A little “peace” of heaven just off the Blue Ridge Parkway

Pilot's Perch Cabins

Serre Vineyards

Serre Vineyard Sign

Serre Vineyards is a nice little gem of a winery less than 30 minutes from Fancy Gap. If you’re looking for a peaceful, tucked away winery close by, Serre provides a good watering hole. Drink some wine or beer, listen to live music, or just toss some cornhole. Views by a Fire Pit Warm up … Read more

Hiking Doughton Park

Doughton-Park-Caudill-Cabin

Doughton Park has been on our list of top ten hikes near Fancy Gap for awhile, and I recently had the pleasure of hiking one of its many trails. Doughton Park is noteworthy for open meadows, remote creek-hopping trails, and cabins and ruins from the late 19th and early 20th century mountain community. There are … Read more

Mayberry Days

Mayberry Courthouse

Mayberry Days is a festival celebrating small town America as depicted on the Andy Griffith Show. It’s an annual celebration held annually the last weekend of September. This year’s festival will be held in Mt. Airy, NC from September 19-25, 2022. There’s lots to take in for fans of the show, with the activity centering in … Read more

Smoke on the Mountain BBQ Championship

smoking meat

On July 22 and 23, Galax, VA will host the annual Smoke on the Mountain BBQ Championship, Virginia’s official state BBQ championship. Smoke on the Mountain – The Food Although Galax is best known for its old-time and bluegrass music, the city becomes a BBQ haven of sorts every third weekend in July. Many of … Read more

Hiking Grayson Highlands State Park

Fabio at Grayson Highlands State Park

Grayson Highlands State Park is a beautiful park in far southwest Virginia. You can see for miles atop bald peaks that provide 360 degree long-range views. Grayson Highlands State Park is probably best known as home to a herd of hiking companions, wild ponies that roam the park helping to keep growth down in the … Read more

HoustonFest

Banjo Picker

Every year the city of Galax hosts HoustonFest, a festival of song and service in honor of Galax firefighter Houston Caldwell, who died in a car crash on April 30, 2010. About HoustonFest The 2-day festival, this year held on June 10 and 11, is chock full of bluegrass and mountain music, including some widely … Read more

Mt. Airy Fiddlers Convention

Mt. Airy Fiddlers Convention Silhouette

The Mt. Airy Fiddlers Convention, officially known as the Blue Grass & Old-Time Fiddlers Convention, brings together musicians and fans for two full days of competition, jam sessions, dancing, singing, education, and family entertainment. This popular festival, established in 1972, is dedicated to old-time and bluegrass music, as well as dance. The Fiddlers Convention features … Read more

Hiking Pilot Mountain State Park

Pilot Mountain at Dusk

Pilot Mountain State Park features great views of the Piedmont and the surrounding mountains. You’ll see the rest of the Sauratown Mountains, of which Pilot Mountain is a part. The countryside spreads out below the namesake mountain. Winston-Salem is even visible on a clear day. Pilot Mountain State Park Trails It is a very popular … Read more

Hiking Hanging Rock State Park

Views of the Blue Ridge from Hanging Rock Peak

Hiking Hanging Rock State Park is a great way to see the beautiful Blue Ridge mountain range, including a distant view of the peaks around Fancy Gap. There are 13 trails totaling more than 20 miles in the park. There are peaks with great views and hikes to beautiful waterfalls. It’s a great option when … Read more

Mabry Mill

Mabry-Mill

Mabry Mill is one of the most photographed places on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Just a few miles from Fancy Gap, it’s easy to see what makes it a popular destination for folks in the area. There have been countless pictures taken over the years of the picturesque mill across the pond. Other activities and … Read more