Throwback Thursday - Valley of Fire State Park, Overton, NV

Last year, my sister and I planned a girls’ weekend to Las Vegas! Everyone thought we were crazy when they heard that we mostly hiked while in LV. Evidently, most people think there are much more interesting things to do in Vegas, but we spent our days hiking in the desert and observing some of the most wonderful natural beauty I have ever seen!

Our journey started with me trolling through Pinterest and coming across the unique fire wave rock formations. I had never seen the colors or shapes before, and I immediately told my sister that we had to go there when we made it to Vegas. She agreed, and said that we also needed to check out Red Rock (which was just as gorgeous as Valley of Fire, but in different ways).

So, on our second day in Vegas, we purchased a rental car and drove the 55 miles to Valley of Fire State Park. The drive there was amazing. As we approached the park, the desert terrain, mountains, and roadway all met in a captivating landscape. It was so beautiful that we stopped to take a photo on the side of the road, and other cars also stopped behind us, too!

Valley of Fire is Nevada’s oldest and largest park. It is perfect for hiking, camping, and taking amazing photographs!

Upon entering the park, we stopped at a small overlook to observe the rock formations. Then, after a short drive down the road, we climbed stairs adjacent to a large rock to observe prehistoric Indian petroglyphs. Although we couldn’t make out what all the graphics represented, we did notice that some resembled animals and another looked like it could be some form of a calendar.

After that, we went looking for the Rainbow Vista Trail – the one with the rock formation that had initially interested me in the park. After stopping by one sandy trail, we finally made it to our destination. It was a two-mile hike, but I managed to get a little bit overheated since we hadn’t really eaten during the day. So, I suggest bringing lots of food and water if you intend to make this trek!

The rock is beautiful, and my sister even climbed up it a little bit. At the time, I was recovering from a broken ankle, so I didn’t venture up the rock, but I did take in the beauty and got lots of wonderful photographs.

If you are making a trip to Las Vegas, just remember: all of the entertainment isn’t just about the nightlife! There is a lot of world to see outside of the strip!

Cypress Gardens, Charleston, SC

I’ve been talking about checking out all of the hidden gems of South Carolina all summer, and one of my coworkers recently mentioned Cypress Gardens to me. I had never heard of it, and when I did a quick Google search, I became immediately fascinated with it when I found out that the swan scene from The Notebook and various scenes from The Patriot were filmed on the grounds. I had the opportunity to visit the gardens with one of my friends earlier this summer on a Sunday morning, and we had a great time!

We left Columbia around 7am, and we made it to the gardens a little after 9:00. Sunday seemed to be a great time to go (hated to miss church, but not many people were there!). While we were purchasing our tickets, the lady at the desk told us that we should definitely sign up for a boat ride. Boat rides were only $5/person, so we signed up to drift off into the 10:00 tour!

I am so glad that we were encouraged to take the boat ride – it was so much fun! You can sign up for a guided tour, or you can rent a private boat (both are very reasonable at $5/person). There are lots of alligators and other wildlife, so we opted for the guided tour to be on the safe side! Immediately upon leaving the dock, you are transported into a fantasy world of black water swamps and bald cypress trees! 

Our guide was very knowledgeable, and he told us stories about all of the movies being filmed there. The swans from The Notebook scene were brought into the swamp during the winter, and other swans were digitally edited into the scene. 

Waterlilies grow all over the swamp, and at one point, the guide picked a waterlily and passed it around for all of us to hold. We were looking for alligators during the tour, and we finally found one on the way back to the dock. It swam away before we could get too close, so I didn't get a great photo of it. 

The boat ride was about an hour and was such a magical experience. After the ride, we toured the grounds, starting at the butterfly house. There were many butterflies and other flying insects and birds. Adjacent to the butterfly house is a swamparium that contains a wide variety of amphibians, reptiles, and fish. We explored that a bit, but we were really excited to go explore the gardens.

We headed down the trail that lined the swamp. The views from the path were just as gorgeous as the views we had seen from the boat. We even spotted a baby alligator right by the path! 

Cypress Gardens was such a hidden gem. I am glad I found out about it when I did, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a new adventure outside of Charleston. For more information, visit: http://www.cypressgardens.info/.

A Birthday Day Trip to Lake Lure

One of my favorite day trips from Columbia, SC is a quick trip to the mountains to spend an afternoon on Lake Lure. Earlier this summer, my family was looking for something to do to celebrate two birthdays. After much discussion, we decided to travel to the mountains and enjoy a leisurely afternoon on Lake Lure.

Named one of the top 10 most beautiful man-made lakes in the world by National Geographic, Lake Lure boasts breathtaking views of flourishing mountain tops and granite cliffs. The lake was built in the 1920’s to generate power and for recreation. Today, there are many activities available at the lake, including a public beach, boating (kayaking, pontoon boats, and paddle boarding – no jet skis are allowed on the lake), a spa at the Inn at Lake Lure, and much more!

My favorite Lake Lure activity is taking a boat road in the reasonably priced pontoon boat tours on the lake, highlighting some of Lake Lure’s history and most notable landmarks. Note that boat rides are offered on the hour (you can check www.lakelure.com/activities to see prices and hours). If you have some extra time while you are waiting for your tour, stroll through Morse Park and across Lake Lure’s very own “Flowering Bridge.” Morse Park includes a playground, welcome center (with restrooms), and a small loop trail which allows you to walk right by the water! Take in the views of the lake and mountains while enjoying a leisurely stroll through the tiger lily lined paths. Morse Park is a popular site for weddings during the summer. On a recent summer afternoon walk, we saw wedding planners setting up for two separate ceremonies!

A short walk from the park is Lake Lure’s “Flowering Bridge.” When the bridge over the Rocky Broad River was closed in 2011, a group of locals decided to create a garden along the bridge featuring plants native to the area. Today, the bridge has a lot of character with its abundant and fragrant blooms and blossoms which attract many butterflies and birds. While crossing the bridge, you can take in even more of the breathtaking views of Lake Lure and the surrounding mountainside. Local art is also featured on the bridge, including sculptures and other reclaimed art.

Once you make your way back to the park and board the boat, relax on the hour-long tour while you take in the beautiful mountain scenery and see some of North Carolina’s finest luxury lake homes. Did you know that several popular scenes from Dirty Dancing were filmed on the lake? While on the boat tour, you will get to see the steps where Jennifer Grey’s character, “Baby,” carried a watermelon while training for her dance routine and hear many fun movie facts such as the trees and grass getting spray-painted green since the movie was filmed in October.

Scenes from Dirty Dancing were filmed in this cove.

Other highlights of the boat tour include seeing Chimney Rock from afar and learning about the history of the man-made lake. Hear how an island on the lake was once covered in snakes and how it took locals years to solve this problem with a quite innovative solution! We loved listening to all of the stories our skipper told, and he also entertained questions from everyone on the boat at the end of the tour.

After the boat ride, enjoy the recreational and shopping opportunities in Lake Lure and Chimney Rock Village. If you’ve worked up an appetite, feel free to check out the Lake Lure Smokehouse for an affordable barbeque sandwich or experience fine dining at the Lake Lure Inn and Spa’s Veranda Restaurant. And be sure to stop at a local produce stand for some fruits and vegetables on your way back to Columbia!

Swan Lake Iris Gardens, Sumter, SC

Swan Lake Iris Gardens has been on my SC bucket list for a long time. I finally made it to the gardens earlier this summer, and this is a destination that will not disappoint!

At right about an hour from Columbia, this park is the perfect day trip! Parking is easy, and once you arrive, you will be immediately captivated by the various swans and their surroundings. There is a short path which allows you to walk alongside the pond and its entire perimeter. Along the way, you can view the swans in their natural habitats and other hidden surprises such as a Braille garden and a butterfly park. There are all types of swans to observe and the grounds are truly amazing!

When you are finished walking along the pond, you can travel across the elevated pedestrian bridge which takes you across the street into another garden. Although I did not spot any swans on this side of the garden, I was able to observe lots of other wildlife, including several birds. A wooden boardwalk allows you to walk across the top of wetland area.

The best part about the park? It's absolutely free! Be sure to stop by sometime in mid-May or early-June to see the 25 species of full blooming Japanese irises! (I barely missed this window, but it was still a lot of fun!). For more information, visit: http://www.sumtersc.gov/swan-lake-iris-gardens.aspx!

Go in peace,
Kindest Warrior

Community in the Garden - USC Arboretum Tour

Recently, I came across and article on the University of South Carolina’s W. Gordon Besler Arboretum, right here in the heart of Columbia, SC and just off of Divine Street. I had no idea that such a vast nature preserve existed within Columbia!

Excited by the prospect of the Arboretum, I gathered several friends who were also eager to experience an educational adventure on a Sunday afternoon. We entered the park and found laminated maps that were available and identified the different sections of the preserve. There are 10 different biomes within the Arboretum, including the Eastern Prairie, the Bottomland Hardwood Forest, the Upland Hardwood Forest, the Wetland Community, the Riparian Community, the American Beech Forest, the Bright-Resistant American Chestnut Forest, the Bald Cypress Swamp, the Ice Age Relict Community, and the Pine Grove.

We started down the Arboretum Loop, passing “The Orchard” and an outdoor classroom for USC students. Just beyond the classroom, we ventured down a side-path to the “Zen Garden.” The path was a bit overgrown, and we even had to veer off of it at one point due to a beautifully constructed spider web that we wanted to preserve. The path abruptly ended with a fallen tree, so we turned around to return to the main pathway. Once we got closer to Arboretum Loop, we were greeted by a crowd of people and immediately captivated by the conservational spirit of Dr. Pat DeCoursey. Since 2007, Dr. DeCoursey has dedicated thousands of volunteer hours to renovating the Arboretum, and in 2011, she was awarded the 2011 South Carolina Environmental Awareness Award for re-foresting the W. Gordon Besler Arboretum. She is the face of the Arboretum and greets guests during the Sunday Open Houses. 

Dr. DeCoursey told us that the reason that the trail that we were exploring was closed off was because the Arboretum experienced a tremendous amount of damage earlier in the summer from a storm. Many large trees fell, and volunteers are still working to clear all of the debris. We were sad to miss the Zen Garden, but there was a lot more for us to see!

By this time, we had gathered with a local father and his seven year old son, listening to Dr. DeCoursey tell us more about the Arboretum. She had promised the son a tasting of the fruit of the PawPaw Tree, and she invited us to return to the picnic table by the entrance to try a piece of the fruit. I had never heard of a PawPaw Tree, but she pointed them out to us along the way and also explained that they are the largest trees in North America that produce edible fruit. Who knew? Native to Kentucky, these trees produce a round, cylindrical fruit which tasted to us like a cross between a mango and a banana with a rich texture and large seeds.

PawPaw Fruit in Tree

PawPaw Fruit

PawPaw Fruit

After enjoying the fruit and talking with the group around the picnic table for some time, we were sad to part with Dr. DeCoursey as she had other visitors to attend to, but we were excited to explore the rest of the Arboretum Loop on our own. The loop includes many biomes, and we especially liked the Cypress Swamp which reminded us of our recent visit to Cypress Gardens. The swamp was mostly dried up since it has been such a warm summer, and we all commented that this would be a wonderful place to visit monthly to see how the plants and surrounding look different during each season. One of my favorite plants was a tree with bright fuchsia colored berries.

In the short time that we were with her in the Arboretum, Dr. DeCoursey was able to engage our diverse group, educate us on wide variety of plants in the Arboretum, and create a sense of community among strangers. I would highly recommend a trip to the USC Arboretum. Please be advised that the Arboretum is only open to the public the third Sunday of every month from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m., so be sure to plan ahead for this afternoon of exploration. Located at 4080 Bloomwood Road within the residential Sherwood Forest district, only street parking is available. Admission is free, but donations are accepted. For more information, visit http://arboretum.biol.sc.edu/. 

Go in peace,
Kindest Warrior

Hello, Seattle! From SC to SEA!

I am really excited about moving to Seattle in the middle of September! I have lived in Columbia, SC since 2006, and I can’t wait to experience a new part of the country and all of the activities Seattle has to offer.

However, I have enjoyed living in Columbia, and this summer I have been trying to get the most out of living here by tackling my “Before I Leave SC” bucket list (https://www.pinterest.com/monicakscott/before-i-leave-sc/). Don’t get me wrong, I’m really looking forward to my future Seattle adventures (https://www.pinterest.com/monicakscott/moving-to-seattle/), but I wish I had known about some of these neat places that I have found in South Carolina and the surrounding areas to explore sooner!

So, until I move to Seattle in September, I am going to highlight some of the great exploring that is available in and around South Carolina. Stay tuned for adventures posted daily.

Go in peace,

Kindest Warrior