The Botanical Garden is a park on the campus of the University of North Carolina in Asheville NC, with several trails. Here are some photos from a visit. Mountain Laurel Purple Toadshade A stand of Hemlocks Bridge Mountain Stream Two-Lined Salamander Indian Pink Small’s Beard-Tongue A folded and uplifted rock outcropping Prickly Pear cactus

The North Carolina Nature Center is in Asheville NC. With lovely pathways winding through native woods, it is a great place to just walk around, and also has about 60 species on display, all of them native to NC—from Black Carpenter Ants to Cougars. And for a small zoo, the Center is very well-done–the enclosures … More The North Carolina Nature Center

It was one year ago today that I walked out of my apartment in St Petersburg Fl for the last time, started up the campervan, and set off for a life on the road. Since then, I have driven a wee bit over 5,000 miles, and visited 14 different cities in 7 different states. So, … More My One-Year Anniversary

The Estes-Winn Antique Auto Museum, in Asheville NC, has a collection of about 40 antique cars from the 1950’s back. It was the personal collection of a local Cadillac-dealer owner. Here are some photos from a visit: The museum is located on the grounds of the Grove Park Inn, which was built back in the … More Estes-Winn Antique Car Museum

Located in downtown Asheville, the Lexington Glassworks does custom glass-blowing. Alas, there was no glass-blowing going on while I was there. But here are a few photos:

While visiting with my longtime cyberfriend David and his wife Katharine, we spent the afternoon at the North Carolina Arboretum in Asheville. Here are some photos from the visit. Katharine and David Walkway Water pond Tadpoles Fence Lizard Pollinator at work Winding pathway Part of the bonsai display Landscaping Fountain Container plants Ferns Lichens Carnivorous … More North Carolina Arboretum

The Colburn Earth Science Museum is tucked away in the same building as the Art Museum (it’s kinda cramped in there, so they are planning to move to a bigger building). It has a nice collection of rocks, gems, and fossils. Here are some photos from a visit. The museum A large calcite crystal at … More The Colburn Earth Science Museum

Nestled atop the Smokey Mountains, Asheville is the smallest city I’ve visited so far. Having spent the winter in flat Florida, I haven’t had to walk “uphill” since I was in Nashville, so my legs are getting quite a workout.  😉 Some photos from downtown Asheville. The Smokey Mountains Lots of little shops “Deco Gecko” … More Greetings From Asheville NC

In August 1863, the Army of the Cumberland, under the Union General Rosecrans, was poised to take the important Confederate railroad center of Chattanooga TN, which was defended by the Army of Tennessee under the Confederate General Bragg. In a deft move, Rosecrans swung his army through the Tennessee mountains and cut off the city’s … More Chickamauga Battlefield

At the beginning of the US Civil War, both sides followed a policy towards captured prisoners known as “parole”: captured soldiers would be given a written statement to sign acknowledging that they would not participate any more in the fighting, then be released. It may seem incredibly naive to us today, but back then “honor” … More Andersonville Historic Site