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.