One of my favorite places to visit here in North Carolina is Bryson City, located in the western part of the state. Bryson City is home to the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad, a very popular attraction for locals and tourists alike. I absolutely love riding on the train, especially in the fall or spring of the year when the colors are bold and bright. It’s something that my family and I try to do at least once a year. 2013 marks the 25th anniversary of the GSM railroad, and during each of those years, 200,000 visitors have enjoyed the beautiful scenery of North Carolina’s mountains by taking a ride!

During the holidays there are special excursions like the wintertime Polar Express, or the upcoming July 4th Freedom Train, which will include one of the biggest fireworks displays in the state. All throughout the year, though, there are 2 main excursions to choose from when you visit the railroad. You can choose the Tuckasegee River Excursion or the Nantahala Gorge Excursion. Each one takes off in Bryson City and each trip is packed with amazing views and entertainment.

Green, green, green! Peaceful NC countryside. Photo Credit: Great Smoky Railroad

The Tuckasegee River Excursion takes you through some of the prettiest countryside in the state. It’s a relaxing and peaceful 4-hour trip that seems to go by way too fast! I’ve been on this trip twice and thoroughly enjoyed it both times. The main stop on the excursion is in the picturesque town of Dillsboro. Dillsboro has been a popular tourist town since the train started rolling through back in the late 19th century. If you’re looking for a vintage, nostalgic town, this is the place. There are lots of old-timey stores and restaurants to enjoy while you’re there and many local artists who work with clay, glass, metals and gems. And just like our coastal area is known for being a popular movie filming location (all of Nicholas Sparks’ books are based in NC and the movies are filmed here), the mountains have a claim to fame too! While you’re on the Tuckasegee River Excursion you’ll pass right by the movie set where The Fugitive (with Tommy Lee Jones & Harrison Ford) was filmed.

Foggy Nantahala Gorge. Photo Credit: Great Smoky Mountain Railroad

The 2nd main trip, The Nantahala Gorge Excursion, is another fantastic ride. You travel alongside the beautiful Nantahala River, while listening to Appalachian stories being told and bluegrass music being played. It will definitely put you in the country spirit! The Nantahala River area is a dream for anyone who loves the outdoors and outdoor activities. There’s canoeing, kayaking, hiking, biking, waterfalls and much more to do while you’re there. You’ll also cross over the historic Trellis Bridge, which will take you across Fontana Lake. The lake is held in place by the Fontana Dam, the highest dam east of the Rockies. It holds back around 30 miles of water!

Fontana Lake. Photo Credit: Tripadvisor.com

No matter which excursion you take, you’re sure to have a great time. I think the GSM Railroad is really one of the best ways to take in all of the beauty that the NC mountains have to offer. I’m a mountain girl at heart, so I always feels right at home sitting back in the open car of the train, feeling the wind and enjoying all of the stunning scenery as the train drifts on down the tracks.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Holly

This awesome art print comes from Katie Daisy's Etsy store and I absolutely LOVE it!

It’s been another beautiful week here at Dreamwalls and the weekend looks to be more of the same. My morning and afternoon commute to work is around 40 minutes, so I’ve been enjoying this spring weather during my drive and taking in our beautiful scenery. It makes the drive time go by faster AND helps with road rage . Appreciating nature’s beauty and protecting it is what the upcoming Earth Day is all about. Monday, April 22nd marks the 43rd annual Earth Day celebration. The very first observance of Earth Day was back on April 22nd, 1970. Since it’s founding, the EDN (Earth Day Network) has helped to put environmental protection laws like the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act and Endangered Species Act in place. The EDN works with over 22,000 partners in 192 different countries to create a greener world through our schools, work environments and national policies.

As I’ve said before, living here in North Carolina, you really get the best of all the seasons and natural landscapes. Not too much or too little of anything….it’s all just right! So, it’s only fitting that we appreciate and take care of our state’s beauty and resources, not just on Earth Day, but everyday.

This fantastic photograph, taken by Judy Kennamer of Kennamer Photography captures two of North Carolina’s state symbols; our state bird, the cardinal, and our state flower, the dogwood.

Photo Credit: Judy Kennamer Photography. This photo won Judy the 1st place prize in a Better Photo.com contest. Thanks to her for sharing this picture with us!

In the mountains, we have Transylvania County, also known as “The Land of Waterfalls“. Just simply by it’s name, you can imagine what a beautiful area it is! It’s home to more than 250 waterfalls, including the 411 foot-tall Whitewater Falls, the tallest waterfall in the eastern United States. Mist from Rainbow Falls creates colorful patterns that cascade towards the sun, giving the fall it’s name. This area has been the setting for many movies, as well, including “Last of the Mohicans” (featuring Looking Glass Falls) and the more recent and very popular “Hunger Games”.  If you’re looking for a place to spend a spring day getting lost in nature, the Land of Waterfalls is the place to do it!

A beautiful shot of Connestee Falls in Brevard, NC. Photo Credit: Asheville Visitor's Center

And then of course, there’s our coastal region, with some of the most gorgeous and peaceful beaches along the east coast. In last week’s post I talked about my current beach obsession and it’s safe to say I still have it! If you look at this shot of the Currituck Sound sunset, taken by Kevin Childress of Kevin Childress Photography, it’s easy to see why!

I love this photograph of the sunset at the Currituck Sound. Photo Credit: Kevin Childress

These are just a few of the things that make North Carolina such a great place to live. This weekend, go outside and enjoy the beauty that your home state has to offer! Have a great one

Holly

Photo Credit: J. Chris Wilson

Friday is finally here and it looks like we’ve got a sunny & warm spring weekend ahead of us, the perfect weather for a road trip! I imagine it’s the same kind of weather artist Chris Wilson was enjoying on his drive back in 2001 when the idea for a new oil painting series came to mind. Wilson was traveling on NC Hwy 64, a well-traveled road that stretches all the way from the coast to the mountains, through big cities and small towns alike, when he started to really notice the beautiful scenery surrounding him. After collecting a few travel brochures and stopping to take some photographs, an idea began forming. The idea eventually grew into Wilson’s latest series titled “Murphy to Manteo–An Artist’s Scenic Journey“.

Sunrise at Cool Spring, Edgecombe County. Photo Credit: J. Chris Wilson

The “Murphy to Manteo” series, when completed, will be comprised of 100 large-scale paintings of landscapes all along Hwy 64. 38 of the 100 paintings are completed, and you can see them on his website. Wilson has painted everything from the Looking Glass Falls in Transylvania County, to Chimney Rock in Rutherford County. There’s also a wonderful painting of Alexander County (where I live), that really captures the simple beauty of the countryside that I love so much in my hometown.

An Anthem for Alexander County. Photo Credit: J. Chris Wilson

Wilson hopes to have this journey completed in late 2014. A journey, that to him, “is about rediscovering the riches of North Carolina in a pre-Interstate natural landscape and now hoping that you might experience the journey with me through these paintings.” And that’s just what this series does! It allows NC natives, and folks who have never had the opportunity to visit, to “travel” through NC and see what all our beautiful and diverse state has to offer.

I have thoroughly enjoyed the journey so far, and I can’t wait to see what other North Carolina treasures Wilson brings to life in the future! To read more about Chris Wilson and his artwork, click here for a great article from Our State. To see more of Wilson’s artwork, including his early abstract works & still life paintings like the sunflower below, visit his gallery page.

Sunflowers with Green Paper. Photo Credit: J. Chris Wilson

Have a great weekend everyone!

Holly

March has quickly rolled around this year, which means the beginning of spring is only a few weeks away! The weather is still pretty chilly around here, though, which got me to thinking about different indoor activities to do until the temps start to warm up a little. When I was younger and my family and I would take a trip the beach, we would always have to stop by the local aquarium to see all of the colorful fish and scary sharks. It was always a fun and memorable experience. While looking over the North Carolina Aquariums website, I noticed something really interesting. NC has 4 major state-supported aquariums; Roanoke, Pine Knoll Shores, Fort Fisher and Jennette’s Pier. Each has their own unique array of aquatic life, but the aquarium at Pine Knolls now has an exhibit called “From the Mountains to the Sea”. The exhibit doesn’t just focus on aquatic life around the coast, it features animals from all 3 of the state’s different regions, and it’s the only one of the four aquariums with a statewide focus.

In the mountain section, you can actually feel the spray of a warm waterfall and learn about mountain trout. There are 3 different river otters in the Piedmont section, named Neuse, Pungo, and Eno. Each one of the little cuties were named after a river here in NC.

The adorable river otters Neuse, Pungo and Eno. It would be worth a trip to the Pine Knoll Shores Aquarium just to see these guys!

In the aquarium’s coastal area, there are beavers turtles sharing the space.  Of course, there are many other types of fish, stingrays, plant life and of course sharks to see & interact with at the aquarium, too. I thought the idea of having a statewide-focused exhibit was a really neat idea and it allows the diversity of nature here in our state to be showcased!

Holly

From the mountains to the coast, North Carolina is full of diverse and gorgeous landscapes for people to enjoy and draw inspiration from. A small group of  artists known as The Blue Ridge Realists share the beauty of the state’s mountain and piedmont regions through their art. This “rural realism” movement  was started back in 1970, and it was “inspired by a man and his connection to the regional landscape”.  It has been carried on through the years by local North Carolinians, & the group now has 10 artists who all live and work in the western part of the state.

There is a exhibit of their work going on right now at the Hickory Museum of Art. Just looking through some of their artwork makes me realize how lucky I am to live here! The paintings are all unique in their own way, and you can tell the artists truly love what they’re doing by putting their all into it. You can almost feel the breeze coming through the trees and hear the crunch of the snow under your feet. Here are just a few examples of their wonderful work:

Fall in the Appalachians-Mt Mitchell by Philip Philbeck

Wilkes Barn by Frederick Craig Franz ( I wonder if this is a barn from right here in Wilkes County where Gardner is located? Very cool!)

North Carolina Mountain River by Gary Freeman

Jerry’s Place by Bob Timberlake

These paintings are definitely something I’d like to see in person. I love landscape artwork…..especially the kind that showcases our state’s beauty and supports local artists!

It’s been a long week……thank God it’s Friday! Have a great weekend everyone

Holly

2012 is quickly winding down! Here are my top 5 favorite Getaway Color Ways posts /color palettes from the year….

5. North Carolina Zoo

4. North Carolina’s Farm Fresh Festivals

3. North Carolina Balloonfest

2. Bold North Carolina STATEments

1. What Makes North Carolina Special from A-Z

My alphabet journey through NC took me from the mountains all the way to the coast, and I learned A LOT about the state along the way! Learning about all of the small, family-owned businesses, hometown festivals and little bits of info that make this state so special definitely made this series my favorite post(s) of the year! Check out all 6 of them here:

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

I hope everyone has had an amazing year and I wish an even better 2013 for us all! Have a great weekend

Holly

In this week’s Getaway Color Ways for the letters T, U, V & W, we’ll be heading to Transylvania County in the mountain region, all the way across the state to Pender County down by the coast, and a few places in between!

Transylvania – The Land of Waterfalls

In Transylvania County you can do just about any outdoor activity you can think of. There are tons of hiking and biking trails, rivers and streams for fishing, campgrounds, canoeing, and even rock climbing adventures. What Transylvania is most known for, though, is it’s breathtaking waterfalls. The NC area has the highest concentration of waterfalls in all of North America, giving the county it’s nickname “The Land of Waterfalls”. My brother actually proposed at one of the falls just a few months ago! There are 250 different waterfalls in the county, all within just a few miles of each other. It’s easy to travel between them and all of the falls are easily accessible to visitors. There’s even an interactive waterfall map you can download to get you started in the right direction.

This aerial-shot video showcases many of the area’s stunning waterfalls, outdoor attractions and the charming town of Brevard (which we’ll be talking more about later in the post!). All in all, Transylvania is a fantastic getaway here in our state for anyone wanting to spend some time in the great outdoors!

Uwharrie National Forest

This time of the year is really great for outdoor activities. The weather is slowly starting to change, so it’s not too hot or too cold to enjoy a day of fun outside. The Uwharrie National Forest, named after the mountain range that it covers, spans 51,000 acres over 3 counties in the heart of the Piedmont; Randolph, Davidson and Montgomery. The bulk of the forest (80%) is located in Montgomery County and there is a Uwharrie Mountain Festival held there annually the second weekend in October to celebrate the natural, cultural and historical uniqueness of the area. There’s fun for all ages at the festival, from a 5-mile trail run to paintball. It’s a great way to kick off the fall season!

Venus Fly Trap – NC’s State Carnivorous Plant

Among the many unique things that North Carolina can claim as native to our state is the Venus Fly Trap. It’s grown and cultivated all throughout the world, but the only place it grows naturally is in a small area of our state’s coastal region–mostly in the town of Hampstead in Pender County. It was adopted as our state’s official carnivorous plant back in 2005. Not only is the Venus Fly Trap unique to our area, it’s also unique to other plants in that the plant’s leaves actually snap into a trap when something, like an insect, lands on them. I’ll have to admit, I’ve always been a little weary of them. Even though they’re basically harmless to humans, the idea of a plant “snapping” down on my finger just creeps me out haha! I’ll have to say, though, it does make a very attractive color palette

White Squirrel

I mentioned earlier in the post that we’d be talking more about the town of Brevard, which is where the letter W comes into play. Brevard is in Transylvania County, and just like the county is known for it’s many cascading waterfalls,  the town of Brevard is known for something very unique as well; white squirrels. Known as the “White Squirrel Capital of the World”, Brevard is very proud of their little climbing critters. There’s an annual White Squirrel Festival, a White Squirrel Institute and even a Squirrel Box Derby Downhill Race held in the county. I love how the counties here in North Carolina hold festivals for the things that set them apart-no matter how strange some of the celebrations may seem! The town also takes the safety of the squirrels very seriously. There’s a town ordinance that declares the area a sanctuary for all squirrels–especially the white species. The squirrels in Brevard are not albinos, but are a variant of the Eastern Gray Squirrel (the state’s official mammal), with dark eyes and gray-streaked fur. So, if you’re ever in the Brevard area, go “nuts” and snap a few pictures of these distinct and just plain cute little animals!

Well, it’s finally Friday!! I hope you all have an awesome weekend. I’m going to spend the weekend enjoying this cooler weather we’re having

Holly

From a baker who has been given a second chance, to the scrumptious isles of our Southern Season’s store, here are just a few more reasons why North Carolina is such a remarkable place!

Nod to God: Favor Desserts

In the city of Durham, a man named Keijuane Hester proves everyday that even someone with a bitter past can have a sweet future. In his case, a really sweet future! Hester is the owner and master chef of Favor Desserts, a bakery that’s known for their delicious red velvet cupcakes & other homemade treats that are all sold throughout the Triangle area of NC. And where did he learn to whip up these yummy treats? In the most unlikely place…..prison. Yep, prison. Just 2 years after graduating high school, Hester was arrested for cocaine possession and sent away. While there, he discovered his passion for baking and with a little favor from God (hence the bakery name), he was able to start up his business after he served his sentence. He started out slow, selling slices of cake in local shops, but now his treats are in high demand all over the area, and he’s thankful for his second chance at life. Hester says his business is a nod to God for allowing him to “switch hustles….from crack man to cake man!”

Old Salem

Local Apothecary building in Old Salem with rich colors

If you’re looking for an authentic historical experience, Old Salem in Winston-Salem is the perfect place for you to visit. The Moravian settlers founded the town back in 1766 and when you go there, costumed town folk demonstrate first-hand how the early settlers lived. You can see hearth-side cooking, candle-making, shoe-making, tailoring and much more. There are also fantastic gardens and rustic home places to see. A must-visit is Winkler Bakery where you can watch the bakers cook up their famous Moravian Cookies (they’re so delicious)! Many schools in NC take annual field trips to Old Salem so the students can see what life in the early south was like and experience it all first-hand.

Pepsi

Pepsi-Cola can be added to the list of popular food/beverage items that got their start here in NC. Back in 1896, pharmacist Caleb Bradham from New Bern created the drink and shared it with the locals in his pharmacy’s soda fountain. Before long, the soda (known as “Brad’s Drink”) was in high demand from businesses all around. He realized his concoction was special, so in 1902 he filed incorporation papers with the state and from then on, business grew. Of course, the Pepsi brand is still extremely popular today and billions are spent every single year on Pepsi-Cola beverages & it’s various brands like Frito-Lay & Tropicana.

Quilt Barns

There is a barn I pass at least once a week when I go to Hickory, NC and it always catches my eye because of the colorful block painted on it’s side. I’ve wondered many times what it was there for, and now since I’ve been researching North Carolina info for these posts, I know! It’s a tradition called “Quilt Barns” and the western part of NC has the highest concentration of them in the entire USA. It was first started in Ohio when a woman named Donna Sue Groves put a block on the side of her barn in honor of her mother. The idea took off, and now the project is in 30 different states and all the way in Canada, too. There are 9 different trails you can take a scenic drive on here in NC and see over 200 quilt blocks along the way. After learning more about the project, I know I’ll definitely keep my eyes open for more of them!

Railroad of the Great Smoky Mountains

One of my absolute favorite things about fall is taking a ride on The Great Smoky Mountain Railroad. It’s a great ride anytime of the year but for me, an autumn ride through the mountains when the leaves are changing colors can’t be beat! There is something so wonderful about sitting on a train, taking in the fresh air and amazing views all around you. It’s a peaceful, relaxing and memorable experience that you won’t forget. If you’ve never been on a train ride before, I definitely recommend it…..and North Carolina is the perfect place to have the experience!

Southern Season Store

The Southern Season store in Chapel Hill, NC is one of  my New York travel-buddy Patty’s favorite stores. I’ve never been, but from the way she describes the store, I’d say it’s definitely a place I could get lost in for a few hours! It’s a place where you can find good ‘ol Southern hospitality and food galore! The store is one of the largest gourmet specialty shops in the entire country and they have tons to offer, including a Coffee & Tea shop, the famous “Wall of Chocolate”, the largest wine department in the Southeast and even a grocery store. For over three decades people have been visiting Southern Season and giving it rave reviews. I plan to take a trip there myself the next time Patty goes back and I can’t wait to get my hands on some goodies!

It’s been a short–but long–week and I’m glad it’s Friday! Have a great weekend everyone

Holly

This week I’m back with another alphabet addition to our travels through North Carolina with the letters J, K, L, & M.

John Coltrane

The John Coltrane Memorial Statue in High Point, NC

One of North Carolina’s most famous natives is the legendary saxophone player / composer John Coltrane. He was born in Hamlet, NC back in 1926 and had a love of music from a very early age. He began playing the saxophone after WWII with the Eddie “CleanHead” Vinson Band and went on to play with the Miles Davis Quintet, which is where he found his inspiration to start composing his own music. By 1960, he had started his own band and was quickly becoming well-known in the jazz community. Unfortunately in 1967, at the young age of 41, Coltrane died of liver disease. His influence on music can still be heard today, though, in many television shows and movie soundtracks such as “Mr. Holland’s Opus”, “Jerry McGuire”, “The General’s Daughter”, and many more. In 1995, he was honored with his own commemorative stamp and Universal Studios / MCA Records recognized what an impact he had on cinema music by naming a street on the Universal lot after him.

He’s recognized here in his native state with an 8-ft bronze statue, located in High Point (where he grew up) and the John Coltrane International Jazz & Blues Festival which aims to keeps his influence on music alive. This year’s festival is just around the corner on September 1st!

Krispy Kreme

Yep, that’s right! Those delicious and hard-to-resist sweet treats were started right here in North Carolina and have definitely become one of our most famous native foods. Vernon Rudolph founded the company in Winston-Salem and made his first batch of doughnuts (from a secret yeast-raised recipe he got from a New Orleans French chef) in 1937. He started selling them to local grocery stores for 25 cents a dozen and they quickly became so popular within the community that he ended up cutting out a hole in the wall of his rented bakery space and started selling the hot and fresh doughnuts to people right on the street.

Today, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts are sold in more than 33 states here in the US, and you can also find them all around the world in places like Asia, Canada, Turkey, Mexico and the Middle East. So, it seems like the world can agree on at least one thing; those sweetly glazed treats from right here in NC sure are delicious!

Land of Oz

Lions, tigers and bears-oh my! When fall rolls around, people from all over hop in their cars and they are literally off to see the Wizard…the wonderful Wizard of Oz at The Land of Oz designed by the late Jack Pentes. Pentes dreamed up the idea for the nostalgic park, but unfortunately died 6 months prior to the park’s opening. The park was in operation from 1970-1980 but because of certain economic problems & other issues, it had to be closed. In the 10 years that followed, many of the park’s original props & pieces were either destroyed or stolen. Luckily, in 1990 a project called Emerald Mountain was started to preserve Oz and bring it back to it’s original state (as much as possible). Today, the famous yellow brick road has been repaired, Dorothy’s farm has been restored, the waterfall & pond are in operation again and each year new things are added to the park.

I wonder if you'll spot one of these beautiful Emerald Starlings in Emerald City....

One weekend every year the Autumn at Oz festival is held and “Ozzies” come to Emerald Mtn. to take a stroll down the yellow brick road and even see some of the original cast perform. I love the original Wizard of Oz (and I’m really excited about the upcoming remake), so I’ve always wanted to visit the park. Tickets are on sale now for the festival, which is coming up on October 6th and 7th, so I may just check this off of my to-do list this year!

Mast General Stores

I LOVE the feel of a good ‘ol country store. The kind of store where the wooden floor panels creak and where you can buy everything from homemade candy to hometown sport’s team memorabilia, and that’s just what the Mast General Stores are! The first store was opened in NC back in 1883 (it was known as Taylor & Mast General), then in 1913 W.W. Mast purchased it from the original owners and it became known as Mast General Store. It was the community gathering spot and they carried everything from farming tools to caskets….which brought on the saying “if you can’t buy it here, you don’t need it!”

Today, there are 5 different locations here in North Carolina, 2 in South Carolina and 1 in Tennessee. All of the stores are in buildings that date from 1883 to 1945, assuring that you get an authentic country store experience every time you visit!

In case you missed them, click here to read “What Makes NC Special….From A-Z Part One & Part Two

I hope everyone has a fantastic Labor Day weekend!! Enjoy the holiday

Holly

Now that August has rolled around again, back-to-school is the hot topic everyone seems to be talking about. I was debating on what to do the Color Ways post on this week when a 7th grade history class project came back to me. We each had to create a “What I See: A to Z” book for a specific state that we were assigned, and find something for each letter of the alphabet that dealt with that state. It was a great way for us to learn all sorts of interesting and little-known facts about the states that make our country so diverse and special. I started thinking of all the popular (and lesser known) places, people and fun-facts that make North Carolina such a unique and great state to live in, and decided to get back into “school” mode and research more about the state. So, for the next few weeks I’ll be traveling through North Carolina, mountains to the sea…..from A to Z!

Apples

Take all of the apples grown here, line them up side-by-side, and you’ll have a fruity line that stretches all the way to Tokyo and back again! Needless to say, apples are a big part of this state’s economy and heritage. Every year counties from all across the state celebrate this history during their hometown apple festivals, with all sorts of vendors, parades and just about any kind of apple-related foods you can imagine. We have one right here in Wilkesboro and it’s always one of my big October highlights! The state’s largest celebration, the NC Apple Festival in Henderson (the “Apple Capital” of the state) lasts four days and is being held this year from August 31st-September 3rd.

Beverage-Milk

I’m only on the 2nd letter of the alphabet and I’ve already learned something new about NC! Milk is our official state beverage and has been ever since 1987. Two other states, Virginia and Wisconsin (the nation’s #1 dairy state) also use milk as their state beverage. NC farmers produce about 135 million gallons every year and on average, North Carolinians drink over 143 million gallons per year. I wonder how many of those glasses of milk are accompanied by our state’s native Moravian cookies? Sounds yummy to me!

Cheerwine

This bubbly soda was first concocted in a Salisbury, NC grocery store basement by owner L.D. Peeler back in 1917. Now, over 90 years later, Cheerwine is still a very popular soft drink brand that can be found in about seven different southern states, including the Carolinas.

Dahlia King

I recently read an article about a NC resident named Alan Hetzel who has a passion for growing hundreds of beautiful dahlias (the Mexican national flower) in the town of Black Mountain. What really struck me about Alan’s story is how he takes all the love and care he puts into gardening, and spreads it throughout the community one flower at a time. To learn about how Mr. Hetzel is helping to make NC a brighter place, read the full article from Our State Magazine.

Four letters in, and the stories & products that help make up NC are producing some very eye-catching color palettes! Can’t wait to see what I can dig up next week

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Holly