Crunchy leaves underfoot, the smell of sweet earth. Fires in the fireplace and sweaters in the evening. Steaming hot tubs, brilliant foliage. What's not to love about autumn?? We continue to enjoy the fabulous weather that is absolutely atypical for August in the mountains. If you are feeling stressed, anxious, fatigued....let a weekend in the mountains rejuvenate you! Here are upcoming Autumn activities!
See you on the Mountain!
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Monday, August 20, 2012
Above the Rest Weather and Live Theatre
We have been more than a little stunned at the crazy autumn-like weather that we've been experiencing this last week. In August!!! We have windows open to fresh mountain breezes, sweatshirts on in the mornings and humidity? What humidity? We're not naive enough to think we're out of the woods as far as sticky, steamy summer goes, but this respite is something you'll not hear us complaining about one bit.
As you may know, we have an incredibly active theatre group in downtown Blue Ridge. Their next production is The Fox on the Fairway. You can find additional information at their website, including the schedule for the remainder of the year.
More coming soon. We look forward to seeing you on the mountain!
As you may know, we have an incredibly active theatre group in downtown Blue Ridge. Their next production is The Fox on the Fairway. You can find additional information at their website, including the schedule for the remainder of the year.
More coming soon. We look forward to seeing you on the mountain!
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Fab-O Waterfalls Tour
I love a good waterfall. There's something so relaxing about sitting beside one and just "being". Then, of course, there's the whole photography aspect. David, Jonathan and I recently set out on a day long journey to find 12 waterfalls. We succeeded in locating 7 of them. Here is the path we followed, and some alternatives should you wish to do only part of the tour. Enjoy!
Take Hwy 515 East toward Blairsville. At the traffic light at McDonald's, make a right. Go to the stop sign facing the BiLo and make a left. This takes you to the round about at the courthouse. When you enter the roundabout, take the first right onto Hwy 19/129 East.
If you're interested and haven't seen Helton Creek Falls, watch for the sign for Vogel State Park on your right. Just after the park, you will see a sign for Helton Creek Falls on the left. Take this road and follow it until you see the parking area for the falls. They are a short walk from the parking area.
Return to Hwy 19/129. Continue East to Turner's Corner (you have to pay attention here - if you get to talking you will blow right by it.) Make a right at Turner's Corner, and then the next right where the sign is for the Baptist Church. Follow this road about 3 miles or so to Dick's Creek Falls. It's a beautiful drive. You'll see the falls from the road, but don't get all excited and stop here. Drive a bit farther to the parking area on the right. There is an easy path to the lower falls. Don't miss the upper falls as well - they are gorgeous!
Return to Hwy 19/129, making a right to continue east to Cleveland. Pick up 115 E (a/k/a Clarksville Highway) into Clarksville. The driving time to this point is about an hour or so. Now, in Clarksville, it gets kind of tricky. You come into an adorable historic downtown area and a t-intersection. We went right, on 441 south, eventually picking up 441 North toward to Tallulah Falls. This was not part of the plan. The plan, and the more efficient route, is to pick up 385 N/E out of Clarksville, which I think involves making a left and then a quick right at the t-intersection. Either way, your goal is to be on 441 N.
You'll come into Tallulah Falls and see a sign for "the only roadside viewing location" of Tallulah Gorge, to the right. This is an adorable little store and the proprietors didn't blink when Maxie went running right in. Apparently they like dogs. They have a porch with one of those coin operated viewers and in the fall and winter, the view would be really spectacular.
Return to 441 and you'll now be following directions from Photographer JJAnthony's website. The first set of falls to tour is Panther and Angel. http://www.jjanthony.com/waterfalls/falls/pantherfalls.html
The hike to these two is a little bit steep, but not overwhelming. The scenery along the way is fabulous.
Return to your vehicle after enjoying the falls, and continue along Lake Rabun Road, to Minnehaha Falls. http://www.jjanthony.com/waterfalls/falls/minnehahafalls.html. Please note that Mr. Anthony's directions are someone older, and the one lane road below the damn is now a very nice, 2 lane, concrete bridge. The parking at Minnehaha is a little limited, so be careful. If you don't have 4WD, don't pull down too far into the parking area or you might be spending a bit of time there... You will see stairs with To Minnehaha scratched into them. This is an easy walk to a large waterfall that is great for playing and splashing. Photographers, the light at noon is HORRID. Very difficult to get good shots mid-day. Just sayin'.
Return to your vehicle, and continue on to Bad Branch Falls http://www.jjanthony.com/waterfalls/falls/badbranchfalls.html. If you see nothing else today, this is the waterfall NOT TO MISS. It is exotic, angular, and simply stunning. Parking is wherever you can find it, however, there is a maintained recreation area just a smidge down the road, with restrooms, if, unlike me, you mind parking your vehicle semi-sideways up a mountain. This is an easy walk, and you will have a hard time pulling yourself away. Photography heaven.
So, now you have to really pay attention. The next waterfall is actually a double, and is simply known as the Falls on Crow Creek. http://www.jjanthony.com/waterfalls/falls/crowcreekfalls.html Continue on Crow Creek Road (which you were on to observe Bad Branch Falls). The mileage in the directions is just a teeny bit short. You will see a SMALL stream with an accompanying path that has blocking mounds as described in the directions. BUT, unless you see the waterfall, just like the one in the picture, you haven't gone far enough. Go about another 0.10 miles to the actual site, which is easily identifiable by the large waterfall visible from the road. Trust us, the first trail goes NO WHERE. It is steep, not maintained, and there aren't any waterfalls. :) When you are at the proper location, follow the small trail to the right up to the second waterfall. There is a rather steep descent to the first falls should you wish to visit them at ground level.
Return to your vehicle and continue in the direction you were heading. It is a well maintained gravel road and the scenery/lush forest is pretty. Take Crow Creek to Burton Dam Road, make a right. Follow this to the first left onto Bridge Creek Road. Take this 2 miles to Charlie Mountain Road on the left. Follow this to Hwy 76 and make a right and take it into Clayton. If you want to eat at the Dillard House, you can make a left and take 441 just a short drive up to Dillard.
For waterfall tour continuation, make a left at the intersection of 76 and 441 (there is a Wendy's just across the intersection. Take the next road on the right, Warwoman Road. The only stop we did on this road is Becky Branch Falls. http://www.jjanthony.com/waterfalls/falls/beckybranch.html Now, you can go into Warwoman Dell and park at the first parking lot on the left. The trail would be on the other side of the road, heading back up toward Warwoman. OR, you can look for the Bartram Trail side on Warwoman, and park at the little pull off across the street from it. The falls are accessible from trails on either side of the branch that runs under the road. We found the left side to be a little bit easier. There is a footbridge where you may view the falls. The overgrowth is pretty heavy right now so fall/winter would be best for viewing.
If you like, you may continue on Warwoman Road, picking up Hwy 28N into Highlands, and return home via Hwy 64W. There are numerous waterfalls along Hwy 64W (Bridal Veil, Dry Falls, and several others...) for your enjoyment. As of this writing, the walkways at Dry Falls are under repair and the falls are not open to the public. I would assume they are doing this now so as to have them reopened for peak leaf season, and this waterfall, which you may walk behind, is very special and not to be missed.
If you don't want to add another 1.5 hours to your trip, return to Clayton on Warwoman Road, and take Hwy 76 W (go back to the Wendy's intersection, make a right. Hwy 76 will take you into Hiawassee, and then becomes Hwy 515/76 which will bring you back through Blairsville, then 16.2 miles to Loving Road and back to the mountain. You will pass through Young Harris, and see signs for Crane Creek Winery. This diversion of only a few miles puts you at one of the most beautiful pieces of property, and the only winery in the area that produces 100% locally grown/processed wines. Enjoy a wine tasting and some light snacks on their porch, and feel free to explore the property. The proprietors could not be nicer!
Enjoy!
Monday, June 25, 2012
A Day of Beauty - Easy Driving Tour with Photo Ops Galore
I am often asked to post directions, etc. for the many beautiful places I've been fortunate enough to find and photograph. This tour is one of the easiest, with much of the scenery being visible right along the roads travelled - no hiking required! Thus it is particularly good for anyone with mobility issues.
Leave My Mountain and return to the 4-lane (Hwy 515) toward Blue Ridge. Turn right onto Hwy 60. Travel on Highway 60 through McCaysville, continuing on toward Ducktown, TN. The road changes from 60 to Hwy 68 once you cross into TN. Stay on Hwy 68 -you'll cross a big 4-lane - this is Hwy 64/74 - DO NOT TURN. Stay on Hwy 68 through the beautiful rural countryside for about 13 miles. It will drop you right into Tellico Plains. There are several fast food restaurants (Subway, Hardees), and a grocery store (Safeway) if you want to pick up picnic provisions. Or you can do what we did - go to Shorty's! When you come into Tellico Plains you will see the signs for the Cherohala Skyway. This incredibly well maintained road was built to connect the towns of Tellico Plains, TN and Robinsonville, NC, and is named after the Cherokee and Nantahala Forests. Google it for additional interesting information.
If you get on the Cherohala, you'll travel a very short distance and see Hwy 360 on your left. About 1/4 of a mile down the road is a Shell Gas Station and market, known as "Shorty's". The nice folks there will make you a delicious sandwich, and you can pick up soft drinks, chips, and other snacks for your day.
Return to the Cherohala, and make a left off of Hwy 360 to get back on. You will pass some additional restaurants, and see the beautiful Tellico River on your left. Continuing for 1-2 miles or so, watch for a road that goes off to the right, with a sign indicating "Bald River Falls". Take this road. It meanders along the Bald River - one of THE most beautiful, photogenic and simply delightful places I've ever been. There are numerous pull offs where you may stop to snap photos, or play in the river. Please be mindful that all 4 wheels must be off the narrow road at the pull offs for safety reasons, and the USFS folks are around to check! This is a frequently used road, and in autumn can be well populated. Drive slowly and graciously to avoid an unpleasant addition to your otherwise serene trip. There's no hurry! Relax and enjoy!
Staying on this road, you will come to a concrete bridge and as you cross it, the Bald River Falls are immediately on your right. They are stunning, and it is easy to get distracted by their beauty and not pay attention to the road. As the bridge is always populated with pedestrians, children, dogs enjoying the view, please continue to the parking area on the other side of the bridge, safely park and then walk the short distance back to enjoy the view. There is a hiking path from the parking area that takes you to the top of the falls on the left. On the non-parking side of the bridge, there is easy access to the river and the base of the falls, and you may also climb dry rocks to the top of the falls from this side, at your own risk, of course. :)
When you've had your fill of this beautiful waterfall, return to your vehicle and continue driving in the direction you were heading (i.e., do not turn around and go back, unless you're not interested in the rest of the tour.)
A short distance up the road you will find another waterfall, and just beyond it is a parking area with rest rooms. Locals enjoy sliding down through the lovely, wide falls into the cool pool below. Whether you decide to join them or not, it is a beautiful photo op.
Make a left out of the parking area to continue in the direction you were heading. You will drive along the Bald River, and may spot turkey, deer, and if you're lucky, a black bear. You will come to a road leading off the left (gravel) that indicates you will be heading toward Stratton Meadows. Take this road. It is typically in EXCELLENT condition and there is no difficulty whatsoever for any normal passenger vehicle. 1.1 miles along this road is what we call "faucet falls" - a beautiful spout of water that comes through a wall of rock. This is a fantastic photo op area, and the creek is fun to wade in. Be mindful of slippery rocks, especially where the water lands at the base of the rock wall. With many cascading mini-falls above the rock wall, you can literally spend hours playing, taking pictures, enjoying a picnic and just soaking up the peace and quiet.
Return to your car when finished, and continue along the road to Stratton Meadows. This will be a drive of several miles - continuing along the Bald River and then climbing in altitude steadily. You are not lost - there's no way to get lost because there are no other roads. Just keep driving and enjoying the scenery.
When you arrive at Stratton Meadows, you will actually drive under a concrete bridge that is part of the Cherohala (it's waaay above you so look up!). You will come to a T-intersection - go RIGHT. This will wrap around and put you directly onto the Cherohala. You are in North Carolina. If you take a left, you will enjoy some of the most scenic vistas imaginable. Turning right will take you back to Tennessee. I suggest taking the left and enjoying the drive! There are numerous pull offs for photography.
Near the NC end of the Cherohala is the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest. The entrance is on the left. Take it. Continue down past the first road to the left which is a campground - not particularly scenic or interesting. The second left takes you to a lovely area with hiking trails and picnic tables. Running along the left side of the parking area is a deliciously cool stream with boulders covered in lichen that seem to glow in the dappled sunlight. This is another fantastic photo op location. Be mindful that wet, lichen-covered rocks are slippery. :)
Return to the Cherohala. At this point I usually turn right and head back to Tennessee. If you continue to the left, you can drive on to Deal's Gap and the Tail of the Dragon - a road legendary for 300+ turns in 11 short miles. It is not for those who suffer from motion sickness.
Turning right on the Cherhala, enjoy the drive and the scenery until you see the signs (in Tennessee) for Indian Boundary Lake. This is a large and stunning lake that offers a boat ramp, beach, walking trails...it is another great picnic location, or just a place to let the kids run off some steam and enjoy a dip in the water.
Return to the Cherohala, following it back into Tellico Plains. Get on Hwy 68 South for your return trip to Georgia. Enjoy!
Map: http://maps.randmcnally.com/?s=screen&loc1=McCaysville%2C%20GA&loc2=Tellico%20Plains%2C%20TN#s=screen&lat=39.11339950561523&lon=-94.62660217285156&zoom=10&loc1=McCaysville%2C%20GA&loc2=Tellico%20Plains%2C%20TN&loc3=&loc4=&loc5=&loc6=&loc7=&loc8=&loc9=&loc10=
Leave My Mountain and return to the 4-lane (Hwy 515) toward Blue Ridge. Turn right onto Hwy 60. Travel on Highway 60 through McCaysville, continuing on toward Ducktown, TN. The road changes from 60 to Hwy 68 once you cross into TN. Stay on Hwy 68 -you'll cross a big 4-lane - this is Hwy 64/74 - DO NOT TURN. Stay on Hwy 68 through the beautiful rural countryside for about 13 miles. It will drop you right into Tellico Plains. There are several fast food restaurants (Subway, Hardees), and a grocery store (Safeway) if you want to pick up picnic provisions. Or you can do what we did - go to Shorty's! When you come into Tellico Plains you will see the signs for the Cherohala Skyway. This incredibly well maintained road was built to connect the towns of Tellico Plains, TN and Robinsonville, NC, and is named after the Cherokee and Nantahala Forests. Google it for additional interesting information.
If you get on the Cherohala, you'll travel a very short distance and see Hwy 360 on your left. About 1/4 of a mile down the road is a Shell Gas Station and market, known as "Shorty's". The nice folks there will make you a delicious sandwich, and you can pick up soft drinks, chips, and other snacks for your day.
Return to the Cherohala, and make a left off of Hwy 360 to get back on. You will pass some additional restaurants, and see the beautiful Tellico River on your left. Continuing for 1-2 miles or so, watch for a road that goes off to the right, with a sign indicating "Bald River Falls". Take this road. It meanders along the Bald River - one of THE most beautiful, photogenic and simply delightful places I've ever been. There are numerous pull offs where you may stop to snap photos, or play in the river. Please be mindful that all 4 wheels must be off the narrow road at the pull offs for safety reasons, and the USFS folks are around to check! This is a frequently used road, and in autumn can be well populated. Drive slowly and graciously to avoid an unpleasant addition to your otherwise serene trip. There's no hurry! Relax and enjoy!
Staying on this road, you will come to a concrete bridge and as you cross it, the Bald River Falls are immediately on your right. They are stunning, and it is easy to get distracted by their beauty and not pay attention to the road. As the bridge is always populated with pedestrians, children, dogs enjoying the view, please continue to the parking area on the other side of the bridge, safely park and then walk the short distance back to enjoy the view. There is a hiking path from the parking area that takes you to the top of the falls on the left. On the non-parking side of the bridge, there is easy access to the river and the base of the falls, and you may also climb dry rocks to the top of the falls from this side, at your own risk, of course. :)
When you've had your fill of this beautiful waterfall, return to your vehicle and continue driving in the direction you were heading (i.e., do not turn around and go back, unless you're not interested in the rest of the tour.)
A short distance up the road you will find another waterfall, and just beyond it is a parking area with rest rooms. Locals enjoy sliding down through the lovely, wide falls into the cool pool below. Whether you decide to join them or not, it is a beautiful photo op.
Make a left out of the parking area to continue in the direction you were heading. You will drive along the Bald River, and may spot turkey, deer, and if you're lucky, a black bear. You will come to a road leading off the left (gravel) that indicates you will be heading toward Stratton Meadows. Take this road. It is typically in EXCELLENT condition and there is no difficulty whatsoever for any normal passenger vehicle. 1.1 miles along this road is what we call "faucet falls" - a beautiful spout of water that comes through a wall of rock. This is a fantastic photo op area, and the creek is fun to wade in. Be mindful of slippery rocks, especially where the water lands at the base of the rock wall. With many cascading mini-falls above the rock wall, you can literally spend hours playing, taking pictures, enjoying a picnic and just soaking up the peace and quiet.
Return to your car when finished, and continue along the road to Stratton Meadows. This will be a drive of several miles - continuing along the Bald River and then climbing in altitude steadily. You are not lost - there's no way to get lost because there are no other roads. Just keep driving and enjoying the scenery.
When you arrive at Stratton Meadows, you will actually drive under a concrete bridge that is part of the Cherohala (it's waaay above you so look up!). You will come to a T-intersection - go RIGHT. This will wrap around and put you directly onto the Cherohala. You are in North Carolina. If you take a left, you will enjoy some of the most scenic vistas imaginable. Turning right will take you back to Tennessee. I suggest taking the left and enjoying the drive! There are numerous pull offs for photography.
Near the NC end of the Cherohala is the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest. The entrance is on the left. Take it. Continue down past the first road to the left which is a campground - not particularly scenic or interesting. The second left takes you to a lovely area with hiking trails and picnic tables. Running along the left side of the parking area is a deliciously cool stream with boulders covered in lichen that seem to glow in the dappled sunlight. This is another fantastic photo op location. Be mindful that wet, lichen-covered rocks are slippery. :)
Return to the Cherohala. At this point I usually turn right and head back to Tennessee. If you continue to the left, you can drive on to Deal's Gap and the Tail of the Dragon - a road legendary for 300+ turns in 11 short miles. It is not for those who suffer from motion sickness.
Turning right on the Cherhala, enjoy the drive and the scenery until you see the signs (in Tennessee) for Indian Boundary Lake. This is a large and stunning lake that offers a boat ramp, beach, walking trails...it is another great picnic location, or just a place to let the kids run off some steam and enjoy a dip in the water.
Return to the Cherohala, following it back into Tellico Plains. Get on Hwy 68 South for your return trip to Georgia. Enjoy!
Map: http://maps.randmcnally.com/?s=screen&loc1=McCaysville%2C%20GA&loc2=Tellico%20Plains%2C%20TN#s=screen&lat=39.11339950561523&lon=-94.62660217285156&zoom=10&loc1=McCaysville%2C%20GA&loc2=Tellico%20Plains%2C%20TN&loc3=&loc4=&loc5=&loc6=&loc7=&loc8=&loc9=&loc10=
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