With my father-in-law in town for a full week, Ryan and I wanted to be sure to show him some of our favorite places. Even though we’ve only been in North Carolina for three months, we’re quickly narrowing down a handful of go-to places for everything from brunch and hiking to shopping, ice cream, coffee, green juice, pizza and quality paved walking trails. One thing on my father-in-law’s request list during his stay was hiking.
Ask and you shall receive!
The three of us dedicated the majority of the day on Saturday to hiking. We picked a trail located close to the Blue Ridge Parkway on the Tennessee/North Carolina state line.
It was quite far from our house, but worth the drive since we had a special visitor in town!
We took Greg up to Carvers Gap where we parked our car and headed out on a two-hour hike on the Appalachian Trail over The Balds, a series of treeless mountaintops that offer fantastic panoramic views of the Appalachian Mountains.
Ryan, Sadie and I have conquered this hike before, but that was back in July and it was much warmer and much greener. The leaves are slowly beginning to change and I cannot wait to do TONS of hiking in October and November!
Temperatures on Saturday’s hike were in the 60s which was absolutely perfect. It was warm enough to hike in a tank top once we got moving, but chilly enough to instantly feel cool whenever we stopped hiking to take a break and enjoy the views around us.
Of course Sadie came along on our hike and had a ball.
Ryan and I both commented on how much we love seeing so many dogs out and about in North Carolina.
So far, on the hiking trails and in the areas we’ve visited, North Carolina is proving to be a rather dog-friendly place to live which, naturally, I love. We’ve also noticed a lot more big dogs and this makes Sadie quite the happy little camper. For some reason she is 10,000 times better with big dogs than little dogs. We actually ran into a giant St. Bernard on a walk with Sadie last week and you would’ve thought she met her best friend for life. She whimpered and jumped around and the St. Bernard just gave her the side-eye and looked at her like she was the looniest little creature he’d ever seen (which, I’m sure, she was).
Ryan and I have a theory that Sadie’s preference for big dogs stems from the fact that smaller dogs generally seem to be more likely to bark at her than larger dogs and Sadie apparently has fragile ears and a very low tolerance for yipping and barking. Such a goof.
Question of the Morning
- Pet owners: Does your pet seem to show a preference toward large or small animals? Any theories as to why this may be?
Sadie definitely prefers larger dogs to smaller dogs. She is also totally indifferent to cats which absolutely shocked us. Ryan and I thought she would chase my mother-in-law’s cats and want to play with them, but she typically ignores them. (Squirrels, on the other hand, make her foam at the mouth.)
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Looks like such a fun weekend. I love hiking, especially in the fall-ish weather you describe!
We don’t have a dog yet since we live in a teeny tiny apartment, but I really want to get a lab of golden retriever once we move.
Looks like an amazing hike! I don’t love hiking, but I’ve learned to like it because it’s an activity that my husband enjoys. We went hiking in the Catskills a few times over the summer and it was beautiful!
So fun! That’s great that you can do some fall hiking through November without it getting too cold!
Wow! What beautiful scenery! I need to go on a hike before it gets to cold, and if we are being honest, I need a “Sadie” of my own to hike with 😉
oh my gosh those pics are beautiful! What awesome views!
Our dog Cody is actually good with both. However, small dogs seem to hate him haha. He is a big dog, maybe that’s why but small dogs always growl and yip at him. He always acts like he couldn’t care less haha.
Cody is the BEST around kids though. Is Sadie good wiyh kids?
The balds are my favorite part of Pisgah forest! So beautiful!
LOOVEE your tennis shoes!
I have 2 dogs.
One prefers not to have to deal with any dogs really. She loves people. But, if she has to she prefers the smaller ones. I think its because that way she is the biggest.
My other dog thinks every dog he comes in contact is his new best friend and wants to play. This also makes my female dog extremely jealous and doesn’t think he should have any other friends but her. The whole situation is pretty comical every time we get around other dogs.
I’m so jealous of all the beautiful hiking you get to do! My dog would want to lay down and relax after 30 minutes. Please send Florida that awesome weather…this humidity is killing me!
We have 3 dogs, and the smallest ones love the big dogs. The biggest…still small…loves people. But all of them are excited when they meet a boy dog that still has all of his parts….lol….they do have to jump a bit to have a sniff, but they are always very interested. My smallest dog has the big dogs almost tip her over trying to sniff her parts.
It looks like you have such amazing places to go hiking, such a beautiful place to live.
Glad you are loving hiking in the area!
You need to check out the Asheville area too- you will love it!! I lived there for 5 years and have a deep love for that place! Lots of great food, sights and people.
Some other good hikes in the area:
Shuckstack Fire Tower
Mt. Pisgah
Chimney Tops
Looking Glass
And my absolute fav— John Rock– Pisgah National Forest. Epic views. And you can see Looking Glass!
Happy Fall Hiking!
Madi
Thanks so much, Madi!!!! I am ALWAYS looking for great hiking recommendations!
Beautiful hike!! Our dog loves all other animals. He usually couldn’t care less about people when he first meets them.
My cats don’t really interact with dogs but one of them and my roommate’s tiny dog have the best bromance ever!
My dog Roxy used to pick on our cats when she was younger. All of our other animals (including her dog brother) have passed away and it’s just her now and she’s a little spoiled. She now will hide from ALL other animals- doesn’t matter what it is. She also recently went blind this year and is terrified of other animals- unless they enter our house- when they are on her turf she will bark at them to leave =)
I have an 85lb German Shepherd, Torres, and he is quite the opposite of Sadie when it comes to little dogs! We will take him to the dog park and he will run around with the big dogs for a little while but then he goes over to the fenced in area for the little dogs and lays down to watch them play. He loves cuddling little dogs. We’ve actually been thinking about getting him a tiny friend because he loves them so much! haha! And he is so gentle with them, like they are his babies. He’s a goofball for sure! Quite the opposite of Sadie when it comes to little dogs
Our vizsla does not like puppies. At all. We have a theory that she doesn’t like any dog that could be deemed cuter than her, so puppies must be avoided at all cost! Ha
hahaha!!
What a beautiful hike! Thanks for letting us live vicariously through you! Lots of hiking is on my fall bucket list!!
They say small dogs rule the roost if you have a big and small dog so maybe they are just too bossy for her! I have small dogs and I can’t deny they can be bossy! I have Dachshunds. I have been doing tons of research on the Vizsla breed and I think my boyfriend and I are going to get one once our house is built. Right now we are in an apartment and I would rather not put a puppy through that!
We have a 70 lb pitbull and she usualy detests smaller dogs. Our next door neighbors hace a cat and each morning as we pass their driveway on our morning walk, she spots the cat and saunters down like she’s trying to hunt it. It is pretty funny. Beautiful hike!!! You should do some hiking in north Georgia!! Absolutely stunning out here during fall!!
So beautiful! I love love love the Appalachians. Houston is pretty short on trails…they’re practically non-existent. But next year we’ll be moving to Atlanta and will be significantly closer (about two hours, I think) to some gorgeous mountains!
My parents’ golden retriever barks at little dogs and lays down for a belly rub near big dogs. I’m not sure what she’s trying to achieve with either approach!
When you get the chance, head out to Brevard for all the waterfalls!!!!!! There’s also a delicious sushi restaurant in Brevard as well.
Looks like a great hike 🙂
My dog Jackson loves other pups big and small – he is so friendly towards everyone. I think he plays better with dogs his own size, though. As much as he wants to rough around with a big dog, it just doesn’t work as well and he ends up getting knocked over haha!
Your pictures of the mountains are gorgeous *swoon*