The NC Arboretum

Asheville, NC is only an hour’s drive from Greenville, but because it is in another state we often neglect to consider it a viable destination for daytrips. That’s bound to change in the future as we find more and more fascinating places to explore in all seasons. Of course there is the city of Asheville itself, but to the south are the famous Biltmore Estate and places like DuPont State Forest, Pisgah NF, the Carl Sandburg Home & Historic Site, the Blue Ridge Parkway and a recent destination, the NC Arboretum.

We found ourselves in Asheville during the holidays, to experience the magic of Christmas at the Grove Park Inn and then a small-town Christmas parade in Cashiers. The Winter Lights at the NC Arboretum are a rather popular (and expensive!) affair, however they didn’t affect our visit on a chilly weekend in December – we just timed our visit earlier in the day. Hours change according to season (so check the website), but the cost of visiting the Arboretum is the same all year: free. Please note that there is a $12 parking fee, but if you visit on the first Tuesday of the month it’s just $6.

The 434-acre North Carolina Arboretum is located within the Bent Creek Experimental Forest of the Pisgah National Forest, adjacent to the Blue Ridge Parkway at Milepost 393. Established as an affiliate of the University of North Carolina in 1986, the Arboretum will celebrate their 30^th anniversary this year, nearly a century after Frederick Law Olmsted (the Father of American Landscape Architecture) first described a research arboretum as part of his legacy and plan for George Vanderbilt at Biltmore Estate.

We started off our visit at the Baker Exhibit Center. There we were able to get trail suggestions and maps, as well as sign out a Discovery Pack to aid in our adventure. The themes available include trees, insects, reptiles & amphibians, and birds, and contain tools and data sheets designed for children to observe, record and report their sightings in nature. Our insect backpack had a butterfly net among other tools (possibly better suited to warmer temperatures), but the draw was a small magnifying glass container that we used to look at everything from rocks to moss. Starting this year iPod touches will be an additional option to include in the packs, and children can become “EcoEXPLORERs” and earn patches for making observations. The Center is also home to traveling exhibits, and on our visit the boys immediately recognized the Robot Zoo which had been at the Children’s Museum of the Upstate not too long ago.

After picking up our TRACK Trail guide at the kiosk behind the Baker Exhibit Center, we started our 1-mile hike on the Natural Garden Trail through a mixed hardwood forest. With overlooks of Bent Creek and National Native Azalea Repository, the hike is guaranteed to be scenic at all times of the year. Our TRACK Trail adventure was a lesson on the eastern box turtle, discussing sources of food, water and shelter for the native turtle along the way.

The loop took us around to the formal gardens, from where it was an additional 0.3 miles back to the Baker Exhibit Center (the TRACK Trail is a 1.3 mile loop). We entered into the Promise Garden, with award-winning landscape plants, new introductions and superior plants derived from the region's native flora are left to spread freely in an ever-changing landscape.

Continuing on we descended through the bonsai garden, where during the summer months up to 50 plants will take their place along the winding path. During the Winter Lights event and the colder months they are replaced with artificial decorations.

Next, the formal gardens with a Stream Garden (a seasonal exhibit), the Quilt Garden (a nod to the heritage crafts of the Appalachians), and the Heritage Garden, a living museum garden devoted to the Southern Appalachian culture, horticulture, and craft. I could have dawdled there for hours, examining the various medicinal and regional plants.

Although we didn’t descend for a closer look due to time constraints, the boys were drawn to the overlook to view the Rocky Cove Railroad, a model train that demonstrates the coming of trains to western North Carolina at the turn of the 20^th century. Beyond are the Forest Meadow and Rhododendron Collection.

Not counting the seasonal differences in the formal gardens, there would still be dozens of reasons for a return visit to the Arboretum as we left over 75% unexplored. I foresee a spring visit timed with the blooming of the azaleas, as well as an autumn ‘leaf-peeping’ visit. However on this trip we ducked into the Baker Exhibit Center to return our borrowed Discovery Pack and then packed up the car. A short but scenic trip down Fredrick Law Olmstead Way later and we emerged from the Arboretum to a crossroads; the French Broad River, the Blue Ridge Parkway and Asheville – which direction would we take?

A journey across the 50 States at TCMU

We haven’t been THIS excited about a new exhibit at the Children’s Museum in a while… The third floor has been transformed into an exploration of the United States: Trivial Pursuit, A 50-State Adventure!

California, Rhode Island, Connecticut and Pennsylvania

The exhibit opened mid-January to high praise from many Upstate parents. Children can travel across the 50 states, discovering the geography, history and culture of some of America’s most spectacular places.

Alaska, Arizona

The scenic panoramas serving as backdrops feature familiar tourist destinations, National Parks, sports venues and historic sites. There are plenty of hands-on opportunities to learn for kids of all ages, with features for tactile toddler exploration alongside facts and trivia for older kids and adults. The boys raced sled dogs in the Iditarod, rode a mule into the Grand Canyon, hitched a ride in a covered wagon, hit a home run in Fenway, and snorkeled in Hawaii. Meanwhile I was mentally paging through a photo album of places I had visited, the most vivid memory being Arches National Park.

Nebraska, Massachusetts, Maine, Hawaii

We’ve been to the museum and "Trivial Pursuit" multiple times, and I still feel as we haven’t seen the whole exhibit – there is yet another state, another fun activity around every corner. My boys had fun searching for the states we’ve traveled to, and special attention was paid to those states that friends and family are living in.

Minnesota, Michigan, Iowa, Utah, Alabama, Illinois

TCMU is also incorporating stories, arts and crafts into programs centered around the exhibit. Please visit their website and the calendar for more information on programs such as “Trivial Pursuit – Nebraska Adventure” and their President’s Day “Trivial Pursuit Camp.”

South Carolina, New Mexico, Montana, Idaho

The exhibit runs through May 15 of this year, so there is still plenty of time to discover this amazing exhibit! Entrance fees, museum hours and other information are available on the TCMU website, http://www.tcmupstate.org. Bon voyage!

Brissy Ridge of Paris Mountain

I had not hiked the northern end of Paris Mountain State Park in a long time, never with the boys. Not long ago I was searching for hikes that would be appropriate for a group of friends with kids, and remembered the Brissy Ridge loop, a hike that I first explored when Roberts and I were still dating. After taking a look at the topographic map and reading some trail reviews, I decided to invite one of those friends with in attempt to hike this trail with the backpack carrier and 4 year-old; at least that way if I got into trouble I wouldn’t be alone with the kids!

The 2.4 mile loop starts at the parking lot at the top of the mountain, at the last parking area before it descends to Camp Buckhorn. There is an overflow parking lot just past the main lot if the first is full, connector trails keeping pedestrians off the winding road. From the kiosk at the trailhead the yellow-blazed trail heads north and then east along Brissy Ridge before it descends south and down into the Buckhorn Creek drainage, crossing the creek and turning west, then making a steep ascent back up the mountain to the parking lot. Having discussed it we chose to hike the loop counterclockwise, starting off with the steep portion down to the creek and leaving the views along the ridge for last. This also ensured we wouldn’t face the most difficult portion of the trail last, as the ascent along the north ridge is gradual as opposed to the steep descent to the creek – 2200 feet in just over ½ of a mile.

The Brissy Ridge loop is labeled as the most strenuous of the trails at Paris Mountain along with the section of Sulphur Springs past Mountain Lake, because of the precipitous southern portion of the hike. We descended a series of switchbacks to a side-drainage of Buckhorn creek, rocks and a log allowing us dry passage to the other side. It was at this point we discovered Vilis had lost a glove; thankfully Sarah climbed back up to retrieve it while the boys and I continued our careful descent. Despite the bare winter trees we could not see Buckhorn Lake, but we knew we had reached the lowest elevation of the hike once we crossed Buckhorn Creek.

We started the gradual climb up to Brissy Ridge, crossing the access road which marks the beginning of the mountain bike trail. Another plus to hiking the loop counterclockwise is the majority of bicyclists are riding the trail clockwise, as they descend the ridge and then complete the loop by taking the access road back up to the parking lot. We would usually see them from a distance, giving us plenty of time to corral the kids to the side until the cyclists had passed.

The next section was the steepest uphill of the trail, but we had plenty of energy and stopped frequently to climb downed trees, peek into hollow stumps and examine rocks. After crossing under the lines that supply power to Camp Buckhorn the forest-type started noticeably changing to one more suited to the harsher conditions of a ridgetop.

At 1.5 miles, the Pipsissewa Trail splits off to the north, a 1 mile (one-way) hike leading to North Lake. We continued on the Brissy Ridge trail, and from here it was smooth sailing as the last mile follows the ridgetop for the entire way. We saw lizards, large granite outcrops, and some views of Greenville. During the summer months most of these views will be obstructed, however in February, on a clear, sunny day such as this one, it was a rather impressive panorama. From this vantage point Greenville looked rather small but definitely deserving of its name, as even in winter the distance between Paris Mountain and the city was green with conifer-covered hills.

The trail that splits off a little more than ½ mile before reaching the parking lot is the Kanuga trail, the 2 mile trail that leads to the opposite end of North Lake. There is a loop trail around North Lake (1.2 miles) and so it is possible to add ~4 miles to your hike by taking the Pipsissewa to North Lake and Kanuga back to Brissy Ridge. That is one loop we will be putting off for a few more years as together with Brissy Ridge it is easily a six-mile loop…

Just as I was starting to worry about finishing our hike in time to go pick up Lauris, Mikus spotted the sun hitting the cars in the parking lot; we were almost back. I let Vilis out of the backpack to ‘hike’ on his own a bit, meanwhile our 3 year-old hiking buddy finally accepted the offer of a short carry – although upon reaching the trailhead all three boys had a burst of energy and so we stayed a bit longer to enjoy the fresh mountain air.

I think the Brissy Ridge trail is one of the best on Paris Mountain, because of the views and also the interesting ridgetop scenery. If I were to recommend it to a group with younger children, I would suggest making it a 2-mile, there-and-back hike along the ridge, turning around once you reach the intersection with Pipsissewa trail. This way you get the views along the ridge without the steep climb up the south slope of the drainage. However in the autumn the hardwood forest along the east end of the loop might be the most scenic, and the challenge of the hikers-only section of Brissy Ridge has its own allure. In total the loop took us 3 hours, as we stopped frequently to snack, explore and tie shoes. The parking lot next to the trailhead only has about 10 spots, and so on weekends the overflow might be your best option. Paris Mountain State Park does have an entrance fee; for more information on the trails, fees and history of the Park, please visit their website.

Crowders Mountain

The weekend of the Porziņģis game in Charlotte was the weekend of the giant snowstorm here in the Upstate. School was cancelled Friday and Monday, and about three inches on the ground ensured the boys got their fill of snowball (iceball) fights, sled rides, snow pants, boots and wet gloves on Friday and Saturday morning. By noon Saturday the highways and all the roads in our neighborhood were clear (more due to the high temperatures and sunshine than any action on the part of SCDOT) and we were on our way. It wasn’t until Sunday that we encountered any snow-related hiccups in our plans; the majority of places we had considered stopping on our way home (to stretch our legs and take a short hike) were closed due to icy conditions. Although the highways were clear, small roads were hazardous as neither of the Carolinas is well-equipped to deal with snow and ice.

Right on the border between North and South Carolina and a little less than halfway between Charlotte and home is Kings Mountain National Military Park. If you know this stretch of I85 than you know it’s rather flat: however, right there around Kings Mountain you’ll suddenly find some terrain, some mountains. Having seen pictures of some incredible views taken from these peaks, I had looked into visiting the neighboring state park – Crowders Mountain.

Two peaks, the Pinnacle and Crowders Mountain, are linked with Kings Mountain SP and Kings Mountain NMP with miles of challenging trails. We had not planned on summiting either of the two, but had hoped for some scenic views. After discovering that Crowders Mountain has a Track Trail leading around the 9-acre lake we decided on that one – until we saw on their website that the park had been closed until further notice.

Fortuitously Crowders Mountain State Park had cleared the parking lot to Sparrow Springs Access, and although the park office and majority of trails were closed, the Fern and Lake Trails were open to hikers; all this was patiently explained to me when I called to inquire about the closure. Just a short distance from the interstate we could see the peaks, and soon we were pulling into the Sparrow Springs visitor center parking lot. 

We suited up in our snow pants, boots and waterproof gloves and set off on the Track Trail. Utilizing Turnback Trail, Fern Trail, and Lake Trail, the loop totals 2.1 miles and took us through the woods that would have been filled with ferns and wildflowers in a different season. We emerged from forest to a beautiful view of the lake.

The park was created in 1973 but did not open to the public until 1974, and it wasn’t until 1978 that the summit of Crowders Mountain was incorporated into the park. The goal was to protect the area from mining, the devastating effects of which can be seen on what’s left of Henry’s Knob in SC a little to the south. Ten years later the Pinnacle was acquired, and in 2000 an additional 2,000 acres were purchased connecting the park to Kings Mountain.

In addition to hiking, there are dozens of other activities that can be enjoyed at the park, such as camping, rock climbing, fishing and water sports along with educational and interpretive programs offered by the park rangers. Of course that’s when they’re not snowed in. We found the trails and roads that were open to the public to be perfectly safe, but the half of the parking lot that hadn’t been cleared and was cordoned off to traffic was a skating rink, providing much entertainment for the boys. I can only imagine what the ridge and cliff trails look like after a winter storm! Luckily we were content with our lake hike, especially as the snow and semi-frozen lake offered a completely different dimension to the excursion.

Within easy driving distance from Greenville, Spartanburg and Charlotte, this NC State Park is definitely worth the trip. We’re putting in a conscious effort to return a different time of year with the goal of climbing one of the peaks; not only will the scenery be completely different, I believe the views of the Piedmont will be a suitable reward.

Kristaps Porziņģis fanclub in Charlotte

Porziņģis. The Latvian basketball phenom has become a household name, a long ways from draft day last year. Selected 4^th overall by the Knicks, New York fans weren’t happy with the pick, making their displeasure known with boos and even tears in the case of one young fan. Kristaps quickly went to work on making new friends, debuting against the Milwaukee Bucks with 16 points and 5 rebounds. Over the first 18 games he averaged third among all rookies in scoring with 13.7 points per game, and second in rebounding (9.3 rpg) and blocked shots (1.89 bpg).

Pronounced chris-stops pour-zin-gis, the 7 foot 3 power forward was born in Liepāja on August 2, 1995. After working his way up in the youth squads he played for Cajasol Sevilla for four years at which point he was old enough for the NBA. Having competed with the Latvia youth national team at the 2013 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championships, every single Latvian basketball fan has their fingers crossed that he’ll join the Latvian Olympic team for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games.

We caught the Knicks against the Hornets in Charlotte a couple of weeks ago. Although New York started off strong, they seemingly ran out of steam, finishing for an 84-97 loss. They’ll get a rematch on April 6^th on the Knicks home court.

The Knicks are currently 10^th in the Eastern conference, Porziņģis leading the stats in rebounds, and in the top five for points per game, steals, free throw % and even 3-point %. After 50 games our hero is third-highest scorer on the Knicks, his 13.9 points/game surpassed only by Carmelo Anthony (21.3ppg) and (just barely!) by Arron Afflalo (14ppg). Just yesterday he was named Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for the third consecutive month.

He’s earned the support of not only Knicks fans, but Latvian fans worldwide. Despite a poorly worded sentence early on in his NBA career, there have been two rap songs written about the superstar, and although Porziņģis fans failed to get Kristaps to the All Star game, he was the only rookie in the ballot's top 50, finishing a few slots behind his teammate Carmelo Anthony. There were at least a couple of Latvian flags in the Time Warner Cable Arena that night, and quite a few Latvians in the house to see KP play.

For us, the passion for basketball has been reignited by KP’s arrival on the NBA scene. The two older boys got to high-five him on his way off the court and there have been dozens of basketball and Porziņģis related questions since; with both boys playing bball this season in the parks & rec league, we’ve got a serious case of basketball fever! Let me know in the comments – what’s your favorite Kristaps Porziņģis nickname?