Summer Fun in the Blue Ridge Mountains

Who needs hotel pools and waterparks, when you have natural Swimming holes, waterslides and waterfalls, all surrounded by the beauty of the Blue Ridge and Smoky Mountains??

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The Blue Ridge Mountains are full of swimming holes, with many of them being at the base of waterfalls.

Here are some resources and guides to help you find the perfect spot, to relax, cool off, and have a super fun day with friends and family:

One of the best ways to see the beauty of the Blue Ridge and Smoky Mountains is to get out there in them!   Hiking is not only a great way to explore and see the mountains close-up, but in many cases, it's the only way to see some of the great waterfalls, and scenic views.

Here at Blue Ridge Mountain Life, we're avid hikers, and enjoy getting out on the trail as often as we can.  We have write-ups for every single trail we've hike, on our Hiking Trails Page.  We have guides for waterfall trails, scenic views, and easy to hard difficulty.  So pack up the essentials, and pick the perfect hike for you!

There are rivers, lakes, creeks and streams everywhere here in the Blue Ridge Mountains!   As a result, there is plenty of water activity, including rafting and of course tubing!  Popular locations include:

• Nantahala Outdoor Center, Nantahala River NC
• Nantahala Outdoor Center, on the Pigeon River NC
• Rolling Thunder River Company, Bryson City NC
• New River Adventures in Galax VA 
• Rolling Thunder Adventure Company in McCaysville Georgia

If you prefer to keep things a less risky, or if you have kids, tubing here in the Blue Ridge is super-fun for all ages!   Popular Tubing destinations include: 

• Deep Creek, in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
• Chrokee NC
• Helen, GA
• McCaysville, GA
• Pembroke, VA
• Shenandoah, VA

Whether you're a Motorcycle enthusiast, or just prefer a nice relaxing scenic drive, the Blue Ridge Mountains have the perfect roads for you.   One of the most popular drives in the World, goes from Virginia to Cherokee NC, the famous Blue Ridge Parkway.

The Blue Ridge Parkway offers everything you could ever want in a drive.  Hundreds of scenic overlooks, waterfalls, points of interest, and wildlife.  The Parkway always you to drive along the tops of some of the largest mountains and peaks in the Blue Ridge.

There are also numerous other scenic drives all through the states of Virgina, North Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee that offer exciting motorcycle rides and relaxing drives.

The creeks, streams and rivers of the Blue Ridge Mountains are world famous for fishing, especially for Trout.   

Many of the popular waterfalls and swimming holes along water full of native and stocked Trout.  Whether you enjoy traditional fishing or fly fishing, you'll find more places to fish than you have time!