[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
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 an ample … Read more
[Updated on 7/16/21] From Amicalola Falls and Red Top Mountain to Unicoi and Vogel, we’ve explored quite a few of the state parks in Georgia in the 12 years we’ve been traveling together. But our trip to Black Rock Mountain State Park last September firmly established the 1743-acre park near Clayton GA as our favorite. … Read more
Stretching north to south across the eastern United States, the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains are truly an iconic American landscape. The Blue Ridge range encompasses over 34,000 square miles of gorgeous mountain terrain filled with towering summits, meandering rivers, lush national forests, gleaming lakes, and cascading waterfalls. So there is no shortage of breathtaking scenery … Read more
As professional travel writers/photographers, our trips are usually tightly packed with adventures. So much so that we often come home feeling like we need a vacation from our “vacation.” But our stay at the Cottages at Spring House Farms, which offers dog-friendly cottages and cabins near North Carolina’s Pisgah National Forest, was very different. Other … Read more
[Updated September 24, 2021] More than 20 years ago, I practiced my budding photography skills while exploring many of the hiking trails with waterfalls in Georgia. From Amicalola Falls and Anna Ruby Falls to Tallulah Falls and Panther Creek Falls, these North Georgia waterfall hikes tapped into my lifelong love of nature and eventually inspired me … Read more
In the years leading up to my daughter leaving home for college, I became increasingly conscious of time. The 18 summers we have with our kids seemed to pass all too quickly, leaving us precious few moments to establish strong bonds we hope will last a lifetime. So the timing of our trip to the … Read more
Pisgah National Forest encompasses over half a million acres of the Appalachian Mountains in Western North Carolina. The forest is separated into three ranger districts: Appalachia and Grandfather are located north of Asheville, while Pisgah is south of it. Within the national forest‘s boundaries, visitors can explore sections of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the … Read more
[Updated on 7/20/21] Growing up in Atlanta, the mountain town of Helen GA seemed like another world, with its festive Christmas in Helen celebration and fun Alpine architecture, biergartens, bratwurst, and annual Oktoberfest Fall Festival. But even as a kid I was much more attracted to the natural beauty of Unicoi State Park, which is … Read more
Stone Mountain State Park (not to be confused with the famous North Georgia park) stands prominently just beyond the eastern edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina. It’s located just a few miles away from Doughton Park, the largest recreation area on the entire Blue Ridge Parkway. Straddling the border between Wilkes and … Read more