Despite its name, New River is considered to be one of the oldest rivers in the United States. In 1978 the US government protected 58 miles of the river and its surrounding area covering 70,000 acres. This is prime area for whitewater rafting, hiking, camping, fishing, biking and numerous other outdoor activities. From abandoned coal mines to prehistoric sites, the park covers a vast array of historical sites.
The bridge itself is breathtaking but once you get over that bit it's ultimately just a really, really tall bridge. But there are tons of activities to do around the area so definitely explore.
The Biltmore Estate is such a surreal place to visit, the house and the grounds are absolutely beautiful and getting a tour is worth it to hear all about the history of this place. It's also massive so don't expect to tour the entire thing in a couple of hours, if you want to really dig in you should expect to spend the whole day here.
Tons of crazy cool exhibits here about the likes of pirates, mobsters, the wild west, etc. If you're into history and crime then you should totally check this place out!
This memorial is beautiful and, as in the picture above, really majestic on a pretty night. Visiting at dusk is great, but they're open 24 hours so really you can visit whenever.
Breathtaking views surrounded by amazing hikes. The food is solid and the staff is super helpful, friendly and accommodating. I'd definitely stay at this incredibly scenic hotel again.
I've not been but was considering and read this stellar review, too good to pass up re-posting here:
"If your idea of fun is 200 beautiful acres of nothing but loud, shirtless, beer drinking, truck driving, ATV driving idiots, then this place is for you my friend. One word of caution, watch where you step, the entire park is covered in beer bottle caps that shine in the Florida sunshine.....even in the springs! It's a damn crying shame that such a beautiful place is being absolutely trashed. This place has sooooo much potential that is going down the drain. It's probably a great place during the week when everyone who has a job is working, but I would avoid the place on the weekends and when school is out...that is if these people actually go to school!? As far as the springs themselves are concerned, they are a site to behold and are fantastic and beautiful. The staff was very helpful and kind, but the camp sites are left wanting. Very dirty, lots of trash and the electric and water hook ups are on the wrong side of the sites! Did get to see some wild life other than the naked drunks......several wild turkeys and a hawk visited our site. The best thing that could happen to Ginnie Springs would be for the State or Federal government to come in and make it a park!"
This place is amazing. It's the highest elevation in the Smokies and offers 360 degree views all around the park. Great hike, although probably best to avoid if there's a big storm rolling in.
Visit tree-lined Cedar Creek in hopes of spotting otters and herons. This place is lush backcountry, inhabited by bobcats, deer, and playful river otters. Seems like an incredible place to go, definitely on my list.
I've heard this place is an awesome experience - walking down the staircase and then slipping into the cold water. It is a great place to practice different basic underwater dive skills for the beginner. They have a few different platforms at varying depths that make it really easy to practice for those who might be a little more nervous to flood their masks (etc.) in the open water for the first time. Don't expect to dive to deep, but their are plenty of little pockets and swim throughs that give you the "feel" of cave diving (if you think you might be interested in getting into cave diving, it is a good place to try see what it kind of "feels like").
It felt like a home inside but however to describe the glorious grounds and little and big treasures placed with such love and attention to detail. Our docent was a darling and clearly loved spending her golden years sharing this Hudson Valley treasure with visitors like us. A bit pricey but just absolutely beautiful!