As a lover of hiking, the outdoors, and history, the Harkening Hills and Johnson Farm trails near Peaks of Otter along the Blue Ridge Parkway are a perfect blend for a perfect day!
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Did you know that running through the hills and valleys of Virginia and North Carolina is the 469 mile long Blue Ridge Parkway? Chances are if you live in one of those two states, you do, but if you are from outside of the area, you may not be aware of this hidden gem that offers back-road scenery through beautiful vistas and interesting hikes and historical sites along the way.
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This past December we headed south to Pawley’s Island in an effort to beat the winter blues. Here we relaxed along the beach, did some hiking and enjoyed time outdoors, and sampled a little of what this part of the state had to offer.
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This past December we headed south to Pawley’s Island in an effort to beat the winter blues. Here we relaxed along the beach, did some hiking and enjoyed time outdoors, and sampled a little of what this part of the state had to offer. On day 2 we did some hiking at Santee Coastal Reserve and the Sewee shell and clam mounds in Francis Marion National Park, both short drives from Pawley’s Island.
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This past December we headed south to Pawley’s Island in an effort to beat the winter blues. Here we relaxed along the beach, did some hiking and enjoyed time outdoors, and sampled a little of what this part of the state had to offer. On Days 3-4, we visited the beautiful Brookgreen Gardens, took some short walks at Huntington Beach State Park, and ate a delicious seafood lunch.
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Everyone should watch a moon rise over the ocean at some point. A moonrise is made even more spectacular when it’s a super moon. Check out the video of a super moon rising over the Atlantic Ocean off of Pawley’s Island.
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Looking to explore some of Virginia’s small towns? Bedford is an easy drive from Roanoke, Lynchburg, and Smith Mountain Lake.
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Mabry Mill construction began around 1903 by Edwin Mabry. Within a few short years, it was an operating gristmill. Today, the mill sits off of the Blue Ridge Parkway and is one of the most photographed mills with large numbers of people visiting it per year.
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High on a bank looking eastward over the Potomac River sits Mount Vernon, George Washington’s home. The setting is so beautiful, it’s a wonder he was ever lured from there to engage in the founding of and leading a new country. Washington’s father owned the land, which had some smaller buildings on it. By 1758, Washington started building an expansion to the existing building and by 1774, he started adding the wings onto the house, the cupola, and other elements that define it today.
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The Battle of Antietam or Sharpsburg? The battle is referred to both ways, and it’s not uncommon for Civil War battles to have two names, one named by the North, one by the South. Learn more about our trip to the site, how photography impacted our experience of the hiking trails we took, and why Antietam is known as the bloodiest day of the Civil War.
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I do not like winter - whether it is the actual winter season or a neighboring season playing at being winter on any given day. But, I do appreciate the beauty that can be unique to the season in the form of snow and ice. In my mind, a gorgeous snow is winter's crowning achievement. A few years ago in late winter, some friends and I (and a couple of dogs) trekked out to Cascades waterfall in Pembroke, VA on a warm day and discovered that the shade rendered huge chunks of the 4-mile round-trip hike dangerously slick and icy.
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There are certain places you suspect you’ll love and so you go there. Sometimes you are disappointed. But sometimes your suspicions were right. The latter is Colorado for us. We love hiking, mountains, non-humid but weather warm enough to enjoy the outdoors, and so for years, Colorado was on our list of places to visit. Luckily, a few friends from high school moved there and gave us an excuse to visit…a few times!
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Hilton Head, SC is a beach destination that we visited for some family time and relaxation.
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While many people who travel to New York do so for work or the myriad of excellent cultural attractions, there exist within the city limits some wonderful natural areas where you can take a breather from the bustle and congestion of the streets. Find out more about The High Line and Central Park.
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Due to the aligning of certain factors, Waterford ended up uniquely preserved with many homes and buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries.
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Most photographers have a that-time-my-memory-card-crapped-out-on-me story. This is mine. Did I learn a lesson here? Yes. When your 6-year old non-professional grade memory card displays some weird warnings on the screen, and you also have several back-up cards at the ready, use them.
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Skaneateles (literally pronounced “skinny atlas”) is an absolutely adorable little town, right on the north tip of Skaneateles Lake in the New York Finger Lakes region.
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The eleven days of our trip were spent with a perfect variety of activities - hiking along the coast and picnicking on the beach at sunset, touring Napa and Sonoma valley wineries, exploring several Spanish Missions, visiting the Monterey Aquarium, and more. The best part was that feeling of familiarity that you only get in a place that reminds you of where you grew up - where the visage of the rocky coast and the smell and cushioned forest floor of pine needles on hikes just feel right.
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The California coast (Pacific Coast Highway, Route 1) is one of the prettiest drives, no matter what part of the state you’re in (I’ve done the entire route in various pieces over the years). It isn’t fast, but it isn’t meant to be. This route is about the journey, not the destination. Catching it on a clear day is a must, as the coast is also given to fog frequently. Given the mountain ranges, fog is often present in the morning and evenings and burns off during the day, though not always. Luckily, after morning fog, our northward drive was fog-free!
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We had arrived in time for sunset and wandered the short distance to the Mendocino Headlands at the end of the town. We watched as the sun set, the mirroring and, finally, blending of colors along the horizon where the ocean and sky meet for the briefest of moments before the sun disappears and the ocean transforms into a nighttime attire of opaque black.
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