Hey, y’all. It’s Amie.

Several of Grayson Highlands State Park’s resident wild ponies graze. (HokieTim/Shutterstock)

By Aila Boyd

Here’s what you need to know: Situated high up in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Grayson Highlands State Park is unlike any other state park in Virginia. With never-ending alpine views at elevations of more than 5,000 feet, a smorgasbord of outdoor fun, and even a herd of wild ponies, Grayson Highlands definitely deserves a spot on your summer bucket list.

Things to do:

• There’s no better way to experience Grayson Highlands than to camp. Visitors to the park have a variety of lodging accommodations, including campsites, yurts, and the bunkhouse.

• The wild ponies that call the Grayson Highlands State Park home are a major draw. Although visitors are urged not to approach the ponies, they can be observed as they roam freely.
• While at the park, consider taking advantage of the many programs that are held from May through October. The guided tours spotlight the park’s wildlife, while the amphitheater events celebrate the region’s old-time music and storytelling heritage.

Ready to explore? We’ve got more about Grayson Highlands at the link below.

A YouTube screenshot of “Water My Soul” by Eric Kane. (Eric Kane and WIESINGER/YouTube)

By Amie Knowles

Is it officially summer? Nope. But with recent highs in the 90s, weekends spent swimming and fishing in Virginia’s beautiful lakes, and memories being made, I consider it close enough to June 21 to count. 

That means I’ve been in need of a solid summertime playlist. Enter: “Water My Soul” by Eric Kane (which also gets a trophy for the most intriguing music video I’ve seen in years).

It’s got a little bit of everything that makes it not just a here-and-now hit, but a whole summer vibe. An acoustic guitar-led melody, buttery smooth singing, and sweet lyrics like: “So water my soul, take me down the trail/Through the high and the lows, take me all the way up/To the summit of gold where the light of your love shines as bright as the sun.”

It’s definitely one I’ll be playing over the speakers down by the riverbanks and lake shores over the next few months—would you like to jam to it too? 

Wildlife rehabbers wear animal masks to minimize the chance of the bobcat sisters imprinting on humans. (Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke)

Sourced by Amie Knowles

Two kittens recently arrived at the Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke, but they’re not going up for adoption any time soon—or ever, for that matter. That’s because while they might look like adorable domesticated house cats at the moment, they are actually bobcats.

The orphaned pair was found on the side of the road in Russell County following a vehicle accident involving their mother. While currently still young enough to receive formula, wildlife rehabbers expect the girls to transition to solid foods very soon.

“We estimate the cost of this rehabilitation to be north of $20,000 before they are released some time next spring making this one of the longest and most expensive rehabs we’ve ever done,” the wildlife center wrote in a media release. “This cost includes the staff to look after them, medicine, vet exams, enclosure maintenance, and most of all, their food.”

The nonprofit organization has already started the rehabilitation process. To donate to the cause, please click below. 

You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website.

Our mailing address is:
Dogwood / COURIER Newsroom
3229 Greenpoint Ave., PMB 532
Long Island City, New York 11101

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or  from this list.