Here’s a neat Spring event coming up the weekend of May 14-16: The Grandfather Mountain Naturalist Weekend, which features programs and guided walks around Grandfather, all included in the price of admission.
The programs kick off with a “nocturnal walkabout” led by Grandfather’s chief naturalist on Friday night. Saturday’s programs include birding and nature walks, a black bear workshop, a history feature on the Linn Cove Viaduct and a presentation on growing medicinal herbs. Sunday features a wildflower walk, presentations on birds of prey, the State Parks Program, salamanders and “How to be green without painting yourself”. You can view the entire schedule of programs and details at the Grandfather Mountain website.
What is Grandfather Mountain, you ask? Grandfather Mountain, 5,946 feet above sea level, is a park and globally-recognized nature preserve with great diversity in animal and plant life. Grandfather has hiking trails, a nature museum, environmental habitats for wildlife, great areas for picnicking, and a “Mile High Swing Bridge” where you can take in some spectacular views (like the one below from our trip in early October of last year):
