Part II of the WYFF Sound Off South Interview

Click here for Part I

And the answers I wanted to give. As you can see, I'm better with a pen:

What are your top three destinations in NC?

1. Anything Blue Ridge Parkway. We've driven the entire road.

2. Pisgah National Forest

3. We haven't decided on a coastal favorite yet; we're still learning our way around. So far, it's between Lake Mattamuskeet and New Bern.

However, we haven't explored the Piedmont yet, though after researching a few potential destinations, I've stopped referring to it as the land between me and the mountains.

What would you say is a rare jewel in the Carolinas?

I automatically pictured the swamp at Cypress Gardens, the marshes at Cape Romain, and the haunting forest of Congaree, but then remembered the view from the end of Table Rock's Summit Trail, and Pearson Falls in Saluda. [And I failed to mention Pretty Place and places along the Outer Banks.]

However, we've yet to see spider lilies blanketing parts of Landsford Canal State Park, to stroll the pristine shores of Bulls Island, see the view from Jumping Off Rock, watch snow geese swirl over the pocosin lake at sunrise, or witness the wonder of sea turtles hatching before they make their way into the silvery ocean. So I think the best answer is the Carolinas themselves, since they're home to all of these.

Is there anything else you'd like to add?

As often as I can, I include warnings about dangers, both hidden and visible, one may encounter. We're so accustomed to walking around city streets and inside buildings, expecting care has been taken to ensure our safety. But as I've mentioned in several posts, nature doesn't care about liability, and when people steps in its boundaries, they do so at their own risk. Having learned the hard way, we tell people to watch out for snakes and other critters--including bears. To watch where they walk (rocks, holes and tree roots often litter trails), to make sure they fill out hiker registration forms available at many trailheads, and tell someone where they're going and what time they should return home. Take plenty of water, and wear appropriate clothing. I can't tell you how many people we've seen hiking Table Rock with purses and sandals. Heed warnings listed on websites or posted at the destination. Use common sense.

Above all, don't play near the edge of cliffs or on wet rocks around waterfalls. Have fun, but be careful. We want people to enjoy the Carolinas, but we want them to go home safely so they can return again.

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Thanks for sharing this event with me. In my mind, it isn't about us and our talent or work, it's about showcasing the wonders of the Carolinas, which we hope to continually explore, and to share with you.

Carolina Towns and Trails Featured on WYFF's Morning News

Exciting news! Last weekend, WYFF Channel 4 in Greenville, SC featured your humble blog on their Sound Off South segment of the morning news. I traveled to the glorious South Carolina Upstate for the interview, and after a ride down a portion of the Blue Ridge Parkway, followed by a somewhat sleepless night, I met Kelly Coakley at WYFF's studios.


Part I of the interview is below. I'll post Part II when it's available. I'm told I presented a calm demeanor, but in reality, I was nervous. Consequently, I forgot to mention a few things I'd hope to present. So below the clip are the answers I gave in the pre-interview. Hopefully, I'll get the information across one way or the other.

And the answers I'd hoped to give:

How did you pick the topic and name for your blog?

The topic flowed naturally from our adventures. In the spring of 2006, after two years of exploring SC and western NC, we joined a local hiking group thinking we'd seen pretty much all there was to see in the area. In addition to teaching us we had much to learn about the Carolinas, they introduced me to a creature called the trip report. I wrote several for the group after I joined, and wanted to share them with family members as well, so I started a blog and named it "Where the Buffaloe Roam".

A year later, the Fish & Bird Curator at Cypress Gardens left a comment on my post about that Moncks Corner attraction, which shocked me. I installed a counter and discovered more people than I'd imagined were accessing my posts. That taught me people were searching for information on Carolina destinations, and I had to do a better job presenting our experiences, which entailed including more relevant facts about those destination, and spending less time focusing on us. NCwaterfall.com's Rich Stevenson is a member of my hiking group. I'd accessed his site on numerous occasions before hikes, so I had a good idea of where to begin.

After shifting and improving the focus of the posts, I redecorated the site and included pictures to give visitors a visual portrait as well as a written one. The name change came last. Carolina Trails (which is part of the blog's address) was not only taken, it didn't fit the scope of my content. After brainstorming a bit, I worked out the new name, Carolina Towns and Trails.

How do you decide where to visit?

We have a general list of places we want to visit, but no set plan to get there. Often, we get in the car and one of us asks, "Where to?" Sometimes we haven't figured out the answer until we're well on our way. Other times, we'll have something in mind but will change our plan after pulling out of the driveway. I can't recommend doing that. But then again, it attests to the fact there are numerous destinations to choose from in the Carolinas.

What are your top three destinations in SC?

Off the top of my head, in SC:

1. Charleston, because there's so much to do in that city, and because of the proximity to other Lowcountry destinations. From there, we'll pop over to Edisto Beach, Beaufort, Mt. Pleasant, Summerville, Sullivan's Island and more.

2. Murrells Inlet. We love it. Love the restaurants, the Veterans Pier, the Marshwalk, Brookgreen Gardens and now, Huntington Beach State Park. We learn more about it every time we go. It's also close to Pawleys Island, Georgetown, Cape Romain, and a stash of yellow fringed orchids we like to visit.

3. The Upstate. We lived in this area for four years and felt very much at home. Downtown Greenville is a gem. We often drove down Main Street, then dined, and followed that up with a stroll along Falls Park. We love the mountains and hiking trails nearby as well. When family or friends stopped by for a visit, we usually took them to Table Rock Mountain and then up to Bald Rock and Caesars Head before heading to our favorite NC destinations...

(To Be Continued)