Not ready to return to the hubbub of Raleigh quite yet, my mom and I decided to take a scenic detour before heading back to I-40. Upon leaving Sapphire, just after 10 a.m., we drove east on Highway 64 towards the quaint mountain hamlet of Brevard NC. I considered attending Brevard College for music, but […]

Read More Looking Glass Byway

Located 30 minutes north of Tallulah Falls, near Mountain City Georgia, Black Rock Mountain State Park soars 3,640 feet over the surrounding valley. It is the highest elevation park in Georgia, offering stunning panoramic views of Georgia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. Black Rock Mountain is easily accessible, but it is easy to overlook the entrance. A […]

Read More Black Rock Mountain State Park

August 5th 2020…Today we enjoyed a wonderful adventure meandering the back roads, taking in the peaceful scenery of North Carolina and Georgia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. We drove the winding road from Cashiers to Highlands (NC) and then headed south into Georgia…our first destination: Tallulah Gorge State Park in Georgia. The drive from Highlands to Tallulah […]

Read More Tallulah Gorge -Land of Roaring Waters

One of my favorite spots in the North Carolina mountains is Lake Toxaway.   Hidden in the Sapphire Valley, roughly sixty miles southwest of Asheville, near Cashiers, NC,  Situated at 3100 feet, Lake Toxaway has long enchanted travelers to its peaceful and serene waters.  Its pure waters and meandering shoreline, nestled against rugged peaks and […]

Read More Serene waters…Lake Toxaway

On our way back to Cashiers, we detoured at Lake Glenville… Located 8 miles north of Cashiers off scenic NC 107, Lake Glenville (Thorpe Reservoir) is the highest elevated lake east of the Mississippi River. Lake Glenville is a hidden hideaway of 26 miles of pristine shoreline enveloped by towering mountains. Lake Glenville has an […]

Read More Lake Glenville

After a quick detour in Dillsboro and Sylva, we continued towards the college town of Cullowhee.  Home to Western Carolina University, Cullowhee is a mountain paradise for recreation lovers.  WCU is known for its quality music and arts programs, boasting a quality educational program with a small town vibe. As we neared Cullowhee, I noticed […]

Read More Judaculla Rock – Stories in Stone

After a brief stop in Franklin, my mom and I continued northeast on mountain byways.  The route winds wonderfully through the peaks of the Blue Ridge and crosses sweeping mountain valleys.  Each mile of the journey a window to a new adventure and breathtaking view. “Hey mom, we should stop in Dillsboro, the home of […]

Read More Dillsboro to Sylva

Franklin, NC is steeped in history, and arguably one of the most cultural significant spots in North Carolina. Sheltered by the Blue Ridge Mountains in the heart of the Nantahala National Forest, the area of Franklin has been a central settlement for centuries from early Mississippian cultures to the Cherokee and beyond. Before European settlement, […]

Read More Franklin – Treasure in the Nantahala

After enjoying the views at Lake Jocassee we crossed the state line into North Carolina, driving to Cashiers. Located at over 3,500 feet, Cashiers is cradled by soaring mountains and is rooted in its rich history and local culture.  Cashiers is home to local eateries, markets and coffee shops…it is a popular resort town and […]

Read More The Land of Waterfalls – Cullasaja