As we say in the mountains of Western North Carolina this time of year, what a difference a few days makes! Color is rapidly spreading throughout elevations from 5,000 feet down to 2,500 feet, and 2012 is shaping up to be quite a spectacular year for fall foliage!
The Point Lookout Greenway is a 3.5-mile paved walking/biking trail near the Inn, in scenic McDowell County. The route used to be Highway 10, then Highway 70 {now called Old Highway 70}, and it was blocked off decades ago in this particular stretch from Ridgecrest to Old Fort. When it was the main highway, before the construction of Interstate 40, there was a gas station and restaurant, and a beautiful overlook.
| Photo Credit: Chimney Rock State Park |
Now here’s a great way to get outdoors and see some gorgeous fall color in our neck of the woods! Chimney Rock State Park, located 30 minutes south of the Inn on Mill Creek, is offering two “Off the Beaten Path” guided hikes in October:
Asheville and western North Carolina are often on top ten lists (top ten cities for art, top ten places to retire, top ten cities for beer lovers, and the list of lists goes on, and on, and on…). Now, Asheville has been recognized as one of ten affordable summer driving destinations by weather.com. Specifically, they give a shout out to the Atlanta-to-Asheville road trip, which is just under four hours.
| Part of Roaring Fork Falls |
Now here’s a beautiful waterfall for you to see when you stay in our neck of the woods! On Memorial Day weekend, we took Csaba and Bugsy the innpugs on an afternoon of hiking to a very nice waterfall located just north of the Blue Ridge Parkway in Yancy County, off of scenic Highway 80.
| Linville Falls from the Chimney View Overlook |
Spring is quickly approaching in the mountains of Western North Carolina, and what better time to take a hike through some gorgeous green scenery to a wonderful waterfall? Every Saturday in March, Chimney Rock Park is offering guided hikes to Hickory Nut Falls, a 404-foot waterfall inside the state park that cascades down a huge granite face. Here’s the base of the falls:
Getting gorgeous here! Oh, mountain autumn, how we love you so. We’re being treated to a brilliant fall this year thanks to Mother Nature. Sourwoods and dogwoods are in full color mode. And it seems like some trees in our neck of the woods are changing earlier than the past three years, including hickory, beeches and sassafras (one of Brigette’s favorites):
