Unpacked by AFAR · Friday, July 24, 2026
The Appalachian Mountain Range is identified as the oldest in the world. The Blue Ridge Province, part of this range, is known to the Cherokee as the Land of Blue Smoke. This ancient landscape is a significant draw for visitors, especially during the fall.
“In episode one, we talked about how the Appalachian Mountain Range is the oldest in the world. Rising like a spine along the eastern edge of Appalachia is the Blue Ridge Province, which the Cherokee refer to as the Land of Blue Smoke.”
“Every year, thousands of people make a pilgrimage in the fall just to see the changing colors of the canopy leaves that blanket the mountains.”