Latest news with #BlueRidgeMountains
Yahoo
25 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Hike The Blue Ridge Mountains And Sip On Some Of The Best Wine In The South In This Virginia County
While Charlottesville, Virginia, has long been on the radar of travelers from across the Southeast and, perhaps, the entire country, its neighbor to the southwest is still yet-to-be-discovered by those outside the region. Nelson County is where Charlottesville gets its outdoorsy reputation and its incredible Blue Ridge Mountain views. Nestled in the mountains, Nelson County doesn't encompass any major cities or even larger towns. Instead, it's known for its hiking, craft beer, vineyards, and, of course, the amazing vistas that earned its reputation for being the "sunrise side of the Blue Ridge." Want to plan a trip to this idyllic Virginia county where you can get away from the hustle and bustle? Here's everything you need to know about where to stay, what to do, and where to eat and drink in Nelson County. If you're already planning on visiting the vineyards, why not stay at one? Particularly if it means staying with mountain views and luxuriously decorated historic accomodations. The Farmhouse at Veritas is located on the property of Veritas Vineyards and Winery, but not only is it known for its wine, but also its gourmet dining program. There's a delicious multi-course breakfast each morning and the option to book their four-course, prix-fixe dinner Tuesday through Saturday. 72 Saddleback Farm, Afton, VA 22920 The six rooms at Orchard House Bed and Breakfast are both comfortable and luxuriously decorated, balancing farmhouse charm with an upscale boutique stay. The inn offers incredible views and, if you visit in the heat of summer, there's a saltwater pool ready for you to cool off. 9749 Thomas Nelson Hwy, Lovingston, VA 22949 For a pet-friendly stay and laid-back weekend escape, Rockwell Ridge Inn will put you right where you need to be to access hiking, breweries, and all the beauty of Nelson County. The inn has accommodations for both smaller groups and larger gatherings, all of which have the same modern rustic meets minimalist style. 1562 Afton Mountain Rd, Afton, VA 22920 Explore the outdoors with a side of spookiness. The Blue Ridge Tunnel is nearly a mile long, and, while it was built as a railroad tunnel sometime around 1850, it's now a destination for hikers and bikers. This long, dark tunnel requires a flashlight to navigate. 483 Three Notched Mountain Hwy, Waynesboro VA 22980 If you plan your trip ahead of time, try to coordinate it with a Starry Nights evening at Veritas Vineyards & Winery. This beloved summer tradition includes music in the vineyard, under the spectacular night sky. Depending on your ticket, you can bring a picnic or indulge in a seated three-course meal. 151 Veritas Lane, Afton, Virginia 22920 Crabtree Falls gets its name from not one, but five, cascading waterfalls that are found along this mountain trail. This stunning three-mile hike includes multiple overlooks where you can take in the natural beauty of Nelson County. 11581 Crabtree Falls Highway, Montebello, VA 24464 While Wintergreen Resort is a four-season resort—you can go golfing or hiking in the warmer months—it's truly known for its skiing and snowboarding. This is where you can get your snowy fix, even in the South. 39 Mountain Inn Loop, Nellysford, VA 22958 If your idea of a good country getaway requires a stop by an antique mall, then add the Blue Moon Antique Mall and Bookstore to your list. This large space includes thousands of books, along with antiques ranging from dishware to furniture. 8230 Thomas Nelson Hwy, Lovingston, VA 22949 Lots of breweries serve food but few have built a following like Blue Mountain Brewery. This farm brewery grows their own hops, brews some of the state's favorite craft beer, and they have an extensive menu that includes everything you could want while enjoying a cold one. From pretzels to fried pickle dip to pizzas with local meat (including an extensive selection of gluten-free!), you could spend an entire afternoon hanging out here. 9519 Critzer Shop Rd, Afton, VA 22920 Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards calls itself a culinary vineyard, and that might be the only way to truly describe the level of both food and wine they're serving. Sit on their back veranda looking out over the mountains and enjoy fresh flavors like tomatillo and cucumber gazpacho or burrata and grilled asparagus salad. 5022 Plank Rd, North Garden, VA 22959 No trip to Virginia is complete without pulled pork barbecue, and The Blue Ridge Pig is one of the best places to get it. They're smoking meats up on top of a mountain, and, on a nice day, there's no better place to sit outside and indulge in a classic barbecue plate. 2198 Rockfish Valley Hwy, Nellysford, VA 22958 The restaurant at The Farmhouse at Veritas is open to diners and guests alike, and the four-course meal is one of the most elegant in Nelson County. Taking cues from local flavors and in-season produce, you can expect to find inventive dishes like smashed cucumbers, fromage frais, fried garlic, salmon roe, tarragon, and passion fruit vinaigrette or prime filet mignon, asparagus, red potato hash, and black pepper bordelaise. 72 Saddleback Farm, Afton, VA 22920 With a range from turtle brownies to lavender blueberry cheesecake, Sweet Bliss Bakery is a beloved spot for all things sweet in Nelson County. You can grab desserts-to-go or start off with a sandwich then save your sweets for last. 2789 Rockfish Valley Hwy, Nellysford, VA 22958 There are enough craft breweries, cideries, and distilleries throughout Nelson County to fill up not only an entire weekend, but perhaps an entire week. You can bop around either the Nelson 151 or Nelson 29 craft beverage trails, both named for their main thoroughfares. Make sure to hit Three Notch'd Brewing Company, Hazy Mountain Brewery, Blue Toad Hard Cider, Virginia Distillery Company, and Silverback Distillery. and A portion of the Monticello Wine Trail runs through Nelson County and, while Veritas Vineyards & Winery and Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards have already been mentioned, there are nearly a dozen vineyards worth visiting (maybe make this a long weekend...). Afton Mountain Vineyards, Cardinal Point Winery, Flying Fox Vineyards, and Lovingston Winery are just a few of the locations that blend classic Virginia varietals with the absolutely jawdropping backdrop of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Read the original article on Southern Living
Daily Mail
8 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Secret mountain paradise has become a surprising boomtown as the rest of the region becomes unbearable
As summers in the south get too hot to handle, savvy residents have found an escape nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains that stays 20 degrees cooler than the low country. Southerners love to stay in Boone, North Carolina, a mountain town filled with culture and crisp breezes, and escape from the heatwaves that blaze across southern states like South Carolina and Florida during June, July and August.
Fox News
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Fox News
‘The Waltons' star Michael Learned explains why she never crossed the line with her TV husband
Michael Learned will always have a great love for Ralph Waite. The actress, who starred as Olivia Walton in "The Waltons," recently attended The Hollywood Show, where she opened up about how she kept her relationship with her on-screen husband platonic despite their chemistry. "We had a spat about something totally insignificant, and I was so upset that I had to knock on his trailer door with tears streaming down my face," Learned told Fox News Digital in a statement about a memory of the late actor that has stayed with her. "I said, 'We have to make up, or I can't do the scene with you,'" she recalled. "He held out his arms and gave me a big hug. That was Ralph Waite." At the fan event, Learned revealed that while they both loved each other, "we didn't sleep together in real life." "I just loved him, and he loved me," she said, as quoted by People magazine. "That was very real, and we were also very wise," the 86-year-old shared. "We knew that that could just go downhill. So, as much as we loved each other, we were just very respectful of the show and who we were and who our characters were. So, we just remained dear, dear friends." "The Waltons" tells the tale of a family living in the Blue Ridge mountains of Virginia during the Great Depression. It ran for eight seasons between 1972 and 1981. According to the outlet, the success of the series resulted in six TV movies, which wrapped up in 1997. Waite, who played patriarch John "Pa" Walton Sr., died in 2014 at age 85. The outlet shared that he last reunited with the cast a year before he died, for an interview with Entertainment Weekly. Learned previously admitted that her on-screen chemistry with Waite was the real deal. However, they never pursued a romance. "I loved him very much," she explained to Fox News Digital in 2022. "And we loved each other as much as anybody could love anybody. We never slept together. But our love was so deep and spiritual. And you know, Ralph would put me in my place when he thought I was being an a-----e. He didn't make any bones about telling me to shape up. And it was the same with me." "We were truly family, with all the ups and downs that come with it, except there was no prior baggage," Learned added. WATCH: MICHAEL LEARNED SAYS 'THE WALTONS' SAVED HER LIFE, CALLS FILM 'SECOND ACTS' A GIFT The U.K.'s DailyMail first reported in 2019 that Learned and Waite "were in love" off-screen. At the time, a spokesperson for the actress confirmed to Fox News Digital that, even though the two stars were attracted to each other, they never escalated the relationship out of concern that it would get "messy." "We had a deep love for each other that we would have ruined if we had taken that extra step, and we didn't," Learned told the outlet. "We never did. We thought about it, but we didn't. And I think that's why we became a spiritual husband and wife, if you will, and I miss him terribly. His wife is a very good friend. But what Ralph and I had was something that came across on screen." The costars were tempted to explore their feelings further, she said. "We thought about it. We did," Learned told the outlet. "There was a period where Ralph and I were both single, and we did love each other, so we made a date, and it was going to happen, and we got together, and we looked at each other and went, 'Nah, this will never work.' "Thankfully, we had the good sense to not take the next step, because I think it would have gotten messy. It might have gotten messy, but our love was very deep and true." "The smart thing was we were smart enough not to carry it to the next step, because I think it could have really turned bad," Learned stressed. "I'm not sure, maybe, but our love was very deep and very special, and I miss him terribly." The cast has remained close over the years. Learned described them as "my second family." "We spent more time together shooting the show than we did with our own families," she told Fox News Digital in 2022. "So, of course, we became close. I love them. And it makes us feel good that the show continues to hit home. So many people came up to me, even today, and said, 'Watching 'The Waltons' was the only time I felt safe for an hour.' Others tell me it reminds them of their childhoods when life was sweeter and more innocent. We're proud of our work."
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
NFL quarterback Drake Maye reveals major life-changing news ahead of 2025 season
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye has cause for celebration this offseason as he tied the knot with his childhood sweetheart over the weekend. The 22-year-old tied the knot with longtime love Ann Michael Hudson just five months after popping the question in January. In stunning snaps shared to social media, the happy couple were captured celebrating saying 'I do' with their nearest and dearest. The signal caller, who was selected by the Patriots with the No. 3 overall pick in last year's NFL Draft, and his new wife exchanged their vows in front of the picturesque setting of the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains. They hosted their ceremony at the exclusive Grandfather Golf and Country Club nestled in their native North Carolina. The loved-up couple and their friends and family partied the night away under an open-sided tent on the club's gorgeous grounds. In a couple of photos, Maye was captured whisking his blushing bride to the dancefloor. The new Mrs. Maye looked ethereal in a strapless, drop-waisted, crisp white gown with the full skirts swirling around as her husband twirled her. In keeping with tradition, the couple cut the cake together before feeding each other a bite in one photo. Meanwhile, Maye couldn't keep his eyes of his glowing bride as bopped around the dancefloor, her chic and elegant updo disheveled by the merriment. The couple are high school sweethearts, having met in middle school and dating all through their high school and college years. They celebrated their nine-year anniversary last October with Ann Michael commemorating the occasion with a sweet Instagram post. The University of North Carolina product finally got down on one knee during a trip to Mexico in January - after the Patriots' season had come to an end. Maye left UNC after just three years there - bolting for the NFL - while Ann Michael graduated from Chapel Hill with a double major in entrepreneurship and conflict management in April. The brunette beauty has been by the signal caller's side throughout his career, supporting him at last year's draft. Last season, Maye compiled a record of 3-9 as he led New England's struggling and underpowered offense that lacked skill at most key positions. He finished his rookie campaign starting 12 games - completing 225 of 338 passes for 2,276 yards, 15 touchdowns, and ten interceptions. However, he has looked more confident in spring training sessions as he adjusts to new offensive coordinator Josh McDaniel's system. 'I'm starting to really find a stride,' Maye said. 'It's all the same concepts in the league, but it's different words, different verbiage. It's mostly the same guys running [routes], but just feeling out how they run it and timing when you get into different concepts. It's been good.' The Patriots will open their 2025 campaign against the Las Vegas Raiders in Foxborough on September.
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
What's holding up CFP expansion? SEC and Big Ten are at a potential impasse on these key issues
College Football Playoff executive director Rich Clark is waiting on the SEC and Big Ten to agree on a new playoff format just like the rest of us. (Photo) ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Deep within the Blue Ridge Mountains, the historical Biltmore Estate Hilltop Inn rises above an ocean of rolling greenery, its high stone walls and floor-to-ceiling windows all tucked between two giant peaks: Mount Mitchell and Mount Pisgah. The two mountains loom like sentries, dominating the blue skyline, unmistakable giants in this scenic land. Advertisement Inside the Biltmore, two goliaths within the landscape of college sports, the SEC and Big Ten, are at odds on the future of the industry's most valuable product: the College Football Playoff. Can these mountains be moved? Well, here this week, CFP leaders took steps toward a change to the playoff selection process — yet another chapter in what's already been a laborious journey toward potential expansion to 16 teams. The 10 FBS conference commissioners and Notre Dame's athletic director received a presentation from executive director Rich Clark and data analysts over adjustments to selection committee criteria in an effort to salvage the committee's role itself and appease both Big Ten and SEC leaders — the two entities that, according to a memorandum signed last spring, control future format decisions. Whether such a change brings the two conferences together on a format remains unclear. The two leagues must agree on a playoff model for it to move forward, Clark said on Wednesday from the Biltmore Inn, confirming what's been previously reported based on last spring's memorandum. Advertisement But, for now, they are at an impasse. The Big Ten wants a playoff where access is more like the NFL structure, determined through automatic qualifiers based on conference standings to limit the subjectivity of the selection committee. And the league also supports all four leagues — including the SEC and ACC — to play nine conference games as the Big Ten and Big 12 do. The SEC moved away from such a playoff format after its coaches publicly pushed back against it three weeks ago during the conference's spring meetings, instead now working toward a format that provides a bigger at-large pool, such as a 16-team model with five automatic qualifiers for conference champions and 11 at-large selections (5+11). However, in any 5+11 format, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey, his coaches and athletic directors have been very clear: They want to see a change in the selection process to more heavily emphasize strength of schedule and strength of conference. Advertisement For the most part, that's what this set of CFP meetings centered around here this week. Clark, entering his second year as CFP executive director, presented, along with a data analyst from SportsSource Analytics, 'recommendations' on just how to adjust data points that the selection committee uses. With assistance from a Google mathematician and university math professor, the presentation included the creation of a strength-of-record metric to more heavily weight a team's strength of schedule, conference strength and, in particular, non-conference games. In fact, commissioners heard from experts who encouraged the scheduling of more crossover games among the four power leagues — a way, presumably, to provide more data points of rating the league strength. Advertisement Commissioners gave Clark and the CFP staff feedback, about potentially rewriting some language of the protocol used by selection committee members. CFP leaders will now 'mull it over,' Clark said, before the group continues to meet throughout the summer in an effort to reach an expansion decision by Dec. 1 — the drop-dead date for 2026 expansion. Commissioners declined to comment on this week's meeting. Three of the four power conference commissioners, in fact, shuffled into an elevator together here after their meeting. As reporters fired questions toward them, the elevator doors closed. The fourth power league commissioner, Big Ten's Tony Petitti, did not attend meetings in person but was in attendance virtually. Clark spoke in their absence. The same format options that have existed continue to exist, he said. 'There are a lot of options. You've heard all of the options.' While not mentioning them, they are obvious. Advertisement 1) Remain at the same 12-team format: 5 AQs + 7 at-large, which isn't necessarily the preference, Sankey said a few weeks ago. 2) Expand to a 14-team event: 5 AQs + 9 at-large, which isn't as desirable as the next option. 3) Move to a 16-team field: 5+11 or the Big Ten's AQ-heavy proposal that grants twice as many bids to each the SEC and Big Ten (4 each) as the ACC and Big 12 (2). 'The format could be a lot different in 2026 or could be the same,' Clark said. Staying at 12 for 2026 is a grim reality for some, but it's a possibility, perhaps even a probability as negotiations creep closer to the Dec. 1 deadline. If the SEC and Big Ten do not agree on a format, there may not be a change at all. Advertisement When specifically asked about the Big Ten and SEC having to both agree on format, Clark said, 'They are obligated to come to an agreement on what the format is. They will determine that between the parties and will go forward from there. 'Rushing to a bad decision is not in any of our best interest,' he said later. 'They're looking at any and all options and understanding what the pros and cons are to those things rather than rush to something that may not suit us.' Would the Big Ten really block expansion to 16 if the rest of the 10 FBS conferences and Notre Dame agree on the 5+11 format? Perhaps. Illinois head coach Bret Bielema gestured toward that during an interview on Tuesday in Chicago. 'I don't think there's any way we could do a 16-team playoff if [the SEC] is not at nine [conference] games,' he said. Can these two mountains be moved? Asked that question here Wednesday, one CFP leader smiled and quipped, 'We'll get there.'
