Toot toot! When the steam whistle sounds and the railcars start click-clacking down the tracks, a different side of the Great Smoky Mountains comes into view.
Fireside Feast
Good food tastes better in the great outdoors — especially if you’ve hiked or paddled for it. The best part? Gathering ’round the campfire with family and friends till long after the skillet’s empty.
From Elizabeth Hudson: The Bigger Picture
Our editor in chief marvels at the awe-inspiring landscape of Linville Gorge as she climbs Shortoff Mountain.
The Wonder of a Wet Land
With every journey into the cypress and Spanish moss, the Ramblin’ Man falls deeper under the spell of swamps. Where some may fear darkness and decay, he finds beauty and life.
Costume Drama
In the Piedmont, where fall temperatures are fickle right through the end of October, deciding what to wear on Halloween is both a trick and a treat.
Tiny Pilots Take Flight
The cutest critters that most North Carolinians never see tend to stay above the fray. But you’d better believe that flying squirrels are there, gliding gracefully from tree to tree.
From Elizabeth Hudson: There’s No Place Like Home
When our editor in chief falls ill on an out-of-state trip, she’s reminded that no matter where she is, home is never far away.
Just Keep Paddling
For a kid, growing up means testing the waters, kayaking out a little farther. For a parent, it means watching from the dock and trying, at least, to play it cool.
The Space Between
The tidal inlets that separate our barrier islands are a living, breathing symbol of our coast — the ever-changing portals between sound and sea.
