Cook, hike, shop, and celebrate what North Carolina has to offer this month.
hiking
Setting the Speed Record on the Mountains-to-Sea Trail
When COVID-19 changed her plans, Tara Dower decided to speed up her hike.
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.
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.
No Mountain High Enough
If a walk in the woods meant peaceful meditation for 19th-century naturalists like Henry David Thoreau, it signaled danger for African-Americans. An outdoorsman is changing that narrative by leading Charlotte's Outdoor Afro hiking club on journeys to reclaim natural spaces.
Ramblin’ Man: The Sheltered Life
After a long day in the wilderness, even the most rugged outdoor enthusiasts can’t resist the comfort and good company found in a trail shelter.
Big Memories in a Tiny Shack
In the shadow of Whiteside Mountain in Jackson County sits the Grimshawes Post Office, an eensy-weensy wooden building that old-timers fondly remember and newcomers visit on hiking excursions around Cashiers and Highlands.
The Uwharrie Trailblazers are Closing the Gap
In the late 1960s, an Asheboro Scoutmaster had a dream: cut a mini Appalachian Trail through Uwharrie National Forest, in the center of the state. Today, a new group of trailblazers aims to finish the job.
7 Great Places to Unwind After a Hike
Trekking through the woods (or scaling sand dunes) will surely work up an appetite. After a day on the trails, refuel at these hiker hangouts.