CityView Magazine

travel Falling for Fall A s fall approaches our thoughts naturally turn to pumpkins, cool breezes, the leaves chang- ing and juicy apples. In North Carolina such thoughts often include a longing for our own majestic mountains just a short ride up the highway. From the point where you can glimpse the first peak from your car to the most western part of the state, North Carolina's mountains of- fer up so many fall gifts you may just have to make several trips to take them all in. Some of the closest mountains to Fay- etteville are in the northwest corner of the state, home to several parks and recrea- tion areas from Hanging Rock and Pilot Mountain to the New River valley and beautiful Mount Jefferson. Rising 1,600 feet above any other land around it, Mount Jefferson is a perfect place to enjoy your first fall foliage hike with some panoramic views. A stop to see the fresco paintings at 30 | Anniversary Issue • 2011 North Carolina is packed with places to revel in fall color | BY DIANE SILCOX-JARRETT St. Mary's Episcopal Church in West Jef- ferson should be taken in. Farther southwest, a bit off the beaten path along the New River, the community of Todd, with its Todd General Store and Todd Mercantile and Bakery, offers a taste of mountains in the Ashe and Watauga County area. Emilie Enzmann, owner of the bakery, takes great pride in using or- ganic and locally grown items whenever possible. "In the fall we of course make lots of apple and pumpkin items. Apple cakes and pies along with pumpkin rolls and bread are some of our most sought after fall treats." She says some of the recipes she uses have been handed down through her family. Of course, the Boone-Blowing Rock area is always ready to welcome fall and visitors. If you want to test your nerves and fear of heights there is always the swinging bridge at Grandfather Mountain. Grand- father Mountain offers up some of the most majestic views in the North Carolina mountains along with great hiking trails. The Tanawha Trail, which means fabulous hawk or eagle in Cherokee, is a 13.5 mile trail that includes sections rated from easy to challenging and wherever you hike it, you get to enjoy the splendors of the area. The trail passes through hardwood coves, evergreen glens, over rushing streams and past apple orchards and an old grave site. Keep a sharp eye while you walk the trail because along the way are indigenous plants found nowhere else in the world. If you find yourself craving sweets, a great place to take care of that is at the Fudge House located near Grandfather Mountain. Not only does the Fudge House have some mouth-watering fudge, but it is a green building with bamboo floors, skylights, and a solar water heating system. Manager Anita Wilson is ready

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