Ancient granite walls and rounded volcanic formations comprise much of West Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. The picturesque countryside runs along the eastern edge of the Appalachian Mountains encompassing the gently rolling farmlands of Shenandoah Valley and running all the way to the Great Smoky Mountains. The natural wonders here are vast and varied: the haunting Luray Caverns, the most popular in Eastern America, Dark Hollow Falls and the Natural Bridge, a 90 foot span once surveyed by George Washington.

This is a land steeped in tradition, where small shops and cafes have yet to be supplanted by franchises. Apple butter, plump blackberries and pulled pork are served at romantic gourmet restaurants with other organic specialties from nearby farms. Wild turkeys and deer roam freely. Antiquing, hiking, and fly fishing are favored pastimes. It is a different way of life, a place to inhaled slowed and enjoyed over time.

For more information go to: www.blueridgecountry.com or www.nps.gov/blri/.