Each summer, families flock to an old-fashioned swimming hole on the South Yadkin River to watch a thousand tiny toy ducks hurtle through the rushes at Cooleemee Falls.
FEATURES
The Return of the Sea Turtles
Conservationist Jean Beasley is a living legend. Just like the sea turtles she rescues and rehabilitates on Topsail Island, she embodies resilience and hope. And when she releases her turtles back into the watery wild, those who are watching find themselves thinking of home in a new way.
Where Time Stands Still
On the coast, change is a way of life. But for a father and his young sons, a recent trip to an ocean pier turned out to be a halcyon day and a golden memory.
Echo of the Bones
In Carteret County, a marine curator and dedicated volunteers have found a way to bring beached whales back to life. By sharing the creatures’ stories at the Bonehenge Whale Center, they’ve turned heartbreak into inspiration.
The Rum Diary
Tall tales of shipwrecks and smugglers on the Outer Banks inspired four young entrepreneurs to revive a storied tradition. Their Manteo distillery combines history and legend into a potent new concoction.
The Microbrewers of Hummus
Garbanzo beans find their groove at Asheville's artsy Roots Hummus.
The Town that Backpacks Built
Muddy boots are a welcome sight in this postcard-perfect spot in the Smokies. Whether you hike in on the Appalachian Trail or drive in for a weekend visit, Hot Springs offers every traveler a special kind of trail magic.
A Private Asheville Garden Is Rhododendron Heaven
In 1921, Charles Owen Dexter began hybridizing rhododendrons. Now, Dexter rhododendrons are known the world over — and one of the largest collections can be found at his relative’s home in Asheville.
The Trees Will See You Now
In North Carolina, physicians have long known that nature is the best medicine. Now, a new trail hiking program named TRACK Trails Rx is prescribing doses to the sick and the well.
