My last full day in North Carolina we decided to do something exciting, at least exciting to us! My Mom and I went back to the Blue Ridge Parkway, through Craggy Gardens and up to Mount Mitchell.
First we stopped a trail that said it had ruins from old buildings at the end where it meets up with the Mountain to Sea trail. The ruins were just one rock chimney as far as I could tell, although pretty cool! The trail was gorgeous, with a small waterfall right off the road, and the creek along most of the trail that you had to cross a few times. My favorite part...chipmunks running around everywhere!
From there we headed to Craggy Gardens.
Glassmine Falls as seen from overlook at Craggy Garden.
It is weird going up to Craggy Gardens, where it still looks like Winter. Weirder still to keep going up to Mt. Mitchell. It had snowed the week before and they mountains where transformed into waterfalls of melted snow, while little patches of snow still remained on the side of the road. I could believe it, I'm from Florida and here I was seeing snow in May! Crazy!
Mt. Mitchell is the highest peak east of Mississippi. Cool air and beautiful views. Smells like Christmas up there. Pines! And lots of moss. Very cool place.
Also very friendly Dark-eyed Junco's up there!