Michael C. Upton

Michael C. Upton is a writer covering arts, leisure, and adventure. He is actively published by trade journals, specialized websites, and regional and national magazines, and considers Virginia his favorite destination state.

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Culture

Crooked Road: Venues, Fests, and Fun Stops Along the Way

The backroads of Americana music crisscross Southwest Virginia, from Rocky Mount to Pennington Gap. Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail—the Crooked Road—winds through Appalachia and leads from venue to festival, to the birthplace of country music and past homes of legends who forged a sound by blending gospel, African rhythms, and Western European folk traditions. In the […]

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Buc-ee’s Opens Its First Virginia Location

If you happened to be standing near the I-81 exit for Mt. Crawford in the early morning hours of this past June 30, you’d have witnessed a spectacle. Shoppers flooded into the parking lot and shuffled into block-long lines in hopes of being among the first through the doors of Virginia’s first Buc-ee’s travel station. […]

by Eric J. Wallace

Norfolk Harborfest Returns for Its 50th Anniversary

From June 19–21, Downtown Norfolk welcomes a fleet of over 60 international and U.S. tall ships to celebrate VA250. “Harborfest celebrates the rich maritime and naval heritage that defines Norfolk and the Hampton Roads region,” says Jordan Lett, marketing director of Norfolk Festevents. “With something happening throughout the waterfront each day, Harborfest offers an immersive […]

by Abby Borgeson

U.S. News & World Report Names This Virginia School as One of The Best in The Nation

Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology’s streak of hard-hitting accolades continues this year with a glowing review from U.S. News & World Report. The outlet recently crowned it the top high school in Virginia—and fifth best in the nation—for 2026. The ranking praised the Fairfax-based magnet school’s STEM-focused curriculum that builds toward a […]