Top Nature Spots In North Carolina
The Blue Ridge Mountains are the oldest mountain range in the world.
Who am I to suggest nature spots? Well, throughout my time as an environmental science student even I have learned new things about North Carolina that surprised me! So, while this is not an all inclusive list (everyone knows to go see the blue ridge mountain parkway of course) it is some spots that have historical significance.
First stop, if you’re in Southern Pines, North Carolina where I currently live you may have heard of the area being called the sandhills. Why is that? Well, that’s because this area use to be a beach! It is geologically very different from surrounding areas and it is a very small strip. There are others in South Carolina and Georgia as well so it is pretty cool. But, the BIG nature item is within Weymouth Woods because that is where the OLDEST long leaf pine in the United States is located. A sad history, majority of the longleaf pine in this area was cut down to make British shop masts and turpentine (tar heel state). But, in our sleepy little town we have the oldest one still standing. I provided a website to show you how to get there:
Next up is a spot in Chapel Hill, North Carolina which is all about preservation. You may have heard of this one if you’re someone who loves flowers and botanical gardens, it is the North Carolina Botanical Garden (very easy to remember). For some people, botanical gardens are all the same but, there is something extremely special about this one. They aim to preserve and propagate wildflowers from across the Northeast! Homeowners can find native species that are on the bring of extinction to plant within their yards and they are more than happy to share this information. One of my focuses for my degree is conservation so this spot has a special place in my heart. Here is their website if you’d like to learn more:
North Carolina Botanical Gardens link
I’ll keep this list to three since they are a little bit spread apart but, if you enjoy this little guide please contact me and let me know! It will help me decide if I would like to make more.
For this one we are heading towards the mountains. In Pisgah national forest you will find the birthplace of the forestry service, how cool is that? Many people go to the mountains and hit the Blueridge for hiking but, you could learn about the importance of protecting and managing our forests for the day. I believe there is also information at the Biltmore Estates but, it is very expensive these days to go inside (it was not when I came up here as a child). On the cradle of forestry trail there is interactive learning and they have events up there as well! There is an admission fee of $6.00 per adult and $3.00 for children but, that is worth it to me. If you’re interested here is the National Forestry Service link for the cradle:
So, I hope you get out on some beautiful days and explore these spots to learn more about our beautiful state and what it has to offer. As an artist who is inspired by nature and aims to create work that doesn’t create more waste, I can say that these type of places inspire me to do more.
-Kim
The owner & Designer of The She Shed Collective
