Smoky Mountain Living — Celebrating the Southern Appalachians

Virginia’s Hidden Labyrinth

Our guide is Eric Middlemas of The Mid-Appalachian Highlands Club, a hiking and outdoor activity club in the Tri-Cities area that was founded in 1976 and is one of the oldest organized hiking clubs in the region. Read more

Carter County: Tennessee’s Mountain Playground

The natural beauty of Carter County, Tennessee, has beckoned visitors for centuries, ever since the area was populated by the Cherokee. From the Watauga River, brimming with trout, to the mile-high Roan Mountain, there is something for everyone. Read more

A Box of Art in Asheville

Pam Myers calls the large, container-like structure hovering at the core of the expanded Asheville Art Museum “a box within a box.” The metaphor is fitting in many ways, the museum’s executive director says. Read more

Making Discoveries

Forget the days of stuffy museums with ropes to keep the hands of little visitors from getting too close. Today, many museums are geared for kids of all ages with interactive play, colorful exhibits, and rich opportunities for hands-on learning. Read more

Echoes from the Valley

Sarah Ransom has been working with a local Junior Appalachian Musicians group, which introduced her to Appalachian storytelling and the history. She was asked to write a fictional story based on historic events in Johnson County, Tennessee. Read more