Magic in the Air
I had no plans. No timeline. Just a craving for fresh air and something beautiful.
So I grabbed my keys and went looking for a little magic.
(👆Stu entering the Little Tennessee River Basin)
Some days you wake up with no ETA, no to-do list, no place to be—and all you really want is somewhere to go.
On days like this, I have no expectations. And the result? Always so good. The best. Perfect, even.
I roll out late—it’s already 3 o’clock—and I’m itching for a little adventure.
I’m lucky to live in a place where, in just an hour’s drive, I can be completely surrounded by WOW.
First stop: Pickens, South Carolina, for a dog at Heidi’s (doggone good hotdogs).
Then I cruise down scenic Highway 11 toward Cashiers and Highlands.
I pull over often—for a photo, for a breath. You have to. These overlooks beg you to stop, even if just for a second.
Mountain views. One waterfall after another.
(👆Bridal Veil Falls, Highlands NC)
It’s honestly hard to explain just how beautiful it is inside the Blue Ridge Mountains. Around every bend is something spectacular.
Some thing. It’s just—WOW. That’s the only word I’ve got.
(👆Mirror Lake Highlands NC)
No photo can capture the sound of it all—the wind, the birds, the rush of water.
Even the crunch of leaves under my feet as I walk.
At one stop, the water crashes so loud it creates a wind of sound and mist.
How do you describe that? I can’t.
I had set out for a spot I’d seen in a post the day before, just outside Highlands, North Carolina.
When I arrived, I realized—I’d been here before. Maybe even twice.
Dry Falls, inside the Nantahala Forest. Not so dry, as you walk under the falls.
(👆Dry Falls North Carolina)
Mist hits my face and splatters my glasses. I don’t care. It feels amazing.
I wipe them clear so I can take it all in.
My adrenaline kicks in. I feel this little buzz inside.
I take a deep breath, and the only thing I can think is:
Everything is so good.
How could life be any better than this?
It can’t.
It couldn’t possibly be better than today.
If you’ve been needing a breath of fresh air, this is your sign.
Grab a snack, hit the road, and just go—you never know what beauty you’ll find.
Want to hear what that magic sounds like?
Here’s what it felt like standing under Dry Falls.
