This is a message of Hope for the upcoming year and beyond. In our quest for a relevant story we were quite perplexed because of the current times.

Inspired by an abstract thought to ponder on. "There is light at the end of the tunnel" a cliche, but but one with meaning, and something we do believe, we were inspired to write this story, one that we got more response than any before....read for yourself....and gain your own sense of Hope, Faith and the Light at the end of the Tunnel.

Blue Ridge Highlander plans for 2009....

The Blue Ridge Highlander has been on line since 1997, with each new year we have grown and evolved. We have great plans for the next phase of the Highlander and we believe that those that follow our progress will be very pleased with our next step as well as new visitors.

Although we don't want to reveal all of our new features before they are available, we would like you to know that we are adding new community profiles as well as revamping many of our existing community profiles. The first new one one will be Rutherford County, home of Chimney Rock and great place to visit.

We are also improving our event calendar, and adding more interactivity to the site. Another goal for 2009 is to find more interesting places for our readers to experience, so bookmark the site and come back to check out our progress or sign up for our mailing list to be notified when we add new content to the site.

In the meanwhile, the mountains are always a great place to spend quality time with your family, friends or that special someone any time of the year. Come visit, breathe fresh air, go on one of our scenic drive, go for a hike.

There are a lot of great cabin rentals and mountain lodges you can stay in with crackling fireplaces, and hot tubs for your escape. Check each out the different towns we currently have on-line to find one or more you want to visit. Wander through the antique shops, quilt shops and art galleries or adventure outfitters, the mountains have a great collections of specialty shops that you will enjoy. While you are visiting, be sure to check out one of the interesting restaurants that are scattered throughout the mountains to get that true mountain experience.

Scenic Drives for the Winter

Even though the winter doesn't offer the green and floral vistas of spring and summer or the grand autumn color displays, winter is a very special time of the year. We have always liked winter because there is a sense of peace about the land. It is also the only time you can see so much of the land formation. You will see things that you never knew were there had you traveled the same route during the other 3 seasons. It is also the best time to check out the actual landscape if you are interested in buying real estate, with the prices down what better time to make that investment in a mountain getaway all your own.

Below are several driving trips that take you through areas that are open most of the winter. We do always recommend that you check with the local forest service to make sure there is no ice on the roads and to check to see if they are closed, most of the time, it isn't a problem, but it is always best to check.

Tennessee's Newfound Gap Road or US Highway 441 dissects the Great Smoky Mountains National Park the two-lane roadway crosses thru the heart of the park and over its highest mountain gap.  Newfound Gap Road follows rivers, climbs steep slopes and offers incredible views from the rooftop of the eastern United States.

Long before any man ever set foot on the North American Continent, the Black Bear of Northeastern America could often be seen standing upright on its hind legs surveying its territory from horizon to horizon. Masters of their domain, the great Black Bear enjoyed the prosperity of all that the earth had to offer. When the first Native Americans began to appear, they found benefit in revering the Black Bear both as a source of prey and as a spiritual guide. As brothers often do, they disputed over territory. Even with the loss of a bear's life or the life of a native hunter, they chose to live in continual respect of one another, developing a close relationship both in the physical and spiritual world....read on...

We have many new featured stories, mountain communities, scenic road trips as well as additional recreational information planned for this coming year, so bookmark and come back often and sign up for "Messages from the Mountains" to be notified when they go on-line.

Thanks for taking the time to visit the Highlander. This site is our way to share with you our love of the mountains and invite you to come and enjoy them the way we do. Don't hesitate to email us at suggestions@blueridgehighlander.com and let us know what you would like to see on the Highlander.