Florida State Parks, Steven Foster Folk Culture Center State Park, White Springs, FL

Barbara and I ended our trip this year with a stop at one of Florida's most interesting State Parks, Seven Foster Folk Culture Center. Located in White Springs, FL just north of I-10 just 4 miles east  of I-75 Steven Foster has a special charm of it's own.  The historic Suwannee River flows through the park creating a peaceful landscape surrounded by tall Cypress trees draped with Spanish moss.  Stephen Foster has a gazebo located on the banks of the Suwannee with marble steps leading down to the river. A tall clarion tower rings out each hour anchoring the park with it's tall stately presence. Nearby is the cultural center where arts and crafts are displayed at certain times. There is beautiful museum on property that is opened daily depicting the history of the area through Steven Fosters influence via his songs and biography adding to the parks lore. There are campgrounds surrounded by plentiful shade, clean restrooms and full hookups to provide for a comfortable stay. The park has canoe rentals as well to make a first visit adventurous with a paddle on the majestic Suwannee River. The park is home to the Florida Folk Festival, the largest folk festival in the country during late May of every year.

Florida Folk Festival 2015

Steven Foster Folk Culture Center State Park is a special part of Florida's history past and present with all the charm that is fitting for such a special place on the banks of the Suwannee River.

The Suwannee River

The Gazebo on the banks of the Suwannee River

The Clarion bell tower at Stephen Foster

The Stephen Foster Museum

Cousin Thelma Boltins Gift Shop & Craft Square

Steven Foster Folk Culture Center State Park

View Vacation 2014 in a larger map

Vacation 2014, Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Indian Creek Campground

We arrived at site at Indian Creek Campground about 7 miles outside of Cherokee, NC up in the mountains. Our site was right next to the Indian Creek which created a beautiful background for us as we settled in on a rainy afternoon. During our stay a national trout tournament was in progress making for a interesting sight as anglers meandered up and down the banks of the stream catching the abundant trout which were tagged with cash prizes of various amounts. The white noise of the stream at night made sleeping a pleasure as we opened the windows to let the cool mountain air in. 

Indian Creek just behind our campsite at Indian Creek Campground

Our neighbor at our campsite Jason and his son showing their catch for one day

Angler Trout fishing near our campsite in the waters of Indian Creek

We stayed at Indian Creek campground for three nights and two days. The first day was rainy making it hard to go our and tour The Great Smoky Mountain National Park. We did however venture out during the afternoon to Cherokee, NC on the outskirts of the park to visit the shops and the Cherokee Indian Museum. I spent a couple hours in the Museum while Barbara shopped and learned a good deal about the Cherokee Indians history including the trail of tears when the tribe was moved out west before the turn of the last century. The exhibits were compelling and well done with many artifacts from the past all presented with the history of the tribe as they populated the mountains of the Appalachians.  

Cherokee Indian Reservation

Oconaluftee River near downtown Cherokee, NC

Cherokee Indian Museum

During our second day at Indian Creek Campground the weather cleared up allowing us to get out and tour the visitors center at The Great Smoky Mountain National Park where we walked through a mountain farm which the park has restored to it's original state. We were very lucky to spot two Elk in a field near the visitors center grazing on the lush grass of the valley.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Oconaluftee Visitors Center

Mountain Farm exhibit near visitors center

Elk feeding on the lush grass near the visitors center

We spent the afternoon hiking to Mingo Falls near our campsite. Mingo Falls is the highest falls in the area falling hundreds of feet made even fuller by the recent rain fall in the area.

Mingo Falls

We meet up with a couple who we have known from home who were in the area staying at their cabin near Bryson City, NC.  Mark and Nora are followers of my blog and got in touch with us during the course of the trip to invite us to their cabin. After a very pleasant visit at their cabins in the woods we invited them both back to campsite where we spent our last night enjoying a nice meal and a campfire next to one of the most beautiful settings that we have experienced during our trip.

Barbara, Mark and Nora at their cabin near Bryson City, NC

Lovely mountain flower gracing their dining area.

Mark, Nora and Barbara enjoying dinner at Indian Creek

Great Smoky Mountains National Park


View Vacation 2014 in a larger map

Vacation 2014, Lake Powhatan National Forest Service Campground, Asheville, NC

Lake Powhatan National Forest service campground is located very near Asheville, NC nestled in the foothills of the Pisgah National forest not far from the Blue Ridge Parkway. Lake Powhatan is surrounded by hiking trails, mountain bike trails and lovely mountain scenery that makes this area so special. There are a least a dozen or so sites with electric so if you need this feature it is wise to book your stay months in advance to get one. The campground is very clean with solid surface pads and clean restrooms. Lake Powhatan is very inviting to take a dip in with a white sand beach and splendid mountain scenery.

Views of Lake Powhatan

Dam at Lake Powhatan

Hiking near Lake Powhatan

Our Campsite at Lake Powhatan

On our first full day Barbara and I traveled about 12 miles into downtown Asheville, NC to walk around the historic downtown area. Asheville is a lovely city with interesting shops and lots of places to dine. The city is easy to walk around with art located on many of the streets making for a fun time with many places to browse and shop. We love Asheville for its charm and wonderful surroundings which make it a great place to visit. Near the campground is a big farmers market where we enjoyed fresh produce, jams, cheeses and spices. Asheville also has a Trader Joe's which we are always happy to shop at to pick up food and wine for our camping needs.

Flat Iron Building downtown Asheville, NC

British Bus Restaurant

Asheville Art Museum

Sidewalk Art

Downtown Asheville

Sidewalk Art near the central park

Not far from Lake Powhatan is the North Carolina Arboretum. The Arboretum is a very special place indeed with beautiful exhibits to delight the gardener in all of us. The grounds are manicured with fabulous displays of flower gardens, sculptures, pools and Bonsai exhibits that are stunningly beautiful. The over four hundred acres spread out with lovely hiking & biking trails for those who love to walk or ride through the forest. Inspired by Fredrick Olmsted the same landscaper who designed Bok Gardens in Lake Wales, FL the Arboretum is a treasure that Olmstead had wanted to create but was not able to in his lifetime. This treasure in the western North Carolina mountains near the Blue Ridge parkway would certainly make him proud and completes his vision that he wanted to create. It is a must to see when you are in the Asheville area for the nature lover in all of us. 

Views of the gardens around the Baker Exhibit Center

Greenhouse behind the Baker Center

Flowers and Plants from the gardens of the Arboretum

Lilly Pond

Quilt Garden

Arboretum Education Center

Cherokee Indian Statue in the Gardens

Bonsai Exhibition Garden Highlights

The weather on our third day improved after the passage of a cool front making for delightful temperatures in the 70's with low humidity a far cry from the hot and humid weather we are used to in Florida. After a bike ride into the North Carolina Arboretum the back way via a mountain bike path from Lake Powhatan campground we spent the afternoon enjoying the views from The Blue Ridge Parkway. We stopped at the visitors center which is adjacent to the head quarters for the Blue Ridge Parkway to review our choices for our afternoon. The skies were clear and crystal blue making for excellent viewing and great photography. We ended our drive at Craggy Gardens high up in the Appalachians at 5,500 feet enjoying breath taking views of the valleys below. Sometimes the right moments give you the perfect conditions to really enjoy the beauty around you. We both were thankful to enjoy such a beautiful day in such a beautiful place.

Blue Ridge Parkway Visitors Center

 

View from Craggy Gardens visitor center looking west towards Asheville, NC

Mountain Lake as seen from the Blue Ridge Parkway

Craggy Gardens Visitor Center

View looking east from the Craggy Gardens Visitor Center

Tanbark Ridge Overlook, Blue Ridge Parkway

Tunnel entrance leading to Mt. Mitchell 15 miles away from Craggy Gardens

On our final fourth day we hiked from Lake Powhatan into the North Carolina Arboretum enjoying the beautiful forest and Bent Creek which flowed adjacent to our trail. We ended are day with a visit to the Farmers Market and lunch at the markets cafe The Moose where we had a great lunch of country cooking at a reasonable price. Our stay has been a very pleasant one with no shortage of interesting things to do and nature to explore making this stop one of the best of our trip.

Bent Creek

Flower on the shore of Bent Creek

Barbara hiking on The Bent Creek Trail

The Farmers Market, Asheville, NC

The Moose Cafe at the Farmers Market, Asheville, NC

Lake Powhatan National Forest Service Campground


View Vacation 2014 in a larger map