48 results
One Song: In the Pines
East Tennessee artist Amythyst Kiah brings her indie edge to this old-time Appalachian song.
Finding Treasure in a Trailer
I was raised to think single-wide trailers were for desperate people. Buying one showed me just how wrong I was.
From box turtles to bunchberries, exploring tiny species within Appalachia
In her gorgeously illustrated book, "Tiny Worlds of the Appalachian Mountains," "Rosalie Haizelett pull our attention down, to all the wonders we've been walking right past."
Stellar places to stargaze
You can't beat stargazing In Appalachia. Discover amazing spots in the mountains of Tennessee, North Carolina, West Virginia, and Maryland.
Glow time: Your guide to firefly season in Appalachia
Lightning bugs light up the night in Appalachia. Here are the best spots to see them in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Tennessee, and North Carolina.
Wild summer reading: Family scandals, a survivalist cabin, and a hellbender mystery
Appalachian literature delivers big this summer with poetry, novels, and picture books for every interest and age.
Recipe: Cathead biscuits from Biscuit Head inspire sweet memories.
This morning, I ate two and a half biscuits in three minutes flat. I’m not proud of this record, though my gluttony does attest to the power of this damn good biscuit recipe. It also says something about grief.
You see, earlier this week, doctors told my daddy he is dying. The medicine prescribed for his progressive lung condition, a disease brought on by 20 years of back-to-back shifts in a Western North Carolina paper plant, isn’t working. All we can do now is sit around hoping he’ll be el...
5 luxe treehouses that elevate summer vacations
Need to escape the hustle and bustle? These beautifully designed, high-in-the-sky, Appalachian treehouses are the perfect "elevated" getaways.
A one-woman “Hee Haw,” Andi Marie Tillman is breaking the internet.
Appalachian native Andi Marie Tillman's cast of hillbilly characters have gone viral. in the process, they've taken her from cleaning houses for a living to acting full time.
Preserving W.Va.’s coal legacy through crafts
To honor her West Virginia family's coal mining legacy, Megan Brown created a stunning handmade necklace crafted from actual coal dust.
Weird Appalachia: How “The Simpsons” saved the Sunsphere
Whether you call it Sunsphere or Wigsphere, the history of this Knoxville, Tennessee landmark is almost as strange as the structure itself.
Do you drive like an Appalachian?
Moonshining tradition, NASCAR bravado, and good ol' fashioned decency define Appalachian driving. How do you line up?
These four festive trains make the holidays magical
Join Santa on old-fashioned locomotives that chug through the hills and hollers of Appalachia, spreading Christmas cheer one whistle-stop at a time. These four train ride make magical holiday memories.
Smokey Bear turns 80, but is he still relevant?
Since 1944, Smokey Bear has taught us the importance of snuffing out campfires and never playing with matches. Now that we know some forest fires are good, experts are asking if Smokey is still “on message.”
Wanna' Save Appalachia’s Butterflies?
If you have a yard, you can help save butterflies in five easy steps.
Exoplanets to pinball games, 6 quirky Blue Ridge Parkway experiences
Yes, the drive is stunning, but to take in some of the best attractions along the Blue Ridge Parkway, it’s worth pulling over.
WTH is kombucha and where can I git’ some?
Appalachian brewers are putting their own spin on kombucha, a Chinese fermented tea.
‘Round Here: Hendersonville, N.C.
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.
What does it mean to be West Virginian in a post-coal world?
In "King Coal" on PBS, two middle-school girls grapple with their identities inside a state that’s doing the same.
8 Binge-Worthy Road Trip Snacks
Whether you’re headed for your meemaw’s hollow or Hilton Head, pack these Appalachian snacks.
5 Appalachian wildflower hikes to soothe your soul
Looking for calm amid life's chaos? These wildflower hikes promise to ground you in nature’s rhythms and Appalachia's splendor.
Finding kinship in the wake of Hurricane Helene
As a skeptical person, I don’t believe in a lot. I don’t believe in Bigfoot tiptoeing around the backcountry, in ghosts haunting attics, or in myths like throwing salt over your shoulder. (That just makes a mess.) But I sure as hell believe in the magic of mountain communities, especially after Hurricane Helene.
This Marketing Exec Got Paid to Move to Appalachia
Chasing big incentives, telecommuters and remote workers are moving to the mountains of West Virginia and Johnson City, Tennessee.
In 2024, Hurricane Helene tore forests up. Then a rare bird returned.
Photo BrianLasenby via Getty/Canva. Hurricane Helene damaged some 822,000 acres of timberland in Western North Carolina. In these open spaces, surprising bird species are finding room to roost — and maybe new threats. This spring, John Koon traveled up Elk...
Four foraged foods that will wow Thanksgiving guests
From dandelion roots to acorns, wild edibles that you can forage in Appalachia will give you serious outdoorsy cred on Thanksgiving day.
Warm your soul and your buns at these Appalachian hot springs
For centuries, visitors have travelled to Appalachia's famed warm and hot springs for healing and rejuvenation. Today, these longstanding destinations merge wellness with history, creating truly unique experiences.
Asheville lady bootlegger inspires today’s women booze-makers
Moonshiner Grace McAbee moved to Asheville in her 20s. Not long after, she met her husband and purchased a home in an industrial community called West End-Factory Hill, known today as the River Arts District. There, she sold and possibly produced booze.
Santa’s real-life helpers make toys for underserved N.C. children.
Since 1985, Apple Country Woodcrafters has donated 25,000 wooden toys in Hendersonville, North Carolina. Their workshop is straight out of the North Pole.
Weird Appalachia: Brown Mountain Lights
Dr. Daniel B. Caton once saw things in the sky he couldn't explain, the Brown Mountain Lights. He has spent decades trying to figure out this Burke County, N.C. mystery.
5 blowout New Year’s Eve parties in Appalachia
Whether you prefer a Gatsby-esque affair or something more low-key, these five Appalachian parties will help you ring in the new year.
Meet Mildred: Grandfather Mountain’s real life equivalent to Yogi Bear
For over two decades, Mildred — a soda-sipping, selfie-loving bear — charmed visitors at Grandfather Mountain, the highest peak in the Blue Ridge.
Meet Boojum: Bigfoot’s older, gentler cryptid cousin
What began as a N.C. marketing ploy grew into an enduring myth about a gentle golliath and his lovestruck bride.
5 reasons the opossum should be Appalachia’s official mascot
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.
A very kitschy Christmas: Aluminum trees make a comeback
Tinsel trees, aluminum trees — whatever you call them, these retro artificial trees are making a comeback and being celebrated at the Aluminum Tree and Aesthetically Challenged Ornament Museum in North Carolina.
5 Stunning Wedding Venues in Appalachia
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.
Next-level ‘mater sandwiches
Heirloom tomato varieties and creative toppings make summertime’s most popular sandwich even better.
Eat the Appalachian Breakfast Trail
With everything from bacon-topped donuts to carrot pancakes, this path of breakfast joints is like that other Appalachian Trail, only tastier. Find stops in Morgantown, W.V.; Stuart, V.A.; Knoxville, Tenn.; Asheville, N.C., Travelers Rest, S.C., and Clayton, Ga.
One Song: What if The Beatles shot a video in the Blue Ridge?
This dreamy, retro-tinged clip from The Wildmans feels like Beatlemania with a fiddle.
From authors like Barbara Kingsolver and David Joy, these novels are made for the shade.
Whether you’re rocking on the front porch or swinging in a hammock, our summer reading list packs more heat than an August afternoon.
From “The Hunger Games” to “The Road,” Appalachia keeps inspiring apocalyptic fiction.
A VISION OF APPALACHIA, POST-APOCALYPSE, BY MIDJOURNEY. It’s hard to say why, but creators love using Appalachia as the setting for civilization’s collapse. We can’t stop imagining the end of the world. From floods and plagues to AI uprisings and...
One Passage: "Sidle Creek," an NPR Book of the Year
They told author Jolene McIlwain to leave Appalachian Pennsylvania and never look back. She stayed and wrote an acclaimed anthology.
6 unlikely banjo songs (indie to EDM) we can’t stop playing
These tunes prove the banjo ain’t just for country music anymore. Today, clever instrumentalists are plingin’ and plangin’ banjo strings in almost every imaginable genre.
5 wondrous waterfalls that will wow you, from Vermont to Georgia
These Appalachian cascades range from easy roadside stops that draw busloads of tourists to hidden backcountry gems.
Recipe: Elevate your vinegar pie with this secret ingredient
I know what you’re thinking. Vinegar? In pie? That’s disgusting. I used to think so, too. But when I finally mustered up the courage to take a bite, my five-year-old palate was pleasantly surprised.
Dolly Parton built big things. What happens to them now?
PHOTO BY AFF ON ALAMY. While Dolly is irreplaceable, generations of artists, philanthropists, business leaders, and everyday folks will follow the trail of rhinestones she left behind. For mountain people, Dolly Parton was never simply a celebrity. She was proof.Proof...
A mysterious tombstone inspired Ron Rash’s new novel, set in N.C. and Korea
Interview: Award-winning Appalachian N.C. novelist Ron Rash talks headstones, childhood trauma, and what’s next for his career.
LAUNCH MEDIA KIT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: MARK LYNN FERGUSON New Website Celebrates Modern Appalachian Life — Woodshed: An Appalachian Joint With hundreds of funky crafts plus stories about the food, music, people, and places that make our mountains special, Woodshed is a...
