Appalachian Wanderers 91
Appalachian Wanderers
Exploring Wildwood Grove
Since Dolly shoveled that first pile of dirt in 1985 to signify the birth of her Smoky Mountain theme park, three things have remained a constant at Dollywood: the music icon’s guiding presence, welcoming hospitality, and a whole lot of change. Change is what transformed a small railroad tour into the national destination the Dollywood […]
Appalachian Wanderers
The Opening of Wildwood Grove
Dolly Parton has been one busy… well… Butterfly! Just last Friday we were on site at Dollywood in the park’s newest expansion with Dolly herself to officially open Wildwood Grove. Inspired by the beauty of the Smokies, Wildwood Grove is Dollywood’s brand new $37 million dollar land addition that is the theme park’s largest capital […]
Appalachian Wanderers
Appalachian Wanderers – Dollywood Opening 2019
Recently we arrived at Dollywood under gloomy skies and dark clouds, and it seemed as if the curse of Dollywood Opening was once again going to come true. As the media representatives from newspapers, magazines and TV stations alike continue to roll in, it was almost like Dolly sent out her magical butterflies, flit and […]
Appalachian Wanderers
Busch Gardens Williamsburg Part II
Welcome back to our exploration of Busch Gardens Williamsburg, one of the most visited attractions in Virginia and consistently voted the most beautiful park in the world! If you missed our exploration of the park’s first three lands, be sure to check out last week’s article at www.theloaferonline.com. We left off last week in Scotland, […]
Busch Gardens Williamsburg
Williamsburg, Virginia, serves as an icon of American history. The nearby community of Jamestown was the first permanent settlement when British explorers landed here over four centuries ago. Throughout the 1700s, this slice of the Virginia Peninsula would continue to have a strong European influence as it became the capital of the fledging Virginia Colony. […]
Appalachian Wanderers
Appalachian Wanderers: Unaka Mountain Wildlife Auto Loop
Cherokee legend tells the story of the Great Buzzard, a being who is responsible for creating the mountains we call home. It is said that when the earth was first formed, the ground was still soft mud. The buzzard was sent to look for a dry landing spot, but as he flew on and on […]
Appalachian Wanderers
Hiking Fuel
Mountain Mix: First take 4 pinecones and break them up into small pieces. Add in a handful of acorns (chestnuts can be substituted) and mix with 3 hand cups of creek water. Now take a boot full of soft sifted dirt (be sure to remove any earthworms, they will be added in later)..… Errrr… Week […]
Appalachian Wanderers
Blue Ridge Parkway – James River to Roanoke
High in the narrow Allegheny Mountain valleys of George Washington National Forest lie two small rivers. The Jackson River winds through gorges and dams before joining Cowpasture River just outside the town of Clifton Forge. This junction marks the start of the mighty James River. Virginia’s longest river, it stretches over four hundred miles from […]
Appalachian Wanderers
Blue Ridge Parkway-Shenandoah to James River Gorge
Far to our north, just outside the small borough of Dillsburg, Pennsylvania, a series of ridges rise abruptly from the gently-rolling Piedmont. While they may not seem all that impressive, these forested hills are the starting point of the Blue Ridge Mountains. From their timid beginnings they’ll march over six hundred and fifteen miles across […]
Appalachian Wanderers
Foothills Parkway and the Missing Link
Breathtaking views, dozens of hiking trails, and a string of beautiful recreation areas make the Blue Ridge Parkway the most popular units of the entire National Park Service. Over 16 million explored its 469 miles of blacktop in 2017 alone! Unknown to most of these visitors, there are actually nine other parkways in the system. […]
Appalachian Wanderers
The Virginia Creeper Trail
Imagine the year is 1900 and you are somewhere between Abingdon and Damascus, Virginia. It’s a sunny but cold day in February and all of the sudden you see black smoke shooting into the air, you hear strange “chugging” sounds, and then out of nowhere comes the loudest steam train whistle you have ever heard. […]
Appalachian Wanderers
Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas
It’s Christmas time in the Smokies! While the last of autumn’s colorful displays may still cling to the more tenacious trees in the valley, we’re already wishing for the first snowflakes of winter. The Thanksgiving turkey is still in the deep freezer and yet Christmas trees are up, Chex mix is being made, and Mariah […]
