2016 Fall Color Preview

The official start to fall is just six weeks away, but who’s counting? OK, we admit it. We are! After a hot and dry July, we’re so ready for the cool and crisp autumn mountain air that we know and love. This post will highlight what to expect when you visit the Asheville, NC, area during the fall season.

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100 Years of NC State Parks: Chimney Rock State Park

The American flag flies over a large granite monolith

During the summer months, we’re profiling the four state parks near Asheville, NC, as part of Inn on Mill Creek’s nod to the 100th birthday of the North Carolina State Park System in 2016. Our July feature is Chimney Rock State Park and its iconic 315-foot granite namesake. Currently, the way to get to the top of Chimney Rock is a set of 499 steps. So…up, up, up, we go. Let’s do this.

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North Carolina Mountain Birds: American Redstart

Bird with black head and orange chest perched observantly on a tree branch

We’ve chosen a decidedly American bird for our July 2016 pick in our 12 Months of Birding at the Inn blog series: The American Redstart. Not only does this feathered fellow have “American” in its name, but you can find it in nearly every state in the continental U.S. during the summer or migration period in spring and fall.

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100 Years of NC State Parks: Mount Mitchell State Park

The year 2016 is the 100th anniversary of the North Carolina State Park System and NC State Parks are celebrating in a big way with events throughout the year. There are nine state parks in the mountains of western North Carolina, and we’re fortunate to have four nearby, which we’ll profile for the next four months. This month, we take a look at Mount Mitchell State Park.

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North Carolina Mountain Birds: Acadian Flycatcher

Arriving during spring migration and hanging out all summer long in parts of Pisgah National Forest is the Acadian Flycatcher, our June 2016 pick in our 12 Months of Birding at the Inn blog series. If you book one of our rooms in the Deck House, you may see one of these enchanting little birds making the acrobatic feat of catching insects while flying look easy.

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Explore Black Mountain’s Foodie Scene with a Food Tour

One thing that sets Black Mountain apart from other small towns in western North Carolina is the depth of fantastic local restaurants. Of course, there’s farm-to-table, but also gastropubs, pizza joints, casual fine dining, several restaurants with international menus, and more. With so many choices, a great way for foodies to expand their horizons is through a guided tour by Creative Mountain Food Tours.

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Blue Ridge Parkway Hike: Graveyard Fields and Its Waterfalls

If you’re looking for a super-scenic day trip hike while staying with us here at Inn on Mill Creek near Asheville, NC, consider a drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway to Graveyard Fields. Is it a graveyard? Nope. Is it a field? You could say that… but it’s so much more. Let’s explore.

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