One Moms World Mom Blog - Jen Houck

Family Fun NC

We embrace fall with open arms!

Fall brings out all the feels. My girls will never be too old to pick out a pumpkin and put their own creativity into carving the said pumpkin. I’m so excited about this time of year. There is something about the magic and joy during the holiday season. We do not focus on the stress of medical happenings with the family, instead, we focus on creating family memories.

Let it be said that I walked around the pumpkin patch thinking that once upon a time my girls were babies and now they are nearly full grown. Life brings you full circle in so many different ways. The girls needed my help just a few years ago to finish the carvings of their pumpkin and now all they need me to do is take a picture. Think about that for a moment. Life goes fast. Cherish each moment.

Only a few more days left for the wolf to chase the sunshine, and then we have to toss the pumpkins. Never fear though as it will be time to deck the halls indoors and outdoors.

Happy fall, y’all!

Take a Fall Road Trip Through Western North Carolina

My favorite time of the year is just around the corner. The leaves are starting to turn in Western North Carolina. The fall foliage is a beautiful scene and one that I do not want to miss each year. Pack a picnic and take a road trip to Jackson County in North Carolina to experience all the fall beauty. We have the perfect trip itinerary for you!

Bear Shadow

Jackson County is the only place in the country to see the fall phenomena known as the “Shadow of the Bear.” From mid-October to mid-November, when the sun sets behind Whiteside Mountain, its shadow casts the perfect image of a black bear over the mountain’s colorful landscape. Visitors can enjoy the shadow from a premium viewing spot at Rhodes Big View Overlook off Highway 64 between 5:30-6:00 p.m.

Panthertown Valley

Known as the “Yosemite of the East,” Panthertown Valley is a hiker’s paradise with more than 30 miles of backcountry trails and 12 waterfalls to discover along the way. The hiking trails offer rewarding views of the fall colors with stops overlooking valleys and 360-degree views of the stunning landscape coated in red, orange and yellow. Mountain bikers can also navigate the designated trails throughout Panthertown.

Whiteside Mountain

Whiteside Mountain is said to be one of the oldest mountains in the world, between 390 to 460-million-years-old, and is one of Jackson County’s most recognizable peaks, with its sheer, vertical cliffs that tower above the valley below. Scope out the fall foliage from a two-mile trail that crosses the Eastern Continental Divide, providing incredible views of the Appalachian Mountains with vibrant autumn shades. Hikers have a choice of reaching the summit via the gentler former roadway or using the more scenic, but steeper, trail, which includes lots of Forest Service-constructed stairways.

Blue Ridge Parkway – Waterrock Knob

Bordering 45 miles of Jackson County, the Blue Ridge Parkway is the must-see scenic drive in the fall with an explosion of color as far as the eye can see. The Waterrock Knob Overlook at mile 451.2 provides another spectacular view, offering a four-state panorama of the Great Smoky Mountains painted in fall colors. Leaf-seekers can also take the 1.2-mile hiking trail to the top of the knob, gaining 412 feet in elevation, to find even more breathtaking views.

Lake Glenville

One of the highest-elevation lakes east of the Rocky Mountains at 3,500 feet above sea level, Lake Glenville is also one of the largest lakes in the county. With an expansive 26 miles of shoreline, seven islands and three gorgeous waterfalls, the lake is a great stop along a fall road trip to see the colorful leaves’ reflection over the water while fishing or boating.

Family Fun at Xtreme Park Adventures (Durham, NC)

What do you do when a doctor appointment is extremely stressful? You toss the worries out the window for a little bit and drive to the Xtreme Park Adventures in Durham, NC! We enjoy experiencing family fun adventures, so we were happy to accept the invitation from the host at Xtreme Park Adventures. It was the best medicine for us that afternoon.

There are many activities to experience from gem mining to the escape room. Our family experienced three of the activities at the park.

Gem mining was first on our “bucket” list. Each family member received their own pail filled with dirt and sparkling gems. You will be surprised at all the precious gems and you may even walk away with your birthstone. I know I did!

Hubby and M are two very analytical people that love to analyze every situation. This was the perfect pair to experience the escape room. Let me just say, this was their first time in an escape room and now they are eager to try the bigger one at the park. The word on the street is that only four people have successfully escaped the bigger room. Hubby and M say challenge accepted!

Our last adventure of the day was tackling the challenging rope course. Our family of four was all “we got this” until our eight feet stepped onto the first deck. I stood there in awe, Hubby said, what the heck, I’m going, M started tackling one course and then said nope, changing courses, and L said I will just stay right here with my feet firmly planted. You will have to watch the below video to check out Hubby owning the course.

Pack the family up for a morning or afternoon and explore the park. Just a warning as there will be many laughs, smiles, and family bonding!

There is so much more to experience at this park nestled off the main road. You will forget you are near a big city! Schedule your family for a great adventure soon at the Xtreme Park Adventures!

Exploring Beech Mountain’s Buckeye Lake and Gem Mining

Our next adventure led us to Beech Mountain, North Carolina! Beech Mountain is a quaint town nestled in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. You may not know, but Beech Mountain is the highest town in Eastern America as the elevation is 5,506 feet. The Buckeye Recreation Center located in Beech Mountain is the place to be for great family fun. With almost 10 acres of lakes, over 28 miles of designated hiking and biking trails and a 23,000 square foot, state-of-the-art Recreation Center, there is no shortage of fun.

Rain may have tried to ruin our family adventure, but we did not allow it to dampen our moods. The smiles and laughter were plentiful on this day.

This was the first time my husband and I both attempted to be in a canoe together. At first, I was questioning if my husband would tip me over. Alas, it was a little romantic ride across the lake.

The recreation center offers canoes, kayak, and pedal boat all for FREE. Fishing is free and no worries if you forget your fishing pole and gear, as NC Wildlife will provide all the supplies you need for free.

After we laughed and sang in the rain, it was time to head up the mountain for a little picnic. This was a simple picnic as we do not like to focus on food on our adventures. There is a picnic area across from the Visitor’s Center. It is peaceful and very clean.

After the refuel, we headed down the mountain to Foscoe, North Carolina to enjoy gem mining at the Greater Foscoe Mining Company. Each family can purchase a specified bucket size and have a blast finding different minerals. The girls found all kinds of gems from amethyst to pink quartz. Hubby enjoyed shoveling out the dirt. It is so nice because you put all your gems into a little bucket and the staff will identify each gem for you. All the gems will be taped onto a big board to keep for a souvenir.

It was a fun day and one we hope to repeat many times!

 

Family Travel: Exploring Dupont State Park and Western NC Nature Center

Since life has been filled with all things medical, we decided as a family to get outdoors and explore more. We love doing things as a family and want to share our great finds with you! As I shared in a previous post, we visited a state park. I wanted to share a video and more information!

We started the morning by driving to Dupont State Park. This park is south of Asheville and includes trails for all ages. We decided to visit the High Falls. Tears filled my eyes when I watched my husband hike for the first time since his heart surgery. Watching him view the falls sent chills down my body.

Being with my family with no medical worries made for a very happy day! We took a picnic and enjoyed time after our hike to just sit and talk about the beautiful scenery around us. The High Falls hike is not a strenuous hike as we passed several young kids on the trails with their parents. Also, the shade was plentiful on the trails to help keep the sun from beating down on you. There is a visitor’s center there that is fully staffed to help with any questions about the trails. Make sure to take bug repellent spray as I helped a fellow hiker get a tick off of her shoulder.

After our time exploring the state park, we drove to Asheville to visit the Western NC Nature Center. As you can see in the video, we caught glimpses of several animals, but the best time to visit is in the morning. Unfortunately, it was so hot outside that several animals sought shelter from the heat or was sleeping.

We hope to visit again as the park is expanding and we love animals! Check out the video of Madi performing a dance in the wind machine. It was quite humorous!

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