Our Life - Travel Guides & Photography » North Carolina

Dry Falls

admin — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 13:59:53 +0000

Dry Falls, also known as Upper Cullasaja Falls, is a 65-foot waterfall located in the Nantahala National Forest, northwest of Highlands, North Carolina. Dry Falls flows on the Cullasaja River through the Nantahala National Forest. There is a path which goes behind the waterfall. Visitors can go behind the waterfall without getting wet when the water levels are low. Dry Falls is very popular because of it’s unique walk-behind feature. The path to the waterfalls is a short walk with a few stairs. There is an observation deck (wheelchair accessible) near the parking lot from where visitors can see the waterfall if you do not want to take the steps down to the path which goes behind the waterfall.

Dry Falls is located on US 64 (Mountain Water Scenic Byway) near Highlands, North Carolina. There are numerous waterfalls on this scenic byway.

We visited Dry Falls in the Fall after a rainfall. The Water Volume was higher and mist was sprayed as we walked behind the falls. It was a fun experience. Do not forget to visit the nearby drive-behind Bridal Veil Falls.

Hilton Lake Charlotte

admin — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 20:22:21 +0000

There is a small lake near the University Area in Charlotte known as the Hilton Lake. Hilton University Place Hotel is located on the shores of this lake. There is a boardwalk where people can enjoy views of the tranquil lake setting and a beautiful path goes around the lake. There is a small playground for kids. You can stroll around the lake in the evening enjoying the sight of different birds. Paddle Boats are available for rent. There are many shopping and dining options here. There is a fountain in the middle of the lake. Many people gather at the lake for picnics or for a workout. The lake can get pretty crowded in the Summer.

Here are a few photos of Lake Hilton.

Bridal Veil Falls

admin — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 19:03:58 +0000

Bridal Veil Falls near Highlands, North Carolina is a 45 foot drive-through waterfall. It is located in the Nantahala National Forest on US 64. The waterfall is small but it can look beautiful after a decent rainfall. It is the only drive-behind waterfall in North Carolina. You can park your car behind the falls and take beautiful pictures. There is a parking area on the side of the road, where visitors can park and view the falls as well.

We loved visiting this falls during our trip to Nantahala National Forest. Do not forget to check out the other waterfalls in Nantahala National Forest. Here are some pictures from our trip to Bridal Veil Falls last year.

Triple Falls

admin — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 20:03:34 +0000

Triple Falls is one of the 3 waterfalls of Little River in DuPont State Forest, North Carolina. It was featured in the movie “Last of the Mohicans“. Triple Falls gets its name from its three different cascades :-

Upper Triple Falls
Middle Triple Falls
Lower Triple Falls

Triple Falls is accessible from the Hooker Falls Parking Area on Staton Road by a trail going upstream along the Little River. You can visit Triple Falls after visiting Hooker Falls which is near the parking lot. From the parking lot, you need to cross the bridge over Staton Road and you will find stairs that go down to the trail head. The trail is roughly half mile long and is moderate in difficulty.

Lower Cascades

Just before the trail begins heading uphill, there is a side path that leads out to the river. If the rocks are not slippery and the water levels are low, you can walk over the rocks and go up to the base of the lower section of the falls. The lower cascades are beautiful and you can enjoy the water sprays.

Upper Viewing Area/Overlook

The main Triple Falls Trail runs parallel to the river and ascends a steep slope leading to a Viewing Area on the left. You can get a complete view of Triple Falls from this Viewing point.

Middle Triple Falls

There is a wooden staircase that leads down to the Middle Section of Triple Falls. The middle section is relatively flat and you can sit back and relax over here. You can walk up to the base of Middle Cascades and view the Upper Cascades from a distance.

Here are some photos from our trip to Dupont State Forest.

Uwharrie Vineyards

admin — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 14:41:07 +0000

Uwharrie Vineyards & Winery is located 25 miles North-East of Charlotte in Albemarle, North Carolina. It a beautiful 14,000 sq.ft. facility with a spacious visitor’s center, a formal banquet hall, wine tasting bar and a gift shop, surrounded by 50 acres of beautiful grape vines. You can take a Wine Tasting Tour and relax at the Vineyards. The harvest usually begins in late August and can last until mid October, depending on the weather, climate, and season.

Here are some photos from our trip in late Fall 2010.Visit the Official Website for more information regarding the Wine Tasting Tours.

Belmont Abbey

admin — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 13:53:36 +0000

Belmont Abbey (Mary Help of Christians Abbey) is a monastery of the Benedictine Order located in Belmont near Charlotte, North Carolina. Belmont Abbey is a monastery of about twenty Benedictine monks, founded in 1876. Its members pray and work together according to the teachings of the Gospel and the wisdom of Saint Benedict. The Abbey is situated on a 700-acre campus in the Piedmont area of North Carolina. The monks also are the benefactors of Belmont Abbey College.

Belmont Abbey Church is the most prominent building on the Campus. It was completed in the year 1894. The church is constructed in the gothic-revival style out of brick and granite and built in the shape of a Latin cross. There is a statue of St. Benedict in front of the Church. The towers of the church can be seen from most of the college campus. The Great Tower holds bells which ring to signal the celebration of the Eucharist and the Liturgy of the Hours. The monastic community continues to hold daily services which are open to the student body and the public. In 1998 Pope John Paul II named the Abbey Church a Minor Basilica in recognition of the historical and aesthetical significance of the structure.

The monastery’s Lourdes Grotto was created in 1891. Intended to foster prayers for vocations, it was blessed as a Pilgrimage Shrine.

Here are some photos from our trip to Belmont Abbey. We attended the Holy Mass at the Basilica on a Sunday and it was really beautiful. Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden is also in Belmont. You can cover both places in a day.

Billy Graham Library

admin — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 18:19:59 +0000

Billy Graham is America’s greatest Christian evangelist. It is said that Graham has preached in person to more people around the world than any other preacher in history. Billy Graham Library is located in Charlotte, North Carolina. It features Billy Graham’s life and his works.

You can tour the Library, Homeplace and Prayer Garden. The library is 40,00 square-foot and reflects Billy Graham’s journey from a humble farm boy to an international Gospel Preacher. Billy Graham HomePlace is where Billy Graham lived from age 9. The house and the gardens are really beautiful. The library is open Monday to Saturday 9 am – 5 pm and admission is free. You can spend around 3 hours in the library. This is one of the best attractions in Charlotte for free.

Here are some photos from our trip to Billy Graham Library.

Moses H. Cone Memorial Park

admin — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 17:59:24 +0000

Moses Cone Memorial Park is a historic attraction on Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina. It is located between Mileposts 292 and 295. The Park includes a Manor House called Flat Top Manor and 2 lakes - Bass Lake and Trout lake. Flat Top Manor is a gleaming white 23-room, 13,000 square foot mansion.The manor is now home to the Parkway Craft Center, a craft shop of the Southern Highland Craft Guild, exhibiting works by artisans from nine Appalachian states. Fishing is permitted at both the lakes. The Park also has various trails for hiking and horse back riding. The Park is open year-round. and the Manor House is open spring through fall. The town of Blowing Rock is located 2 miles away from the Park.

Here are some photos taken during our trip.

Pisgah National Forest

admin — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 06:25:47 +0000

Pisgah National Forest is a National Forest in the Appalachian Mountains of Western North Carolina. The Pisgah National Forest covers 510,119 acres of mountainous terrain in the southern Appalachian Mountains, including parts of the Blue Ridge Mountains and Great Balsam Mountains. Elevations reach over 6,000 feet (1,800 m) and include some of the highest mountains in the eastern United States. Mount Mitchell, in Mount Mitchell State Park, is the highest mountain east of the Mississippi River and lies just outside the boundary of Pisgah National Forest. The forest also includes tracts surrounding the city of Asheville, the town of Brevard and land in the French Broad River Valley.

The Cradle of Forestry (Biltmore Forest School), located in the southern part of the forest, was the site of the first school of forestry in the United States. There are numerous hiking trails, picnic areas, camping sites, and waterfalls in the forest. There are so many waterfalls in this area that Transylvania county is nicknamed as “Land of the Waterfalls”. Pisgah National Forest is extremely beautiful in Fall.

These are some of the attractions of Pisgah National Forest. You can easily spend a day or 2 enjoying the attractions of Pisgah National Forest.

Forest Heritage National Scenic Byway (NC 276) - Traversing the Pisgah National Forest in Transylvania and Haywood Counties, the 79 mile loop winds its way through areas of outstanding natural beauty rich in forest history. You can read more about this scenic byway here.
Looking Glass Waterfalls – A beautiful 60 foot high waterfall that can be seen from US 276.
Moore Cove Falls – A 50 foot free-fall in front of a deeply recessed rock cliff, that allows you to walk behind the falls.
Sliding Rock – A 60 foot natural Waterfall slide where people can slide down the gentle slope of the smooth rock into the pool below. Bathrooms and showers are open during the summer swimming season.
Cradle of Forestry - A 6500 acre National Forest Historic Site in North Carolina. America’s first school of forestry known as Biltmore Forest School was established over here in 1968.
Sycamore Flats Area – A large picnic area named for the numerous Sycamore trees that grow along the banks of the Davidson River
Pink Beds Area - Picnic area located in a high mountain valley. The valley gets it’s name from the beautiful rhododendron, mountain laurel and azalea that bloom in the spring and summer
Davidson River Campground – A popular campground where you can relax and enjoy the National Forest. There are hiking trails, fishing streams, evening programs and even warm showers.
Looking Glass Rock – A monolithic piece of exposed Whitesides granite that rises from the valley floor in the midst of the Pisgah Ranger District. There are trails which lead to the top of the rock.

Here are some photos taken during our trip to Pisgah National Forest during Fall 2009. We drove the Forest Heritage National Scenic Byway stopping at different attractions like waterfalls and picnic areas.

Carowinds Theme Park

admin — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 05:17:32 +0000

Carowinds Theme Park is a 122-acre theme park, located on the state line between North Carolina and South Carolina, in Charlotte and Fort Mill, respectively. The park opened on March 31, 1973 with a vision of bringing the 2 states close together. Carowinds opens in late March each year and closes in early November, after the park’s Halloween event, “Scarowinds“.

Though the park is relatively small, it has both land and water rides to thrill people of all age groups. It remains a popular theme park in Carolinas and can be crowded in summers. For all those who stay in Charlotte and Fort Mill areas, the park is convenient for a day trip.The tickets are expensive but the Season Passes are a real deal. Food is not allowed inside the park but you can go outside for Lunch and re-enter the park. Many people pack picnic lunches and come out of the park to have it. Like any other Theme park, the food is really expensive inside the park.

We visited Carowinds during our first year in Charlotte. We had taken season passes and hence visited the park couple of times. We enjoyed the thrilling Roller Coasters like Afterburn, Carolina Cobra, Vortex and Nighthawk. The Water Rides weren’t impressive but the Wave Pool and Lazy River were good enough. Here are a few photos from our trip.