Ah, the mountains of North Carolina. This was one of my favorite vacations. My family (minus my sister) rented a little house outside of Asheville, NC. Asheville itself seemed like a cool city to check out, but we didn't have time to do that...because we were too busy doing lots of other cool things! In fact, one of my favorite things we did there was visit the Biltmore Estate, which I will cover in another post after this one.
Grandfather Mountain
This place had some really neat hiking trails, including some that had ladders and ropes straight up rocks. My mom wanted to go on and check out that one further, but the rest of us declined - especially since it was drizzling off and on and the ladders were wet. Grandfather Mountain has an elevation of 5,945 feet and quite the bridge to walk out to the highest point. It's an amazing view, but it's also very windy and chilly up there.
Gorges State Park
Gorges State Park is also gorgeous! My favorite hiking trails were here (although they are best to hike in the early AM, before all the noisy tourists make the trails too crowded). There were also beautiful waterfalls along most of the trails. Up at the top of the one waterfall, my brother and I went out on the flat rocks and perched there in the warm sunshine, at the edge of the waterfall. It was so beautiful and peaceful!
Chimney Rock
Chimney Rock was pretty cool - as long as you don't mind walking up a ton of stairs to get there, of course - but the best parts are actually if you continue walking up on the path after you've checked out the first view...because the views higher up are even better. The second picture, for instance, it up at Exclamation Point (I know, right? Even the name is cooler). And when you're done and all sweaty from hiking, you can find some yummy ice cream in the little town below.
Cherokee
As a child, I loved the "Mandie" series, in which I learned about the Cherokees and how they were marched out of their land, etc. Well, here in Cherokee, NC there is a museum dedicated to the sad history of the Cherokee people. The town also has lots of gift shops and colorful bear statues randomly placed around. There's a really nice park by the river with a small bamboo forest, too.
All in All...
When the beach gets old, try the mountains of North Carolina for something different and just as relaxing and very unique, with many places to explore.
Grandfather Mountain
This place had some really neat hiking trails, including some that had ladders and ropes straight up rocks. My mom wanted to go on and check out that one further, but the rest of us declined - especially since it was drizzling off and on and the ladders were wet. Grandfather Mountain has an elevation of 5,945 feet and quite the bridge to walk out to the highest point. It's an amazing view, but it's also very windy and chilly up there.
Gorges State Park
Gorges State Park is also gorgeous! My favorite hiking trails were here (although they are best to hike in the early AM, before all the noisy tourists make the trails too crowded). There were also beautiful waterfalls along most of the trails. Up at the top of the one waterfall, my brother and I went out on the flat rocks and perched there in the warm sunshine, at the edge of the waterfall. It was so beautiful and peaceful!
Chimney Rock
Chimney Rock was pretty cool - as long as you don't mind walking up a ton of stairs to get there, of course - but the best parts are actually if you continue walking up on the path after you've checked out the first view...because the views higher up are even better. The second picture, for instance, it up at Exclamation Point (I know, right? Even the name is cooler). And when you're done and all sweaty from hiking, you can find some yummy ice cream in the little town below.
Cherokee
As a child, I loved the "Mandie" series, in which I learned about the Cherokees and how they were marched out of their land, etc. Well, here in Cherokee, NC there is a museum dedicated to the sad history of the Cherokee people. The town also has lots of gift shops and colorful bear statues randomly placed around. There's a really nice park by the river with a small bamboo forest, too.
All in All...
When the beach gets old, try the mountains of North Carolina for something different and just as relaxing and very unique, with many places to explore.
Comments
Post a Comment