Summer weekends (or midweek adventures—we won't tell your boss) are best spent outside soaking up the long summer days and camping out on warm summer nights. They're even better and more relaxing if you can sit by a river or lake leisurely fishing, then coming...
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The secret's been out for a long time now—Asheville is one of the coolest towns in the country. And if you're only including towns east of the Mississippi, it's probably the coolest town. Which also means this small slice of heaven nestled in the Southern Appalachian Mountains is...
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My love for local bookstores was solidified during college when I worked at Adams Bookstore in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. Mr. Adams was like a mentor to me during that time. I wrote about his influence during those crucial years in another post. In 2016, I learned of...
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Minnesota. A state that can be so harsh, yet so endearing. Long, cold winters give way to breathtakingly beautiful summers with ideal weather and ample opportunities to get outside and explore. The state does have 10,000 lakes, after all. Spend this summer exploring the trails of...
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Bob and I walked the first 160 miles of the Ouachita (Wash’-i-taw) Trail before and after Christmas, so only the last 63 miles stood between us and completing our thru-hike. Several things occurred to keep us from getting back out there, but May 2-6 was...
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The Eagle Creek Fire of 2017 had an enormous impact on the Oregon side of the Columbia River Gorge. We all watched in horror as some of Oregon's most well-known and picturesque trails burned, and still wonder if we will ever see them again as...
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If you know even a small amount about paddling, you've probably stumbled across the Nantahala Outdoor Center, or NOC. Many people today see the Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC) for what it has become: a seminal Southeastern paddling hub and profitable business. What they don’t know is...
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Spring is a wonderful time to be on the Appalachian Trail. The thru-hikers are full of excitement and energy, the day hikers are stretching their legs after a long winter, and the animals are all coming out of hibernation and ready to frolic on the...
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Over the past week and a half, Jennifer Pharr Davis has been thru hiking the Alabama Pinhoti Trail. She ventured south from her home in North Carolina to bring attention to what she's coined as "The Goldilocks Trail" (because everything about it is perfect) (duh,...
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Saturday, March 31, was our day to walk the few miles needed by Hiker-dog to complete the 180-mile Ozark Highlands Trail (OHT). Of course, the OHT keeps growing, but the first 165 miles qualify for thru-hiker bragging rights. Hiker-dog has walked or run every inch of the...
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