The 15 Best Pisgah National Forest Waterfalls to Explore

Graveyard Fields Waterfall near Asheville NC

The waterfalls in Pisgah National Forest rank among the best waterfalls in Western North Carolina. Some of their cascades plummet over 100 feet, pushing thousands of gallons of water per minute into crystalline pools. Pisgah NF occupies over half a million acres in the Blue Ridge Mountains, stretching from the border with Virginia in the … Read more

The Mysterious Brown Mountain Lights of Morganton NC

Looking for Brown Mountain Lights at the Brown Mountain Overlook near Morganton NC

The history of the Blue Ridge Mountains is riddled with Appalachian folklore, including the Mysterious Brown Mountain Lights of Morganton NC.  They range from various age-old superstitions to mythical monsters such as Bigfoot, Mothman, and the Snallygaster, a half-bird, half-reptile chimera that reportedly terrorized 18th century German immigrants. One of the more famous Appalachian folktales … Read more

Things to Do at the Linville Gorge Wilderness Area (Near Linville Falls NC)

Things to Do at Linville Gorge Wilderness Area near Linville Falls

Western North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains are renowned for their rugged beauty, and the Linville Gorge Wilderness Area ranks among the most dynamic places to see it. This 12,000-acre section of Pisgah National Forest is locally referred to as “The Grand Canyon of the East.” It is one of only two wilderness gorges in the … Read more

The Cradle of Forestry in Pisgah National Forest (Near Brevard NC)

Entrance to Cradle of Forestry in America

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

Top 15 NC State Parks in the North Carolina Mountains

Chimney Rock, NC

[Updated April 5, 2021] When we first moved to NC in 2017, I was beside myself envisioning the many cascading waterfalls and breathtaking vistas to be seen in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. Needless to say, the region’s rugged landscapes and natural wonders did not disappoint.  My wife Emma and I wasted no … Read more

The 20 Best Pisgah National Forest Hiking Trails in North Carolina

Pisgah National Forest Hiking Trails

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

Cottages at Spring House Farm: Dog-Friendly Cottages in Pisgah National Forest

Exterior view of Outrigger Log Cabin at Cottages at Spirng House Farm near Marion, NC

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

Pisgah National Forest: A Beginner’s Guide

Pisgah National Forest - Blue Ridge Mountains

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

The 20 Best Blue Ridge Parkway Overlooks in NC & VA

Linn-Cove-Viaduct-Blue-Ridge-Parkway-

[Updated September 14, 2021] In our opinion, taking a Blue Ridge Parkway road trip is one of the finest romantic getaways or family vacations the United States has to offer. The parkway stretches, winds, climbs, and descends some 469 miles through the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. It creates a marvelous conduit between two of the … Read more