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Sometimes it takes an outside perspective to realize how fortunate we are in Carroll County.

Sure, everybody is upset right now about the recent reassessment and the tax increase the Carroll County Board of Supervisors approved Monday night. But as local citizens were reminded recently by an article that appeared in The Washington Post, we’ve still got it pretty good here in these mountain parts.

In it’s June 8th edition, the large metropolitan daily newspaper featured Carroll County in an article titled “Virginia’s Blue Ridge Beauty: Music to the Eyes.” In the article, guest writer Roger Piantadosi talks about getting sidetracked by Google Maps on his trip to Carroll County. The directions sent him off Interstate 81 a few exits before I-77, which directed him on Route 8 toward Floyd County and through Indian Valley before reaching his destination in Carroll.

Piantadosi marveled at the visual beauty he took in such as waterfalls and tilled fields which led to ridges, cattle and hay farms, hillside Christmas tree farms, distant mountains and high meadows. At one point, the author writes about passing a church billboard that asked “Where will you spend eternity?” Piantadosi’s answer to that question shows how much he was enjoying the five-plus hour trip from D.C. to Carroll County.

“I know this isn’t the answer the pastor was hoping for, but I confess to thinking: That hillside over there would be just fine,” he wrote.

He went on to rave about what he’d found hidden in the hills; the old-time and bluegrass music, nature and outdoor pursuits such as fishing, canoeing and kayaking to biking and hiking the New River Trail, as well as the Blue Ridge Parkway.

The author continued to rave about the music the area is known for, mentioning music jams at the Hillsville VFW, live radio shows at the Rex Theater in Galax, outdoor concerts at the Blue Ridge Music Center, and Friday night jamborees at the Floyd County Store. And lest we forget the Galax Leaf & String Festival, the Old Fiddler’s Convention, and the Hillsville/VFW Labor Day Gun Show and Flea Market.

Piantadosi made sure to note the historic Carroll County Courthouse and Historical Museum, before mentioning several local businesses by name such as Court Street Coffee Co., the Hillsville Diner, and the Hardware Company.Finally, the author recommends other northern Virginia urbanites to follow his lead to Carroll County.“And then, though I can’t seem to get Google to do it again, I’d recommend you head back to the interstate by way of Indian Valley,” he summarizes.

No matter how much money it spent, Carroll County could never buy this type of positive publicity in an advertisement. One simply has to see the beauty, history and tradition our area offers to believe it for themselves. So often, we are so quick to take for granted what tourists quickly grow to love. Thank goodness there are outsiders like Piantadosi, and hopefully many more that will read his article and follow his lead, to remind us how truly fortunate we are to reside in this beautiful area.