waterfalls

Durant Nature Preserve: Border Trail & Secret Creek Trail

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I love North Carolina’s weather. The distinct seasons provide a general schedule I can count on each year. Each season lasts long enough that I don’t tire before the next season begins. Then, sometime in early March the weather consistently warms up, the daffodils start to bloom, and the sun stretches beyond 6:00pm. That’s my signal to put away the snow gear, bust out the springtime table runner, finish birthday planning for my oldest, and welcome spring time.

The other weekend we took advantage of the gorgeous spring weather and headed to Durant Nature Preserve for a hike. We’ve visited Durant Nature Preserve several times over the years (see previous blog posts) but it had been awhile since our last trip. For this visit, we brought fishing nets, our collapsible bucket, and rain boots to play in the streams. Despite predictable resistance to hiking, the girls ended up having the best time!

Exploring the Border Trail at Durant Nature Preserve

Border Trail

We parked at the north entrance and set off on the White House Rd Trail (see park map). Despite grumpy moods (including a short sit-in) and warning signs about muddy trail conditions we pushed on. From the White House Rd Trail we veered right onto the Border Trail, which circumnavigates the park. The Border Trail leads downhill to the creek, where at the bottom you turn left to stay on the trail. The creek sits between the wooded Border Trail on the park’s side and the paved Simms Branch Trail on the far side. Simms Branch Trail connects to Abbotts Creek greenway trail which connects to Raleigh’s longest greenway trail, the Neuse River Trail. Despite being close to a residential neighborhood the trail feels miles away. We only heard the crunching of our boots on the leaves and the trickle of the water.

Family hiking success (for us) increases if water is involved. As soon as my kids feasted their eyes (and boots) on the creek, their hiking attitudes instantly transformed! Despite being a sunny day the water was super cold. Since the Border Trail parallels the creek, they flipped between walking on the unpaved trail and the creek. They’d scamper down the creek bank, walk through the water or hop across rocks, and then pull themselves back up the creek bank if the water level threatened to flood their boots. This type of hiking continued until we reached Whale Rocks.

Whale Rocks is a stop along the Border Trail that boasts large rock formations as big as, well, whales. My kids loved jumping from whale rock to whale rock and timing themselves to see how long it took to climb from the creek bed to the rocks and back.

After hiking with the whales we continued on the Border Trail bouncing between walking in the creek and walking on the trail. This trail is mostly flat and features many hardwood trees and rock outcrops. We found dry creek beds and natural sand pits along the way that made for fun imaginary fossil dig play. They also enjoyed climbing across several of the trees that laid across the creek.

When we hiked about halfway around the Border Trail we turned left to follow Order of the Arrow Trail to the lake. Order of the Arrow Trail is a wide, flat trail surrounded by many pine trees. At the fork in the trail we turned left to stay on the trail and continue towards the lake. When the trail intersected with White House Rd, we turned right onto White House Rd. Then we turned left on Lakeside Trail, following the north side of the lake. The map posted along the trails was a helpful guide.

The north side of Lakeside Trail parallels the edge of the lake providing gorgeous views. The girls enjoyed walking along the shore line to spot turtles, lizards, and minnows. We also saw and heard several red-tailed hawks. We walked past campsites, benches, the closed boat house, and the fishing docks before ending at the playground.

Secret Creek Trail

After playing on the playground we followed the Secret Creek Trail, which begins across from the playground. We originally discovered this trail about 3 years ago when my now 4th grader attended a field trip at Durant Nature Preserve. To this day, it was one of her most memorable fields trips. She caught (and released) tadpoles and dragonfly nymphs, and had an awesome time exploring the Secret Creek Trail with classmates.

Secret Creek Trail is an easy trail with a few small hills along the 1/2 mile hike. The trail parallels a section of the creek that has gentle banks and small waterfalls throughout. In past visits we’ve seen a family of deer behind the park office and huge turtles resting in the creek under the large trees. Again, we flip flopped between walking on the trail and walking in the water. The trail’s canopy provides a lot of coverage, making it a cooler walk during warm weather. We also discovered some large sandy spots great for picnics, digging, and relaxing. Secret Creek Trail finishes at Camp Durant Rd, so you have to walk up the hill along the road to return to the main parking lot.

After we finished our hike, we headed to Char Grill for some much needed lunch! As we ate we recounted how fun the hike was and how we can’t wait to explore it again during the warmer weather months!

Thumbs up: improved trail markings and maps, rocking climbing at Whale Rocks, easy access for exploring the creek

Thumbs down: nothing to report

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Christmas in Boone, NC

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Last year my mother-in-law won a Boone Christmas package from Explore Boone that included four tickets to Tweetsie Christmas. And, guess what?! She gifted the package to our family, and we were SO pumped to use them. So, after celebrating Christmas with family in Raleigh we headed out to Boone for a fun two days in the mountains.

Staying in Boone

Included in the package was a gas card, gift certificate to Mast General Store, and a stay at the Holiday Inn in Boone. We don’t often stay in hotels when we travel because we like to have more room and cook meals. But, after a week of holiday hosting it felt great to pack less, and the accommodations at the Holiday Inn were really nice. The hotel stay included daily breakfast buffet, which the girls loved because they sampled every sugary cereal. It also included a good variety of breakfast options of bacon, eggs, sausage, yogurt and more.

The hotel is conveniently located on 321 between Blowing Rock and Boone. Several shops, grocery and restaurants are located across the street. Having arrived a few hours before the Virginia Tech bowl game, we had a few hours to unwind before football started. Then, we met up with dear VT fans (also vacationing in Boone) at The Rock Sports Bar to cheer on the Hokies. Despite losing the bowl game, the restaurant served cold beer and the adults caught up while kiddos had fun.

Snow Tubing & Hiking & Mystery Hill

Such smiley faces waiting to hike in the cold!

The morning after the bowl game, we got up early for our breakfast buffet and headed out to Hawksnest in Seven Devils for snow tubing. We wanted to keep our plans open so we didn’t pre-purchase tickets. Hawksnest sells day-of tickets on a first-come, first-serve basis (in two-hour increments) so go in with flexibility. We paid for parking and were told an upcoming time slot had space at the parking booth. Unfortunately we took too much time getting snow gear on between parking and purchasing tickets. It was a very cold weekend so imagine me bundling the kiddos like Randy from “A Christmas Story.” So, the next time slot sold out before we could buy tickets, and we couldn’t wait for a later time. Luckily, they happily refunded our parking fees and we drove back down the mountain.

As a backup to snow tubing, we conveniently hiked Otter Falls Trail located on the same drive down the mountain. The trailhead has a small nearby parking lot and is located at 825 Skyland Drive in Seven Devils. Having just left a very cool snow tubing possibility for hiking in the cold provoked some little girl tears. With some coaxing and promising for frequent stops they eventually got going.

The trail map shows several loop paths and I suggest taking a screen shot to help stay on course. Since it was a very cold and windy day we hiked the shortest route down the trail. I didn’t have to deliver on the promise for frequent stops because everyone felt most comfortable when moving (yay!). Thankfully, the girls wore their new pink Carhartt jackets and I came prepared with my deep wine Carhartt jacket (thanks Dad!). The hike started out steep, but then the grade became more manageable. Unfortunately there wasn’t much signage along the trail making it hard to remember where to turn to stay on the shortest path to the falls.

After about 1/2 mile we arrived at the falls, which flows into Valley Creek. At this time of year the falls were mostly iced over, making for a dramatic effect we don’t usually see when hiking. The steps down to the creek were a bit icy too, but once on the ground the girls enjoyed the closer view of the icicles. They said it reminded them of Elsa’s ice castle. The hike back up took some patience and strength because the girls were pretty chilled at this point. But, overall this was a moderate 1 mile hike, and would be interesting (and probably easier) to hike in other seasons.

As a last minute indoor activity we took a stab in the dark and visited Mystery Hill. Mystery Hill is kind of a tourist trap, but ended up exceeding our expectations. It features historical artifacts from the area and hands-on science fun. The girls loved experimenting with the optical illusions, trying to swing in the tilted house, and standing in the human-sized bubble. It sounds kooky, but it wasn’t too expensive and was a great way to escape the wind for an hour. 

Tweetsie Railroad Christmas

If you’ve never visited Tweetsie Railroad, it’s a must-see attraction for families when visiting the mountains. With a wild-west theme, Tweetsie features amusement rides, games, live shows, face painting, miniature train rides, a zoo, and the super popular No. 12/No. 190 locomotive train ride. Though it’s smaller than your average amusement park, its live entertainment and scenic mountain train ride sets it apart. Where else can you ride a historic locomotive while looking out for bandits?!

Tucked between Blowing Rock and Boone, Tweetsie Railroad’s history dates back to 1882 when the East Tennessee & Western NC Railroad (ET&WNC) began hauling iron ore between Johnson City, TN and Cranberry, NC. They extended the tracks to Boone by 1919, adding mail and passengers to their operations. Baldwin Locomotive Works of Philadelphia, PA built the infamous narrow-gauge rail service Engine No. 12. In 1940, large floods wiped out much of the tracks in the Blue Ridge Mountains eliminating service to Boone. Shortly after, ET&WNC ended its narrow-gauge rail service and scrapped all the old engines except for the No. 12, which moved to the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia. Finally, in 1957, the No. 12 locomotive returned to the Blowing Rock area and made its first run at Tweetsie Railroad attraction.

When we visited Tweetsie during Christmastime, the amusement park looked like Pullen Park’s Holiday Express on steroids! Twinkling lights, garland and bows beautifully decorated the park. Again, we joined our dear friends from Raleigh to share this fun experience. The park featured different attractions where kids could visit with Santa, step into a snow-filled globe, watch a Christmas-themed variety show, and eat s’mores on the jumbo outdoor fire pits. The lines were long for some of the Christmas activities, but the bright lights and s’mores easily distracted the kids. Having previously visited during summer, the kids were a little bummed to learn the regular rides weren’t operating.

The crowd favorite was the Christmas-themed night train ride. With hot cocoa or apple cider in hand, we boarded our reserved train for a magical ride around the mountain. Since the train has open windows we also bundled up and snuggled in while listening to Christmas carols and watching light displays. We definitely channeled our inner White Christmas, willing the music to play “Snow, Snow, Snow, Snow,” but to no avail.

Visiting the mountains around Christmastime definitely helped us stay in the holiday spirit. We made fun memories with friends while stretching out the Christmas season. It even started snowing on the day we left Boone. Despite the busy seasonal crowds I’d love to do it all over again!

Tickets for Tweetsie Christmas and Ghost Train are currently on sale.

Thumbs up: contrast of icy waterfalls along hike, outdoor fire pits for s’mores at Tweetsie, night train ride at Tweetsie, hot apple cider, light displays and Christmas decorations at Tweetsie

Thumbs down: regular Tweetsie rides not in operation, long lines for some of the Tweetsie-Christmas activities, poor signage along Otter Falls Trail

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Great Smoky Mountains, NC

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Like so many people at the end of last summer, we too, jumped on the total eclipse bandwagon and drove out to a remote part of NC to watch the phenomenon. It was a lot of firsts for our family – tailgating for science, visiting the Great Smoky Mountains, and exploring parts of NC west of Asheville. I’m not usually a follow-the-crowd type of gal, but my science lovin’ family wanted to be a part of it, so I was game too! 

Timberlake Campground

We wanted to stay within an easy drive to Andrews, NC (total eclipse central) and be close to the Smoky Mountains for hiking and exploring. So, we booked three nights at Timberlake Campground in Whittier, NC about 3 months ahead of time.  Timberlake Campground is located at 3270 Conleys Creek Rd between Sylva and Bryson City. A sweet couple owns and lives on the campground property, which features 50 sites. We stayed in one of the water/electric sites across from the playground on the stream side. The site was perfect for us – lots of shade and next to a creek where the girls “tubed up” and down for hours! With my birthday being so close to our trip, I brought my new birthday ENO hammock, which was ah-mazing! We felt comfortable letting the girls ride their bikes up and around the loop near our campsite.

When the campground owners aren’t in the camp store they rely on the honest system for people to pay. They even gave us a tour of their farm and let us collect their blue chicken eggs. Bill enjoyed taking the girls fishing in the pond

Oconaluftee Museum

The first day we drove into Great Smoky National Park and visited the super popular Oconaluftee Visitor Center and Museum. The museum is located at the southern end of the Blue Ridge Parkway just past Cherokee, NC at 1194 Newfound Gap Rd.

The Smoky Mountains get its name from the smoke-like mist coming off the mountains. The water vapor from the conifers mixes with the trees’ natural terpenes to give off the mist. It’s a beautiful site to see, especially early in the morning. We explored the indoor exhibits, which give some history and information about the history and early living conditions in the Smoky Mountains. Then, we spent most of our time exploring the outdoor exhibits. The outdoor exhibits give a glimpse into life on a mountain farm in the 19th century. They feature an old log cabin, spring house, barns, apple house and smoke house. The girls enjoyed walking through the different houses and pondering life before there was live streaming TV, air conditioning, and electricity.

We also walked through the short walking trails down to the river, where we saw people fishing and tubing. The gentle river banks and shallow water allowed the girls to easily wade in and cool off. 

Juney Whank Falls

After leaving Oconaluftee Museum we headed south towards Bryson City to catch some waterfalls in a different section of the Smoky Mountains. As we drove to the park near Deep Creek we passed several tube rental companies. When we arrived at the park we were amazed to learn this park is a tubing mecca for the whole family! Deep Creek feeds from the Tuckasegee River, which runs through Bryson City. Had we realized the tubing option we would’ve planned better with bathing suits and towels. Though the park doesn’t offer tube rentals, there are plenty of places like Deep Creek Tube Center & Campground that rents tubes for $6/day and features camping and other outdoor activities.

Trying to divert our kids’ attention (and ours) away from tubing and back to hiking was no easy feat! But, we promised them a future trip, which we can’t wait to plan! The trailhead for Juney Whank Falls is located towards the back of the park. The trail was a short loop less than a mile long. When we arrived at the falls we were a little disappointed we couldn’t get into the water. We walked over a small footbridge to reach over and touch the falls as they cascaded down. The trail was a bit busy especially near the falls, so we quickly continued on the loop. We hiked the rest of the trail fairly easily except for the downhill ditch-like spot that we tip-toed over.

After the hike we longingly watched the tubers on repeat: float down the creek and walk back. Then, we drove back through Bryson City and stopped at Nantahala Brewery for some much deserved beers. As Bill ordered our beers, I took the girls to the nearby ice cream shop for their dessert. In all my time in NC, I’ve only ever heard Bryson City referred to as the place to go around Christmastime. Though it’d be cool to come back for the train ride, I’m dying to come back and take my kids tubing in summer!

Andrews, NC Total Solar Eclipse

The next day being the big total eclipse day, we awoke early and headed west on 74 through the Nantahala National Forest for Andrews, NC. The drive along 74 was beautiful – the road parallels the Nantahala River and is busting to the seams with outdoor adventure. We passed several ziplining/ropes courses, kayakers, white water rafters, paddleboarders and more. Again, I made a mental note of a family adventure place!

After driving about 1.5 hours we arrived mid-morning in Andrews, NC. For a very small town, this place was bustling on such a big day. We parked in a large farm field designated for the Total Eclipse Festival. Though the total eclipse wasn’t happening for several more hours, we lucked out with one of the last parking spots. Several folks set up their telescopes in the field in preparation – it was like tailgating with science nerds! 

Then we walked to downtown Andrews to explore the pop-up art, food and live music. The girls made some cute candles and snacked on huge italian ices, while Bill and I enjoyed local BBQ. Around 1pm we grabbed some local beers and headed to the big open “eclipse watching” field. We set up our chairs and blankets while the girls ran around with several kids.

Around 1:00pm, the partial eclipse slowly began where we could see small chunks of the sun being eclipsed by the moon. Several people set up cameras with tripods and telescopes in the open field and hopped between taking shelter in the shade and grabbing a quick shot in the sky. Thanks to Bill we came prepared with a special solar filter for my camera. The girls loved wearing their special eclipse glasses and seeing the progression of the sun’s eclipse.

Around 2:30pm when the sun was just a small sliver, everyone descended into the middle of the field. The temperature dropped rapidly and the sky darkened. Suddenly all you could see was the sun’s corona creeping from behind the moon. It was quite a site to see, and it lasted more than 2 minutes! Then, just like that, everything went back to normal and the sun got bigger and bigger. We didn’t stick around to watch the sun’s complete return to normal so we could beat the traffic out of Andrews.

Watching the total solar eclipse was a really cool thing that I hope our kids remember. Planning the trip around the event motivated us to explore the very western parts of NC, for which I’m so thankful. I can’t wait to return to the Great Smoky Mountains and the Nantahala River for fun family outdoor water adventures!

Thumbs up: outdoor recreation activities, friendly campground owners, watching a total solar eclipse, 

Thumbs down: busy and poor signage at Juney Whank Falls, lack of sufficient parking at Oconaluftee Museum

Juney Whank Falls

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Oconaluftee Museum

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Timberlake Campground

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Total Solar Eclipse in Andrews, NC

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Black Mountain & Asheville, NC

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On the eve of our Spring Break Camping Trip, it’s only necessary that I get back to writing about last summer! Last summer we met up with my in-laws in Black Mountain, NC for a beautiful weekend of hiking, exploring Black Mountain and beyond, and celebrating Claire’s 4th birthday. 

Sierra Nevada Brewery (Mills River, NC)

Though we stayed in a gorgeous cabin in Black Mountain, we rarely spent much time in it. We split our time between exploring Asheville and downtown Black Mountain. With Raleigh being only 3.5 hours from Black Mountain, we arrived early on a Thursday (well before check-in) and immediately headed to the Sierra Nevada Brewery in Mills River, NC. The place was unbelievable! It’s as large as a Great Wolf Lodge, and dare I say more enjoyable for all ages! We enjoyed a delicious lunch and beers before heading to the outside area where the girls played in the kiddo-friendly sandbox area while we enjoyed a second round. Sierra Nevada’s outside area is beautifully landscaped, with lots of stone hardscape for eating, gardens, an amphitheater, and large open areas for corn hole. It also features an outside bar area for ordering light snacks and drinks with full-service sit-down areas.

blackmtn - 2After exhausting the outside area, we dragged the girls (who were pretty willing) through the hallway that showcases their production areas. We glanced at the huge multi-story storage tanks, watched the bottle filling/cleaning process, and saw the packaging area. The girls mildly enjoyed watching the mechanics of how everything worked. Having toured only craft brewery operations, we were blown away by the grandness of everything at Sierra Nevada. I can’t wait to go back!

Pack Square Park (Asheville, NC)

blackmtn - 14Since we had a little time to kill before checking into our cabin we headed to downtown Asheville to let the girls run off some energy in the water fountains at Pack Square Park. The park features multiple water fountains for splashing in, a large open green space area, nearby Veterans’ Memorial, amphitheater and a few restaurants. It was the perfect quick trip on a hot summer day – we parked right along College St and quickly walked across the street to the park. I’m only hopeful the City of Raleigh will recreate a similar water feature in the new Dorothea Dix park.

Biltmore & Western NC Nature Center

My mother-in-law and I quickly snuck off to Asheville for a visit to Biltmore and its winery. It’d been over 10 years since we’d last gone, so I quickly forgot the estate’s enormity. The first time I visited I left in awe of the house. This time I left with a much greater appreciation for the forests and grounds that Frederick Olmsted created. I had only ever been to Biltmore in the late Fall, so I really enjoyed walking the gardens and seeing how the landscaped differed in Summer. While we visited Biltmore, the rest of the crew explored the nearby Western NC Nature Center. They raved about the animals they saw and the interactive exhibits for children.

Catawba Falls (Old Fort, NC)

The next day we headed to Catawba Falls, which is in Old Fort, NC and part of the Pisgah National Forest. We parked at the trailhead a few miles south of Route 40 on Catawba River Rd. The trail is about 2.5 miles out and back and climbs about 500ft in elevation. The first 80% of the trail was moderately flat and easy with the last 20% being much steeper and required climbing over slippery rocks to get to the bottom of the waterfall. 

We crossed a few streams along the way, which gave the grandparents and kiddos some time to rest and splash. Though the trail is wide, it does have some steep drop-offs so we repeatedly cautioned and held the little ones’ hands. Hiking on Saturday morning proved to be a super popular time, so it’ll take you a little longer to get those special bottom of the waterfall pictures.

After our hike we drove a few miles down the road to the Old Fort Picnic Area of Pisgah National Forest. Though this picnic area has seen better days, it features several picnic tables, old shade trees, and lots of green grass. The bathrooms were less than desirable, but we quickly finished a yummy picnic lunch just as the skies opened.

Downtown Black Mountain

blackmtn - 79After recovering from our big hike and nearly rain-soaked picnic, we rallied to explore downtown Black Mountain. Black Mountain located in Buncombe County and part of the Swannanoa Valley area is about 15 miles east of Asheville right off I-40. Black Mountain incorporated in 1893, named after the Black Mountain range that borders the town to the north. For a busy Saturday afternoon we easily found a parking spot close to our destination of Swannanoa Valley Museum & Visitor Center. The museum houses two floors of interactive exhibits detailing the history of Black Mountain and surrounding Swannanoa Valley area. The girls enjoyed pounding the keys on an old typewriter and getting hands-on experience washing clothes in the earlier days with a wash basin, washboard, and fels-napth.

Shortly after visiting the museum, we stopped at the Dripolator coffee shop for some caffeine and ice cream. Then we walked all around downtown, stopping in the homemade musical instrument shop, clothing shops and general store.

For dinner we searched Yelp for the best pizza and headed to Fresh Wood Fired Pizza & Pasta. The place looks pretty sketch from the outside, but their pizza was AHMAZING! The crust tasted delicious, the ingredients were fresh and the beer was plentiful!

We thoroughly enjoyed revisiting Asheville and exploring the new (to us) small mountain town of Black Mountain. Whether you want to focus on the food and drink, local history, outdoor beauty or a little bit of all, it features fun for all ages. I can’t wait to explore this area again, maybe in the Minnie Winnie next time!

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Tom’s Creek Falls & Roaring Fork Falls

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“The mountains are calling and I must go.” – John Muir

Roaring Fork FallsFor our next Winnie adventure we headed to the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains near Marion, NC. We stayed at the Mountain Stream RV Resort off Hwy 80 at 6954 Buck Creek Rd. After making a wrong turn down a one-lane gravel road (Little Buck Creek Rd) we drove a white-knuckling 3 miles to the road’s end. This was not how I expected our first big Winnie adventure to begin. After several deep breaths, I jumped out of the car to instruct Bill on turning around. Easy Peasy!

Nothing will test your marriage’s communication skills like trying to make a 3-point turn with a 20-foot trailer. Cue the Austin Power’s 3-point turn parking scene! Luckily, our family has previous experience driving down harrowing gravel roads (see my Yosemite post), so we tried to remain calm and go back on course!

Mountain Stream RV Resort

DSC_0071The Mountain Stream RV Resort was the perfect spot for camping. They have 40 camp sites situated around a loop gravel road with a grassy median. A cool, clear mountain stream runs behind more than half of the campsites. We stayed in one of their prime spots near the back of the campsite with easy kid-friendly access to the stream. We loved splashing in the water, walking upstream, and sitting at the campsite listening to the babbling stream.

Despite some big thunderstorms that came through during the weekend, we really enjoyed our time in the Winnie. The girls made friends with the neighbors, rode bikes around the gravel loop, and played in the stream. During the daytime downpours, the girls also had downtime playing cards and watching movies. We tried to go fishing, but big floods from past years pretty much wiped out the fish habitats.

We grilled yummy steak tips, broccoli, and potato wedges one night and chicken quesadillas the other night in honor of Bill’s birthday weekend. For Father’s Day breakfast, I made homemade biscuits with my new pie irons. Though they didn’t rise completely, they still tasted delicious smothered with steak, eggs and cheese. The girls gobbled down the Bisquick Shake ‘N Pour pancakes. When we weren’t eating, sleeping or playing at the campsite, we were hiking.

Tom’s Creek Falls

DSC_0115We spent all day Saturday hiking waterfalls in the Pisgah National Forest and exploring interesting places off the Blue Ridge Parkway. First, we explored the Tom’s Creek Falls, located about 20 minutes northeast of our campsite. Tom’s Creek Falls trailhead is about 1.3 miles from the intersection of US-221 and Huskins Branch Rd. This trail is about 1-mile roundtrip hike with wide gravel paths, lush green forest, and spots along the way for splashing in the creek. It’s an easy, shaded hike with gentle switchbacks towards the top. It even has benches near a clearing to rest. Along the way we spotted a lot of mica (from old mining days), ferns, and mountain laurel.

We climbed to the overlook area and then followed a narrow path to the right to access the water. Wanting to get a closer look at the falls, both girls scurried up the rocks (with our help) to the bottom of the falls, reaching an elevation of approximately 1800 ft. The water flows at three different levels before dumping into Tom’s Creek. We loved splashing in the water and being so close to the falls. 

Roaring Fork Falls

07402233-DCCE-443C-B72F-47997007596EAfter leaving Tom’s Creek Falls, we drove about 45 minutes northwest to the Roaring Fork Falls trailhead. Roaring Fork Falls trailhead is located near the intersection of S Toe River Rd and State Hwy 80. Follow the signs for about 1/2 mile until the road dead ends into a small parking lot.

Roaring Fork Falls is a 1.5 mile out and back trail, despite the “Falls .5 miles” sign near the parking lot. With the forecast calling for heavy rains, we booked it up this trail. The trail begins on an old logging road in a heavily wooded forest. The trail is slightly uphill and mostly shaded with pockets of sunlight throughout. After crossing a small wooden bridge, we climbed over roots and small stones to reach the falls. The falls cascaded down several levels creating the large roaring effect.

Ashley and Bill climbed down to the bottom of the falls while Claire and I waited on the trail. The heavy rain caused the rocks to become very slick, so we stayed safe on the trail. After a quick dip in the water, they carefully climbed back to the trail and we all rushed to the car. The rain started pouring heavier on our hike back to the car, but carrying Claire on my shoulders kept my back dry! 

The girls changed into dry clothes at the car and we enjoyed a much-deserved picnic lunch. After lunch, we hopped onto the Blue Ridge Parkway and visited the NC Minerals Museum (MP 331) and Linville Caverns. After driving at least 100 miles around mountains all day, we returned to our campsite hungry for food and thankful for nature. Watching, touching and listening to the waterfalls made us appreciate the mountains even more.

Hike Info

Thumbs up: little traffic along hikes, beautiful views, exciting waterfalls, easy family hikes, comfortable campsites

Thumbs down: no cell phone reception (although I’d put this in the thumbs up column)

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Yosemite in a Day with Young Kids

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Yosemite with young kidsWho’s up for a last minute visit to Yosemite with young kids during the super busy summer months? We are! Capitalizing on our successful Norther Ca trip, we rolled the dice on our final full day and drove our family two hours west to explore Yosemite for the day. With plans to rendezvous at my uncle’s rural 1910s family cabin situated on original Yosemite roads, we left early in the morning with a full tank of gas, fully charged iPads, open minds, and lots of food.

Yosemite National Park spans nearly 1200 sq miles in Eastern Ca, making it about the size of the state of Rhode Island. It reaches across the Sierra Nevada mountain range and is mostly known for its mammoth granite cliffs, waterfalls, giant sequoias, and diverse plants and animals. The geology of Yosemite National Park is a result of a combination of volcanic activity, uplift, erosion, exfoliation (responsible for the dome-shaped granite areas), and glaciation that happened over 25 million years ago. Starting in the 1850s, explorers, artists, and writers advocated for preserving Yosemite Valley and slowly expanded the protected area to include nearby forests and mountains. Yosemite switched from a state park to a National Park shortly after the National Park Service was started in 1916. We visited 100 years later!

Getting There

IMG_6941Since the Yosemite trip was last minute,  intermittent cell service limited my mobile-friendly research as we drove through harrowing switchbacks and rural towns.  Following my aunt and uncle’s advice, we headed to the popular Valley area of Yosemite in hopes that we could catch glances of El Capitan, Half Dome and some of the waterfalls. Driving from Sonora, Ca we drove along 120 East through Groveland and the Big Oak Flat Entrance.  The drive through Yosemite starts out hilly with dense conifers and then becomes hillier with sparse shrubs, dead underbrush, sand, rocks and old dying pine trees. Then, suddenly before crossing into the big tunnel, the massive granite rocks explode before your eyes. You catch really quick (yet far away) views of El Capitan and Half Dome before going through the tunnel. After the tunnel you wind through switchbacks catching different views of the granite formations. Yosemite is enormous – it takes at least 40 minutes to drive from the main entrance to the bottom of the park.

Bridalveil Fall Trail

IMG_6947Knowing the park would be busy, we aimed for short hikes easy in difficulty and with easy access. Using the simple Yosemite Valley day hike chart, we hiked the 0.5 mile (round trip) Bridalveil Fall Trail on our way into the park. We parked at the trailhead and follow the paved path to the 620 ft waterfalls. Since we visited in late summer, the waterfalls trickled, but I imagine in spring time after snow melts the falls are quite a spray. Other visitors climbed along the large boulders to the bottom of the light waterfall. Even though the waterfall spray was barely visible, it was amazing to look up at the massiveness of the rocks and feel so tiny.

After Bridalveil Fall Trail, we parked in the main parking areas near the Visitor Center/Museum so we could scope out the center and easily hop on the free shuttle buses. In my little research, I learned the shuttle buses were key to getting around busy Yosemite Valley. The trailheads and points of interest are spread out so we either walked along the wide bicycle paths or rode the bus. Wishing for more time in the museum and to see the short Spirit of Yosemite film, we pushed on and walked about a half mile along the bicycle path to access the Lower Yosemite Falls Trail.

Lower Yosemite Falls Trail

IMG_7088Lower Yosemite Falls Trail is a one mile paved trail with little elevation change making it an easy walk for everyone. The path is mostly shaded with giant sequoias and huge slabs of granite rock making for nice photo backdrops. About half mile into our walk we arrived at the observation bridge of the falls.  Lower Yosemite is the bottom waterfall section of the three-part Yosemite Falls. Unfortunately, with it being late summer the waterfall sprayed a mere trickle, but we tried to imagine the command it carries in spring after the snow melts. Before leaving the falls we admired, in jaw-dropping fashion, as pea-sized rock climbers scaled the mountain.

 

Views of Half Dome

IMG_7016Wanting to get closer to Half Dome I quickly researched places within the valley to catch a glimpse. I learned the meadows behind the Majestic Yosemite Hotel (formerly known as the Ahwahnee Hotel) provide good views of the massive mountains, so we rode the shuttle bus to stop #3 outside the hotel. The hotel was built nearly a century ago with the design influences of Art Deco, Native American, Middle Eastern, and Arts & Crafts Movement. We walked to the back of the hotel, through a small path and turned left on the pedestrian path. Before crossing over the pedestrian bridge we arrived at the best spot we could find with a good glimpse of Half Dome (elevation 8800ft) in the background. Even from so far away it’s amazing to imagine people (including my crazy aunt) hike the 16-mile round trip.
After capturing a few pictures with Half Dome in the background, the girls and I splashed around in the crisp, cool Merced River that flows behind the hotel.  We were hot and tired from the long day and we felt refreshed after a quick dip.

Driving out of Yosemite Valley, we followed my aunt’s handwritten directions for meeting them at my uncle’s rural cabin. After a harrowing 7 mile drive up original access roads into Yosemite, we arrived at the cabin. I immediately relaxed after enjoying a beer on the hammock and we took in the beautiful sites of the meadow from the back deck. My aunt and uncle planned a delicious steak dinner with all the trimmings – it made for a very memorable early birthday celebration! After a restful night’s sleep, we left for San Francisco the next morning feeling very accomplished as a young family of four and thankful to experience Yosemite! We can’t wait to return to Yosemite and spend an entire week camping and exploring the different trails – maybe one day we’ll even hike to the summit of Half Dome!

Looking Ahead & Tips For Young Families

Having spent only about 5-6 hours in Yosemite, we definitely maximized our visit with seeing a few waterfalls and catching a glimpse of Half Dome and El Capitan (on the way out). The girls pushed through the early afternoon hour when they’re usually quietly relaxing, but felt refreshed with our backpack snacks and a quick ice cream treat. 

  • Plan ahead and stay for a few days – camping spots in the park fill up months in advance, so plan your trip early or stay outside the park
  • Less is more – bring a small backpack to carry around the park with essentials and snacks; visit the convenience stores and restaurants to refill with snacks and treats
  • Bring a good camera – I’m kicking myself for not having my big camera with me
  • Park & ride – park your car in one of the main lots and ride the bus as much as you can
  • Do some swimming – there’s lots of options for cooling off in the creeks and Merced River
  • Visit in late spring when the waterfalls are at full peak
  • Wear your patience pants – if visiting in summer be aware of the large crowds and take breaks accordingly

Additional Resources:

Thumbs up: breathtaking views, massive rock formations, free shuttle bus rides, bike/pedestrian path connecting many points of interest, paved trails provide accommodations for everyone

Thumbs down: little time for planning on my part, drier waterfalls in summer mean less dramatic views, busy summer crowds

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Glen Burney Trail (Blowing Rock, NC)

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Glen Burney TrailWhile we were in the NC mountains, Bill and I scooted out for a day date hike and beers in Blowing Rock.  We hiked the Glen Burney trail located just off Main St at 229 Laurel Ln in Annie Cannon Gardens.  The Glen Burney Trail is 1.6 miles long (3.2 total miles out/back) and parallels the New Year’s Creek, which eventually flows into the Catawba River Basin.  The trail is unlike others I’ve ever hiked because it starts at 3,920 ft in elevation and drops 600 ft to the base of the falls.

The hike started off moderate as we crossed a few gentle streams and walked along even ground.  Then we hiked by dramatic backyard views of a private home and ruins of a former sewer plant that was in use until 1929.  Soon thereafter, the trail became more strenuous as we crossed large roots, steep hills, and fallen logs.

IMG_5763We arrived at the first waterfall, the Cascades, a little past halfway down the trail.  The creek water gently flows over these moderately sloped rocks, allowing hikers to cautiously climb up the rocks to higher ground.  We stopped to take in the sights and sounds before moving farther down the trail. On our next stop we hiked to the base of the trail at Glen Marie Falls.  We climbed up large boulders sandwiched between small streams to get higher views of the mountains in the distance.  Again, we stopped for several minutes to take in the quiet sights and sounds.

After Glen Burney Falls, we started our ascent back up the trail and stopped at the Glen Marie Falls.  We had passed the sign for these falls on the way down the mountain. We hiked a short ways off the trail to the reach the falls, and it was well worth it.  I walked along the creek rocks to enjoy cooling off in the waterfall where water gently flows from a 30+ft boulder.

We then continued our ascent up the mountain, which was much shorter than our hike down; walking down we focused a lot of our time on our footing.  Overall, the hike took about 1 1/2 hours and was strenuous, so we were right to hike this trail without kids.  Judging by the little foot traffic, it’s a hidden gem of a hike even though busy Main St is a few blocks away.  After our hike we wandered around Annie Cannon park, which features several spots for quiet reflection, a small creek, an amphitheater, and beautiful landscaping.

Thumbs up: beautiful views, little foot traffic, easy access to waterfalls, unique hike down and then up

Thumbs down: nothing to report

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Linville Falls & Boone, NC

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img_1574For Memorial Day weekend we headed out to the Grandfather Mountain area on the annual Raleigh Jaycees camping trip for some cabin camping.  This was the first time we had ever been to the Boone/Blowing Rock/Banner Elk area and we can’t wait to go back!

We stayed at the Grandfather Mountain campground, which is not on the state park property, but only about 5 miles away at 125 Profile View, Banner Elk.  Being our first year up there (and with a baby), I was reluctant to jump into tent camping so we opted for one of the nearby cabins.  It was a two-bedroom place with a small kitchen, bathroom, living room, and cable TV…basically a primitive hotel room on a campground, but I was happy! All our friends camped at the nearby open field, so we happily mooched off their campfires and s’mores all weekend!

My goal for the weekend was to make sure we had enough fun outdoorsy things to do during the day to keep baby entertained.  I researched a few things ahead of time and got some advice from friends so our weekend was pretty jam-packed, but just the way I wanted it.

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On Saturday morning we headed out to Linville Falls, which is about 10 miles southwest of where we stayed.  It is located on the Blue Ridge Parkway and maintained by the National Park Service.  From Grandfather Mountain campground on 105, you follow 105 south, turn onto 221 south and then north on the Blue Ridge Parkway.  In about a mile onto the BRP, you’ll take a right into Linville Falls.  Follow the road for a few miles where you can take pictures near the unexciting overlooks and then it’ll dead end into the parking lot for the park.

Earlier last week I found an amazing Craigslist deal on a Kelty 2.0 child carrier.  It was a crucial purchase for this weekend.  We quickly strapped Ashley in and away we started for the visitor center and maps.  Linville Falls has  three main trails – Erwin’s View Trail (moderate), Plunge Basin Trail (difficult) and Dugger’s Creek Loop Trail (easy).  Each one has a few different overlooks to hike to and the map clearly notes the length of each trail, which are all under 1.5 miles.  Being our first major hike with Ashley and the backpack we opted for Erwin’s View Trail.  Here’s a link to a Linville Falls map.

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The first overlook we came to was the Upper Falls Overlook.  The narrow pathway of stones led to a large rock outcrop where you had gorgeous views of several falls.  Upstream the river was rather wide and then near this overlook the river narrowed creating a gushing of water down below.  Large rocks lined the downstream falls making the last section of waterfalls look like an infinity pool.

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Next we continued on towards the northern most falls – Chimney View (closed due to fallen tree branch) and Erwin’s View.  The hike up there was very moderate.  In general, the majority of the paths were very easily travelled with 10ft+ wide paths sprinkled lightly with tree roots and stones.  At the clearing near the top is where Chimney View is located, which was closed.  There was also a nearby pavilion with some benches.  A little further up the path was Erwin’s View.  We had to climb a few stairs to get to this section, but it was well worth it.  As you look across the river you see the opposite view from the upper falls.  Even though the view of the falls is far away, the mountain views were gorgeous.  We stuck around here for about 20 minutes to let Ashley get out and enjoy a quick snack before heading back down.

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After leaving Linville Falls we tried going to Linville Caverns, which is only about 5 miles away but decided to leave it for another trip after we found out that child backpack carriers weren’t allowed.  So, we headed back north to downtown Boone in search of lunch.  Back at VT, our club field hockey team once travelled to App State for a game, but we never had the chance to explore anything besides the football field.  Downtown Boone definitely reminded us of being back in Blacksburg with the local shops and restaurants and college students and families out and about, except downtown Boone was much busier than any summer day we’d ever seen in Blacksburg.  We stopped in at Our Daily Bread and scarfed down some yummy sandwiches and cups of water.

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After our fun adventures on day 1, it was time for showers followed by yummy campfire burgers and s’mores!

Thumbs up: gorgeous views, relatively easy hike, photo ops

Thumbs down: get there early in the morning as it gets busy with tourists

P.S. Yay for my one-year blog anniversary!