April 2015

Mules in Appalachia

Ray Access — Sat, 21 Mar 2015 19:31:54 +0000

From mines to “Mule Day” Mules are domesticated hybrid animals, the product of a male donkey and a female horse. Used as pack animals and draft animals, mules are infertile but strong. They are more durable and require less food than a similarly sized horse or donkey. In some respects, a mule is the superior animal for working.

Deviled Eggs Recipe Ideas

Ray Access — Sat, 21 Mar 2015 18:29:09 +0000

The most common deviled eggs that you find at most Southern Appalachian picnic tables is the classic, best portrayed by Betty Crocker, a source many Southern cooks still use today.

Flower Markets

Ray Access — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 19:11:16 +0000

How to get the most from them It’s the time of year to bring out the flowers. Whether you plan to display fresh-cut flowers in your home or office or regal your garden with a blooming array of color, professional florists at the flower markets throughout the Appalachians are ready to give you a hand.

Statement Hats

Ray Access — Mon, 16 Mar 2015 20:47:38 +0000

Whether you’re planning to attend the Kentucky Derby on May 1 or the Blockhouse Steeplechase on May 2, you don’t have much time to get your hat ready. And don’t even think about attending either race without one. For women, it’s a major fashion faux pas, and for men, well, it’s just not done. The South still has certain traditions that should not be broken.

Kentucky Bourbon Restaurants

Ray Access — Mon, 16 Mar 2015 20:20:01 +0000

Just try to pick one! Kentucky might be most famous for three things: Daniel Boone, the Kentucky Derby and bourbon. We set out to find the best Kentucky bourbon restaurant in the state. Guess what? We couldn’t! There are simply too many high-quality establishments to choose one over the other.

The Greenbrier®, America’s Resort

Ray Access — Mon, 16 Mar 2015 19:54:24 +0000

An unforgettable stay at a premier destination When asked about “America’s Resort,” you may picture a luxurious, colonnaded resort with beautifully manicured grounds, a world-renowned spa, on-grounds entertainment, multiple golf courses, exceptional dining and a centuries-old history of serving travelers. However, you may not think that place would be in West Virginia.

Still Singing in Tennessee

Ray Access — Mon, 16 Mar 2015 19:43:45 +0000

A brief history of Gospel singing in Tennessee Southern Gospel music typically refers to the tunes that white Christians developed around the turn of the century. Growing in popularity beside the black Gospel music that urban dwellers created, Southern Gospel came into its own thanks to a pioneer in the genre, Tennessee-born James D. Vaughan.

The Ginseng of Madison County

Ray Access — Mon, 16 Mar 2015 19:31:54 +0000

A boon and a bane both Madison County, North Carolina, sits in the northwest corner of the state. Its northern borders trace across the peaks of the Blue Ridge Mountains, with Tennessee on the other side. It’s a rural area, for the most part, as Marshall and Mars Hill are its biggest towns. But Madison County is famous for its ginseng.

The Devil Is in the Eggs

Ray Access — Mon, 16 Mar 2015 18:55:36 +0000

Deviled eggs made into a Southern tradition Rarely will you encounter a Southern Appalachian family reunion, potluck, church function or family-style meal that doesn’t include deviled eggs. Alongside cornbread, pea salad and fried chicken, a plate of deviled eggs would be conspicuous in its absence. The dish is simple: freshly cut and seasoned hard-boiled eggs with yolks mixed with mayonnaise, mustard, salt, pepper and paprika, although it can contain any number of surprising ingredients.

Race Fever

Ray Access — Mon, 16 Mar 2015 18:13:28 +0000

Blockhouse Steeplechase in Tryon Ladies and gentlemen, grab your hats and get out your wallets. Tickets went on sale February 15 for the 69th Block House Steeplechase. The event, to be held on May 2, 2015, is a highly anticipated tradition every year as horse lovers, party-lovers and generally fanatical outdoor enthusiasts who love to dress up gather in the North Carolina Foothills for a big horse race.

Appalachian Barn Weddings

Ray Access — Mon, 16 Mar 2015 17:03:42 +0000

For the right couples, this is the ultimate experience

Weddings today are family affairs. The bride’s family meets the groom’s family, with a few assorted friends of both sprinkled into the mix. They can be big or small, indoors or outdoors, catered or pot luck, but they always celebrate the joining of two people.

Cover Your Head in Style

Ray Access — Sun, 15 Mar 2015 19:18:15 +0000

Hat trends from past to present

Hats are hot! What may serve as a must-have cover-up to keep your face shaded from the damaging UV rays of the sun actually may be one of the hottest trends for Southern women in 2015. Big brims, low-hanging bucket hats and hats in outrageous new shapes and sizes were all the rage on the fashion-forward runways this year.

Jennifer Pharr Davis: Not Just the Fastest Hiker

Ray Access — Thu, 12 Mar 2015 06:05:16 +0000

She’s a mother and nature advocate, too. In 2011, Jennifer Pharr Davis became the fastest person (man or woman) to through-hike the Appalachian Trail (AT). By averaging 47 miles a day — which, at three miles an hour, is more than 15 hours a day — she completed the 2,180-mile journey in 46 days, 11 hours and 20 minutes. For that accomplishment, she was named a 2012 National Geographic Top Adventurer of the Year, one of 10 to be so named worldwide.

Virginia’s Fly-Fishing Trail

Ray Access — Wed, 11 Mar 2015 19:12:53 +0000

Rainbows, browns and brookies… oh my! Mountain areas are typically great for fishing — not necessarily because of the fish, but because of the diversity. The Blue Ridge Highlands of Southwestern Virginia (fishblueridge.com) is such a place.