We love chasing the falls, but today we opted for a hike to the base of the cliffs in Norman Wilder Forest in Western North Carolina, where we were pleasantly surprised with our first “spring” sighting. The first, bright pops of wild daffodils are sprouting up along the trails. Even though the skies are still overcast and the weather will likely catch us off guard with a blizzard or two, new life is already stirring out there. What a beautiful sight to see in January.
River Oaks Lights is a dazzling sight to see. With the hundreds of decorated over-the-top ritzy mansions, it is arguably the best Christmas light display in Houston. Drive or stroll through the neighborhood and see a million lights in full swing.
McKinney Park in Woodruff now has the best of two worlds: a spacious play area for kids of all ages and a Christmas tree perfect for family photos. The Upstate has no shortage of Christmas festivities, and some of the very best will take place in city parks.
Sunset Park is a barrier-free playground in Mauldin, SC. It has wheelchair accessible play structures, a merry-go-round, the Sway Fun glider, roller slides, low-level sensory panels and lots of unique features. This colorful playground was designed to empower children of all abilities to play alongside each other and ensure no one is left out.
This 6,500-acre site in the Blue Ridge is the first school of forestry in the U.S. The indoor center boasts more than a dozen hands-on exhibits and is simply a fun place to visit for the whole family to learn a thing or two about the enormous diversity of Blue Ridge flora and why we need to protect the natural world to the best of our abilities.
Another day, another mountain conquered. I can confirm the mountain slopes covered in blazing seasonal colors are the best thing about the fall. All the colors just sweep you off your feet and take your breath away. This time we got charmed by the Whitewater Falls' spectacular 411-foot cascading plunge. It's nothing if not a prime example of breathtaking mountain beauty.
Legacy Park is such a peaceful and quiet oasis in the heart of
a residential neighborhood in Greenville that makes you feel as if you're a thousand miles away from the hustle and bustle of the
city. There are two play areas for older and younger kids, the Little Free Library under an old oak, a bubbling fountain, a
tree-shaded walking trail, a pond, and plenty of wide open green spaces. And there's even a sand volleyball court. All in all, it's a gem of a park.
Last weekend, we had the appliest trip of our lives to Justus Orchard, an apple farm nestled in the charming Blue Ridge Mountains. Crisp juicy apples, fresh mountain air, and farm fun stole our hearts. Freshly-baked apple cider donuts warmed our bellies.
This is an awesome park of 1000 and 1 adventures in Greer, SC. With a copious number of play structures for all ages and the amazing magical castle that towers above it all, this park is a dream come true for young hearts and their imagination.
A great playground always makes for an easy quick escape. With a whopping number of parks and green spaces, you will never run out of places to explore with the kids in Houston. Here are the coolest playgrounds to get you started.
Melrose Falls Trail is a 1.1-mile out-and-back trail a few miles from Tryon, NC. Besides a few easy obstacles, such as a small stream to rock hop or a few fallen trees to duck under, the trail is wide and clear, and the falls at the end are simply breathtaking. Even on a gloomy, drizzly winter day, its beauty couldn't be hidden.
When embarking on the trail to explore the Little Bradley Falls in Saluda, we planned to have a quick, 2-mile out-and-back hike. Little did we know what an adventurous trip it would turn out to be.
We were hiking in the Tallulah Gorge State Park in Georgia and on our way back home to Greenville, decided to stop by this unique roadside attraction—Goats On The Roof. And what a blaaast it was!
When the holidays start hovering on the horizon, year after year, League Park in League City dresses up for the season and its signature event – Holiday in the Park.
Moore Cove Falls Trail is one of our favorite trails to hike with the kids. It’s a short, relatively easy trail under 1 mile off the main road with the grand finale at the end - a spectacular view of the 50-foot waterfall with a walking area behind it and a rocky outcrop to enjoy the view.
Looking Glass Falls is a true roadside gem. It doesn't require a hike to have a close-up view of a natural wonder and feel a refreshing blanket of mist on your face. There are two viewing platforms, the top one is at the head of the parking area along the road, and the other sits at the foot of the waterfall with flights of steps leading straight to it.
There's no better place to experience the liveliness of autumn than the mountains. So on Sunday morning, we packed hiking shoes and went into the wilderness to glimpse everything turn orange and burgundy. We spent the day hiking, paddling on the mountain lake, and kicking the ball in the open green spaces. It was a family day for the books and we didn't even know we loved the mountains.
In the middle of a week, we went up a winding road through a tunnel of brilliant autumn trees to the summit of the Caesars Head. And that's what you do in South Carolina when the mountains are your backyard. From an observation deck at a 3000-foot elevation, it was a breathtaking sight.
