Harder to leave this time.

 I am finding it really hard to leave North Carolina this time around.  I am not sure why.  It's the same trip every time...a little shopping, a little hiking, exploring towns I've never been to.  This time the pull to remain is much stronger though.  I almost extended my trip to Friday.  I know that isn't fair to my hard working husband and my dogs though.  Plus I fear if I extend my trip perhaps I will extend it a bit more and a bit more and next thing you know I have a job and I don't leave.  Just like everywhere it seems, everyone is hiring.

I use to dream of having a winter home here.  Then pigs started arriving and next thing we know we have a 96 potbelly pig sanctuary.  As time went on it was very clear also that prices sky rocketed for houses and land.  Today I looked at a house brochure and one of the ads was for a 2.5 acre plot of land, no house, not even sure it had water or electricity on the land.  It is close to Asheville but the cost!  $150,000!

I know the prairie runs through my veins and I will always belong in South Dakota but sometimes trying somewhere new, living in the mountains, living by a liberal community is very appealing at times.  

I did have a strange experience yesterday while sitting outside the coffee shop in Black Mountain.  I was feeling a bit melancholy about having to return to South Dakota and the cold winter ahead.  The church across the street started playing, "The Old Rugged Cross".  This is my Grandma Ammann's favorite hymn.  I thought of her and smiled.  I felt her near me and we just sat and listened to the song.  I also felt okay that I was going home.  I belong there, no matter how strong the desire is to just chuck it all and live here.

Perhaps though this is proof that it's time to stop coming here.  It has become too familiar.  There is a whole country to explore.  I don't need to keep coming back to the same town, doing the same things.  

 If you are looking to travel to a laid back town surrounded by some of the oldest mountains in American that have TONS of hiking trails this is great place to visit.  It is more expensive as it is a tourist town, and a top location to get to easy hiking trails, but well worth the money.  It is also a great town to visit if you are not into hiking.  Culturally it is a strange town.  It balances professionals and 'hippie' type folks all in the same space.  It has AMAZING BBQ and equally AMAZING Vegetarian food.

Tip:  This area has an amazing online network listing area hikes and the level of difficulty.  It also lists how far the hike is.  This is very helpful if you are just beginning your journey into hiking.

Well, I am off to walk and soak in the last day!

Feel like giving? Hand out money to buskers aka street perfomers, not the homeless.

Asheville has a huge number of homeless.  Reading the paper it sounds like the town is getting sick of it too.  I don't blame them.  They fill the parks, do drugs openly in these parks as children play a few feet away.  I was very sheltered as a child.  Asheville is the first place I saw heroin and was offered to try it.  Thank you but no thanks! They litter the sidewalks and ask for money from everyone walking by.  I just ignore them, unless they have a dog, but it is amazing how many tourists fall for it and hand out money.  FYI:  Asheville has great resources for the homeless, the addicted, hungry, mental health help.  I looked into it one trip because I was concerned with how many homeless live here.

Asheville also has a huge number of people who play music, sing, dance, juggle, you name it.  Give to these folks.  They don't hassle.  They simply are using their gifts to make some extra change. 

 I met a young man on one of my trips that played the violin by a popular coffee shop.  I was eavesdropping when someone was asking him why he was doing this.  Didn't he have a family?  He did have a family and he was loved.  He simply needed money for a school trip and he wanted to take some of the burden off his parents and plus he could practice what he loved (playing the violin).  

I'm not against helping the homeless, or travelers as a taught my kids to call them.  After all, it is what we are called to do.  But regardless if you are traveling or see homeless in your hometown, locate the resource centers, soup kitchens, etc. and give to them.  If a certain individual pulls at your heart strings, buy them a sandwich, water, non alcohol wipes, medicine, things they can pack such as granola bars.

Asheville Day 3

 I am off to the wilds!  Today I was brave!  Today I was foolish!  Today I went to my favorite small town (Black Mountain).  

I started the day at Black Mountain.  I enjoyed a Mayan Mocha...basically a mocha with a spicy twist at the Dripolator.  It was so relaxing just drinking my coffee and reading.  

Black Mountain has such cute shops.  There is an old hardware store that will remind you of a time long gone.  They have everything from tourist things to everyday items that the locals would need. 

This trip isn't just about shopping though, I can do that in South Dakota.  It is about the mountains!  This is where my true adventure begins for the day.  I'm glad I'm alive...there was one moment where I wondered if today was the day.

I drove just a short distance to a hiking area.  What I did not know was that it was a one lane road going to the hiking spot and zero parking except for a few pull offs.  I drove as far as I could drive and then realized I had to turn this massive machine around.  It was hit and miss as I pulled forward a bit, backed up, turned the wheel, pulled forward...you get the picture.  I will say, I am very impressed with the Wagoneer's navigation system and all the safety dings and whistles and beeps.  I am fairly certain I would have gone backwards down into a creek if it had not been for the Beep Beep Beep...getting more and more annoying as I got closer to the edge.  I really should have more faith in my driving.  I did just fine, it just took me a bit to get turned around.  Finally I found a pull off area large enough for my vehicle and the hiking began. 

One lane road to the hiking area.  Not so bad if I wasn't driving a small tank.

Love their huge leaves!

Tree hugging!

I love how the roots just travel over the rocks and look like long fingers.

Possible Fairy home sighted!  I should have brought chocolates along.

Asheville Day 2!

 The adventure begins!!!  Although I have been here many times, it never gets old.  I always feel at home here.  This is partly because I am an eccentric soul and this is one of the top places to be if you don't exactly fit inside a square box or like to go against the grain.  These are my people.  I also like it here because it is very liberal.  North Carolina is NOT liberal but this little pocket of N.C. is.  N.C. is a very unique state.  On one side and across much of the state you will see confederate flags flying proud.  You will also find towns that if you are not white, you should not go.  There are also small towns where if you are not Black, you should not go.  As you get to Asheville area though, the confederate flags disappear, and people of all races get along...at least on the surface.  

Today I ride the Uber downtown to explore.  I always find fun things to see and do.  I really should ride the bus.  I'm a nut, I LOVE city buses.  I'm excited to start my downtown book browsing that I do not want to ride the bus for 27 stops and 30 minute ride to get there.

Today is Saturday which always brings out tons of buskers (street performers).  I have made the mistake of coming in the Fall.  There are also TONS of tourists.  We all belong here, but it's so busy.  The streets are packed.  I weave my way around people to my favorite shops.  Here are a few of my must go to stops.

1.  Maliprops Bookstore.  This is an independent book store that has tons of books.  It regularly holds author readings and signings.  It does have a coffee shop but sadly since Covid, it is only a walk up and grab and go inside the store. It use to be a delightful small coffee shop where you could buy your book and sit for hours and read.

2.  Batterypark Book Exchange.  This used bookstore has rows and rows of books.  It also is very well known for its Champaign and wine bar.  You must purchase a book before enjoying a glass, but it has a delightful seating area where you can read the hours away while having a drink.  Dogs are welcome here. Sad fact:  It is not open Monday and Tuesday.

3.  Woolworth Walk:  This delightful place is an old Woolworths.  It has a soda fountain with great food.  The building houses two floors of art by local artists.  Has all kinds of art forms.  

4.  Kress Emporium:  This is another huge building with art from local artists.  In both Woolworth and Emporium, I have found some treasures I will hold dear for life.

5. Mast General.  This store is like Wall Drug all in one building.  It is AWESOME!!!  That's the top floor.  The bottom floor has everything you would need to go camping and hiking.  I looked at bear spray, but the lady informed me I don't need that for Black Bears.  They don't care to pick a fight with humans.  She added...now Grizzly bears you can use it but you should probably just pray.😂.  They don't have grizzlies here.

Today an artist market is happening in Pack square park.  It's nice to see artists selling their art instead of homeless buying drugs.  That is usually what happens in this small park.  It is actually a delightful park to sit in with your coffee and a good book, but it's important to be aware of the many homeless and drug users that hang out here.

I had great fun just walking downtown, looking at books, admiring the local artists works, and listening to street performers.

Asheville Day 1!

My blood practically hummed as the plane touched down.  I tried to calm myself so I didn't look like a lunatic racing to the baggage claim and car rental spot.  Bag grabbed.  I learned earlier on that although I can travel for a week with a simple backpack, going to Asheville requires a big suitcase.  I really like to buy Asheville made items and books...ugh so many books when I come here.

I got to the car rental part.  I had booked a cute little car beforehand.  Tip:Always book your car before you leave.  Never a good idea to just assume they will have a car to rent.  Save yourself some stress by booking before you go.  My excitement was already gaining traction thinking about traveling those mountain roads in my cute little Spark with John Denver blaring out of the stereo.

I had to wait an hour before a car was returned and cleaned.  Then a bomb was dropped on me.  "Would I take a Jeep Wagoneer?"  I drove a Jeep Wagoneer in high school so thought, Hell ya I'll take that.  It was like a 1980's Jeep Wagoneer on steroids!  I was suppose to drive that monster in the mountains and around Asheville?

I took a deep breath, jumped in and started the drive to my hotel....gripping the steering wheel like my life or better put the life of fellow drivers depended on it.  Made it just fine to my hotel.

Decided to stay a little bit further from Downtown than I normally do.  I wanted to be right next to nature!  I opted to stay at Holiday Inn Asheville East.  The bonus of the stay...Waffle House is right next door.  Living in the Upper Midwest, we do not have this amazing restaurant that has melt in your mouth waffles for only $5.00!

Tip:  This hotel has a restaurant that serves everything from Chicken Tenders to Filet Mignon.  Waffle House is right next door as stated above.  There is also two gas stations about half a block away where you can buy snacks and drink instead of paying an arm and a leg at little hotel store.

Beautiful Arch on Holiday Inn property.  It leads to an open area with a wood swing.

At night the arch is even more magical.

Look at the size of this mouth watering waffle.  

View from my window.  What you can't see is the picnic tables scattered about and some trails that go off into the woods.

Tip:  Although this hotel is not very close to the top tourist area of downtown, it is easy to get to.  Driving takes about 10 minutes and is a quick interstate drive with the Haywood St. Exit being the one you take for downtown.  If you are driving there, roads are not very wide and when busy time of year, driving in downtown is a nightmare.  Parking is slim.  There is a good size public parking garage by Grove Park Arcade (not an actual arcade).  Uber takes about 10 minutes and costs about $16.00 one way.  There is a bus stop about 5 blocks from hotel.  Cost is $1.00 but it takes about 30 plus minutes depending on time of day and stops it makes.

This day I spent my time just hanging out and planning (a little) things I want to do on the trip and directions on how to get places.

  

North Carolina...the obsession begins.

Ah, beloved North Carolina.  I am often asked what drew me to North Carolina.  Well...about 20 years ago I was in love with Nicholas Sparks books.  I would devour every one of them.  I learned early on in reading that he lived in a small town by the name of New Bern, NC.  My amazing husband agreed we could fly literally half way across the U.S. to New Bern to take in this small town and maybe just maybe run into one of my favorite authors.  Although I did not run into Nicholas Sparks, I did find an amazing little town.  FYI, it is the birthplace of Pepsi.  Fun fact although to someone who is addicted to Coca Cola, this did not make me a Pepsi lover. :)

I also immediately grew fond of North Carolina.  Second trip we got bored on the coast and drove across the state to the mountains.  I feel you are either really pulled to the ocean or the mountains...or the prairie I suppose.  I was a mountain person.  Although I have lived on the South Dakota prairie all my life, it was the mountains that called to me.

I was not disappointed.  I may have become fond of N.C. that first trip, but it was the second trip that I fell head over heels in love with North Carolina.  I immediately felt I had come home.  We drove casually through the amazing town of Asheville and thought it was a cute town.  Although it was a quick stop, something must have bit me, because I would spend the next 10 plus years traveling to Asheville, NC. 

You know you have traveled to a place for a long time when you can give tourists directions. 😆 

It took me a couple trips to get my feet wet.  I finally felt brave enough to rent a car.  A whole world around Asheville opened up to me.  I bravely drove through the mountains...gripping the steering wheel the whole time.  Give me a break, I grew up on the prairie.  We can see for miles and there are no hairpin turns.

Most of the time I travel to North Carolina by myself.  Sometimes I do wish I had a travel partner, especially now that I know the area so well and so many cool places to go.  Thankfully I am right at home traveling by myself though.  If you dream of being a solo traveler or you don't travel because no one will go with you, be brave.  Book that trip!  Have Faith, a whole world will open to you and you will be safe.  Sometimes you need to just take a deep breath and jump.

So that is how my obsession with North Carolina started.  Feels like a lifetime ago.  Each time I come here though, I find something new.  I find some little nook and cranny that I hadn't discovered before.

Welcome!

 Hi Everyone!!

Since I love to travel and go on little road trips, I decided to write a blog instead of just putting photo's on Facebook.  Hopefully you will enjoy my blog.  Most importantly, I hope it speaks to your inner child and inner traveler and push you to go on adventures of your own.  Be they long travels across the ocean or little road trips to area towns, just GO!

I named this blog Traveling Tumbleweed because tumble weeds just bump along as they please.  No schedule, no point of finish just rolling on.  Not a care in the world.

If my travels inspire you and you want travel tidbits about an area I've visited, feel free to reach out.

Happy Traveling!