here and see what I found in the backyard.”
Jun 1, 2025
12:00 AM
Photo provided by GSMNP archives
With Pen in Hand
As the librarian archivist for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Michael Aday, along with his wife, Denise Aday, have put together a book from some of the 1.4 million documents in the Park’s archives.
Jun 1, 2025
12:00 AM
Giving Mother Nature a Helping Hand
I pen this note on a brisk spring day. As the old saying goes, March came in like a lion. Only this year, the lion has no intention of being tamed into a lamb anytime soon.
Jun 1, 2025
12:00 AM
The Glory Of Grits
Grits have long been a staple of mountain diet along with its sister, food hominy. In old-time mountain parlance, as a matter of fact, you more commonly heard “hominy grits” than just hominy.
Jun 1, 2025
12:00 AM
Raiding the Garden for a Refreshing Cucumber
Ever wonder where the expression “cool as a cucumber” originated? Apparently, a certain John Gay penned a poem titled “New Song on New Similes” in 1732.
Jun 1, 2025
12:00 AM
Steve Rapport photo
Brighter Days, Where Did They Go?
When you find yourself in conversation with JJ Grey, you walk away from the interaction with a kick in your step.
Jun 1, 2025
12:00 AM
Photo by John Beaudet
Shedding Light on the Nature of Venomous Snakes
Since this is the year of the snake, I’m excited to see what thrilling glimpses of snakes the warm season may afford me. But not everyone shares my enthusiasm for elongated, limbless reptiles.
Jun 1, 2025
12:00 AM
A Dedicated Daughter of the Great Smoky Mountains
Volunteering for Great Smoky Mountains National Park has been one of the most rewarding and enjoyable activities in my life for the past 30+ years.
Jun 1, 2025
12:00 AM
Photo by Nick Nichols
Word from the Smokies
The mountains exert a powerful spell—but too often, that spell is broken by the sight of plastic bottles and candy wrappers scattered beside trailheads and overlooks.
Jun 1, 2025
12:00 AM
Do Not Miss These Donuts
The problem of donuts becomes apparent as soon as you start earnestly looking for them. Finding a donut is easy, but finding a really good one? That’s something else.
Jun 1, 2025
12:00 AM
Beyond the Beaten Path
Graham County is a hiker’s paradise. From towering ancient forests and picturesque waterfalls to wildflower-blanketed balds and shimmering lake views, these trails aren’t just walks in the woods—they’re your pathway to adventure.
Jun 1, 2025
12:00 AM
Wild, Wonderful, Waterfalls
As the only state fully engulfed in Appalachia, West Virginia has always stood out for its wild and wonderful expanses that include 1.5 million acres of parks and public lands.
Jun 1, 2025
12:00 AM
