[Updated 3/16/22] North Georgia boasts an incredibly diverse array of flora, including an abundance of eye-catching wildflowers that paint the landscape in vivid colors every spring. From the brilliant blooms of Flame Azaleas and Catawba Rhododendrons to the more subdued beauty of Virginia Bluebells and Bloodroot, spotting wildflowers is one of our favorite things to … Read more
[Updated on November 26, 2021] After becoming empty nesters in 2019, my lady and I decided that we wanted to start the process of looking for our future home. I’d grown up hiking in the North Georgia mountains with my family, spending many a memorable summer day at my grandparents’ humble cabin on Lake Hartwell. … Read more
The Mountains-to-Sea Trail (a.k.a. the MST) stretches from North Carolina’s western border with Tennessee all the way east to the Atlantic Ocean. This epic NC hiking trail passes through 37 different counties, three national forests, and 10 North Carolina State Parks. Stretching from Clingmans Dome in Great Smoky Mountains National Park to Jockey’s Ridge in … Read more
[Updated November 26, 2021] If you spend much time exploring outdoor attractions in my native state, you’ve gotta wonder who’s responsible for naming the countless waterfalls in Georgia. And more importantly, why aren’t their names more distinctive? For instance, the Angel Falls Trail leads to one of our favorite waterfalls in Rabun County GA. But … Read more
The Southern Appalachian Historical Association was formed to preserve the history and cultural heritage of Watauga County and the surrounding areas in the North Carolina mountains. It does this in a variety of ways– through theatrical performances, educational programs, and an excellent living history museum. Located in Boone, the seat of Watauga County, the Hickory … Read more
The DuPont State Recreation Forest, more commonly known as DuPont State Forest or just DuPont Forest, offers 12,000+ acres of blow-your-mind beautiful wilderness in the North Carolina mountains. The natural scenery here is so remarkable that several movies— including The Hunger Games and The Last of the Mohicans—have used the forest as a film location. Tucked away … Read more
[Updated on 7/20/21] I can remember my first visit to northwest Georgia’s Cloudland Canyon State Park like it was yesterday, despite the fact that it was nearly 27 years ago. That trip was the first time I went camping with my family as an adult, nearly 20 years after we hiked the Georgia section of … Read more
[Updated 1/19/2025] If you enjoy getting deep into the forest, exploring the Blue Ridge Mountains, and looking up as gorgeous waterfalls cascade down, then Pisgah National Forest is going to be a winner. Encompassing over 500,000 acres in Western North Carolina, Pisgah Forest offers lots of room to roam. Its hundreds of miles of trails provide … Read more
Although I’ve been exploring the North Georgia State Parks, waterfalls, and hiking trails near Blue Ridge and Helen since I was a boy, for some reason the town of Clayton never really popped up on my family’s radar. It wasn’t until late 2020 that we finally explored northeast Georgia’s Rabun County in depth, and we were … Read more
North Carolina is home to the five highest mountains east of the Mississippi: Mt. Mitchell, Clingman’s Dome, Mt. Guyot, Richland Balsam, and Potato Knob. In fact, over half of the tallest 20 mountains in the eastern US are in Western North Carolina! And we aren’t talking run-of-the-mill mountains here. These are the Appalachians, replete with … Read more
