Accounts by European explorers who visited North Carolina centuries ago let us travel back to another era — but their words only tell part of the story.
March of the Salamanders
Across the state, tiny feet are on the move: North Carolina is alive with amphibian activity this time of year. On a rainy night, you just might spot a salamander scurrying toward its ancestral breeding pool.
The Secret of Camping in the Cold
Spending a frigid night outdoors in the Uwharries, or at the base of Grandfather Mountain, is fun — really! — as long as you come prepared. Let the Ramblin’ Man show you how it’s done.
Forever Frosty
There must have been some magic in that basement workshop in Raleigh: After more than a decade and countless trips to the craft store, a father’s determination brings his handmade gift to life one day.
On Turkey Time
Preparing the perfect Thanksgiving entrée — especially outdoors, in the fickle weather of a North Carolina November — is a delicate process that cannot be rushed. Just ask the Ramblin’ Man.
Chetola Resort Is Bringing the Outdoors In
Refreshed and refurbished, Blowing Rock’s famed Chetola Resort offers relaxation and recreation — think fly-fishing, clay-shooting, and more — minutes from the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Banner Elk: Discovering a Blue Ridge Town
To answer a question that’s confounded him for years, the Ramblin’ Man — a Piedmont-dweller since birth — goes west.
The Seed Saver
A passion for indigenous grasses and wildflowers turned a ninth-generation farmer into a steward of seeds. On a ramble down to Johnston County, our roving writer learns how Don Lee is helping restore native landscapes across the South.
Master of the Marshes
Capt. Seth Vernon is a rare breed. As an old-school fishing guide, he poles his silent skiff through shallow waters, giving anglers their best shot to land the big one.
