Appalachia

Mom Hiked the Appalachian Trail with 13 Kids in Tow

Nikki Bettis stood on the jagged summit outcrop of Shenandoah National Park’s 4,011-foot Stony Man, awed by westward panoramic views. Her heart swelled with emotion as she turned to watch her 13 kids shoulder their loaded backpacks and fall into a clamorous single-file line heading back to the Appalachian Trail (AT). “We were in an […]

by Eric J. Wallace

Coal Miner’s Daughter

Country music up-and-comer Kaitlyn Baker may be from a small town, but she’s chasing big dreams.

by tennis joe

Banjo Men

Memories of a talented picker and the man credited with inventing the instrument.

by Chiles T.A. Larson

Some Appalachian Trail Resources

What you need to know about the AT, in Virginia and beyond (but especially in Virginia).

by caroline evertz

Food. Miles. Shelter.

Some of the toughest AT terrain can be found in the 50 miles between Front Royal and Harpers Ferry. As writer Suzanne Gannon found after hiking it over five days, there are temperature shifts, treacherous climbs and, if you’re lucky, “trail angels” t

by suzanne gannon

Rock Hopping

There are few better getaways than a jaunt on the Appalachian Trail. It’s the most famous hiking corridor in America, and there is more of it in Virginia than any other state. Joe Tennis spent two days near Grayson Highlands State Park.

by tennis joe

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May 30, 2025

Manassas Chorale “Princesses and Pirates” Spring Concert

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Most Popular

A New Experience at the Virginia Scenic Railway

Virginia Scenic Railway Adds Dome Car for Spectacular Valley Views The popular Virginia Scenic Railway just upped its game with a vintage dome car offering breathtaking 360° views of the Shenandoah Valley. The “Shenandoah”—built in 1948 as the “Silver Palace” for the California Zephyr—now gives passengers an unmatched vantage point on three-hour excursions from Staunton. […]

by Gabriela de Camargo Gonçalves

The U.S. DOE Labeled These Virginia Schools Outstanding

Eight Virginia schools received the National Blue Ribbon 2024 award for their high performances. The Exemplary High Performing Schools are Spring Hill Elementary in McLean, Green Run Collegiate in Virginia Beach, Bethel Manor Elementary in Hampton, and St. Andrew the Apostle School in Clifton. The Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools are Central Academy Middle […]

by Gabriela de Camargo Gonçalves

Williamsburg Archaeologists Uncover Secret Garden

In Colonial America, a grand garden was the ultimate status symbol—the 18th century equivalent of a Lamborghini. So when archaeologists at Colonial Williamsburg uncovered John Custis IV’s property, they struck horticultural gold: the remains of a football field-sized garden alongside his Jacobean manor house. Custis, a tobacco magnate and Martha Washington’s first father-in-law, went all […]

by Madeline Mayhood