Passeggiata. It’s an Italian custom of taking a stroll, especially after the evening meal, usually in the neighborhood. Among other things, it aids digestion. But really, it’s just a swell way to end the day. Though not necessarily a sweltering summer’s day, especially if you live in the South.
5 Hikes that avoid fall crowds
Editor’s note: We run a tweaked version of this post every fall to help you avoid crowded trails in this, the most popular hiking season.
Astronomically, fall doesn’t start until Sept. 22 at 2:19 p.m. EST. Culturally, most of us associate the handoff of summer to fall with Labor Day weekend (this weekend). This year, however, it feels like fall is already well underway: for the past week or so morning temperatures here on the North Carolina/Virginia line have been in the low 50s, daytime highs in the upper 70s. If that doesn’t scream call in sick and grab your pack, I don’t know what does.
A Pisgah doubleheader: John Rock and Pink Beds
The first time I hiked the area known as Pink Beds in the Pisgah National Forest, I was skeptical of reports that the 5-mile loop was nearly flat. Nearly flat? On the Blue Ridge Escarpment?
Poppycock.
The first time I hiked John Rock I was skeptical that the hike, midway up the same escarpment, could have one of the best views around.
Rediscover Western NC with a week of great hikes
You’ve been wanting to get back to the mountains post-Helene, but you haven’t been sure of where to go, of what’s accessible, of where you can spread some of your tourism dollar joy.
How about Transylvania and Jackson counties, and their respective basecamps of Brevard and Sylva?
5 cool hikes for when the heat returns (and it will)
A variation of this post originally ran Aug. 6, 2014, titled “SUMMER HIKING: BEAT THE HEAT.” Two years later, we played with it again and reran it on July 20, 2016, as “HIKING: WHERE TO BEAT THE HEAT.” It appeared under that heading again on July 6, 2021. On Aug. 11, 2023, it ran again, paired down from 10 hikes to 5, but with more detail on each hike. It runs again today, on the 11th anniversary of its initial appearance, with one caveat.