The Craft Heritage Trails of Western North Carolina, 3rd Edition Review

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(More customer reviews)This is such a great find. It is an extensive listing of artists/studios/gallery's in western NC. We are avid art seekers and always use this guide whenever we head to this area and constantly recommend it to friends. I owned the first editions as well.
On one trip we followed the detailed instructions, taking us deep into the mountains way off the main road, and located a small shack full of beautiful pottery. The door was open, no one around (the artist's home was up the hill a little ways) and there was a note indicating if we wanted to purchase something to please fill out a sales ticket, add the appropiate tax, and stick it and your money in the cookie jar! It was art on the Honor system, it was so wonderful.
I highly recommend this book if you are interested in all kinds of art - from large gallery/gift stores to small shacks deep in the woods.

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Back roads and scenic byways to some of the most beautiful handmade objects in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

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Best of the Blue Ridge Parkway: The Ultimate Guide to the Parkway's Best Attractions Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought this book as I live close to sections of the Blue Ridge Parkway. I am an amateur (very) photographer, hiker, nature enthusiast. I was curious as to where some of the better photo opportunities were located along the Parkway and did not have the luxury of spending a lot of time attempting to find the these locales on my own.
I also live close to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and own a copy of another book co-authored by Nye Simmons, "The Smoky Mountains Photographers Guide". Because this has proven to be an outstanding guide, I presumed I could not go wrong with purchasing Nye Simmons latest offering, "Best of the Blue Ridge Parkway". I was definitely not disappointed! It is a wealth of information about everything you need to know about the Blue Ridge Parkway. Of course, the photography in it is outstanding. Mr. Simmons unselfishly shares photo tips on where and when a particular subject can best be photographed. However, this is not just a photo guide, but I'm sure it will serve you well whether you like to point and shoot, are a serious amateur or even a seasoned professional.
Each chapter sequentially covers a section of the Parkway beginning at the north end in Virginia. Since I live closer to the southern terminus, I just skipped ahead to those chapters. Besides the photo op info, there are strip maps of each section, info on points of interest both on and close to the Parkway (scenic views, hiking trails, historic info) as well as info on lodging, dining and gas stations along the way. If you are looking for a guide to the Best of the Blue Ridge Parkway, this is it!

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Filled with detailed information on the best hikes, scenic stops, waterfalls, and historic locations, this is the ultimate guide to the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina and Virginia, one of America's most visited national parks. Information on lodging, way stations, side trips, hiking trails, and attractions of interest is included—ideal for the time-pressed traveler who wants to hit the high points of the park. Full-color photographs, photographer's notes, and photo tips complement the detailed descriptions of the park's attractions, making this handbook both a travel guideand a compilation to treasure.

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Hiking North Carolina's Mountains-to-Sea Trail Review

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(More customer reviews)I used this book as I went against the grain and attempted the MTS from Blowing Rock to Cherokee-backwards. I guess this is a one way trail! De Harts book is strictly from "left to right". Its plentiful in anecdotal ways and vague in ways that make it occasionally unreliable for the person attempting this trail-especially if you are going "backwards".
On the MTS trail, those seeking deep wilderness experience will have to be very tolerant. Through-hikers seeking to decompress and exit the infrastructuremania (much less human imprint altogether) might find this trail aggravating. If that doesn't get you then the the incredible inconsistency in the quality level of its marking will: some places are marked with excellence and intelligence, others are marked very poorly. No fault of Allen De Hart's.
Although there are many very long walking interludes away from the busy Blue Ridge Parkway, The MTS trail in the mountains is largely defined by this amazing asphalt strip. Hiking alongside, hidden in the woods, this trail has a walker moving within yards of and often with clear sight of a good bit of the BRP(or should I say the Harley Davidson Parkway?)often with incessant and persistent sound of traffic. When not on trail that mirrors the BRP one hikes along a fair amount of forest service road.
From Boone to Gatlinburg there is a spectacular, majestic wilderness with cascading creeks, lush forests, gorgeous waterfalls and timeless vistas. This vast, magical wonderland has been absolutely indundated, dissected, and overrun by bustling auto-tourism, commerce, and modern human living. Walking this trail brings this truth clearly to the user.
The MTS trail links together and passes through much exquisite ground. Without its traffic, the Blue Ridge Parkway is a wonderful,serene place (and would make a terrific trail-ask George Washington Vanderbilt!). If you are seeking to spirit away into a long-distance, primeval experience the MTS trail may not be the walk for you.
De Hart's maps are faint and of minimal use while on trail.

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North Carolina's Mountains-to-Sea Trail offers some of the most rewarding hiking experiences in the East. Covering nearly 1,000 miles, it stretches from Clingman's Dome, the highest peak in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, to Jockey's Ridge, the largest sand dune on the Atlantic Coast. The route, a mix of some 500 miles of designated and planned hiking trails and 500 miles of state bicycle paths also used for hiking, winds through three national parks, three national forests, seven state parks, two wilderness areas, and two wildlife refuges, as well as farming communities and small towns. The only comprehensive guide to the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, Allen de Hart's book allows hikers to hit the trail with confidence. It is organized around thirty-eight trail sections, each with detailed descriptions, maps, and photographs. De Hart discusses terrain, scenery, plant and animal life, rivers and streams, and historic sites; and his "campside stories" introduce hikers to local history and lore. Also covered are parking; provisions, camping, and lodging; rules and regulations; and health and safety tips.

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