by jeff@lyonsroar.com | Feb 3, 2019 | North Carolina
After three days of subfreezing temperatures, it warmed to the 60s in Charlotte on Saturday (2-2-19). One of the great things about living in this city are the many outdoor recreation opportunities. Big Rock Nature Preserve (BRNP) is just an 8-minute drive from our...
by jeff@lyonsroar.com | Dec 28, 2018 | South Carolina, Travel
Hiking in December can be a challenge but Karen requested a three-day waterfalls expedition for her birthday. We stayed in a little town called Easley, just east of Greenville and explored the Blue Ridge escarpment of Upstate South Carolina which is blessed with...
by jeff@lyonsroar.com | Nov 23, 2018 | Events, North Carolina
Standing next to a cold street waiting for people and attractions to shuffle past saps my enthusiasm. Karen and I have discovered that checking out parades prior to their start is a great way to see everything and get to interact with the participants while avoiding...
by jeff@lyonsroar.com | Nov 6, 2018 | North Carolina, Travel
Sunday (11-4-18) on the way home from Lake Lure we revisited Pearson’s Falls. It snowed last winter when we were here. Nature’s Fall show was even prettier.
by jeff@lyonsroar.com | Nov 6, 2018 | Uncategorized
Karen and I are fortunate to live within a ninety-minute drive of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Saturday morning (11-3-18) we drove to the Bradley Falls trailhead. It is always best to do your homework before wandering in the wilderness. The sign marking the trail to Big...
by jeff@lyonsroar.com | Oct 20, 2018 | Uncategorized
In 1783 the Montgolfier brothers flew a sheep, rooster and duck as the first passengers in a hot air balloon to impress Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. Little was accomplished for the next 182 years when Ed Yost teamed up with the U.S. Air Force to develop modern...
by jeff@lyonsroar.com | Oct 17, 2018 | Travel
To celebrate my birthday Karen and I headed to Roanoke, Virginia to hike the waterfalls along Hwy. 81. I planned to visit five of the twelve-must-see-waterfalls in this beautifully rugged area. We managed to find two, but they provided great hikes and sights. We ate...
by jeff@lyonsroar.com | Oct 7, 2018 | Events, North Carolina, Travel
October is full of festivals and events in North Carolina. Unending summer has put the breaks on the leaves changing but lots of little hamlets across the state are attracting crowds with fall celebrations. Our first stop was Belmont, NC for the Fine Art & Craft...
by jeff@lyonsroar.com | Oct 1, 2018 | North Carolina, Travel
After a long day (9-29-18) of traipsing around the Harvest Folk Festival in Catawba we were ready to wind down with some delightful wines on the relaxing patio at Shadow Line Vineyards. This quiet spot is pleasantly off the beaten path.
by jeff@lyonsroar.com | Oct 1, 2018 | North Carolina, Travel
Built in 1894 by Andy Ramsour, the Bunker Hill Covered Bridge is the last remaining “Improved Lattice Truss Design” constructed of wood.
