Reaching the picturesque summit of the Blood Mountain trail felt very much like conquering a mountain, both literally and metaphorically. The strenuous uphill climb continues to get more challenging as you make your way to the top, with the promise of a spectacular Blue Ridge Mountains view like the dangling carrot-on-a-stick to keep you going. … Read more
[Updated August 12, 2021] A relatively new tourist attraction in the Western North Carolina mountains, Otter Falls isn’t anywhere near the biggest of the waterfalls in North Carolina’s High Country. The waterfall doesn’t have a huge volume of water running through per second, or an especially impressive drop. It doesn’t even require an epic hike … Read more
Howard Finster’s Paradise Garden is truly like no place you’ve ever been, or are ever likely to go. Originally known as the Plant Farm Museum when he started building it in the early ’60s, the folk art legend’s visionary attraction was a 40-year work-in-progress. Using found objects he collected for decades, he built sculptures from … Read more
[Updated on 7/20/21] We honestly didn’t know much about James H Floyd State Park (a.k.a. “Sloppy” Floyd State Park) before our first visit to Summerville GA. But the 561-acre park’s laid-back blend of immense natural beauty and rich (some would say colorful) history won us over within minutes after we pulled through the gate. … Read more
The short stretch of the Blue Ridge Parkway that runs from just east of Boone NC to just west of Blowing Rock is particularly packed with special sites and things to do. Over this 36-mile span, you’ll see the monolithic landmark of Grandfather Mountain, stunningly colorful mountain lakes, and jaw-dropping scenic vistas from the lofty NC High … Read more
[Updated August 12, 2021] If you’re looking for challenging North Carolina waterfalls to hike, Hooker Falls is probably not for you. Located between Brevard and Hendersonville in DuPont State Recreational Forest, the Hooker Falls Trail is one of the shortest (.9 mile round-trip), easiest (164 feet of elevation gain), and most accessible waterfall hikes in … Read more
[Updated July 29, 2021] You don’t have to look very hard to find great bed and breakfasts in Asheville NC. In fact, the Montford Area Historic District– one of the city’s oldest and most architecturally impressive neighborhoods– is chock full of them. The area boasts a whopping 600+ houses listed on the National Register … Read more
Chances are the city of Summerville GA probably isn’t on your list of must-see Blue Ridge mountain towns. Located 24 miles north of Rome, just 10 miles east of the Alabama border, the town has a population of around 4,200 people, which marks a 17% decline over the last 30 years. It doesn’t have the … Read more
[Updated October 26, 2021] Stepping out of my car to hike the Sea Creek Falls Trail, I was soon surrounded by 50 butterflies, fluttering around as if to welcome me to this enchanting forest in the North Georgia mountains. The .5-mile, in-and-out hike to Sea Creek Falls takes you through a serene part of the … Read more
The Cradle of Forestry in America was originally known as the Biltmore Forest School. It was founded in 1898 by Carl A. Schenck, a German Ph.D brought in by George W. Vanderbilt to manage his 100,000+ acres of forests around the Biltmore Estate. The goal of the school was to teach responsible forest management to … Read more
