The Casino was developed in 1996 for the Mohegan tribe. The Mohegan tribe is an Algonquian-speaking Native American tribe that lives in the eastern upper Thames River valley of Connecticut. The casino’s decor is Native American in style in many aspects. The artwork throughout the casino and the structural design has Native American feel. In addition, several mechanical wolves stand high atop rock structures inside the gaming areas that occasionally sit back and howl lightly. The Casino of the Sky has a functional planetarium utilizing fiber optics to display the sun, moon, and stars accompanying the lighting effects of the Wombi Rock, which is a three-story high crystal mountain crafted of alabaster and more than 12,000 individual plates of hand-selected onyx from quarries in Iran, Pakistan, and Mexico; which were transported to Carrara, Italy and fused into glass. A 55 ft high indoor waterfall called “Taughannick Falls“, representing a treacherous crossing point during the tribe’s migration.

The casino contains slot machines, gaming tables including poker, blackjack, craps, roulette, Caribbean stud poker, keno and baccarat. The race book offers live horse or greyhound racing from around the U.S. as well as from Australia and England.

We visited Mohegan Sun during Memorial Day Weekend. We drove to Connecticut from New York City. The casino was flooded with people from all over US.

The casino is really impressive and majestic. There is something for everyone to do, even if you are not into Casino Gaming. You can shop, dine, stay, relax or roam around for hours. Here are some snaps from our trip.

Related posts:

1. Pilot Mountain State Park
2. Pisgah National Forest
3. BrookGreen Gardens

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.

1. 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.
2. Looking Glass Waterfalls – A beautiful 60 foot high waterfall that can be seen from US 276.
3. Moore Cove Falls – A 50 foot free-fall in front of a deeply recessed rock cliff, that allows you to walk behind the falls.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. Sycamore Flats Area – A large picnic area named for the numerous Sycamore trees that grow along the banks of the Davidson River
7. 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
8. 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.
9. 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.

Related posts:

1. Cradle of Forestry
2. Great Smoky Mountains National Park
3. Looking Glass Waterfalls

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.

Related posts:

1. Great Smoky Mountains National Park
2. Cypress Gardens, South Carolina
3. Lake Norman State Park, North Carolina

Beautiful North Carolina

North Carolina is a state on the East Coast of USA. It is the tenth most populous of the 50 states of the United States of America. Its capital is Raleigh and the largest city is Charlotte. North Carolina is bordered by South Carolina on the south, Georgia on the southwest, Tennessee on the west, Virginia on the north, and the Atlantic Ocean on the east

North Carolina is a very beautiful state. It is blessed with scenic mountains, breath taking beaches, wonderful state parks and more. North Carolina has a wide range of elevations, from sea level on the coast to 6,684 feet (2,037 m) in the mountains. The coastal plains are strongly influenced by the Atlantic Ocean. Most of the state falls in the humid subtropical zone.

North Carolina consists of three main geographic sections:

• The Coastal Plain, which occupies the eastern 45% of the state
• The Piedmont region, which contains the middle 35%
• The Appalachian Mountains and foothills, western North Carolina
  

Blue Ridge Parkway, one of the most scenic Fall Parkways, starts from Virginia and covers miles of North Carolina. Fall is the best time to visit North Carolina. The Fall Color Change is marvelous. These are some of the beautiful places in North Carolina. So what are you waiting for? Pack your bags and get started.

Attractions of Western North Carolina

1. Chimney Rock State Park
2. Blowing Rock
3. Grandfather Mountain
4. Blue Ridge Parkway Attractions
5. Linville Waterfalls
6. Linville Caverns
7. Looking Glass Waterfalls
8. Sliding Rock
9. Hooker Falls
10. Lake Lure
11. Cradle of Forestry
12. Pilot Mountain State Park
    
13. Julian Price Memorial Park
14. Crabtree Meadows and Falls
15. Oconaluftee (Great Smoky Mountains)
16. Great Smoky Mountains National Park
    

Charlotte and Piedmont Area Attractions

1. Lake Norman State Park
2. Hanging Rock State Park
3. Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden
4. Festival of Lights at Tanglewood
5. Carolinas Aviation Museum
6. Carowinds Theme Park
   
7. Lazy 5 Ranch
8. Charlotte Motor Speedway (Lowe’s Motor Speedway)
   

Coastal North Carolina Attractions

1. Battleship North Carolina at Wilmington
2. SouthPort Fort Fisher Ferry
3. NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher
4. Brunswick Plantation and Golf Resort
5. Southern NC Beaches

Fall Highlights

1. Blue Ridge Parkway Fall Colors
2. Pisgah National Forest
3. Rough Ridge
4. Linn Cove Viaduct
5. Chestoa View Overlook
6. Grandfather Mountain Overlook
7. Places to visit in NC during Fall

Related posts:

1. Beautiful Places in North Carolina
2. Waterfalls of North Carolina
3. Blue Ridge Attractions

Beautiful South East

1. Blue Ridge Parkway is the most visited unit among all units (parks, historic sites, scenic byways, forests, recreation areas, seashores etc.) of the US National Park Systems managed by the National Park Service (NPS).
2. Great Smoky Mountains National Park of Tennessee and North Carolina is the most visited national park in the United States. It outnumbers other parks like Yellowstone and Yosemite.
3. Cradle of Forestry in North Carolina is home to America’s first school of forestry known as Biltmore Forest School.
4. Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, Georgia is the world’s largest aquarium and features more animals than any other aquarium in more than eight million gallons of water.
5. Brookgreen Gardens in South Carolina is the first public sculpture garden in America and has in its collection more than 1,200 works by 350 sculptors.

Related posts:

1. List of Attractions in North Carolina
2. Pisgah National Forest
3. Cradle of Forestry

The Cradle of Forestry offers a snap shot of life at America’s first school of Forestry. There is a Forest Discovery Center complete with interactive exhibits, movie hall, Gift Shop and a Cafe.You can watch an 18-minute movie on Vanderbilt and ride a fire fighting helicopter simulator.

There are 2 interpretive trails – Biltmore Campus Trail and the Forest Festival Trail, each is 1 mile long and is paved. The Biltmore Campus Trail passes seven historical buildings, including a schoolhouse, commissary, and student quarters. The Forest Festival Trail explores Dr. Schenck’s forestry experiments, a portable saw mill, and a logging locomotive that you can climb aboard.

The admission fee is $5 for adults and free for children. For more details, please visit the official site here.

We visited Cradle of Forestry in Fall 2009 during our visit to Pisgah National Forest. It is a beautiful place to spend at least half a day. The trails are paved which makes it accessible. Here are some photos from our trip. Click on the thumbnails to view larger images.

Related posts:

1. Pisgah National Forest
2. Oconaluftee (Great Smoky Mountains)
3. Hooker Falls

Beaches of South Carolina

South Carolina is bordered by Atlantic Ocean on its east. The climate is humid and sub tropical. The major cities of South Carolina are Charleston, Greenville and Columbia. South Carolina’s beaches are among the finest in the US. The Coasts of South Carolina are classified from North To South as follows:-

1. Myrtle Beach and The Grand Strand
2. Historic Charleston
3. Low Country & Resort Islands

Myrtle Beach and The Grand Strand Beaches
The Grand Strand is home to an array of tourist attractions, and the area receives a large influx of visitors during the spring, summer and fall months, and “snowbirds” in the winter. It spans 60 miles of white sand beaches. The area’s attractions include its beaches and many golf courses, as well as a number of amusement parks, an aquarium, many restaurants and shopping complexes.

1. Garden City Beach – has access to both Ocean and inlet. It is great for fishing crabbing and water sports. The majority of vacationers stay in beach houses or condos, and the community offers a marina, amusements, restaurants, a fishing pier
   
2. Litchfield Beach - quiet and reserved when compared to Myrtle Beach. It has world class golf courses.
   
3. Little River – It is a unique town offering slightly slower pace than rest of the Grand Strand.
4. Murrells Inlet - historic fishing village and is known as the “Seafood Capital of South Carolina”. Murrells Inlet offers many recreational activities in a breathtaking inlet setting, including deep sea fishing charters, boat tours, individual boat rentals, scuba diving, kayaking, parasailing and jet skiing.
   
5. Myrtle Beach - The Hub of the Grand Strand and the Golf Capital of USA with over 250 golf courses.
   
6. North Myrtle Beach
7. Pawleys Island – heavily developed with 4 miles of beach and has classic style beach homes available for rental.
   
8. Surfside Beach – lovely residential community and thriving vacation destination. There are beach houses, condos, restaurants and a fishing pier along the ocean front.
   

Charleston

The Historic city of Charleston has lot of charm and beauty. It is well known for it’s tranquil beaches

1. Folly Beach – closest beach to Charleston and is a great place with a Fishing Pier and Light House.
2. Isle of Palms – Wild Dunes Resort is on the northern tip of the Island. Rest of the island is accessible to public and there are many sea side hotels and vacation rentals.
   
3. Kiawah Island – Kiawah Island is a beach and golf resort located on a barrier island. It is a major tourist site and has expensive villas, premier golf courses and beautiful beaches.
4. Seabrook Island - Private Beach and is accessible by Island Resorts.
   
5. Bull Island – It is part of Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge. It is accessible by Passenger Ferry.

Lowcountry Beaches

Lowcountry is located along the southern most region of Coastal South Carolina. It also includes the Sea Islands of South Carolina. Sea Island are barrier islands on the Atlantic Ocean. The evolution of the modern day resort community was pioneered at Sea Pines Plantation on Hilton Head Island in the 1950s. The area is well known for golf, tennis and beach vacations.

1. Edisto Island – Edisto Island is home to Edisto Beach, and Wyndham Timeshare resorts.
2. Hilton Head Island – 12 miles of beach with many private resorts and public access to beaches.
   
3. Hunting Island - 4 miles of beachfront along the Atlantic. It is the most visited State park in SC. Accommodations are available for Recreational Vehicles and Tent Campers.
   
4. Fripp Island – 3 miles of beach front along Atlantic. It is relatively uncrowded in comparison to Hilton Head Island. It is a private, gated community.
   

Beach State Parks

There are 4 State Parks in South Carolina that are ocean front.

1. Edisto Beach State park
2. Hunting Island State Park
3. Huntington Beach State Park
4. Myrtle Beach State Park

Related posts:

1. North Carolina Beaches
2. Beautiful Places in South Carolina
3. Beaches Near Charlotte

Amazing Atlanta

Atlanta is a beautiful city, and is the capital of Georgia State. It is a major business center and is equally famous for tourism. These are some interesting places to visit during your trip to Atlanta, Georgia.

1. Georgia Aquarium
2. World of Coca Cola
3. CNN Headquarters
4. Centennial Olympic Park

Related posts:

1. World of Coca-Cola, Atlanta, Georgia
2. Centennial Olympic Park
3. Georgia Aquarium, Atlanta

Beautiful Charlotte

Charlotte – the “Queen City” is a beautiful place. Be it summer, winter, spring or fall – Charlotte is special during all seasons. There are lot of places in and around Charlotte for visiting like State Parks, Botanical Gardens, Aquariums and so on.

Here are some places you can visit when you are in Charlotte.

1. Lake Norman State Park
2. Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden
3. Carolinas Aviation Museum
4. Lazy 5 Ranch
5. Charlotte Motor Speedway
6. Carowinds Theme Park
7. Festival of Lights at Tanglewood

Seasonal Photos

1. Beautiful Fall Colors Charlotte
2. Snow in Charlotte

Related posts:

1. One Day Trips in Charlotte Vicinity
2. Beautiful Places in North Carolina
3. List of Attractions in North Carolina

Waterfalls of North Carolina

North Carolina is home to many beautiful waterfalls. Since North Carolina receives rainfall almost throughout the year, most of the waterfalls look beautiful all round the year. Fall is the best time to visit these waterfalls as the brilliant leaf colors add to the beauty.

These are some of the waterfalls we have been to:

Pisgah National Forest

1. Sliding Rock
2. Looking Glass Waterfalls

Dupont State Forest

1. Hooker Falls

Blue Ridge Parkway

1. Linville Waterfalls
2. Crabtree Fall

Chimney Rock

1. Hickory Nut Waterfalls

Hanging Rock State Park

1. Hidden Falls
2. Window Falls
3. Upper Cascades
4. Lower Cascades

Most of these waterfalls are in Western North Carolina, the mountainous region. These waterfalls can be reached in 1-2 hours drive from Charlotte, Raleigh and other major cities.

Related posts:

1. Beautiful Parks in North Carolina
2. Places to Visit in North Carolina During Fall
3. Beautiful Places in North Carolina