North Carolina is a joy for the road tripper. Along with sharing a border with Tennessee along the Smokey Mountains National Park, the breathtaking vistas continue along the Blue Ridge Parkway—an uninterrupted scenic highway stretching from the Smokies to Virginia.
Observation Tower Hike
National Parkway
North Carolina’s parks offer a wide variety of environments across the state beaches to mountains. While the state’s shared border with Tennessee makes up half of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, what excites me the most is the North Carolina portion of the Blue Ridge Parkway. We go out of our way to travel this scenic highway whenever possible. It is a route populated with scenic vistas, campgrounds, and no cross streets.
When to visit – If in doubt, visit the western forests of North Carolina in the fall. The colors are amazing!
North Carolina’s mountainous west makes for many scenic hikes. The Appalachian Trail traces the North Carolina and Tennessee border. Similarly, the Great Smoky Mountains are riddled with breathtaking trails.
North Carolina has a wide range of camping options. Perhaps it is the time of year we tend to visit, but we have enjoyed near seclusion in many of the state run campgrounds deep in North Carolina’s forests.
The day starts with a drizzle. Weather reports promise more of the same. Yet, tour guides assure us that these are ideal conditions to visit the Milford Sound. Many waterfalls along the Sound only flow during rain. In fact, there are only two permanent waterfalls. We see dozens.
We only spent one night in Twizel and launched back on the road for one last bid for a rain free hike. This time we aim for Christchurch and its scenic peninsula.
