This past school year we studied our home state of North Carolina. We learned about the three regions of the state – the coast, the Piedmont, and the mountains -and we studied the pre-colonial history of North Carolina, too. (Find out more about our trips to Shackleford Island, pirate book club plans, and pirate history.
Our kids have seen mountains before, but never in North Carolina. We decided to right that wrong and headed west.
We spent part of the day driving along the Blue Ridge Parkway, stopping at scenic overlooks and admiring the views. The best views by far, though, were at Mt. Mitchell.
Mt. Mitchell is the highest peak east of the Mississippi. It’s located in a state park off the Blue Ridge Parkway, and entrance is free. You can drive nearly to the very top.
From the parking lot, you walk past a small concession stand, gift shop, and museum. A paved path leads you to the very peak.
The signs at the very top made for great pictures. There was also a fenced platform with beautiful 360-degree views of the surrounding area.
Underneath the platform was the tomb of Dr. Mitchell, a long-ago scientist for whom the mountain is named.
My Little Man was excited to explore all of that.
Exploring the area around the peak itself, though, was even more exciting. Do you see just how blue that sky is?
Branching off the path to the peak was a trail that meandered through the woods. We happily followed it for about a mile. The trail was beautiful – full of ferns, fallen trees, boulders, and steep drop-offs, with a chipped path that made for easy walking. Although the temperatures were topping 100 degrees that afternoon at home, it was a beautiful 72 degrees on top of Mt. Mitchell. That’s my kind of weather!
We loved our time at Mt. Mitchell, and we all want to go back. If you’re never been to the North Carolina mountains, Mt. Mitchell should be on your must-see list!
Where is your favorite place to visit?
What are your thoughts?