North Carolina

2024 Cross Country Trip #11

Palo Duro Canyon State Park – The second largest canyon in the country lies in the heart of the Texas Panhandle. Palo Duro is a canyon system of the Caprock Escarpment. As one of the largest canyons in the United States, it is roughly 25–40 mi long and has an average width of 6 mi, but reaches a width of 20 mi at places. It was formed by millions of years of water erosion by the Prairie Dog Town Fork of the Red River and the West Texas wind. With a descent of some 800 feet to the canyon floor and more than 16 miles of paved road, Palo Duro Canyon State Park offers fantastic scenic views, historic sites and markers, miles and miles of hiking and biking trails.

Cloudland Canyon State Park – Located on the western edge of Lookout Mountain, this is one of the most scenic parks in Georgia, offering rugged geology and beautiful vistas. The park straddles a deep gorge cut into the mountain by Sitton Gulch Creek, and elevation differs from 800 to 1,980 feet. The most spectacular view into the canyon is found along the West Rim Loop Trail a 5-mile hike which we took.

High Falls Waterfall – Just north of Cashiers, on the northern banks of Lake Glenville, the West Fork of the Tuckasegee River pours over a 100+ foot cliff, tumbling in a dramatic multi-tiered waterfall and plunging into a boulder-filled pool below. It’s one of North Carolina’s most beautiful falls.

We are now back in Florida and hope you enjoyed traveling with us. We visited 26 states and traversed over 11,000 miles visiting many new sights that we had missed on our 40 earlier trips across country. We still enjoy traveling the red and blue roads rather than Interstate highways. Stealing words from another traveler – keep on traveling – until next time be well.

October 6, 2024 12

October Get-away – Biltmore Estate Ashville NC

We had the opportunity to get a discounted stay at Biltmore’s Village Inn, tour the mansion and experience a Di Vince immersive exhibit. Along with an add-on view of some of the fall scenery in western North Carolina.

October 24, 2022 7

Hiking Waterfall Trails in Western North Carolina – June 2021 – Day 3

Crimshawes Post Office: While driving to todays trailhead we passed the smallest US post office building.

Connestee Falls: a roadside falls

We hiked the Panthertown Valley Trail, Wilderness Falls Trail and Deep Gap Trail to view the following falls. The first falls was Wilderness Falls:

Then to Frolictown Falls:

Finally Granny Burrell Falls:

July 6, 2021 2

Hiking Waterfall Trails in Western North Carolina – June 2021 – Day 2

Secret Falls Trail: Secret Falls (also known as Big Shoals Falls) is a 50-ft. waterfall on Big Creek that cascades into a serene pool, deep in the Nantahala National Forest near the Georgia state line.

It’s an easy half-mile hike, but there are no signs to the parking area. So, this remote area is mostly visited by locals. The trail is blazed with blue rectangles on trees and is easy to follow. There’s one lone stake in the small parking area at the start of the trail that says “Secret Falls.” There are two easy creek crossings (one has a log bridge), a brief uphill section and a series of stairs after you reach the falls area.

Silver Run Falls:

Silver Run Falls in the Nantahala National Forest is just four miles south of Cashiers in Jackson County. This 25-ft. waterfall cascades into a tranquil pool with a small beach area. It’s a short walk (about 1/4-mile) on a mostly level trail and across a bridge over the headwater of the Whitewater River. There are a couple of observation points along the shore to soak in the views of Silver Run Falls. And many rocks where you can step across to get a different angle.

July 5, 2021 4

Hiking Waterfall Trails in Western North Carolina – June 2021 – Day 1

We had the opportunity for a quick getaway to the Cashiers NC area the last week of June and jumped on it. Beautiful area, great dining and cool weather, a nice relief from the a hot and humid stretch in northeast Florida.

Triple Falls: Three thundering waterfalls spill in succession, tumbling and cascading from wide, blocky rock ledges. Tall trees frame the waterfalls in lush, green beauty. It’s one of North Carolina’s most popular waterfalls, and for a good reason: with three waterfalls in such a short stretch of river, Triple Falls is a gorgeous hike. And movie buffs, it’s no coincidence that these waterfalls might look familiar: the waterfall was a former filming location for The Hunger Games and The Last of the Mohicans.

High Falls: High Falls in DuPont State Recreational Forest is a gorgeous 150-ft. tall waterfall. Getting there take the 2-mile High Falls Loop which includes Triple Falls also.

July 4, 2021 2

Looking Back – YE Travels Ormond Beach to Pasadena #4 – On the Road in NC

On the 27th we started our drive across country utilizing our preferred routing – off the interstates. We enjoyed the back roads of NC, a walk around the NC Zoo grounds to breakup the drive, a stop in Wilkesboro NC for lunch and a hike along The Cascades Falls Trail on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Wilkesboro is also the home of the legend of Tom Dooley (http://visitwilkesboronc.com/2013/05/23/the-tom-dooley-mystery/) – you should check it out — lunch at Dooleys Grill and Tavern was fantastic with sandwiches big enough for lunch and dinner.

Back Roads North Carolina

Cascades Falls Trail

April 7, 2020 2

Looking Back – YE Travels Ormond Beach to Pasadena #3– Wilson NC

As we spent a few days around Christmas celebrating with our family in North Carolina we decided to take several day and evening trips to explore the area. Our first stop was to see Vollis Simpson’s Famous Sculptures On Display In Historic Downtown Wilson. The Whirligigs were made over a 30 year period by Simpson and originally displayed about 11 miles from downtown before being transported downtown to develop the park. An excellent description of Simpson and the park can be found at: https://www.wilsonwhirligigpark.org/the-story

Vollis Simpson Sculpture Park

Leaving the sculpture garden we head to Wilson Botanical Gardens – The Wilson Botanical Gardens (WBG) were designed to showcase the diversity of plant material that can be used in the home landscape, and to educate and entertain visitors with youth and adult programs. It includes an extensive tree collection, turf grass demonstration plots, perennial beds, a children’s garden, and an exhibit of native plants.

Wilson Botanical Gardens

We made an evening trip the see the Piper Family Light show in Wake Forest. The family has been offering the display for the last 30 years. The display is spread over 7 acres and includes a drive-through, a train ride and a candy store. This year the family’s display appeared on ABC’s “The Great Christmas Light Fight” and won a $50,000 prize.

Piper Family Light show

April 7, 2020 0

Utah Tune-up

As an tune-up to Haley’s graduation trip to the Big Five we took an easy stroll through William B. Umstead State Park a North Carolina state park in Wake County, North Carolina. It covers 5,599 acres nestled between the expanding cities of Raleigh, Cary, and Durham, North Carolina. The park has 22 miles of well shaded hiking trails along with many miles of mixed use trails. Our goal was to reach a massive downed oak tree that has been chain saw carved by local artists Jerry Redi and Randy Boni. The art work features animals, tree branches and leaves.