In The Smokey Mountains, NC

We have visited yesterday Boone in NC and on the way back to Asheville, NC we had some rain for minutes. Later, the sun came back and "smog" started to come up everywhere in the hills, like the hills are on fire. That was again a beautiful show of mother nature - that's where the hills of North Carolina get the name from : Smokey Mountains.

The Great Smoky Mountains
are a mountain range rising along the Tennessee-North Carolina border in the southeastern United States. They are a subrange of the Appalachian Mountains, and form part of the Blue Ridge Physiographic Province. The range is sometimes called the Smoky Mountains or the Smokey Mountains, and the name is commonly shortened to the Smokies. The Great Smokies are best known as the home of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which protects most of the range. The park was established in 1934, and with over 9 million visits per year, it is the most-visited national park in the United States.

The name "Smoky" comes from the natural fog that often hangs over the range and presents as large smoke plumes from a distance. This fog, which is most common in the morning and after rainfall, is the result of warm humid air from the Gulf of Mexico cooling rapidly in the higher elevations of Southern Appalachia.

The Great Smokies are part of an International Biosphere Reserve. The range is home to an estimated 187,000 acres (760 km²) of old growth forest, constituting the largest such stand east of the Mississippi River. The cove hardwood forests in the range's lower elevations are among the most diverse ecosystems in North America, and the Southern Appalachian spruce-fir forest that coats the range's upper elevations is the largest of its kind. The Great Smokies are also home to the densest black bear population in the Eastern United States and the most diverse salamander population outside of the tropics.

Pretty light on the side of the road

Hi my friends,

All your kind comments make always my day, thanks for that! :)

The rain came back yesterday evening and also in the night, and this morning it was raining too - too boring! We decided to stay here in the Asheville area for another day and to relax. Traveling is a hard job, you know that too.... right? ...LOL...

Tomorrow we will be heading West in NC... I heard there is somewhere a Casino and you can win there easy a lot of money...LOL... we will try it again :) I'll let you know if we won... LOL... :)

See you there!
Susanne

I've visited Saluda, NC

I promised you two days ago to show you more photos from our journey to North Carolina. Driving from Asheville NC, take this exit 59....

...and after some minutes nice mountain driving you'll see this picturesque little town: Saluda. It is like cut out of a picture book, so neat and clean, with good restaurants and a lot of nice shops in the main street - you cannot miss it, it's so small. :-)

This is the view to the main street from the other side of the railroad crossing, only some houses, that's all.

Shady trees in the main street, with inviting shops everywhere

This is the window of the City Hall. It's like the time stopped and never came back. Do you see that great old type writer in the window?

As you know already, I like to photograph details, and flowers - like this scene here.....

...or this one! I love the wooden bench too.

Flowers are everywhere in this pretty little town!

Tomorrow I'll show you a series of photographs I made about something very special I have seen in Saluda. And I met a very nice person there too. Stay tuned for tomorrows post!

Below you can read what the Internet has to say about Saluda.

Since the turn of the century, Saluda, North Carolina has been a favorite vacation destination. Need an escape from the heat or a respite from the hectic pace of life? Long for peaceful tranquility, scenic beauty and fresh mountain air? Come discover one of Western North Carolina's hidden jewels. Nestled at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Saluda is a great place to enjoy seasonal beauty throughout the year. Convenient to many wilderness, architectural, civic and otherwise "charming" attractions, Saluda invites you to visit for a day, a week, or longer.




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Old Fort, NC

Frontier Fort
Early outpost against Indians. Used by Gen.Rutherford in expedition against Cherokee, Sept. 1776. Stood nearby and gave name to this town.

These are the words written on the historic sign, visible in the photo beside the monument made of stone in Old Fort. A dreamy little town up in the hills of North Carolina. I did the picture out from the car, but I decided later to step out from the car for capturing some more photos.

Our teacher in the "School of Art and Design" told us often: "To see and to capture pictures in front of you is great, but sometimes it worth's also to turn around and to see what is behind your back". I always do that, it went into my system in all these years I'm doing photography. :-)

So then, this is now the backside from the picture above, still in Old Fort, NC.

I love these (so typical for America) house facades in Old Fort,NC.

Old Fort is a town in McDowell County, North Carolina,
United States. The population was 963 at the 2000 census. The town is well known for its weekly Mountain Music jamboree, which draws a large audience and many musicians from the surrounding areas to Old Fort's downtown on Fridays at 7:30. Also the town's people are currently re-constructing the original Davidson's Fort which gives Old Fort it's name. Old Fort also holds the largest festival in the county once a year named Octoberfest. However one would not find beer but handmade crafts and great food the first weekend in October every year.

Our trip went further up the hills......

and down the hills of North Carolina....

....over to the Black Mountain area. We came from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Black Mountains, so exciting!

But the landscape remain the same: hills, hills, hills.....! I love it!

Stay tuned, our trip will show you more exciting little mountain villages and more NC country side. :-)

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Little Switzerland, NC

Isn't it a fantastic view from up here in Little Switzerland, overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains? Unfortunately, we had a little morning fog on that day. Can you imagine how beautiful it looks here in fall with all those magnificent colored trees?

A small mountain road is winding up the hills to the top of Little Switzerland.

Finally arrived!
A small village with little shops and a Hotel is awaiting you. The houses are in no way similar to the houses in Switzerland, though! It's more a mixture of Bavarian and Austrian style paintings and colors and has nothing to do with real Swiss houses!

These A-frame houses are for rent. Maybe something to consider for your next mountain vacations? It can be big fun...!

Red flowers and a bench are always nice in front of a mountain cabin imitation.

A "Little Swiss" beauty...!

Another beautiful find from up there

After driving trough the Blue Ridge Mountain Parkway we came to a Gem Mine at Bruce Pine. This painted stones are advertising the close
Gemstone Mine.

In the shops of this mine you can buy already finished gems - or you can wash away the loose dirt in the sluice and with a little bit of luck you will find a big treasure.

Interesting stuff to know about "Little Switzerland" and its region:

With breathtaking views around every corner, waterfalls, wildflowers, gem mines, unique lodging and dining and with many things still handcrafted and homemade, we're one of the last true escapes for relaxation, cool temperatures and clean mountain air. Little Switzerland is located between Asheville and Boone at Blue Ridge Parkway Milepost 331.
Little Switzerland received its name from early summer residents of the area who thought the scenery resembled that of the Swiss Jura Mountains.And as a Swiss person I can fully agree with this!

The Blue Ridge Parkway . . .
The Blue Ridge Parkway, a unit of the National Park System, extends the length of our area and provides splendid views around every corner. A visitor information center is located at the Museum of North Carolina Minerals at Gillespie Gap, Milepost 331.

Scenic Attractions . . .
You'll find many points of interest around the area. At 6,684 feet, Mt. Mitchell is the highest mountain east of the Mississippi River, and offers spectacular views, scenic hikes, a museum, concession stand and restaurant open seasonally.

Other attractions in the area or within easy driving distance include Crabtree Meadows & Falls, Emerald Village, Dellinger Grist Mill, Grassy Creek Falls, Biltmore Estate, Lake James State Park, Penland School of Crafts, Linville Caverns, Roan Mountain Gardens, Linville Falls, Craggy Gardens, Grandfather Mountain, Appalachian Trail, Tweetsie Railroad, Blowing Rock, Moses Cone Estate, Chimney Rock, Carolina Hemlocks Recreation Area, Mountain Gateway Museum.

Recreation . . .
With over 100,000 acres in national forest and hundreds of miles of trout streams, our area is an outdoors paradise. Hiking, camping, horseback riding, hunting and white-water rafting are very popular and there are several fine North Carolina golf courses nearby. Several gem mines offer the opportunity to pan for gemstones (a rockhound's dream!). Winter sports include cross-country skiing, and there are several ski resorts within easy driving distance.

Climate . . .
Our area enjoys 4 distinct seasons with cool summers and moderate winters. Temperatures and snowfall vary with elevation and exposure. Around Little Switzerland, January average temperature is 34 degrees and July average is 70 degrees. Average rainfall is 56 inches and normal snowfall is 10 to 20 inches annually.

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Beauty Is To Find In The Details

Beautiful wild flower, I love the shapes and the pastel color
(seen up in the hills of "Little Switzerland", NC)

A tiny Viola flower, seen in the alps of "Little Switzerland", NC

The first leaves of coming fall?
(seen by the "Pearson Falls" between Saluda and Tryon, NC)

Heavy spiderwebs allover the trees - a phenomena to see on so many trees up in the Blue Ridge Mountains of NC

Ivy covering the wooden fence (seen in Bruce Pine, NC)


More pictures will come, stay tuned....






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