Ryan

A rails-to-trails favorite in Madison county that follows Big Laurel Creek up to the French Broad River. Tucked away in the Pisgah National Forest section of Madison County of North Carolina is the “Rails to Trails” favorite – Laurel River Trail. This 3.6 mile one-way out and back hike is a great family hiking destination…

A wonderful Summertime hike through the cool and fragrant spruce fir forest of Richland Balsam. There is a wonderful summer hiking destination that’s located just off the Blue Ridge Parkway that is about 1/3 of a mile from the highest elevation point of the parkway in Caney Fork North Carolina.  This 1.5 mile loop trail…

A great family destination with a large picnic area and easy 5 mile loop trail through beautiful forest. Just north of Brevard North Carolina, in the Southern Pisgah National Forest, is the great family hiking trail – Pink Beds Named for the abundant color that can be present during periods of the summer, this easy…

The historical landmark, Green Knob Lookout Tower. A fun and unique hiking destination off the Blue Ridge Parkway. Sitting just off the Blue Ridge Parkway up on a ridge overlooking the entire area is the unique hiking destination of Green Knob Lookout Tower.  Briefly visible from the Blue Ridge Parkway as you approach the Green…

Two short and beautiful hikes on an undisturbed barrier island estuarine system. At the far Northeast corner of North Carolina, just 10 miles South of the Virginia border, is the undisturbed barrier island reserve of Currituck Banks. It is a low-salinity estuarine system of ocean beaches, sand dunes, grasslands, shrub thicket, maritime forest, tidal flats,…

A nicely designed and maintained National Park honoring the first flights that took place at this location in 1903. Located in the coastal city of Kill Devil Hills North Carolina is the Wright Brothers National Memorial that commemorates the historic first flights that took place at this location on December 17th, 1903. It is a…

Currituck Lighthouse is the northern most lighthouse in North Carolina and is open to the public. The shores of North Carolina are dotted with beautiful and historic lighthouses that, for over a century, have warned mariners about the treacherous shores that have claimed so many ships over the years. The northern most of these lighthouses…

Beautifully lighting the area known as the graveyard of the Atlantic, Cape Hatteras is the tallest lighthouse in America. Located on Hatteras Island, lighting the way for mariners traveling the treacherous Diamond Shoals knows as the Graveyard of the Atlantic, is the mighty Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. Standing nearly 200ft tall Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is the…

Built in 1832, the Ocracoke Lighthouse continues lighting the way for mariners traveling through the Ocracoke Inlet. Located on the Ocracoke Island along the Outer Banks Scenic Byway is the 75ft tall Ocracoke Lighthouse. This historical landmark, that was built in 1823 and is the second oldest operating lighthouse in the nation, continues lighting the…

A short hike off the Blue Ridge Parkway offering stunning views of multiple directions with great views of Grandfather Mountain. There is a hidden gem just off the Blue Ridge Parkway that offers stunning views in multiple directions including some great views of Grandfather Mountain.  This treasure is a short hike of only 1400ft up…