We’re kicking off our summer road trip series — Hit the Road — with a trip to Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest: home to 400 year-old trees and one of the largest sites of old-growth forest in the eastern US.
With its awe-inspiring hiking trails and close proximity to the stunning Lake Santeetlah, this remote area (with the closest town being Robbinsville) is a great destination for experienced adventurers + novice nature seekers alike.
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Editor Laura, with her partner Aaron and dog Iroh, for scale. | Photo by AVLtoday |
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Before you start packing your bags, here’s everything you need to know about the area + our insider recommendations. Drive time: ~1.5 hours
Est. Robbinsville population: 854 Avg. high in June: 85° 🥾Things to do
Hike to see the big trees
In the heart of Joyce Kilmer, there’s an easy, two-mile loop trail that takes you deep into old growth forest that not even loggers managed to reach. Expect towering tulip poplars, rushing streams, and lush layers of fern throughout the hike. Do not rely on your GPS to guide you through this winding route — we recommend these written directions.
Get panoramic views at Maple Springs Overlook
You may want to pack a picnic for this one, as it’s the perfect spot to watch the sunset and moonrise (and a stone’s throw away from the loop trail mentioned above). Follow the boardwalk out to the deck for a sweeping view of the Slickrock Creek basin, which includes the sparkling Lake Santeetlah off to the right.
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This massive quart of blackberry lemonade cost only $5 and it was amazing. | Photo by AVLtoday
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🍽️ Fuel up
Miller’s Nak Nak Shack, Rodney Orr Bypass
The best lemonade that Editor Laura has ever had (not an exaggeration) can be found at this little roadside trailer operated by Graham County local Johnny Miller. Customize your order with flavors like blue raspberry, watermelon, mango, and Starburst (modeled after the essence of the pink Starburst, specifically). Johnny also makes stellar kettle corn — and if you’re into them, cracklins.
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We love how the River's Edge treehouses are shrouded in leaves. | Photo via @riversedgetreehouses
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🏕️ Cozy campsites + cabins River’s Edge Treehouse Resort, 195 Old US 129
Become one with the trees at one of the resort’s six treehouses (one of which is handicap accessible). Perks of staying here, besides the serene views, include king memory foam beds, a gas grill, free wifi, and fishing gear available for rent. Cheoah Point Campground, 1373 Thunderbird Mountain Rd.
Just 20 minutes from Joyce Kilmer, this oasis of a campground sits on a peninsula of Lake Santeetlah and is an amazing spot for paddleboarding, kayaking, swimming, and other shoreline recreation. Be sure to make a reservation in advance. |
Know any tree huggers? This is Asheville, so that's strictly a rhetorical question. Use the buttons below to share this story with them. |
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Today
Thursday -
How Foraging Can Save the World | Thurs., June 16 | 7 p.m. | East Fork - Asheville | Registration required, pay what you can | Alan Muskat, wild foods expert and founder of No Taste Like Home, presents a special talk-and-taste event featuring three foraged small bites + wine pairings. 🍄
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Flip the Table! | Thurs., June 16 | 7:30-9:30 p.m. | Well Played Board Game Cafe, 162 Coxe Ave. | $12 | Check out Well Played’s brand-new space and enjoy sets from local comics James Harrod and Cody Hughes.
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Live Jazz Hour | Thurs., Jun 16 | 6-7 p.m. | Enka-Candler Library, 1404 Sandhill Rd. | Free | Enjoy music from host and composer Michael Jefry Stevens and his musical ensemble. 🎷
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Riveter Community Night | Thurs., June 16 | 5-10 p.m. | Riveter, 701 Old Fanning Bridge Rd. | Free | Head to the Riveter for Community Night, ft. an outside slackline, tandem climbs on the boulder wall + more.*
Friday -
Juneteenth of Asheville 2022 Freedom Festival | Fri., June 17 | 10 a.m. | 1 Court Plaza | Free | Celebrate Black liberation with vendors, food trucks, art, music, and other live performances.
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1st Indigenous Walls Block Party | Fri., June 17 | 5-7 p.m. | 46 Aston St. | Free | Show love for the movement to Indigenize Asheville while enjoying music from DJ Malinalli, live painting from Indigenous artists, and vegan Peruvian eats from Ayni51. 🎉
Saturday - Seth Walker Album Release Show | Sat., June 18 | 7 p.m. | The Grey Eagle | $20 | Multidimensional talent whose sound is a mix of gospel and Southern.
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Weaverville's Music on Main | Sat., June 18 | 5 p.m. | Main Street Weaverville | Free | Enjoy an open-air concert featuring Abby Bryant & The Echoes, Peggy rates & Daddy LongLegs, and Sarah Tucker.
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We have a monthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends. |
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Weather -
93º | Scattered thunderstorms | 80% chance of rain
Opening -
Creative hub + culture house DIFFERENT WRLD has announced it will have a beta launch for its new space on Sat., June 18, 7 p.m.-2 a.m. The property, which previously housed the iconic Mothlight venue, is a Black-led, queer, and women-owned project funded entirely by the community.
Concert -
Downtown After 5 returns Fri., June 17 with performances from Latin fusion artist Tumbao and Appalachian rapper Free Radio. As usual, the event is free to attend and will feature food, drinks, and other treats from local vendors. The show starts at 7 p.m. 🎤
- Alt-rock band Ween will perform at Rabbit Rabbit on Thurs., Sept. 15. Tickets will go on sale Fri, June 17 at 10 a.m.
Arts -
The American Perspectives exhibit will debut at the Asheville Art Museum on Sat., June 18. The collection showcases 80+ works of folk and self-taught art including assemblages, needlework, paintings, pottery, quilts, and sculpture. The exhibit runs through Thurs., Sept. 15. Get tickets. 🧶
DYK -
Applications are now open for No Barriers USA’s four upcoming NC Backcountry Expeditions. The five-day expeditions in Pisgah National Forest are free for veterans and are meant to be a healing, transformative experience. Trips are slated for: Aug. 31-Sept. 4, Sept. 7-11, Sept. 14-18, and Sept. 21-25. Apply here.
Plan Ahead -
Interested in buying a home for the first time? Mark your calendar for EXIT Realty Vision’s First Time Homebuyer Class on Wed., July 27, 6 p.m. at 101 Weaver Blvd. The course will cover down payment assistance, low-credit options + other core resources. 🏡
Edu -
Galen College of Nursing, an affiliate of Mission Health, has announced it will open a new campus at 30 Town Square Blvd. in Biltmore Park. The 16,900 sqft campus will feature advanced patient simulation labs + classrooms designed for practice-based learning. Learn more.
Asked -
If y’all haven’t noticed, the temps are sweltering this week. Reader Christiane J. is wondering about fun, indoor places in town that offer air conditioning. If you have a rec, please let us know.
Opening -
The Wilson Center for Nature Discovery is set to open this month. The new facility plans to bring a new experience to guests, with interactive exhibits for learning more about the history and beautiful surroundings of Grandfather Mountain. Learn more about what to expect.*
Announced -
Last week, we asked you to submit your best dad joke for a chance to be featured on a t-shirt or mug sold in Six & Main, our online store. Congrats to readers Jeff M., Natalie J., Anne M., and Elizabeth C. for submitting winning dad jokes that will be featured on merch (just in time for Father’s Day). All winners have been contacted, and thanks to everyone who submitted. Shop the dad joke collection.
Health -
While golf is a low-impact sport, it still has the potential to cause mild to severe injuries that can make it difficult to keep up with day-to-day activities. Christopher Mazoue, MD, explains the most common golfing injuries + how they are treated.🏌*
Eat -
If getting organic poultry, grass-fed beef, heritage pork, wild game + more delivered straight from the farm to your dinner plate sounds like your foodie dream, D’Artagnan Foods can make it happen. Their small farms deliver overnight for guaranteed freshness. 🍽️*
A health message from our sponsor -
Number: 100. The individual hairs that the average person sheds in a day. But if you’re losing substantial volume, it could point to hormone imbalances or other underlying conditions. Learn more.*
Featured Home - Newly-updated home on 3+ acres | 3 BD, 2 BA | $699,000 | Close to all that Black Mountain has to offer, this house boasts an open layout with hardwood flooring throughout along with a spacious deck surrounded by mature landscaping. 🌲*
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Spring may have mostly sprung down in the valley, but many of the blooms in the upper elevations hold out until mid to late June. Case in point: these lively flame azaleas, which local photographer James Reynolds spotted over the weekend up in the Blue Ridge Mountains. We think botanist William Bartram had the perfect words for these blooms when he first discovered them in 1791, describing them as “certainly the most gay and brilliant flowering shrub yet known.” |
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Editor's pick: Thanks to all who wrote in with additions to our conversation about Asheville's soundscape.
A few of my favorite suggestions: springtime baby birds in nests, tree frogs, and muscle cars racing down Patton Avenue on Friday and Saturday nights.
Missed yesterday's newsletter? Immerse yourself in the soundscape of Asheville. |
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