This is our final trip of 2016 and we’ve decided to head south towards North Carolina! Packed up and ready to hit the road these two travelers have five days to explore the mid USA. Crossing the Ambassador Bridge into Michigan, we drove till we hit a wall of snow flakes, oddly, just inside the Kentucky border.

Day 1 – December 30, 2016

William was up early Friday morning to discover that they gypsy was wearing the bed sheet as a scarf…. yes, it was that COLD! Minus six with no heat source. We both laughed and tried to stay under our thick sleeping bag. After a chilly transformation, we were back on the highway, William had his eyes peeled for any signs of a Coffee shop.

Harland Sanders Café and Museum next exit, the birthplace of Kentucky Fried Chicken. Score…lol.

From the outside it looks like a cool 50’s diner, but once you’re inside it’s more like a typical KFC counter. There’s an old style dining area accompanied by a small area of memorabilia from the original founding of KFC. It was well worth the stop and William was able to get a morning coffee. Unfortunately, the sign outside said Café but the coffee was terrible. Yikes! Take cover…. lol.  We will be talking about the time we went to the original KFC for years!

Our little detour off of I-75 brought us through the small town of Cumberland Falls. Williams first reaction “There must be a waterfall nearby?” with a quick Google search we were on our way to Cumberland Falls, also known as the mini Niagara.

It turns out Cumberland Falls is a large waterfall on the Cumberland River in southeastern Kentucky and very impressive at that. While we were walking around the park we stumbled upon a plaque that mentioned that under a full moon on a clear night an elusive lunar rainbow or moonbow is formed by the mist emanating from the falls. Very cool! Unfortunately we visited these falls during the day and were  not able to experience this natural phenomenon.

This surprise waterfall was a perfect opportunity to let our trusted companion Nina the Nomad stretch her four legs and roam.

 

Back on to I-75, we had a few more hours of driving before we reached Soco Falls in North Carolina.

As we drove leisurely along the Forest Heritage Scenic Byway, we knew that we were close to Soco falls according to the maps but there were no obvious signs. Then we drove past four vehicles parked slightly off the side of this winding narrow road. “That must be it?…let’s turn around”.  Due to its remote location, there is only enough space for a few vehicles at a time…esh!!

 

Soco Falls is a beautiful double waterfall on the edge of the Cherokee Indian Reservation. It took us less than five minutes to walk to the 120-foot waterfall. In the winter months there are no leaves on the trees, so we could see the smaller falls as well. We wanted a closer view, so we continued down the steep trail to the rock base of the waterfalls with the aid of ropes. Good thing for the ropes because it was slippery and wet.

An interesting fact; The Soco Gap was used by the Cherokee Indian’s in the 1700’s as the main entrance to their land from the North and the East. They used it as an outpost for ambushes as well.

Back on the Forest Heritage Scenic Byway, which we took very slow, because this is one of the most nerve-racking drives we have ever encountered. We came across MANY hairpin turns in the road that only had an 8” curb and a land drop with no end…well we couldn’t see it anyway…lol. This 76-mile mountain scenic drive is packed with mountain scenery, rich local history, waterfalls, picnic spots and hiking trails. Thankfully we had great weather and daylight, what a drive!

Dry Falls gives you the rare treat of walking safely behind a waterfall. That is, if it is wasn’t winter and the gate wasn’t locked for safety. “William I see a return visit in our future!”.

This 75-foot tall waterfall in the Nantahala National Forest flows over an overhanging cliff, allowing you to walk behind the falls and stay dry, hence the name “Dry Falls”.

By this time it was starting to get late and we were thinking of a warm café and sipping on a hot drink. A quick GPS search for the closet town and Highlands was the winner.  We happily pulled into the town of Highlands to find a main road filled with beautiful historic buildings, people walking, outside patios and a sign for Buck’s Café..…HALLELUJAH… the unexpected finds of van travel….lol.

After relaxing for a bit with our hot drinks, we decided that Nina should probably eat and have her nightly walk. So we bundled up and the three of us walked the main strip of Highlands, North Carolina, noticing all the unique local boutiques and tasty restaurants sporting local organic fare. It was bustling with activity and glimmering lights. We couldn’t have asked for a more romantic setting.

We decided that this was the place to spend the night, so we jumped in the van and roamed this town looking for a place to settle in. Wouldn’t you know it, there was a Nature Center with a secluded parking lot just on the outside of town. Perfect spot and very close to Bucks Café for Williams morning coffee.

We come to learn that Highlands was founded in 1875 after its two founders, drew lines from Chicago to Savannah and from New Orleans to New York City. They felt that the place where these lines met would eventually become a great trading center and commercial crossroads. Highlands was named for its lofty elevation. Today, Highlands is one of Americas top 10 golf destinations.

Day 2 – December 31,2016

With a coffee, tea and breakfast sandwich on the table, these two travelers decided to sit at Buck’s and find all the GPS coordinates for our remaining stops.

The next falls was supposed to be an hour away…but after driving three hours up and down a real mountain, on a gravel road with no internet signal, we thought it was time to go back to the city and regroup…lol. The gypsy does not do well with being lost, her mood was quickly changing and her skin turning a light shade of HULK Green….oh Lordy! Run!

After regrouping we finally made it to High Falls. High Falls is located in DuPont State Recreational Forest and apparently has the luxury of changing a bit every day, depending on recent rains or the time of year.

The photos above are the view at the base of High Falls via River Bend Trail. When the water is low, you can safely rock hop along the river bank to get a close-up view. William had the opportunity to get up close and personal with this raging beauty.

In the same DuPont State Recreational Forest is Triple Falls, which offers a unique opportunity to stand in the middle of a 120-foot waterfall. Level rocks allows plenty of room to safely enjoy the amazing views and cascading waters. Nina loved the open areas, but found it a bit rough to manage the rocks and had to be carried by William. “I think we need to invest in a Doggy Back carrier William!”.

 

With all of the walking and fresh air of the morning, we decided to rest a bit before tackling our next stop, Hooker Falls (Yup…you read it correctly).

Hooker Falls is only a 12-foot waterfall, it’s wide drop into a pool creates a beautiful setting and a great spot for splashing around on hot summer days, but at a balmy 45 degrees we decided to embrace its beauty from the safety of the river bank.

Hooker Falls is easy to access via a 1/4-mile trail from the parking area. You will come to an observation deck above the falls first and then continue on the trail to the pool in front of the waterfall. There are plenty of rocks to sit and enjoy the view. Back in Betsy!

 

Looking Glass Falls is one of the most popular and beautiful waterfalls in North Carolina. And it’s perhaps the easiest to view, one of the few accessible roadside waterfalls making it perfect for folks with mobility and walking challenges.

The name “Looking Glass” comes from Looking Glass Rock.  When the water freezes on the sides of the waterfall in the winter it glistens in the sunlight like a mirror or looking glass. Unfortunately, or fortunately…lol,  it was 43 degrees when we had the opportunity to view this wonder but could easily envision this “looking glass” feature.

 

At Sliding Rock each summer thousands of children and adults slip and slide down this favorite natural mountain waterfall in the Pisgah National Forest, near Asheville. Sliders patiently line up and wait their turn as one-by-one they ride the chilly water (50-60 degrees!) down the 60-foot flat, sloping boulder. They make a splash in an eight-foot deep pool and swim a few strokes to the shore, get in line, and do it all over again. Although not in season these two nomads couldn’t resist the opportunity to check this out.

There are no signs on the highway for Moore Cove, just an information board next to a parking area to let you know that you’re in the right spot. Moore Cove Falls is a little hidden gem. Moore Creek has a low volume of water, especially during dry spells. The waterfall is most spectacular after a good rain. Extended dry weather can reduce the falls to a trickle.

What an enchanting setting. It’s pet-friendly, but keep your pets on a leash and close-by because there were a number of signs warning about bears. Nina the nomad was in heaven…lol

It was getting late and the gypsy was getting a bit tired and very hungry and so when we passed a sign that said, “Fuddruckers – Home of the World’s Best Hamburgers!!” we had to stop.  After a bite to eat and a short drive to pick up a bottle of wine and some chocolate treats, we found a rest stop along Interstate 26 and these two weary travelers were set for the night and ready to sleep-in the new year.

 Day 3, January 1, 2017

Happy New Year! With it being New Year’s Day, William was starting to worry about his coffee fix. But lo and behold the Green Sage Café was open.

The Green Sage Cafe is all about healthy and natural ingredients but William actually liked the coffee and went back for seconds. They use local and organic ingredients whenever possible and consistently strive to provide a friendly and nourishing experience to their customers. It was fantastic and we highly recommend it 🙂

Back on the road heading towards downtown Historic Asheville with plans to explore and take our morning  walk.

While in Asheville we stopped in to tour the largest single home in the U.S.A., The Biltmore. To our surprise all the tours were sold out and the only thing available was a general pass for $75 (each) to stroll around the property. Just a subtle reminder to pre-plan these rare opportunities, if possible.

Well no harm done as William asked, “Any comic book stores in the area?”. The gypsy made lunch (van style) while William shopped.  Kraft dinner with a garlic butter twist. Delicious!

With our trip pretty much wrapped up, we decided to drive home through Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and check out the devastation caused by the massive wild fires which tore through the town just a few weeks’ back.

As we approached Gatlinburg it was very eerie to see the random burnt buildings along the main strip.  There didn’t appear to be any rhyme or reason as to which buildings were destroyed and which ones amazingly survived untouched. What a humbling feeling you get when you’re be able to witness the devastation that this wild-fire caused to so many people. “Home William!”