Embracing Virginia’s fall colors along Blue Ridge Parkway and Peaks of Otter

By Lynn R. Mitchell

The autumn leaf color was somewhat muted Saturday under overcast skies but the golds, reds, and oranges were still vibrant along the mountain ridge tops of Virginia Blue Ridge Parkway. Fall colors have been running about a week behind this year and so we have been able to stretch leaf season longer to embrace and squeeze out ever bit of this once-a-year event. Because it is fleeting, it is treasured.

Back roads

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Rockbridge County, Virginia.

House Mountain, Rockbridge County, Virginia.

Our roadside picnic spot. There are still some of these left on the back roads of America.

James River near Springwood, Virginia.

Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell
September 15, 2015

Nelson 151 and other back roads

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Sunday afternoon road trip! With mostly-sunny skies and temps in the 80s, we headed out to meet friends for lunch and do a little roaming along the mountains. Driving from Staunton to Afton where Ron King’s Gourmet Popcorn food truck was open for business, we continued down Rt. 250 to Rt. 6, following the curvy mountain road into the Rockfish Valley where we turned onto Route 151, the scenic byway that offers three breweries (Blue Mountain, Devil’s Backbone, Wild Wolf), six wineries (Afton Mountain Vineyards, Cardinal Point Vineyard and Winery, Flying Fox Vineyard and Winery, Hill Top Berry Farm and Winery, Pollak Vineyards and Winery, and Veritas Vineyard), a cidery (Bold Rock Hard Cider), and a distillery (Silverback) as well as farm fresh produce, restaurants, shops, inns, and the entry to Wintergreen Resort.

RVA: A day of urban hiking on James River’s Belle Isle

By Lynn R. Mitchell

It was an overcast, somewhat cooler but muggy day in Richmond last Sunday as we headed to Belle Isle located in the James River. Seven of us — my husband and our two adult children along with my sister, her husband, and daughter — parked and began our trek across the footbridge located under the Lee Bridge. We were not alone. Bicyclists and hikers of all ages were crossing the bridge to enjoy this urban wilderness in downtown RVA.

RVA on the James

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Photo by Lynn R. Mitchell
Richmond, Virginia
August 17, 2014

Minimal impact to James River from Lynchburg’s Wednesday train derailment

By Lynn R. Mitchell

The Governor’s office has updated the situation in Lynchburg after yesterday’s train derailment:

RVA: My hometown is growing up

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Once again Richmond, Virginia, is receiving accolades for the great city that it is, this time by Movoto.com, in 26 Things You Need to Know About Richmond Before You Move There. We knew growing up that we had a great place — the river alone is worth raving over — but RVA has come of age and is being discovered by a whole new generation. (And that would be the mighty James River.) Great job!

By the way, I like #19: “The mountains are practically right outside our doorstep.” The mountains lured me away from RVA but I can often be found back in my old stomping grounds! And #10 is wrong: RVA runs on Krispy Kreme Donuts, not the ones mentioned. Everyone knows that!