In the quiet swamps of the Coastal Plain, paddlers find peace, elusive creatures make their homes, and ancient cypresses stand firm in a landscape that is anything but.
A Simmer of Hope
The best part of a winter weekend? A big pot of chili or gumbo, cooked low and slow. For the Ramblin’ Man, February is the perfect time for a Sunday kind of stew.
Soaking in Hot Springs
For centuries, this Madison County town has beckoned visitors to bathe in the soothing, warming waters that bubble up from deep within the mountains.
Talking Trash
An eagle-eyed explorer becomes an amateur archaeologist when the winter-bare woods across North Carolina reveal piles of cast-off tools, kitchenware, and other glimpses into long-gone homesteads.
Away in a Menagerie
The gift of a friendly beast, whether hamster, gecko, or goldfish, can inspire holiday joy and wonder — so long as the critter doesn’t attempt a Christmas Eve escape.
A Tale of Two Fishes: Brook Trout & Red Drum
One scaly, swimming symbol alone could not tell the full story of our waters. Our state fishes represent two facets of North Carolina’s personality, two sides of a Southern coin: one as meditative as a remote mountain stream, the other as fiercely headstrong as the wild Atlantic.
Birds of Paradise
Handcrafted decoys have evolved from a practical tool for hunting waterfowl into a prized art form. Yet for some collectors, their value lies in cherished memories of the Carolina coast.
Most Improved Sports Fan
Sometimes, when his house full of Tar Heel fanatics huddles up around the TV, the Ramblin’ Man gets to feeling a little sidelined. Hard as he tries, “tackle” and “net” conjure visions of mountain streams, even during football and basketball seasons.
’Tis the Season
The Ramblin’ Man heads into Labor Day weekend with a twinkle in his eye and a song on his lips: For many North Carolinians, dove hunting season kicks off the most wonderful time of the year.
