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Fall Color
Along the ridges and in the valleys there’s a hint of things to come. The hills are beginning to catch fire. Autumn’s glory is spreading across the land. The back roads are calling. The greatest show...
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The Art of Wandering
Well I haven’t been able to post the last few days because of technical difficulties…and my web guy Dwayne was in the wilderness. Usually I’m like “hey are you there?” and then a few hours later...
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Fall Around Bryson City
The leaf changing finally reached the lower elevations. I think last week was the peak of the leaves. Fall around town has been beautiful. Here’s a view of Bryson City from our hill: It rained almost...
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This Feels Like More than a Year
It’s been one year since we decided to put down roots in Bryson City. It feels like we’ve been here for more than a year, I recounted just to be sure. Yep, just a year. This small little town in...
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The Outer Banks
Our first stop for spring break this year was the Outer Banks. I haven’t been to a North Carolina beach in probably 20 years so I was excited to go, especially with all the National Park sites. Here...
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Colonial Williamsburg
For spring break this year we spent a few days in the Outerbanks and then were headed up to Washington, DC. I noticed that Colonial Williamsburg was on the way to DC so I thought it would be fun to...
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The 400 Year Old Bonsai Tree
When we went to Washington, DC over spring break this year one of the things on my list to see was the nearly 400 year old bonsai tree that survived Hiroshima. It’s also known as the Yamaki White Pine:...
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The Biltmore: The Largest House in America
The largest house in America, the Biltmore, is only an hour from Bryson City. We are fortunate to be able to visit this wonderful place often. This is the winter garden, one of the first things you see...
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Trail Views: Google Street View Goes Off Road
You’ve probably seen street views from Google Maps but have you ever seen trail views? Rangers and volunteers from around the world are helping to map the outdoors using the Street View Trekker, a...
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Smoky Mountain Sunsets
There have been some amazing recent sunsets recently. I can’t help but take a photo of every single one. When I walk the dog at night there is this little window behind the hospital where you can see...
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Things I Found at the Biltmore
A few things I found at the Biltmore yesterday. We have annual passes to the Biltmore House in Asheville and we visit often. I always find something new and amazing every time we go. Like Myrtle. At...
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Outdoor Themed Necklaces
I’ve been making jewelry for Bryson City Outdoors the past few months. I been mixing quotes, finds from nature and vintage jewelry pieces into these one-of-a-kind necklaces: Chase the Sunset Wanderlust...
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I am the Storm
This afternoon I took Boo to the Biltmore for an early dinner. As we waited in the cold rain for the shuttle two ladies behind us asked if we’d been to the house before. Boo piped up, “Oh yes, we come...
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Chasing Fall Color – The Blue Ridge Parkway
I could never live anywhere again where there aren’t four seasons. If I had to pick one season I’d want to freeze time right in the middle of the North Carolina mountain fall. The leaves are just...
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The River Culture of Bryson City
Months ago I got an email from Our State Magazine asking if I could take writer Leigh Ann Henion around Bryson City. Of course I said yes and as the days led up to Leigh Ann’s visit I had a running...
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Spring at the Biltmore Estate
Sienna’s spring break is two weeks and a little earlier than most schools. This year we decided to spend the night at the Biltmore Village Hotel and invite our friends Amy Jo and Laiken along. The...
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A Museum Devoted Entirely To Cats – Museum of the House Cat
“I just want to get more people to know about the cat.” -Dr. Harold Sims I love animals, museums, oddities and vintage so imagine my excitement when I heard about the grand opening of a new nearby...
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Visiting Cape Ann: Rockport and Gloucester
I tend to get really comfortable in my little place in the mountains but its always good to get out and see new things. My friend Sarah invited me to stay with her last week in Gloucester. She had...
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Hiking to a Plane Crash in the Smoky Mountains via Waterrock and Browning Knob
Note: When hiking to this area please be respectful of the site. Two people died in this crash. Rethink that selfie. Thank you! I never knew that there are close to 54 plane crash sites located in the...
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A Visit to Sloss Furnaces – National Historic Site
We took a meandering road trip from Western Carolina down to Pensacola over Spring Break going through Chattanooga, then to Birmingham, Montgomery and Selma, and then onto Pensacoloa. One of the places...
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Our Road Trip to Selma and the Tin Man Charlie Lucas
Sienna and I had visited the Martin Luther King Historic Site and the National Center for Civil and Human Rights in Atlanta for back in February. While we were there we picked up this inspiring set of...
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Clingman’s Dome – The Highest Point in the Great Smoky Mountains
Clingman’s Dome is the highest point in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park at 6,643 feet. On clear days you can see almost 100 miles from the concrete observation tower, but it’s alway hit or miss...
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Kephart Prong Trail and Remnants of an CCC Camp
One of the prettiest day hikes in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is Kephart Prong Trail. It’s a 4-mile hike that gradually climbs 830ft in elevation. The trail starts out right off of Newfound...
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Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest and 400 Year Old Trees
On Thanksgiving Day one of the only things I wanted to do was to hike at Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest because of these enormous trees: We ate Thanksgiving dinner early at Tapoco Lodge and over dessert...
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Around Town – Behind the Scenes Filming with Our State in Bryson City
A few months ago I got on the phone with James Mieczkowski, a producer with Our State, to help him out with a scouting trip to Bryson City for the series Around Town. We talked for a long time on the...
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