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Raiders of the Lost Box: Exploring the Art of Letterboxing

by Rianna Lange It was seven months into our relationship and we were sick of our weekend routine. We needed something new and adventurous. I wanted to surprise him and spark his interest with something he has never tried before....
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Walking On The Moon: Exploring the Unearthly Beauty of Stone Mountain State Park

By Burt Dellinger When you first set foot on the summit of Stone Mountain, you feel more like you're stepping into another world. The granite dome rises 600 feet above the encroaching forests, its massive form dominating 25-square miles of...
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Blue Ridge By Horseback: Leatherwood Mountains and Mountain View Riding Stables

A drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway is the way most of us have enjoyed the panoramic glory of the Appalachian mountains. But perhaps the best way to experience the full majesty of these views is not from a car...
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Bear Season: New Black Bear Marina Development Opens Up Lake James Access This Spring

This summer, there's going to be a lot more to love when you visit Lake James in McDowell County. Black Bear Development, a local real estate development company, is currently completing a massive makeover just across the cove from the...
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Lake James State Park: Everything Fun Under The Summer Sun

Which would you rather do? Spend a day at the lake? Or in the mountains? When you visit Lake James State Park, you can enjoy the best of the lake and mountains in just one day. Lake James is a...
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Explore More of Biltmore's "8,000-Acre Backyard"

If horses aren't your thing, don't worry. The Explore Biltmore Estate Outdoor Center offers plenty of other adventures on the 8,000-acre property. All outdoor activities are available by reservation to estate daytime guests, Biltmore Estate passholders, and Inn on Biltmore...
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The Biltmore Endurance Challenge

Every year, more than 900,000 visitors from around the world come to Asheville to experience Biltmore Estate's most well-known attractions, including Biltmore House, the Winery and the Gardens. But there is another impressive wonder at the Biltmore that most never...
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Camp Harrison: Visionaries Open New YMCA Retreat in Wilkes County

On a sunny afternoon in May 2003, Asheville native Franklin Graham stood in an open-air chapel that had been named after his parents just several years prior, speaking to a crowd of nearly 300. On this day he came not...

Hanging Rock State Park: A Hiker’s Winter Oasis

It happens every year. Winter comes and cabin fever begins. The legs start twitching, just aching for a good trail to tackle. Stokes County’s Hanging Rock State Park is a perfect remedy. The Park faces south, which allows the winter...

Delayed Harvest Fly Fishing

My fishing partner takes a step from the swift boulder-littered shoal into the waist-deep water of the pool’s back eddy. Deliberately he moves to place himself in the best casting position to reach the head of the pool. Sitting atop...

A Hidden Treasure: Upper Creek Falls

Beautiful any time of the year, the Upper Creek Falls area really comes to life during the warmer months. That is when people flock there to enjoy its crystal clear waters and the beautiful scenery the mountains have to offer....

Wilson Creek: A Mountain Retreat

No matter if you are an outdoor enthusiast, a sports fanatic or just hoping for a day of fun you should consider a trip to Wilson Creek. Sports, family activities and events abound in the area. If you have been...

Once in a Blue Moon: A Moonlight Canoe Trip on the Broad River Greenway

While roaming the region's counties to bring you the inside scoop, I discovered the Broad River Greenway in Cleveland County. There I met Kimberly Duren, its executive director, along with full time Ranger Reed Jolly. On July 31, the Broad...

Preparing TEE: The PGA TOUR's Champions Tour comes to Rock Barn Golf and Spa bringing "The Greats" from all around.

The PGA TOUR’s Champions Tour has seen its share of rolling greens, from the tropical paradise of Hawaii to historic Philadelphia. In a place nestled between the Appalachian Mountains and the state capitol of North Carolina, groundskeepers and staff of...