Trolls: A Field Study at the NC Arboretum

From the Field Study guide: "Not long ago, we trolls were baffled by little humans - zipping around in metal beasts, scrolling on your pocket stars. But then we saw how your eyes still light up when you see a handsome snail or a beautiful leaf, and we thought... maybe you're not so strange after all! So we've come to study you further, and see if we can find some wild treasure together (much better than shiny coins). You in?"

The North Carolina Arboretum and Explore Asheville are celebrating the arrival of Trolls: A Field Study, which made its North American debut on November 10, 2025 at the Arboretum. Produced by Imagine in collaboration with Danish artist Thomas Dambo, twelve friendly troll sculptures are scattered throughout the Arboretum in a scavenger hunt of epic proportions!

We previously explored one of Dambo's troll exhibits at the Morton Arboretum in Illinois and were so excited to have another chance to see one of his art installations!

The sculptures range from seven to nine feet tall, and are crafted from wooden materials like fallen branches, pallets and twigs. They are created to be interactive, and my kids had so much fun crawling into nets for photo ops, taking up-close looks at the materials used, and learning each troll’s name and story!

"On the night he was born, a little troll named Taks wandered into the human world. What he saw left him puzzled—strange machines, noisy boxes, people rushing around without stopping to talk to the trees. When he returned to the forest, he shared his discoveries with his eleven siblings - and so it started: Trolls: A Field Study!”

Make sure to get the map from the education center, it has activities corresponding to each site for the kids to complete, as well as providing a checklist of sorts, so that you can locate all 12 trolls without too much backtracking.

Admission to Trolls: A Field Study is included in the standard Arboretum parking fee, and no advance tickets are required. However, be aware that on weekends you may encounter crowds and a longer wait to enter the Arboretum and should plan accordingly.

The exhibit is at the NC Arboretum from November 15, 2025 through February 17, 2026. As Winter Lights is also currently running at the Arboretum, daily hours have been shortened to 8am to 5pm, with last admission at 4pm. After the holidays normal business hours will resume: 8am to 7pm starting January 5, 2026. A Winter Lights/Daytime combo ticket is available, but those ticket holders must also exit at 5:00 p.m. and return at the entry time listed on their Winter Lights ticket.

While you’re at the Arboretum, make sure to check out the children’s exhibit Snow: Tiny Crystals, Global Impact in the Baker Exhibit Hall, which runs through January 4, 2026. Visitors can peek inside the snowpack to find animals that make their homes in the snow, walk through a snowstorm, or even build a snowman! The outdoor “Playing Woods” area is always a hit with our family; we plan for snack time and a rest there. The NC Arboretum is also a participant in the ecoEXPLORE citizen science program and the Kids in Parks TRACKTrail program, both of which make a visit even more immersive.

Location: NC Arboretum, 20 Frederick Law Olmsted Way, Asheville, NC 28806

Admission: Free, but there is a parking fee for non-members ($20 for standard vehicle)

Hours: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., with the last entry at 4 p.m.

Exhibit runs from November 15, 2025 through February 17, 2026

Website: Trolls: A Field Study - The North Carolina Arboretum

This article first appeared on Kidding Around Greenville as Trolls Take Over the Arboretum: A New Family Experience.

The article Hunting for trolls at the Morton Arboretum, on the topic of Dambo's "Hunting for Trolls" exhibit can be found here.

Ecusta Trail: New rail trail in Hendersonville!

You may be familiar with the Swamp Rabbit, Mary Black & Doodle Trails, maybe you’ve even taken a road trip up to ride the Virginia Creeper trail near Damascus, but if your family is looking for a brand-new trail to explore, I’ve got great news! The first 6 miles of the long-awaited Ecusta Trail are open to the public, with another dozen miles set to eventually connect Hendersonville to Brevard, NC!!

Hundreds of people gathered in Hendersonville earlier this summer to celebrate the ribbon-cutting for the Ecusta Trail, the newest rail trail added to the growing network of multi-purpose trails crisscrossing our region. The Ecusta rail line was built in 1894 to service a paper mill, but the last time a train used the rails was in 2002. It has taken 15 years of community efforts from nonprofits including Friends of Ecusta Trail and Conserving Carolina to transform it into the trail it is today!

The eastern terminus of the Ecusta Trail (and to the section of trail that is currently open) is Main Street in Hendersonville. The town recently reworked their traffic pattern to make a safe and convenient bike lane that allows trail users to explore downtown, including some of our favorites like the Mineral & Lapidary Museum, the E.C.C.O. Aquarium & Shark Lab, the Appalachian Pinball Museum, Mast General Store and Black Bear Coffee. Be sure to check out the Bearfootin’ Bears, a public art display featuring decorated, life-size bear sculptures! A good starting point to exploring downtown is the Welcome Center and Trailhead (with bathrooms and water fountains). As you work your way south, the Ecusta Trail splits off going west just before S. Church & S. Main merge - and the adventure continues!

A popular stop comes up in about ½ mile: Lennox Station. Trail users can grab a quick bite from Ecusta Market & Café, and just next door is Trailside Brewing Company. Then at around mile 1.5 is Southern Streams Coffeehouse and Laurel Green Park, with the Little Laurel Green playground. Next up at mile 2 are a slew of dining options, as well as a convenience and grocery store. And around mile 3 is Basecamp: the Elijah Mountain Gem Mine and Goat Farm, and Guidon Brewing Co.

While on the trail, users should follow the usual trail etiquette. Please respect private property and stay on the trail! Pedal-assist e-bikes are permitted on the Ecusta, but wheels yield to pedestrians, and you should keep right except to pass. We’ve found it’s great practice for our “on your left” warning when passing – even the 5yo who is just learning his left from right! Helmets are required for children 16 years of age and under (who are on wheels), and pets must be on a leash no longer than 6ft & under control. Please clean up after your pet as you would anywhere!

The trail currently ends at mile 6 in Horse Shoe, but plans are already underway for the next two sections. 5 more miles in Henderson County through Etowah and another 8 in Transylvania County will take the trail to Pisgah Forest and the western terminus, Main Street in Brevard. For this part, the trail roughly parallels the French Broad River and Hendersonville Highway. Etowah has more than a couple of eateries and stops, as well as the Horse Shoe River Bend Access point to the French Broad River. Upon reaching Pisgah Forest and Brevard, the trail will intersect with the Brevard greenway near Oskar Blues, just west of where the Davidson River flows into the French Broad.

To view the interactive trail map visit the Ecusta Trail website. It’s also got all the newest on the status of the remaining portion of the trail, as well as info on volunteering and trail events. Ecusta Trail also has a Facebook and Instagram page.

If you’re looking for more family-friendly mountain biking trail info, click here for my article Mountain biking with kids in Upstate SC. 

This article first appeared on Kidding Around Greenville as Discover the Ecusta Trail Through Hendersonville, North Carolina.

Adventure awaits on the Blue Ridge Snorkel Trail

You’ve probably heard of BBQ or brewery trails (mapped out routes with curated stops for food & drink), but NC has a snorkel trail! For parents with small kids that are looking for safe places to get in a river (easy access, high water quality & safe water volume), the Blue Ridge Snorkel Trail has a variety of locations to explore the underwater world in our mountain rivers. We recently visited the Mills River snorkel site and had a blast looking for crayfish, mussels & different fish species!!!

To learn more, visit www.BlueRidgeSnorkelTrail.com. There is a map to find the snorkel trail locations closest to you, as well as learn about the different wildlife that are native at that particular site. Inclusion within the snorkel trail means there is parking available and that the river access is public, and restrooms and other conveniences are often available. 

You don't need a whole lot of fancy equipment either. A mask, snorkel, and water shoes are the basics, and flippers, floaties or a life jacket possible extras. We've had the opportunity to use underwater viewers, and although they can get pricey, they offer an excellent alternative to a child that doesn't wear a snorkel, or a parent that wants to share the view; the two models I suggest are the Marine Sports Underwater and the Nuova Rade Aqua Scope. In the summer I often keep towels & dry clothes in the car, and the usual essentials - water, snacks, sun protection - will go a long way to keeping the crew happy. 

We've visited several sites, but the two we frequent the most are the Tuckasegee and Mills River sites. If you would like to get more involved, the local conservation organizations often host river cleanups and educational programs; the websites of Conserving Carolina, mountaintrue and Mills River Partnership are a great place to start for those particular sites.

Remember:

Never snorkel alone
 Don’t move rocks around as they provide shelter to our native species
Practice LNT and help keep our banks and waters clean
Be aware that rocks are often slick, and know your limits regarding water depth & current

Hike with llamas at Earthshine!

I knew we were in for an adventure as soon as Mark, our llama guide and self-proclaimed “all things llama dude,” asked my husband if he would watch the llamas.... 

We had driven 1.5 hours from Greenville into the Blue Ridge Mountains to Earthshine Lodge, our basecamp for adventure for the weekend, with the express objective of participating in a llama hike. Mark met us with exciting news – one of the Earthshine llamas had given birth a few days ago!

Earthshine Lodge is home to four female llamas, who can be seen grazing in their pasture as visitors drive the winding road that leads up to the Lodge. We admired the llamas and the four-day-old cria (baby llama) with their colorful autumn backdrop, and then headed back up the hill to relieve my husband of his llama-care duties – of course all the hiking llamas were still happily grazing, and our infant son contentedly watching the show. 

After a quick orientation, my three older children had a rope in hand, and were each leading a llama off across the meadow. The 76-acre Earthshine property has multiple trails for exploration, and we had a mile-long loop planned. As we hiked across the meadow and into the autumn-cloaked forest, we learned more about the llamas; not just what they can and can’t eat and how to properly guide them, but also about their individual personalities. My 8yo led “Vision,” a gentle but very alert llama who evidently has the best eyes of the group, while the 6yo and 10yo followed with “P Diddy Peaches” and “Legend.” All the llamas were well-behaved, responded to the guidance of their novice guides, and provided the boys with an extraordinary experience that they are already asking to repeat! When not out on Earthshine hikes, the llamas are offering wilderness therapy to special needs kids through the S.O.A.R. 3-day, 2-night Llama Trek Expedition in Panthertown Wilderness area, being ringbearers at weddings, or surprising guests at birthday parties; think of an occasion that wouldn’t be livened up by a llama… these are some exceptional llamas! 

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“You are not in the mountains. The mountains are in you.” - Muir

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As we descended into the valley’s magical mist, I marveled at the scene before us; the wooden Earthshine Lodge rising stately on the ridge overlooking the surrounding valleys, reminiscent of the great lodges of our national parks. The views from the lodge stretch into the distance on a clear day, and on this autumn afternoon the sight of my boys traversing the meadow was storybook-perfect.

Having returned to the lodge and each hugged our llama a couple of times goodbye, we sat down for a delicious dinner prepared by Earthshine Lodge chef, Shelley. A perfect end to the day included warming up from the chill of the evening with a cup of hot chocolate – all the while soaking in the magic from the mountain view. Once darkness fell, we tucked in the boys in their loft nook and snuck away to one of the several chairs on the outdoor terrace for a minute. However, the lure of a warm bed proved to be too hard to resist, and soon we too were dreaming llama dreams… 

There is a good reason for their slogan “Your Basecamp for Adventure”; Earthshine is located right in the middle of some of the most breathtaking public lands in the Carolinas. Sandwiched by the Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests, the Lodge provides access to popular Gorges State Park, DuPont State Recreational Forest and Panthertown Valley. The proximity allowed us to reach popular trailheads before they got too crowded, although it was hard to leave the property because there was more to do on site – an example being the hammocks in the trees just calling for a daytime nap. 

Gorges State Park is only 15 minutes away!

Earthshine started thirty years ago with a mission to provide environmental education and family vacations, and then in 2018 new owners stepped forward to continue the legacy as well as add to it; all that time the natural beauty of the Lake Toxaway region has nourished and grown the experience to what is today. Earthshine Lodge is not just a place to stay – it is full immersion into a Blue Ridge adventure! Whether you choose to book a family vacation and take a wilderness skills workshop, or want to celebrate an anniversary with a romantic weekend away, the mountain oasis is a retreat from the chaos of the year. 

Speaking of the chaos of 2020… Earthshine is taking all precautions to keep visitors safe, including even small details like disinfecting the llama lead lines. For those e-learning, homeschooling and learning remotely, Earthshine Lodge has wi-fi, and offers multiple programs to incorporate into your curriculum such as Cherokee Village (pottery making), Pioneer village (where guests can try their hand at blacksmithing, wool felting and candlemaking), art-based activities (nature art and seasonal crafts), the before-mentioned wilderness skills classes (including shelter construction and fire-starting), geology and hydrology (creek hikes with gem mining), and more! During the week the Lodge caters to school groups with programs that have been updated to support state standards, while on weekends various retreats are held, with workshops on everything from mindfulness to fly-fishing. On our visit we had the option to join in outdoor yoga, archery/tomahawk throwing, and a “paint & wine” – check the calendar on their website to see what fun opportunities are available during your stay. 

The llama hikes continue through the year, occurring two or three days a week at several different times. For three weekends in December they will take a backseat as an add-on to Earthshine’s Appalachian Christmas, an all-inclusive holiday package featuring meals, caroling, pioneer village activities, crafts, a movie and the highlight – brunch with Santa! For rates and times, please visit the Earthshine website. And for the cutest baby llama pics, check out their Instagram and Facebook pages! 

We thought we had signed up for a hike with a llama. What we didn’t realize was that we would return from our weekend feeling so well-rested and healthy after a peaceful yet high-adventure weekend in the Blue Ridge Mountains. And we certainly didn’t imagine we would be among the first to greet an hours-old llama to the world! As we were leaving, we stopped by the llama barn where the tiny cria was shakily standing on four legs, marveling at the world from under the gaze of her protective mama. Unforgettable moments for the kids, thanks to the Earthshine family! 

Earthshine Lodge
1600 Golden Road Lake Toxaway, NC 28747
https://earthshinenc.com/
info@EarthshineNC.com
(828) 862-4207

This post was first published on Kidding Around Greenville. 

Cruise into an Upstate Autumn

Autumn is here, bringing cooler temperatures and breathtaking fall foliage in the Blue Ridge Mountains! Take a driving tour this fall up the Blue Ridge Escarpment for a showcase of what our region has to offer...

Travelers Rest SC to Brevard NC Loop 

Get an early start to beat the crowds at Tandem Creperie, a local favorite in Travelers Rest. Fortified with coffee and crêpes, head north on Highway 276 into the Foothills. Passing through Marietta it is only a short detour to the Beechwood Farms farmstand, where you can stock up on freshly-picked apples to snack or pick a pumpkin from their pumpkin patch. Continuing north, soon after Cleveland, SC is your second stop, Wildcat Wayside. The roadside destination is the perfect introduction to the mountains, as Wildcat Branch tumbles down over three waterfalls on its way to the South Saluda River. Have just 15 minutes? Take a photo at the lower falls and then buy a bag of boiled peanuts from the vendor who has usually set up in the parking lot before heading on. Have 1-2 hours? Hike the 1-mile loop path that leads up past the middle falls to the upper waterfall.

 

Wildcat Branch Falls

Next stop, Bald Rock Heritage Preserve. In recent years the vandalism of this beautiful natural area has been on the uptick, however the views from the enormous granite escarpment are still unbeatable. From Greenville, stay on Highway 276 North, following signs to Caesars Head State Park. From Fire Station #64 on the left, drive 1.4 mile to turn right into Persimmon Ridge Road. Another 0.4 mi to the parking lot on the left, and you'll find the trailhead across the road. It's an easy half mile walk through the woods to the iconic view of Table Rock and the surrounding mountains from Bald Rock’s large open rock face. From this vantage point you will be able to look out over Pickens and Greenville County, as well as have a great view of Table Rock and the surrounding mountains. After returning to the trailhead, backtrack on Persimmon Ridge Road and make a right to continue up 276 into the Mountain Bridge Wilderness.

 

View from Bald Rock

As you climb the Blue Ridge Escarpment through endless switchbacks, you’ll find plenty of fall color; from the red maples and sourwoods at the very beginning of the season, to the deep reds and purples of the oaks into November. Take a break from the winding road at Caesars Head State Park, walking a few hundred feet to the overlook for more breathtaking views, and keep an eye out for migrating hawks; although the numbers are at their highest in mid-September, you’ll find members of Hawkwatch on duty through November to count the migrating raptors soaring the thermals en route south.

 

View from Caesars Head State Park overlook

Making your way north into Brevard you’ll pass through the community of Cedar Mountain, with an eclectic collection of shops, galleries and other curiosities. The descent into Brevard gives you time to discuss your options of where to stop for lunch!

 

Headed north on US-276

Once back on the road, take US-64 W to US-178 and head south from Rosman. You’ll soon cross back over the Eastern Continental Divide (the first time was on 276 crossing into NC) into South Carolina, and start your descent from the Escarpment. There’s still a 'high' point to come, however; from Rocky Bottom head east up to Sassafras Mountain, the highest point in South Carolina. From the brand new observation deck you can take in views of the entire region, with views extending to Georgia on a clear day.

 

End of summer goldenrod on Sassafras Mountain

Once you’ve descended from the escarpment, take the Cherokee Foothills Scenic Highway east to Table Rock State Park. Stop at the Visitor Center, walk out on the pier on Lake Oolenoy, and soak in the view from the rocking chairs overlooking a meadow, the lake and Table Rock in the distance. Have more time? Drive over to the other side of the highway and drive Table Rock State Park Road all the way around, with stops at the Lodge, Pinnacle Lake and a scenic overlook as inspired. Note: the north portion of the Park has an entry fee.

 

View of Table Rock from the Table Rock State Park Visitor Center

Continuing west on Scenic Highway 11 you’ll pass Table Rock Tea Company, and then a little further Aunt Sue’s Country Corner (Victoria Valley Vineyards just to the north) & Pumpkintown Mountain. If you’re planning a stop here, make sure to check websites for operating hours. Finally, enjoy the last light of the day reflecting the gold and orange hues of the forests blanketing the Blue Ridge Escarpment as you make your way back east on the Cherokee Foothills Parkway!

While the entire driving tour takes a good 2.5 hours, plan to make several stops along the way to enjoy the sights; I would plan 5-8 hours to allow for time at the scenic overlooks. Remember to bring a camera, a coat for once you’re up on the Escarpment, and a map if you’re not familiar with the area – you won’t have cell service for a portion of the drive. Enjoy your Blue Ridge autumn, and let me know in the comments if you have any favorite stops along this route!

 

For more options on seeing the best of autumn in the Upstate, see the following posts:

• Fall Colors in the Upstate SC and Vicinity
• Your Upstate Fall Bucket List
• Your Guide to Cherokee Foothills Scenic Highway 11
• Greenville in Two Days

 

Bombs Away: the atomic bomb impact crater in Mars Bluff, SC

Fun (little known) fact: the US has dropped a nuclear bomb on the Carolinas.... twice.

About three hours east of Greenville lies the small town of Mars Bluff. Originally known as Marr's Bluff during the American Revolution, the name was shortened to Mars Bluff at some point before the Civil War, near the end of which the inland Confederate Mars Bluff Naval Yard was established.

I had never heard of the naval yard, but the town’s name is familiar; Mars Bluff has the distinction of having been inadvertently bombed with an atomic bomb by the United States Air Force. This might otherwise not have been on my radar, but my boys are budding US history buffs and so it was a given that we would eventually visit the site.

On a spring day in 1958, a B-47 Stratojet was en route to the U.K. to take part in “Operation Snow Flurry.” A fault light lit up, indicating the bomb’s harness locking pin had not engaged, and Captain Bruce Kulka went to investigate. As he reached around the bomb to pull himself up he accidentally hit the emergency release pin; the 8,500-lb. device hit the bomb bay doors, broke through them, and went screaming towards earth.

Aerial photo of the Gregg home after the bomb (Photo credit: Columbia Star)

Luckily for Walter Gregg and his family, the bomb wasn’t armed with its nuclear rod; its fission core was stored in a separate part of the plane. Unluckily for Walter Gregg, it was loaded with about 7,600 pounds of explosives; the resulting explosion destroyed his house, flattened his garden & surrounding forest, and created a mushroom cloud that could be seen for miles. By some miracle, not a single person was killed in the blast. The military reimbursed Gregg giving him a chance to start over, and the property was passed through the hands of several owners over the next fifty years. The hole was never filled in.

The original bomb crater was 30 feet deep and measured 75 feet across, although today not much remains to indicate that this was the site of a local footnote in Cold War history. A historical road marker on the north side of Interstate 76 marks the entrance to an overgrown road that leads to a hard-to-follow trail. Wind your way through a pine thicket past the foundation of the Gregg house, and you’ll come to what is now just a leafy depression in the woods, most easily recognized by the large plywood cutout of a bomb and kiosk with newspaper stories that were prepared for a 50th anniversary event. At one point the crater was used as a burn pit, giving the rainwater a murky appearance.

Crater Road

Because the property remains in private hands, visitors need the owner’s permission to visit the site. There is a second, much easier access point off Lucius Circle – also on private property. To round out the trip, make sure to stop by the Florence County Museum after stops at the crater and historical marker; it houses several fragments of the bomb. 

After the Mars Bluff incident all flights were required to ensure that bombs were locked down properly before takeoff. That still wasn’t enough to prevent a second Carolina event, as on January 23, 1961, a B-52 bomber broke up mid air, dropping two Mark 39 hydrogen bombs over Goldsboro, North Carolina. Information declassified in 2013 showed that one of the bombs came very close to detonating; it had its trigger mechanisms engage and its parachute open, two things that only happen when the bomb is intended to explode on target. Only one low-voltage trigger kept the bomb from detonating upon landing. In July 2012, the State of North Carolina erected a historical road marker in the town of Eureka, 3 miles north of the crash site, commemorating the crash under the title "Nuclear Mishap" – maybe a future destination for our crew?

"Commander Admits Crew Error Possible" and "It Was a Bad Day in Mars Bluff"