The Biltmore and Traveler's Rest

Of course, we had to visit the Biltmore. My daughter, Krista was nice enough to get a gift certificate for my birthday so we could go. We waited until the rhododendrons were in bloom. There were so many colors and sizes. Listening to the audio tapes as we walked thru the house and hearingthe history was amazing.

The Bass Pond and Boat House. It takes a lot of people to keep this place going. We took another day to ride our bikes from Traveler's Rest SC to Greenville, SC on the Swamp Rabbit Trail.

Greenville Health System Swamp Rabbit Trail is a multi-use greenway system that runs along the Reedy River connecting Greenville County with schools, parks, and local businesses. I think it could get pretty buggy in the hot time of summer. But we really enjoyed the rail to trail. Of course we had to stop for lunch in Greenville after checking out the area. We think we could spend more time here.

Falls Park in Greenville, SC

Catawba Falls, Northwestern North Carolina

While working in Ashville, NC, this is one hike we enjoyed very much. It is very peaceful with lots of areas to get off the trail and enjoy the small waterfalls along the hike.

It's located on an isolated tract of Pisgah National Forest property near Old Fort, NC, at the southern end of the Grandfather Ranger District, just south of I-40. A new parking area and trail culminates years of effort to provide public access to this special area, which required a variety of legislation to accomplish. Today, Catawba Falls is open to visitors and a highly recommended destination

Starting at the new parking area, the trail heads upriver on old road beds, crossing the river once on stepping stones. You may have to get your feet wet here, and it may be an impossible crossing in very high water. (A bridge is planned for this location in the future.) The trail climbs moderately past some old building foundations and an old dam, before ending at the base of the lower falls.