FREE U.S. SHIPPING ON $65+ ORDERS.

FREE U.S. SHIPPING ON $65+ ORDERS.

Search

This section doesn’t currently include any content. Add content to this section using the sidebar.

Image caption appears here

Add your deal, information or promotional text

Read

Stories about Modern Appalachian Life

OUTDOOR+TRAVEL
Been enjoying cool, bright days lately?
They may be a delight for longer than you think. According to biologists and climate scientists, the kind of weather we've had in recent weeks is the perfect mix for vibrant leaves this fall.
"Cool, clear sunny days of late summer will bring on lots of photosynthesis, and this makes for brilliant red," says Dr. Howard S. Neufeld, professor of biology at Appalachian State University and renowned leaf-guy.
Neufeld has paired with the Asheville Convention and Tourism Bureau to deliver a fun microsite that showcases autumn's red splendor. Time-lapse videos show the progression of leaf colors in the mountains and a guide to the region's deciduous trees makes it easy to identify your favorites. The site even includes a section on autumn traditions and one videoclip I just adore.
"I can remember the hay-stacking contest...My grandmother at age forty-something took on twelve men," recalls fifth-generation, Appalachian native Becky Anderson in the clip, "They did those old traditional hay stacks, and she stacked hers up, threw her pitchfork on it, and jumped back on her wagon while they were still struggling with theirs!"
Everybody has special fall memories. Whether it's the final harvest or trick-or-treating, we'd love to hear about yours. What's your favorite tradition for this brilliant season? And what's the best color for the autumn leaves?
read more
OUTDOOR+TRAVEL
Man alive—this has been one grueling week. We're buying a house and the inspector delivered bad news; my car needed a bunch of repairs; writing projects were in overdrive; and to top it all off, I had to wear ugly, old shoes to work because my favorite ones were in the shop. I know—we're not talking cancer or starvation here, but being ashamed of ones footwear is its own kind of Hell—all that contorting to hide my brogans, and the way those things cut into my heels, it felt like a cheese grater down there! Add the shoes and everything else up, and I'll admit the week left me unenthused about pounding out this blog post. I had no idea what to cover and wasn't sure how I'd find time to write. Enter Dave Tabler. This is the feller behind the popular site Appalachian History. Whenever I'm stumped for blog ideas, I check out Dave's Facebook page, because he somehow unearths every Appalachian story that runs anywhere, in any medium—print, video, online, offline—Dave finds it and shares it. This week, he really came through. I spotted the below clip on Dave's page, and right off, I thought The perfect blog post-quick and easy! And I was right—it's only taken me an hour or so to write this post—but that was just the start. When I clicked the link and watched this short film, tranquility rose around me like gentle river water. In just about three minutes, it washed away my tension and replaced it with an easy delight. Shimmering spider webs, the gait of a deer, a blur of hummingbird wings, one orange salamander scampering across green moss—just watching these natural sights left me feeling different, better, refreshed. And because it was shot in West Virginia's Lost River State Park, an area I love, it brought back so many memories. I celebrated both my 30th and my 40th birthdays in Lost River. I spent an amazing Halloween there, partying in a roadside diner. I've had lovely hikes, laughter-filled dinners, and long rests beside roaring fireplaces in this wonderful, little valley, and the video made me want to go back again soon. So while I start making travel plans, why don't you leave a comment? How did the Lost River Trails clip leave you feeling? And how was your week? Go on. Tell us all about it: the good, the bad, and the ugly. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFtMIv7g7Wg
read more
OUTDOOR+TRAVEL
West Virginia's Coal River Watershed has seen its share of abuse. Mining and logging operations combined with the vices of development—open sewer lines and plain old litter—once choked long stretches of these West Virginia waterways. For years, it was easier to find discarded tires in some spots than fish, but a ten-year restoration effort has given area rivers a second chance.
Local volunteers, led by the Coal River Group, have removed tons of trash and sediment, allowing aquatic insects to repopulate local river bottoms. Insects, of course, have attracted fish. Fish have attracted birds and mammals, and nowadays, healthy ecosystems are returning to all of the rivers in the watershed.
You can help celebrate the Coal River revival during the upcoming Tour de Coal, an eleven-mile float starting in Tornado, West Virginia on June 20 and 21, 2014. This family-friendly fundraiser will give you an up-close look at the rivers' progress along with paddling lessons and a commemorative T-shirt to show off your river pride. Hundreds of paddlers guarantee a good time, but rentable canoes and kayaks go fast. Reserve yours today!
Already familiar with the Coal River Watershed? How are the rivers looking these days? And do you have a favorite spot for fishing, paddling, or swimming?
 
read more
OUTDOOR+TRAVEL
I have a strange relationship with Sperryville, Virginia. Years before I started this blog, when I was still searching for the right way to deepen my connection with my homeland, I nearly bought a bookstore there.
Mind you, this wasn't just any bookstore. It was a charmer, housed in an historic church with soaring wooded ceilings and windows that reached so high you'd think they were runways to heaven. Among the stacks of books, browsers found old pews where they could relax and thumb through their purchases, and the elevated pulpit had been converted to the coolest kid's corner ever, complete with beanbag chairs and a four-foot high piggy bank.
Can you tell I was smitten?
My enchantment didn't end at the bookstore's door (albeit giant, gothic, and utterly enchanting). It extended clear across this Blue Ridge hamlet, from its glass-blowing shop on the west side to its local distillery on the east.
[caption id="attachment_9222" align="alignright" width="241"]Hopkins Ordinary. Hopkins Ordinary.[/caption]
Unfortunately, my bank account didn't match my adoration. To sell me the bookstore, the owner would have had to self-finance, and she was prepared to do it, right up until a last minute offer materialized. A couple with real, green cash said they'd pay for the building and restore it top to bottom. There's no way I could compete or even feel bitter. That little church deserved the kind of care I could never give it.
While I didn't own the Old Sperryville Bookshop, my crush on the town continues to this day. Just one and a half hours from Washington DC and pressed snug against Shenandoah National Park, it remains one of the most charming places I know, and it's past time for me to share the love with you.
Below are a few of my favorite spots in Sperryville. Have you ever been? If so, what would you add to the list?

*


Hopkins Ordinary: To call Hopkins Ordinary a B&B would be a gross understatement. It is a two hundred year old refuge. Built as an inn and tavern, it was affectionately called an "ordinary," because it met travelers' ordinary needs as they made their way across the Blue Ridge Mountains. From its days as a stagecoach stop to a period as an apartment building to its careful restoration in the early 2000's, this unique building has brought comfort to countless people. Today, owners Sherry Fickel and Kevin Kraditor provide guests with a delicious breakfast and the inside scoop on local happenings. Each room has a working fireplace and the building's two story porch lends the perfect vantage point for watching locals, sipping a cocktail, or enjoying a slice of take-out from Rudy's Pizza across the street.
[caption id="attachment_9200" align="alignleft" width="245"]The former Old Sperryville Bookshop as it appears today. The former Old Sperryville Bookshop as it appears today.[/caption]
Copper Fox Distillery: Rick Wasmund doesn't make whiskey the usual way. After studying in some of Scotland's most notable distilleries, he has adapted age old processes to produce a signature liquor that you can't find anywhere else. It starts with barley grown specifically for Copper Fox. This exclusive grain is malted using a floor technique that is both centuries old and beautiful, creating lovely swirl patterns that, for me, are the highlight of the Copper Fox tour. Instead of drying the malt with peat, smoke from apple, cherry, and oak wood chips infuse a unique flavor. Rick rounds things out using the same woods in a secret aging process. The end result is Wasmund's Single Malt Whisky, a deep, rich drink that tastes like none other.
Thornton River Grille: The Grille, as this Sperryville stalwart is affectionately known, is as local as they come. Relying on ingredients from nearby farms, it is the go-to stop for dinner or brunch, attracting area residents and tourists alike with delicious, thoughtfully crafted dishes, including a chorizo stuffed breakfast burrito that I love; hearty, handmade homefries; and thick, juicy cuts of meat.
Copper Fox Antiques: Between hiking trips and dinners out, be sure to save a couple of hours to browse Copper Fox Antiques. Situated next door to the distillery sharing its name, this 30,000 square foot antique mall has it all. I've seen rustic hand hewn tables sitting one room away from modern classics like Marcel Breuer's Wassily Chair. Whether you're drawn to furniture, books, dishes, or peculiar knick-knacks, something in this former cold-storage building is bound to catch your eye.
[caption id="attachment_9201" align="alignright" width="265"]Sperryville's main street. Sperryville's main street.[/caption]
Haley Fine Art: Before I write a word about this gallery, let me say that I am not an artist or a critic or even someone who has taken an art class since high school, just a guy who knows what he likes. And what I like about Haley Fine Arts is that it shows artists who innovate without becoming inaccessible. When you walk into this cozy two-story house come gallery, you'll see the kinds of paintings you expect to find in the country—landscapes, still lifes, lots of realism—but there's something fresh about each one. A painting of a hooded man sitting beside a pile of tires and a motorcycle. A bronze sculpture of lean, long dogs chasing a rabbit. A vintage travel trailer in miniture. Every time I go, I find a piece I adore and wish I had in my home.
Glassworks Gallery: When you cross the tiny suspension bridge between this bright building and its parking area, you know you're stepping into a place apart. Nestled among a grove of trees, the gallery glistens. Inside, light refracts from handcrafted bowls and balls, vases and platters, many made right on site. Oldway Art Center shares the building, providing local glassmakers with studio space and visitors with unforgettable, one-day classes, where they actually make their own blown glass.
read more
OUTDOOR+TRAVEL
I can't lie. I've never gone to Pigeon Forge. I love me some Dolly, but the sprawling mess of fun centers, wax museums, and chain restaurants that sprung up near her park has always sounded like the third rung of Hell to me.
[caption id="attachment_9115" align="alignright" width="168"]A feathered friend helps with an outdoor session. A feathered friend helps with an outdoor session.[/caption]
Given that, you can imagine my surprise when I stumbled upon Wilderness Wildlife Week, eight days of hikes and outdoorsy workshops smack dab in the middle of Pigeon Forge, and I found myself thinking, "Man, I wanna go!"
I mean—outdoor owl prowls, a photo trek in Cades Cove, a strenuous 11-mile hike to Mt. Cammerer, and a four-mile walk through the Elkmont historic district—it has me second guessing my longstanding angst towards this town.
Turns out, these excursions are just the start. Between January 25 and February 1, the city's LeConte Center, an event venue modeled after a Smoky Mountain lodge (that even I admit is pretty), will host indoor workshops that cover every imaginable topic for outdoor lovers—wildlife folklore, songs of the Carter Family, learning to use a map and compass, taking great cell phone photos. Fly fishing alone has anentire suite of sessions devoted to it.  
As if the event's 300+ workshops weren't enough, I stumbled upon this quote from Leon Downey, executive director of the Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism:
[caption id="attachment_9118" align="alignleft" width="222"]Pigeon Forge's new LeConte Center. Pigeon Forge's new LeConte Center.[/caption]
“Wilderness Wildlife Weekis a time for people to learn about many aspects of the outdoor world, about the culture of the Southern Appalachians and about the people who make this area special."
Leon, you wooer you. You had me at "culture of the Southern Appalachians."
I swear, if I didn't already have plans to visit Roanoke next week, I'd be on a plane to Tennessee.  While I can't make it  this year, I would love to hear from anyone who has gone. How were the hikes? Which workshops did you attend? And do you think it's time for me to adjust my attitude about Pigeon Forge?
read more
OUTDOOR+TRAVEL
This month, tens of thousands of people will cruise Skyline Drive, the famous 105-mile-long parkway that winds atop Shenandoah National Park. The views right now are breathtaking, red and orange leaves on every mountain, but the traffic can be too. During the height of leaf season, peepers cause actual traffic jams right there in the middle of the forest.
Smart park visitors, though, know how to escape. They ditch their cars and hop a shuttle or hit a trail, making their way to one of America's quirkiest pieces of presidential history.
[caption id="attachment_8819" align="alignright" width="236"]Rapidan Camp today. Photo provided by sfgamchick on Flickr. Rapidan Camp today. Photo provided by sfgamchick on Flickr.[/caption]
Completed in 1929, just as the Great Depression took hold, Camp Rapidan was built under President Herbert Hoover. Not surprisingly, government spending was being scrutinized at the time, so the camp was constructed on the cheap, with labor provided at no additional cost by U.S. Marines.
Unlike its successor, Camp David, Rapidan has no helipad or driving range. There's no paved access road or even insulation in the walls of the main cabin, which was affectionately called the Brown House in contrast to The White House. Slats of German siding nailed directly to studs were the only things that stood between President Hoover and the elements, and that was fine by him.
Hoover and his wife Lou Henry had spent a decade in mining camps. They knew the value of backwoods living, and they knew how to catch their own food. The president was an avid fisherman. He had nearby rivers and streams stocked with trout, and he was thrilled whenever he could slip away from the Secret Service to fish on his own. As the story goes, he would find a secluded bluff during these solo adventures and watch search parties hunt for him.
The First Lady, who often drove her own car to Rapidan, once contrasted the rustic camp against peculiar amenities that only a president could command. "[It is] at the end of nowhere, with a road that in wet weather lets you sink to your hubs in slushy mush and while there bump over the most amazing boulders…[it] has electric lights and a telephone and its morning papers. The mail is dropped from an airplane!”
[caption id="attachment_8826" align="alignleft" width="191"]President Hoover fishing at Rapidan Camp. President Hoover fishing at Rapidan Camp.[/caption]
This strange combination of rustic charm and presidential touches attracted some of the biggest names of the day. Charles and Anne Morrow Lindbergh visited. In fact, according to the humorist Will Rogers, Lindbergh helped the president build dams along Mill Prong to form trout pools. Mrs. Thomas A. Edison, the Edsel Fords, Henry Luce, and Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. were also guests.
Eighty-four years ago this month, British Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald spent a week at the camp. His visit included a history-making discussion on a downed tree. It is said that he and the president sat on opposite ends of a log and devised a strategy for limiting naval armament worldwide.
While the camp fit the Hoovers perfectly, subsequent presidents ignored it. The terrain was too bumpy for Franklin Roosevelt's wheelchair, and no other president bothered to visit until Carter took a trip decades later. Over time, the buildings decayed and many had to be torn down. Of the thirteen original structures, which included lodging for servants, secretaries, and the Secret Service, only three remain. Two of those however—the president's Brown House and a guest house aptly called The Prime Minister—have been restored to their 193o's-era glory.
You can see for yourself with a visit to Rapidan Camp. If you're feeling adventurous the hikeis about four miles each way and begins at the Milam Gap Overlook. You can also hop a shuttle from the visitor's center at Big Meadows. The fifteen minute ride is bumpy, but I guarantee that you won't get stuck behind a mini-van full of leaf peepers on the way.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2rVJebw9eU&app=desktop
read more
OUTDOOR+TRAVEL
This fall you can do a trick and get treats with Harpers Ferry Hallows, a nighttime zipline tour.
The trick is flying through the autumn sky like an airborne ghoul, sensing limbs just beyond your grasp and smelling October leaves in a way you never have before—at their height, in the dark. It's like their scent has been turned up high as you whip between black trees with the wind in your face and your heart racing.
zipline
Andrea Tracewell from River Riders, the outfitter that organized the tour, calls it a howling good time, and she says the thrills don't stop there.
While watching the sun set over the Shenandoah Valley, you'll tackle the park's five aerial climbing courses. You'll enjoy cider and granola bars. And you'll take a hayride through a jack-o-lantern lit field. That's all before you even get to the eight ziplines where, as the Website points out, you don't need a broomstick to soar through the sky.
See—you get both tricks and treats, but only for a limited time. The final Harpers Ferry Hallows tour is November 2.
So what do you think? Ever done a zipline, and are you ready to take flight in the dark?
read more
OUTDOOR+TRAVEL
Chattanooga has been on my "to visit" list for years, but its latest attraction has moved it to the top spot. I'm not talking about a river walk, restored historic theater, or arts district. Chattown has had those for a while. What's interesting nowadays is how you get between them. Bike Chattanooga kicked into gear just about a year ago, and this outdoorsy mountain city has done bike share right. With more than thirty stations and 300 bikes, visitors and locals alike can find bicycles all over town. As an avid bike share user (albeit in DC), I'd say that having lots of stations matters. When it's easy to pick-up and drop-off bikes, folks are more likely to pedal to work, take leisure rides, or zip across town to meet friends. In Chattanooga, the commitment is paying off. Forbes just ranked this quaint mountain town right alongside Paris, London, and Montreal as one of ten places where "bikes rule," and riders have racked up some amazing numbers. In the service's first year, people in Chattanooga took more than 31,000 bike share trips and burned a whopping 3.4 million calories. That's important said Phill Pugliese, the bicycle coordinator for Outdoor Chattanooga, which runs the bike share. "We are in what is often termed the Stroke Belt," he said in a recent interview. "While Chattanooga's recognized as an outdoor adventure city...we have high rates of hypertension, diabetes, obesity." Biking can be a tough sale with folks who were raised to think that after age 16 you stow the Shwinn and get your real wheels, but Phil says even they are coming around. "We’ve had people who haven’t been on a bike… in 20 plus years, and they get out, and are now riding their bike out to lunch." It helps that the price is right. With an ongoing membership or a $5 daily fee, using the bikes is free—just as long as you check into a kiosk every hour, and  24/7 access means you can pedal whenever you want, morning, noon, or night. So what do you think—should we all meet up in Chattanooga and show off our pedal power? And what if you had bike share where you live? How would you use it?
read more
OUTDOOR+TRAVEL
You can't live in the Appalachians without having a favorite hiking trail...or ten. This Saturday, June 1, 2013 presents the perfect opportunity to celebrate yours. National Trails Day, led by the American Hiking Society, has inspired trail-themed activities all across the region.
In Shenandoah National Park, you'll find ranger-led hikes, demonstrations, and presentations throughout the day as part of the Beyond the Trailhead event at the Byrd Visitor Center, mile 51 on Skyline Drive.
Continuing its seventeen year tradition, Great Smoky Mountain National Park will host Appalachian Trail Work Day, a day of volunteering in the park. You can help clean and replace water bars, rehabilitate steps and turnpikes, and maintain sections of the Appalachian Trail. The work day concludes with a barbecue picnic at Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area.
State parks across the region will offer all kinds of events, including hiking, birding, historic tours, games, volunteer opportunities ranging from trail repair to building a butterfly habitat, pontoon cruises, cave tours, wildflower watches, and more. Whatever you like to do outdoors, there is bound to be something to fit your interests. Check these park Websites for events near you--West Virginia State Parks, Kentucky State Parks, Georgia State Parks, Virginia State Parks, and Tennessee State Parks--or search the national map of activities on the American Hiking Society Website.
And tell us about your favorite spots. What trails do you think are worth celebrating?
read more
OUTDOOR+TRAVEL
When I can't find anything nice to say about DC--and there are those days--I tell people that it's a great city to escape. Within a two hour drive, we have funky towns like Baltimore and Richmond; the broad, crab-filled waters of the Chesapeake Bay; and, of course, the hills and hollers of my homeland.
With all these options, it's sometimes tough to pick a getaway. (I know--such a first world problem.) But when it came to our anniversary weekend, we knew exactly where we wanted to go.
Ryan and I had been to Shepherdstown just once together. It was four years back, but ever since, we've talked about meandering through West Virginia's oldest town and an outstanding pancake breakfast we had there.
We thought our fifth anniversary was the perfect excuse to go back, and I figured that, since a historic university all but defines the town, we'd find a slew of B&B and rental cottage options.
Click. Click. Click. 
It's amazing how quickly you can discover you're wrong these days. A Web search revealed that people who own houses in this charming hamlet have little interest in renting them to come-and-go weekenders, and there's just one B&B. It was fully booked.
[caption id="attachment_8224" align="alignright" width="244"]A Potomac View from the C&O Canal. A Potomac View from the C&O Canal.[/caption]
While shaking my fist at the town's property owners, I expanded my search and, within minutes, was glad I did. Just four miles away, the Antietam Guest House, an 1856 beauty named after the nearby battlefield, was ready and waiting.
When we pulled into the house's lot, the first thing I noticed was that it backed against a cow pasture. This wouldn't be so unusual, except that it was also just one block from the town's main street. You can't find a better balance of town and country, I'd say.
We entered through the house's back door and inside, discovered charm galore. The transom over the front door was filled with old, brightly colored glass. A stone outcropping, presumably a natural part of the landscape, defined one wall of the finished basement. And at the top of the steep Victorian stairs, waited an intimate sitting area full of local books.
[caption id="attachment_8226" align="alignleft" width="232"]Crab cake at Captain Bender's. Crab cake at Captain Bender's.[/caption]
It was tempting to wile the entire weekend at Antietam Guest House, but we had a town to explore...two actually. Over the course of the next few days we kept the four miles between Sharpsburg and Shepherdstown hot, running back and forth, holding our noses when we passed what we believed to be a pig farm, stopping at an estate sale, and finding new favorites places that we're excited to share with you. If you've been to either of these towns, we hope you'll to tell us your favorites too!

*


Captain Bender's Tavern: Our first night started with an hour and a half drive from DC, and we didn't feel like getting back behind the wheel. For dinner, we walked through sleepy Sharpsburg to a local eatery, picked largely because I liked the old-time sign out front. Inside, the bar was quiet, a few locals talked low at their tables, and as it turned out, the sign was the most interesting part of the decor. We settled in an understated dining room, sure they had bourbon and Coke. Beyond that, our expectations were low.
[caption id="attachment_8227" align="alignright" width="222"]Mecklenburg Inn. Mecklenburg Inn.[/caption]
We ordered clam chowder to start. After living for eight years in Boston, I know a little about this dish. If it's too soupy, it's broth not chowder. If it's short on clams, then you just feel cheated. Imagine my surprise when a mug of thick chowder landed in front of me with clams literally poking from the top. It was pipping hot and seasoned with something I still can't place--Old Bay maybe. Whatever it was, it gave the chowder just the perfect bite, a new flavor and something I never experienced in New England. This followed by more surprises--perfectly fried pickle chips, a crab crake with a lot more crab than filler, and crispy, golden onion rings. All told, it was an easy, tasty inaugural meal. Click here to read the full report.
Nutter's Ice Cream: A block away from Bender's Tavern, we stumbled across the local ice cream parlor. Like Bender's, there was zero pretense at Nutter's, just good ice cream and happy locals eating it. After plates filled with deep fried goodness, I figured some light peach yogurt was the way to go. Though guilt free, it was creamy and really peachy, and the "small" scoop was big enough to go in the freezer and last for two nights.
Mecklenburg Inn: Best known for its live music and nighttime scene, we stopped at Mecklenburg Inn (affectionately known as The Meck) for lunch one sunny afternoon. It was quiet at mid-day, and, at points, we had its picture perfect back patio all to ourselves. Our basic bar food--grilled cheese for Ryan and a hot dog for me--couldn't have tasted better than it did in our garden nook, surrounded by an array of plants and big trees. The largest of them, in the far back, had a two-seater swing hanging from a massive limb. While we didn't make it back after dark, I imagine this is the perfect spot to snuggle with your honey, a beer in hand and live bluegrass wafting through the leaves.
[caption id="attachment_8228" align="alignleft" width="160"]Trestle over the Potomac. Trestle over the Potomac.[/caption]
C & O Canal: Did I mention that the Potomac River runs alongside Shepherdstown? Wide and slow flowing, it defines the line between West Virginia and Maryland, and it's bordered by another channel, the now dry C&O Canal. Opened in 1831, this 184 mile waterway was constructed between Washington, DC and Cumberland, Maryland to transport goods upstream. Today, the canal is a national park. A flat, even trail runs along the old towpath, which mules walked while pulling specially outfitted boats. Thankfully, all we had to pull was our dog. From time to time Beasley tried to chase squirrels down into the dry canal bed. Otherwise, it was a tranquil walk. From the path, we had a great view of the river. Old bridge pilings and languid trees gave my inner-shutterbug plenty to shoot.
Four Seasons Books: Shepherdstown has dozens of charming shops. You can find  everything from honey made down the road to fly fishing gear to dust pans fashioned from old license plates. (Yes, you read that right.) Perhaps my favorite of these offbeat stores is Four Seasons Books. It has two stories of new and used finds, along with an outstanding magazine selection. Ryan and I spent a solid hour perusing its shelves and could have easily lingered for two more. I walked out with a copy of Crapalachia, which you might remember sparked great discussion on The Revivalist a while back.
Blue Moon Cafe: After lunch at Mecklenburg Inn, we figured we'd already hit the pinnacle in patios. Imagine our surprise when we spotted the natural creek that runs through the patio at Blue Moon Cafe. Walled on both sides, the water gurgles past diners as they enjoy locally brewed beer and great eats. We took our pup with us, and the waitress was quick to bring him his own water bowl. He lapped away while we enjoyed a hot-but-not-too-hot buffalo chicken wrap and moist, flavorful meatloaf that would even get your mama's seal of approval.
[caption id="attachment_8223" align="alignnone" width="574"]The patio and creek at Blue Moon Cafe. The patio at Blue Moon Cafe.[/caption]
[nggallery id=shepherdstown]
read more
OUTDOOR+TRAVEL
Next Saturday, folks from across the region and around the world will make their way to the Star City of the South. Roanoke, Virginia plays host to the Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon, which has been ranked among the most grueling race courses in the world.
The Weather Channel named it number eight in its listing of the “World’s 15 Toughest Marathons.” Wenger says it's one of the 7 hardest in the world. The race even bills itself as "America’s Toughest Road Marathon," and it's no hollow boast. With more than 7,200 feet of elevation change over its 26.2 miles, the course is challenging to even the most experienced runner.
Former American Marathon record holder Bill Rodgers has run the race. He said it's "a destination race." He called it challenging and beautiful, adding, "That's a great combination."
The race starts in downtown Roanoke. Runners weave their way through historic neighborhoods and then traverse the side of Mill Mountain. From there, full marathoners continue along the Blue Ridge Parkway to Roanoke Mountain. Coming back, they pass the soaring local landmark, Mill Mountain Star. Half marathoners have a shorter but still challenging course. All participants experience breathtaking mountain views and all are invited to finish the race with a little culture. They receive free admission to the Taubman Museum, Roanoke's premiere art space, which is adjacent to the race's start and finish lines.
If you're like me, your joints aren't up for a half mile run, much less mention 26 miles, and that's okay. Organizers have created a special Web section for spectactors, who play an important role too. "Running a marathon may seem like a solitary, even lonely, accomplishment," explains the race's site, "But it really rests upon the aid of friends, family, and a bunch of complete strangers."
Check out the below video for some of the course's beautiful views and challenging stretches. And let us know what you think. Ever run a marathon? Are you more likely to do one with mountain views?
 
http://vimeo.com/55475468
read more
OUTDOOR+TRAVEL
About this time every year, the Southern Environmental Law Centerreleases a list of 10 places in the South that face immediate, potentially irreparable, environmental threats. If ever there's a list you don't want your homeland to make, it's this one.
endangered appalachiaUnfortunately, precious spots in Appalachia are always included. In fact, this year I was startled to count five of them. That's right, half of the most endangered Southern places are in our mountains. From their farthest reaches in Alabama to their eastern edge in Charlottesville, the Southern Appalachians are under threat. The culprits include fracking, timber sales, roadway development, and mountain top removal mining.
I shouldn't be surprised. Our region has extraordinary natural resources, and for nearly all of our recorded history, they've attracted those who would carelessly exploit them. I'm reminded of the 2008 coal ash spill in Kingstown, Tennessee; the more than 500 mountains that have already been severely impacted or destroyed by mountain top removal mining; and the wholesale destruction of our ancient forests throughout the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
Environmental degradation is not new, but neither are environmental successes. The Southern Environmental Law Center has been pursuing and winning environmental cases in the South for more than twenty-five years. Check out this video on their important work and find out how you can help save our most endangered places.
Know any of these places? What do they mean to you? And what do you think of the work of The Southern Environmental Law Center?
Leave a comment below.
[youtube]xIYhC6yLBIk[/youtube]
read more