Which path to take?
From around Labor Day til Halloween – check out the New River Corn Maze.
Beautifully laid out on the shores of the New River, the Maze features over a mile of wide pathways, switch-backs, turns and multiple exits. With five acres to explore, it’s sure to be fun for adults and kids alike. We were with a group of fairly jaded adults and everyone had a great time.
Another special feature is the adjacent pumpkin patch with hundreds of pumpkins and a wide selection of size and varieties. What’s better than being able to pick your pumpkin right out of the patch where it grew!
Essentials:
Friday – Sunday, outside Boone off US Hwy 421 on Laurel Gap Road. Concessions and port-o-potties are available. Check website for pricing options and details: www.newrivercornmaze.com
Wherefore art thou??
Late September and early October in the Smoky Mountains offers up some extra special magic – mating season for the Elk.
Entering the Great Smoky Mountain National Park at the Cataloochee Ranger Station (near Maggie Valley and Cherokee) you can see the largest herd within North Carolina’s 140 Elk population, and watch the big males “rut”, exhibiting their famous bugling calls. The calls attract females and challenge other Bull Elk. When two Bulls meet they may exhibit a lot of bumping and sparring, but it is a ritualistic display for dominance. The best time for Elk viewing is at dawn and late in the day/evening. This part of the park closes at dark and opens daily at dawn.
Elk-watchers stay near the road and keep their distance from these impressive animals. You can get out of your car, but should stay nearby. Males can be as large as 700 lbs. and display huge racks and females can be aggressive when protecting their young. Visitors are prohibited from getting any closer than 150 feet (50 yards) from Elk (or, BTW, Bears). It is also illegal to collect any of the antlers Elk shed in the spring.
The Elk are very easy to spot since they like to graze in open fields, but they also tend to hang out in the shade and shadows, so even on a sunny day, they will keep themselves in the shaded areas. This is when binoculars and a camera with a telescopic lens prove very useful. Don’t forget to pack a picnic and something to drink, since there are no concessions in this part of the Park. Relax, sit and watch; a little patience can go a long way to having a better experience.
Elk were re-introduced to the area in 2001, after a two-century absence from North Carolina (and 150 years in Tennessee). Females usually have one calf a year, born in June, and the Black Bear is their biggest predator, who have been known to eat Elk newborns.
Originally thought to be a smaller variety than the large Western Elk we are accustomed to seeing on TV, the reintroduced Eastern Elk (primarily from Eastern Canada) have proven to grow every bit as large as their western cousins. This development has led Park Rangers to speculate that their size is most likely determined by their food source (grasses, acorns, bark, leaves and buds), which is very plentiful for the Elk at this point in time.
Getting There & Overnight Accommodations:
From Interstate Highway I-40: Exit at #20. After 0.2 mile, turn right on Cove Creek Road and follow signs 11 miles into Cataloochee valley. Allow at least 45 minutes to reach the valley once you exit I-40. Be prepared to drive slowly once you turn into the Park, since much of the road is unpaved. For those coming from the High Country, figure about 2.5 hours.
Hotel accommodations in the neighborhood are pretty basic. You are about 30 minutes from Cherokee and the Harrah’s hotel. There are some B&Bs in the vicinity, but remember, you will most likely be leaving at dawn and returning after dark, a timetable that doesn’t always work well with certain B&B schedules.
For more information visit the Smoky Mountain National Park website: http://www.nps.gov/grsm/naturescience/elk.htm
Love?
View from Harbour Court, the New York Yacht Club’s majestic Newport station.
Rhode Island is such a state of contrasts from the elegance of Newport to the quaintness of Narragansett and fine dining to the best of seafood from beach-side shacks. Most importantly for us, Rhode Island also means spending time with good friends, seeing long-time college buddies and of course, a visit to a URI football game.
The exploring is fun since you never have to go too far (or you are in another state) to find that great antique treasure, a beautiful coastal scene or the next great lobster roll. Some notable highlights for good Rhody food include, the well-known Black Pearl on the wharf; hidden delight, Belle’s Cafe, at the Newport shipyard; Castle Hill for a killer alfresco brunch with a view; Blue Rocks Market to supply everything needed for a tasty tailgate party; and Flo’s Clam Shack (in Middletown), for fresh fried clams and everything else!
Oh yeah, and for a unique Mexican experience, try Perro Salado (Salty Dog) for some kick-ass margaritas and unusual items like fried avocado and sticky ribs. Located in a restored 18th century Naval officer’s home, they describe themselves as a “boisterous gathering space” and I can attest to the truth behind that statement. Just one caveat, watch out for who might be sitting at the next table!
Then, of course, there are the famous Newport mansions. It would take an entire summer to really explore them thoroughly. Properties run by The Preservation Society of Newport County offer reasonably priced self-guided audio tours. Allow at least an hour per mansion, but you could spend many more if you have time to take advantage of the wealth of extra information that goes beyond the basic tour and offers glimpses into the people, activities, and drama of the Gilded Age era. The Elms also features a “Servant Life Tour” which is very similar to the “Behind the Scenes” tour at Asheville’s Biltmore Estate. A $15 bargain ($12 for Preservation Society members). You can buy tickets on-line or at the door for all the tours, but the guided “Servant Life Tour” runs hourly and does book up during peak times. Single mansion tickets run under $15 and a variety of packages are available including five properties for under $35. Check out the website: www.NewportMansions.org
We never tire of the Ten Mile Ocean Drive and if time and weather permit, be sure to check out the Cliff Walk. It’s also fun to just walk around the shops and galleries in town, enjoy the restaurants and bars in the lively wharf area, shop the unique boutiques on Bellevue Ave., or relax in one of the many parks. Every time we visit I discover more wonderful Rhode Island surprises; the state is an often overlooked gem.
Rhode Island coastal beauty.
Heading to the launch from Beechbound.
The Elms.
A rocky beach.
Getting ready for the upcoming boat show at the Newport Shipyard. That yacht is in the air.
Not the biggest . . . but maybe the cutest.
It’s a bit of a misdirection, to say “by foot” because we’ve been covering a lot of ground by foot ever since we arrived. But today we are taking a walking tour of historic downtown. As with all our other guides, today’s Historical Society docent was very interesting and well-informed. We learned a lot more about the interesting citizens of Nantucket (like Macy, Folger and Ben Franklin) and in particular, the substantial role women occupied. We concluded at the old Quaker Meeting House and then continued on our own walk with a stop to see the Tiffany glass in the wonderful Episcopal Church.
This island can be a bit Disneyesque, and if they could eliminate the cars and trucks it would be close to a perfect village. As it was, I felt the vehicles got in the way of some really good pictures, and this is after many visitors have left, and things have slowed down considerably.
Lunched at Cru before getting organized to take the Hy-Line back to Martha’s Vineyard (1hr 10 minutes), and catch our connecting ferry to Quonset, Rhode Island (90 minutes) so we can get to Newport and visit our friends!
Passenger Ferry Notes:
A final commentary about the ferries: These were not auto ferries, and are specifically for passengers. All-in-all, they are pretty good – on time and comfortable, with snack bars, plugs for computers and phones, Wi-Fi (most of the time), and TVs with CNN on the Rhode Island line. The Hy-Line takes your bag(s) on and off the ferry on a luggage cart (RI- you carry-on to a luggage storage area). Be prepared for the fact there are no shelters. Nantucket has a small waiting area, the others have none. All lines to board are out in the open. Take an umbrella and dress accordingly! Schedules vary depending on the time of year and can change at any time (one of ours changed and they did call us to let us know). Bikes and fishing gear are allowed. There are a lot of options, a number of ferry operators and several departure points to get to the islands from Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, or Massachusetts; it can be confusing.
Is our Jeep still in our garage back home? MV and Nantucket are Jeep-central.
Jeeps are everywhere you look, in every color and design.
