Posts in Category: Free things to do

Hiking Hotspot: Flat Rock Trail on the Blue Ridge Parkway

You will find a number of easy/moderate summit hikes located within close proximity to Asheville, Boone, and Blowing Rock. Flat Rock is a hidden Parkway gem which sees relatively little traffic due ...

Attraction of the Week: Rough Ridge Overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway

There are no shortage of dazzling fall color hikes near Asheville. Every year, thousands of tourists flock to the region to enjoy one of the country’s longest fall seasons. Late September, the ...

Attraction of the Week: Devil’s Courthouse on the Blue Ridge Parkway

Driving the Pisgah portion (MP 339-469) of the Blue Ridge Parkway is a must-do if you are vacationing in or near Asheville. Since our relocation to the city, we hiked a lot of really scenic trails. ...

Hiking Hotspot: Black Balsam Knob

Black Balsam Knob, at 6214 feet, is the second highest peak in the Balsam Mountain range, and the 23rd highest peak in North Carolina. First on the list is Richard Balsam at 6410 feet, which also ...

5 Historic Covered Bridges to Check Out this Fall

At one point, there were more than 15,000 covered bridges in the US. According to the Dept. of Transportation, the first covered bridge, The Waterford, was built in Connecticut in 1804. Today, this ...

The Most Scenic Blue Ridge Parkway Overlooks near Asheville

Asheville is an exciting base to plan your Blue Ridge Parkway adventures. First off, there are several Parkway entrances located throughout the city. Second, there is an abundance of scenic hikes, ...

The Most Scenic Views near Asheville

Asheville, most popular for being a foodie and artist’s haven, is nestled in the beautiful Blue Ridge mountains. The Blue Ridge Parkway, along with hundreds of waterfalls and hiking trails, ...

5 Easy Smoky Mountain Hikes near Gatlinburg

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park encompasses 522,427 acres between the states of Tennessee and North Carolina, making it one of the largest protected land areas east of the Rockies. With over ...

5 Free Things to do in Long Beach, CA

While beautiful Orange County to the south and L.A. beach towns to the north tend to get all the attention, there is plenty of fun to be found in Long Beach. I had the opportunity to live a 5 minute ...

Richard Balsam: The Highest Point on the Blue Ridge Parkway

Asheville is the gateway to exploring the beautiful Blue Ridge mountains. One of America’s top rated drives, the Blue Ridge Parkway, is within easy reach of the city limits. Lots of great ...