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Blue Ridge Mountain communities have a special charm unlike any other. From panoramic vistas with breathtaking views and outdoor adventures in some of this Nation’s most beautiful parks and forests, to cruising the Blue Ridge Parkway, “America’s Favorite Drive”. It’s not hard to imagine why so many people retreat into the Blue Ridge Mountains to find solace and relaxation. 

The towns that are scattered throughout the Blue Ridge Mountains are rich with history and Appalachian culture, where time moves at its own unhurried pace. Their picturesque streets & charming town squares create a small-town vibe where locals and visitors alike gather to experience all the mountain life has to offer.

Whether you’re looking to hike, bike, paddle, climb, take a scenic drive, shop, dine, visit a brewery or vineyard, Blue Ridge mountain towns have something for every traveler and adventurer. We're on a quest to experience more of these towns, and all they have to offer.

Notable Mentions In This Episode
Destination by Design
Blue Ridge Mountains
Blue Ridge Parkway
Appalachian Culture
Old Fort

Mike Andress
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This is a special episode where we recap of our Top 5 most listened to episodes in 2020. We’ll discuss them in the order they were released, and we’ll play a few clips and highlights to give you a taste for each episode. If you haven’t listened to these full episodes yet, I highly encouraged you to check them out. This episode will also mark the end of Season 1, and our very last episode of 2020. We’ll be back in mid-January to kick off Season 2 with some awesome new content.

TOP 5 Episodes of 2020
Episode 2 Headwaters Outfitters with Jessica Whitmire
Episode 9 How The Outdoors Helped An Immigrant Student Live His Best Life with Yashdeep Kumar
Episode 13 Capturing The Beauty Of The Linville Gorge & NC Highlands, with Leslie Restivo
Episode 17 Creating Memories In Cozy Mountain Cabins, with Mike & Cate Szabo
Episode 22 Blue Ridge Parkway: America's Favorite Scenic Drive, with Tubby Kubik (Executive Director, Blue Ridge Parkway Association)

Mike Andress
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Don’t ditch your hiking gear just yet! Winter is actually one of the best times to hike in our southern mountains. What makes winter such a great time to hike? For one, without the leaves on the trees, winter landscapes open up and long-range views are breathtaking. The crowds are almost nonexistent, and cooler temperatures make hikes a lot more pleasant without the bugs & snakes. And, in the higher elevations, you might even be lucky to find the forest covered in snow. 

Of course, you have to wear more clothes than you do in the summer AND start hiking earlier because of the shorter days, but with a little extra planning, layering properly, having the proper footwear, and covering your hands and head, winter hiking may just become your favorite time of the year to get out and explore.

 In this episode I sit down with Hanna O’Brien from Saluda Outfitters and The Gorge, to talk about tips and hints to make your winter hiking experience as safe and enjoyable as possible.

GEAR
The Day Hiker's Ten Essentials
Best Hiking Daypacks
Best Footwear Guide
Best Trekking Poles
Hiking Boot Basics
Best Hiking Boots of 2020

TRAILS
Top Winter Hiking Trails in Western NC
20 Winter Hikes Near Asheville
8 Wintry Hikes in Tennessee
15 Best Winter Hikes in Virginia

Mike Andress
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In this episode we highlight the 3.5  mile round trip hike to the beautiful 100ft cascading waterfall; Catawba Falls where historic buildings are scattered along the trail, and remnants of the 1920's hydropower dam that provided power for the town of Old Fort. We also talk about where we're headed in 2021; Trip reports, Mountain Towns, Getting out of town, Gear reviews and more. 

Mike Andress
Host, Exploration Local
828-551-9065
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In this episode I sit down with Kevin Adams, a naturalist, writer, teacher, and photographer who has had a lifelong love affair with nature and the outdoors. He has authored nine books, led photo tours all over the world, taught seminars and workshops, and given countless programs about photography and the outdoors. He is the author of North Carolina Waterfalls, was which first published in 1994 and is currently in its 3rd Edition. The book continues to be one of the quintessential guides to waterfalls in North Carolina. It includes over 1,000 waterfalls and specifically highlights more than 300 of the best waterfalls found in North Carolina with full descriptions, comprehensive directions, and beautiful photographs. Adams has always tried to be a good steward for the waterfalls, but with the explosion of people visiting them in these social media times, he felt that more needed to be done. He wanted to give something back to the waterfalls that have so enriched my life so he created Waterfall Keepers Of North Carolina along with co-founder Holly Bass, and seven-member board of directors, including president Mark File from RomanticAsheville.com, and other waterfall aficionados like Rich Stephenson, owner of ncwaterfalls.com.

Mike Andress
Host, Exploration Local
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I love the Great Smoky, Blue Ridge and Southern Appalachian Mountains. I love the culture, people, beauty, and recreational opportunities. I love the small towns, each with their own unique personality, and history. I love that in these mountains there is still a remnant of the “good ole days” where small town main streets were inviting and the pace of life is a little slower. I love that I get to live here, and I love learning about the great people and places that make our mountains special and unique. For that I am grateful, and I am thankful that you would take the time to tune into this Podcast each episode. May you have a Happy & Safe Thanksgiving!

Mike Andress
Host, Exploration Local
828-551-9065
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Since 2009, Pisgah Map Company has been putting their Western North Carolina roots to work for their fellow trail bums. With a unique fusion of elegant design and trail-born intuition, they produce the best maps on the market – the go-to for anyone going outside. In this episode, Exploration Local had the distinct pleasure of sitting down with Pete Kennedy and Jack Henderson who share a deep passion for outdoor recreation and cartography. Pisgah Map Company has been exploring the Southern Appalachian region for over 30 years as avid mountain bikers, hikers, kayakers and runners, which is why their maps are more than just data on paper. They’re the culmination of decades of local knowledge and firsthand experience in the woods, rivers, rocks and trails of the Southern Appalachians.

Mike Andress
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The beauty of the Carolina's is unmatched in terms of diversity, accessibility, and the overall quality of things to do, see, and experience.  In this episode, husband and wife duo, Ryan and Terri Watts talk about the heart and passion for hiking, mountaineering, and exploring the trails, mountains, waterfalls and beaches of the Carolinas and how that led them to start HD Carolina in 2015 to document their journey and share it with other people. HD Carolina immediately became the first and only Carolina themed channel on the Roku platform and later expanded into the Amazon Fire TV market being the first Carolina themed channel in that platform as well. Their videos resemble something between an episode on the Travel Channel and a Ken Burns documentary.

Mike Andress
Host, Exploration Local
828-551-9065
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In this episode we sit down with Eric Woolridge, Appalachian State University Alumni & President of Destination by Design, which is an economic development firm comprised of local government planners, engineers, urban designers, and communication experts who collaborate to plan, develop, brand, and promote destination-quality recreation and tourism.

If you’ve traveled much in the Blue Ridge, Appalachian, or even the Great Smoky Mountains, you know there are many picturesque small mountain towns with historic main streets, but as beautiful as these towns are, some are struggling to reinvent themselves from an economic perspective. Destination by Design offers a wide range of downtown revitalization services but their heart is help breathe new life into downtown.

Eric and his team help these destinations elevate their profile and tap into the tourism economy.  Whether promoting existing assets, or planning, funding, and implementing new tourism anchor products, they help these towns become a next-level destinations.

ALSO MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
Greenways & Trails
Fonta Flora Trail
Mountains to Sea Trail
Northern Peaks Trail
Overmountain Victory Trail
Lenoir
Chimney Rock Village
Rutherford County Tourism
Spindale
Damascus, VA
Virginia Creeper Trail
Boone
Wayfinding & Signage

Mike Andress
Host, Exploration Local
828-551-9065
[email protected]

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In this episode I sit down with Tubby Kubik, Executive Director of the Blue Ridge Parkway Association and we chat about the history of the Parkway, the unique characteristics of the Blue Ridge Mountains, resources to make your visit and exploration of the Parkway and Southern Appalachian towns as enjoyable as possible, and some secrets for escaping the crowds while still seeing amazing Fall Color.

MEET THE BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY: The Blue Ridge Parkway, affectionately known as America's Favorite Scenic Drive, is a 469-mile road that runs mostly along the spine of the Blue Ridge Mountain connecting Shenandoah National Park in (Virginia) and Great Smoky Mountains National Park to the south. This iconic scenic byway passes through some of the Some of the oldest mountains in the world, The highest mountain peak in the eastern United States (Mount Mitchell), The oldest river in North America (New River), The deepest gorge east of the Grand Canyon (Linville Gorge) – The highest waterfall east of the Rockies (Whitewater Falls).

Mike Andress
Host, Exploration Local
828-551-9065
[email protected]

Podcast Website
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Instagram: explorationlocal