In the fall of 1996, Jim Krouscas left his native state of California for a PhD program at Virginia Tech, never dreaming it would change the direction of his life. “I really …

Nancy Creed hails from a hard-working, blue collar, western Pennsylvania steel town. In her words, it’s a “put your head down and go” kind of place. So, she did. She went to …

Every kid dreams of climbing the steps to his or her very own treehouse. Whether it be a club house for girls (“No Boys Allowed!”) or a pirate ship for little boys, …

While Allen and Elsa Hancock did not walk or follow any river to the New River Valley, it did take them some five decades to get here for good. Back in 1983, …

Almost everyone knows Asheville, N.C., is home to the Biltmore House and its spectacular gardens, the historic Omni Grove Park Inn, a gorgeous section of the Blue Ridge Parkway and a zillion …

Meadows of Dan is known for its folksy charm. That’s even moreso the case now that it’s home to a new toy and science museum, Toy Time. The space is largely the …