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Category: Historic Sites
Wandering Around America One State at a Time – North Carolina
State 30:
Welcome to the next post in my series highlighting states we have visited throughout the years. I hope you will enjoy coming along for the ride!
I will be featuring the states alphabetically. The next state in my series is
North Carolina
North Carolina became the 12th state on November 21, 1789. The capital is Raleigh.
From the Great Smokey Mountains to the Outer Banks, there is a lot to explore in North Carolina. Waterfalls and beaches, hikes and scenic drives, mountains and racetracks, wildlife and wildflowers – these are just a few of the things that make North Carolina memorable.
Back before our RVing days we wandered around the Outer Banks seeing the lighthouses and beaches, visiting the Wright Brothers Monument where they took their first flight, and taking the ferry from Hatteras to Ocracoke. Another ferry took us from Ocracoke back to the mainland where we visited Bath where the pirate Blackbeard once lived.
Hatterras Light
Ocracoke Lighthouse, NC
Bodie Island Lighthouse, NC
Wright Brothers Memorial
Ocracoke Island Ferry
Hatterras Beach
If you love waterfalls, you won’t be disappointed in North Carolina.
Waterfall along the Blue Ridge Parkway
Dry Falls
Tom Branch Falls
Juney Whank Falls
It doesn’t get any better than a campsite with a beautiful view. Our campsite at Campfire Lodgings in Asheville was perfect for hanging out after hiking or touring the fabulous Biltmore Estate.
I felt as if I had gone back in time to Mayberry as we wandered around Andy Griffith’s hometown of Mount Airy.
Andy Griffith Statue in Mount Airy, NC
Wally’s Service Station in Mount Airy, NC
Andy and Opie on the water tower in Mount Airy, NC
Downtown Mount Airy, NC
We ended our tour of the Charlotte Motor Speedway in the winner’s circle.
One of the hikes we made was on Whiteside Mountain in the Nantahala National Forest.
Whether it’s the leaves showing their fall colors or the flowers showing their brilliant blooms, the vibrant colors of the North Carolina mountains change with the seasons.
Tiger Lilys at Mabry Mill
Rhododendrons along the Blue Ridge Parkway
North Carolina Wildflower
Swallowtail and Wildflowers
Jewel Weed
Rhododendrons
We explored Mabry Mill on the Blue Ridge Parkway and Mingus Mill in the Great Smokey Mountains National Park near Cherokee.
Mabry Mill, the most photographed spot on the Blue Ridge Parkway
Mingus Mill in Great Smokey Mountains National Park
And if it’s wildlife you’re looking for, try visiting in the fall where you might see the bugling elk in Cataloochee Valley in the Great Smokey Mountains National Park.
Bull Elk Bugling in Cataloochee Valley
Bull Elk in Cataloochee Valley
Two young male elk lock antlers in Cataloochee Valley
To read previous posts about the states featured in this series just click on the state name: Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Mexico New York
Wandering Around America One State at a Time – New York
State 29:
Welcome to the next post in my series highlighting states we have visited throughout the years. I hope you will enjoy coming along for the ride!
I will be featuring the states alphabetically. We have never been to New Jersey so the next state in my series is
New York
New York became the 11th state on July 26, 1788. The capital is Albany.
A few years ago we camped in Niagara Falls, Canada. After exploring the Canadian falls we made a day trip into New York where we had close up views of the Bridal Veil Falls and got soaked as we walked along the decks on the Cave of the Winds Tour.
You will get wet if you take the Cave of the Winds Tour!
Our next stop in New York was Golden Hill State Park. Although the park is located about thirty miles by water from Niagara Falls the drive is a little bit longer. This peaceful state park was exactly what we needed after the excitement of Niagara Falls. Where else can you have a view of a lighthouse and one of the great lakes from your campsite? We enjoyed touring the Thirty Mile Point Lighthouse and Blondie enjoyed swimming in Lake Ontario. The highlight each day was watching a gorgeous sunset over the lake.
Thirty Mile Point Lighthouse overlooking Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario at Golden Hill State Park
Blondie swimming in Lake Ontario at Golden Hill State Park
Thirty Mile Point Lighthouse, NY
Thirty Mile Point Lighthouse at Golden Hill State Park
Sunset at Thirty Mile Point Lighthouse at Golden Hill State Park
I recently returned from a fantastic Mother-Daughter Weekend in New York City. We did all the things on our bucket list and much more. The best part of the weekend for me was seeing the city with my beautiful daughter.
Statue of Liberty
The Lake in Central Park West
The Palm Court at the Plaza Hotel
Empire State Building
Times Square
Lower Manhattan
Statue of Liberty
To read previous posts about the states featured in this series just click on the state name: Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Mexico
Wandering Around America One State at a Time – New Mexico
State 28:
Welcome to the next post in my series highlighting states we have visited throughout the years. I hope you will enjoy coming along for the ride!
I will be featuring the states alphabetically. The next state is
New Mexico
New Mexico became the 47th state on January 6, 1912. The capital is Santa Fe.
We have traveled through New Mexico several times in our travels. The first time was in 1985 in a mini van on our way to the Grand Canyon to tent camp with our two kids. Each time we were in the state we made sure to eat some of the delicious New Mexico food. From blue corn tacos to green chile stew it’s all delicious. One year we visited my brother and his wife near Albuquerque and they took us to some of their favorite restaurants. Nothing better than eating where the locals eat!
In New Mexico many restaurants give you a choice of red salsa or green salsa. If you want both, when the server asks you what salsa you would like, the answer is “Christmas”. And where else would you have green chile stew and nachos for breakfast?
When we left home on our first RV trip in 2006, one of our must see stops was Roswell, New Mexico to visit the UFO Museum.
Street Lamp in Roswell, NM
UFO Museum and Research Center
UFO Museum in Roswell
New Mexico is one of the states that meets at the Four Corners.
Our campsite at Santa Fe Skies was a perfect home base to explore Santa Fe and the surrounding area. We enjoyed wandering around Santa Fe, shopping at the Palace of the Governors and visiting the Georgia O’Keefe Museum.
When we asked one of the staff at the RV park the best way to get to Taos, he told us we could take the high road or the low road. Of course given two options we decided to travel to Taos on the scenic high road through high desert, mountains and small towns and return to Santa Fe on the low road through the valleys beside the Rio Grande River.
The scenery changed along the high road as we drove from Sante Fe to Taos.
High Dessert on the High Road to Taos
On the high road to Taos
We visited the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge outside of Taos before exploring Kit Carson’s home and enjoying tacos from a vendor at a Fiesta in Taos.
As we drove back to Santa Fe on the low road there were great views of the Rio Grande.
Santa Rosa is one of the places to see some of the neon signs along historic Route 66. The Blue Hole was also worth a visit.
Historic Route 66 in Santa Rosa
Blue Hole in Santa Rosa
Historic Route 66 in Santa Rosa
Mater from the movie “Cars” in Santa Rosa
There is so much to see in and around Albuquerque. Although we had visited before, my brother and his wife were great tour guides and knew the best places to go. After attending a Navajo Rug sale with them we all took a hike through Petroglyphs National Monument.
Petroglyphs National Monument
Petroglyphs National Monument
Petroglyphs National Monument
On our most recent trip to New Mexico we wandered around Old Town Albuquerque and visited the Coronado State Monument.
The highlight of our stay in Albuquerque was the drive on the Sandia Crest Scenic Byway. The views along the way and at the peak were amazing.
To read previous posts about the states featured in this series just click on the state name: Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire
Wandering Around America One State at a Time – New Hampshire
State 27:
Welcome to the next post in my series highlighting states we have visited throughout the years. I hope you will enjoy coming along for the ride!
I will be featuring the states alphabetically. The next state is
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is one of the original 13 colonies and became the 9th state on June 21, 1788. The capital is Concord.
Before we began our RV adventures, during an early spring trip to New England we traveled along some scenic back roads in New Hampshire. Instead of spending the nights in RV Parks, we spent our nights in inns along the way. We came across three historic covered bridges as we wandered through the beautiful countryside.
We picked up some New Hampshire cheese at Harman’s Cheese and Country Store in Sugar Hill and fudge and other goodies at the Brick Store in Bath.
There was spectacular scenery as we drove along the Kancamagus Highway through the White Mountains. A hike on snow and ice beside a partially frozen creek was worth it for a close up view of Sabbaday Falls.
White Mountains
White Mountains
We took a scenic drive on the Kancamagus Highway
Hike to Sabbaday Falls
We took a hike in the snow and ice to Sabbaday Falls
Sabbaday Falls
To read previous posts about the states featured in this series just click on the state name: Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada
Wandering Dawgs 