How do you commemorate the legendary Hatfield-McCoy feud? If you’re the state of W.Va., you do it with 1,000 miles of off-road recreational vehicle trails.

Thanks to its toothy snarl, hairless tail, and bulging eyes, the opossum is never going to win a beauty contest, but if this critter were to vie for the position of Appalachia’s official mascot, I reckon it would win big. Here’s why.

From Kentucky to Virginia to Tennessee, Appalachia is graced with countless cave systems. They range from the longest in the world to one boasting a stalactite organ. There's no better time to check out the region's remarkable caves than winter.

With Appalachian mountain backdrops, these wedding venues make for beautiful memories. And they’re waaaaay better than the jail in which writer Lauren Stepp accidentally got married.

A Hendersonville, North Carolina native shares her favorite places to visit, including HenDough Chicken and Donuts, Mike's on Main Street, and the Appalachian Pinball Museum.

Mark Lynn Ferguson visits Wytheville, Va. his mother's hometown and unravels a wee family mystery while exploring restaurants, galleries, a book store, and more.

Photo provided by Getaway.

Let’s be honest. A lot of tiny houses look like they were thrown together from Home Depot remnants. But the folks at Getaway, a vacation rental company with 16 outposts nationwide, take a different approach. They build style-forward structures that are more MOMA than modular home.

In their location outside Charlottesville, buildings are clad with blackened wood, which is both chic and cozy. Inside, an enormous picture window defines the space, bringing the outdoors indoors. Getaway cabins are finished with neutral tones and amenities like crisp white linens, micro-kitchens, heat/AC, and their own wee libraries.

This Virginia outpost is special, said Getaway spokesperson Jordan Sweat, because it is located just 30 minutes from Shenandoah National Park. And nothing has been overlooked. From a simple self check-in to doggy bowls, Getaway covers details so visitors can clear their minds and reconnect with nature in a beautiful space.

This was previously published in Virginia Living. 

 

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"Sure, the likelihood of urinating near a highly venomous serpent nosedives when it’s 20 degrees outside. But colder weather also deters many folks from venturing past the couch..."

It’s really hard to stop peeing.

Even when you realize a timber rattler is slithering just inches from your bare buttocks, it takes some real restraint to pause the stream and pull up your muggy trousers. I know firsthand.

Last July, my wife and I had a random Saturday off. She’s a chef, so we almost never get a free weekend together. When we do get time to explore, it’s usually a random weekday when most 9-to-5’ers are in the office. All this to say, we had yet to witness the pandemic-driven outdoor boom until we pulled up to find a historically overlooked trailhead in North Carolina’s Pisgah National Forest teeming with long-haired brahs and fetid summer campers. We let out a collective grunt.

Intent on squeezing all the life we could out of the day, we started hiking anyway. But as soon as we gained momentum, 20-somethings in sandals and couples with toddling kiddos would round the corner, forcing us to step off the trail. The hike continued like a UPS delivery route—stop and start, stop and start—and as the miles dragged on, I could feel my bladder squirm.

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Story by Lauren Stepp