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Want to hike? Here are a few great choices in Asheville!

Feel a million miles from home in your own backyard

Ryan McGreal

Oct 11, 2016

UNC Asheville

Want to hike? Here are a few great choices in Asheville!

Ryan McGreal

There are so many great ways to get outdoors and enjoy the sun. My personal favorite: hiking. Whether you're an extremely active individual or you consider yourself to be more of the sedentary type, hiking is something at everyone can do! The good news is, there are so many different trails on the Blue Ridge Parkway and these trails vary in level of difficulty, duration and beauty.

1. Craggy Gardens

Craggy Gardens is my personal favorite hike! Via car, it is about 45 minutes from downtown Asheville to the trailhead (about 20 miles) and there are two different hikes that you can do depending on the duration and scenery you want to see. There is the main trail located near picnic tables and then there is the pinnacle trail!

Pinnacle trail is a mile and a half round trip and you can see panoramic views of the beautiful mountains. The Craggy Gardens Trail is less scenic and a little longer. This hike is up hill but at the top you reach an open overlook with a small open field.

2. Fryingpan Lookout Tower

Only a mile and a half round trip, this 70-foot high tower offers a beautiful view! The reason this tower was built was to keep an eye out for forest fires. It's about five flights of stairs. I cannot wait until I get to go on this amazing hike!

3. Mt. Pisgah

This is only two and a half miles up the road from Fryingpan Tower and is a three-mile roundtrip hike. There are large picnic tables off the parking lot with grills. The second part of this hike is strenuous with lots of loose rocks, so I suggest wearing great hiking shoes or boots.

4. Looking Glass Falls

This is one of the most accessible waterfalls in the Blue Ridge Parkway. It is a roadside accessible waterfall that is perfect for those with walking disabilities. This 60 foot waterfall is located about 36 miles from Asheville. It offers a place to swim, wade and to just let the water of the falls cascade over your body. You can swim under it or just hang out on the rocks and relax. This spot offers so many great opportunities!

5. Paradise Falls

These beautiful waterfalls are a little further than the rest, it is about an hour and a half away from Asheville. You go to Western Carolina University then its about 45 minutes from there! The hike is not very long, but it is completely down hill and then back up. So I suggest great hiking boots. There are multiple falls and spots to jump off of cliffs into the water!

I hope you enjoy these beautiful hikes and waterfalls!

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

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Recommended for you

Want to hike? Here are a few great choices in Asheville!

Feel a million miles from home in your own backyard

1. Craggy Gardens

2. Fryingpan Lookout Tower

3. Mt. Pisgah

4. Looking Glass Falls

5. Paradise Falls

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There are plenty of obstacles that come when taking care of kids, but it's a very rewarding experience.

1. You get excited when the parents purchase season passes to the pool.

2. You've become friends with the stay-at-home moms in town.

3. You get a chance to eat "kid foods" again.

4. You've traded in your cute purse for a large tote bag.

5. You have at least one car seat in your backseat.

6. Their nap time is your happy time.

7. Lunch time can be a disaster.

8. You have to play the same board games repeatedly.

9. You catch yourself using the same lines your parents once told you.

10. Your "mom-mode" kicks in at times.

11. Your heart melts a little when they do something cute.

You'll never find any souvenirs with your name on it

1. You know you are up next when the teacher pauses while taking attendance

2. When “I’m going to do my very best to make sure I know all your names” is said, it may or may be an empty promise

3. “Wow! That sounds so cool! Where is your family from?”

4. You dread when people ask you to repeat your name over and over because it “sounds so cool when you say it”

5. There’s a 50/50 chance that your name will come back either correct or incorrect at Starbucks

6. People try to find shorter, easier nicknames for you instead of calling you by your actual name

7. When someone famous or fictional character shares your name, you get so happy

8. “What’s your name?” “It’s [name]” “I’m sorry, what was it again?”

9. You’ve pretty much seen every misspelling and heard every mispronunciation of your name throughout your life

10. When you find another person with an “ethnic” sounding name, you both get excited

11. Despite the struggles, your name is pretty unique… just like you

Can I be excused for the rest of my life?

Don't Be That Person

1. “Oh, so you/your family are immigrants!”

2. “Is Puerto Rico near Mexico?”

3. “Do you speak Puerto Rican?”

4. “You look too light/dark to be Puerto Rican.”

5. “Do I need my passport to go to Puerto Rico?”

6. “Geez, you are obsessed with your flag. We get it, you’re Puerto Rican.”

7. “Why are you so loud?”

8. “So does your family know English?”

9. “Oh my god, Puerto Ricans are so spicy.”

10. “So did you eat a lot of tacos?”

11. “Are you Mexican?”

Love hard, every day, and never be ashamed.

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