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What a difference a few decades make! The images of New York City were taken in 1970 (Bernard Gotfryd, Library of Congress) and in 2018 by Afif Ramdhasuma (from pexels.com). Earth Day has been celebrated on April 22 since it was established through grassroots efforts in 1970. It was a response to increasing concerns caused by smog (intense air pollution caused mainly by exhaust fumes), Great Lakes at risk of dying from pesticide runoff and waste dumping, and rivers that caught on fire (the Cuyahoga River in Ohio famously caught fire in June of 1969). It was also the year when monumental legislation was enacted to address all kinds of environmental concerns. ...read more
At Home | Inspiration
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If it’s true, as they say, that seeing is believing, then we at Mast Store would like to propose another entry to your quip collection: Doing is moving. “Doing” not only requires movement - “doing” moves you both physically and emotionally. ...read more
Local Flavor | Mast Family Favorites | Travel
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What is a library? It’s a big building with lots of books in it. But wait, it’s so much more. The library is a gateway to your wildest dreams, a place to learn, a place to imagine, a place to make friends. Today’s libraries are repositories of books, but they also are places to get help to learn to read or improve your reading, to improve your math skills, to listen to a performance by a string quartet, to watch a movie, to refine your crafting skills, and to gather with fellow writers. Yes, libraries are SO much more. ...read more
Adventure | Inspiration | Mast Family Favorites
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... Our favorite foods! Food is universal because everybody’s got ta eat! And the last two months of the year are filled with more than their fair share of family meals, work gatherings, special outings to favorite restaurants, tins filled with homemade cookies and fudge, and the anticipation of food traditions handed down from generation to generation ...read more
At Home | Recipes
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Even before we bought the Mast General Store, we were taken by the beauty of Valle Crucis. We’ve heard people describe the drive out Broadstone Road as traveling through a time portal. In the 1970s, fields in the river bottoms would be filled with tobacco, cabbage, or high with hay to feed cattle that were grazing in the summer pasture. ...read more
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The lucky few who have seen the Earth from a different perspective – astronauts - all echo the same viewpoint upon their return. Yuri Gagarin, a Russian cosmonaut and the first human to go to space, commented, “Orbiting Earth in the spaceship, I saw how beautiful our planet is. People, let us preserve and increase this beauty, not destroy it.”
Behind the Scenes | Inspiration
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My favorite National Park is the Blue Ridge Parkway. It’s wonderful to be able to experience it by car for as little or as long as you'd like. You can take a short drive to refresh your mind when you've got just an hour, or you could spend entire weeks driving and stopping at all the overlooks and park attractions.
The overlooks are often breathtaking and educational. Thunder Hill is a favorite spot that I've visited countless times. The panorama off the mountain during the day is absolutely stunning and the lights of Charlotte can be seen glowing faintly on most nights.
The Linn Cove Viaduct is another sight to behold. The road itself winds off the side of the mountain in a striking fashion. Another overlook I plan on revisiting is a view of the famed Brown Mountain Lights which are still unsolved and shrouded in mystery.
There are many ways to enjoy the Parkway like hiking, picnicking, camping to waterfalls, craft centers, and historic venues. Price Lake is a great spot to go boating and has good ol' classic camp grounds. Across the street is park area where lots of people play Frisbee and grill out during the Summer.
Some of my favorite hiking trails in the country are along the Parkway. The Tanawha Trail starts at Price Park and follows the renowned Linn Cove Viaduct. The Mountains-to-Sea Trail meanders through farm pastures, under rocky crags, and crosses the Parkway in many places. The Boone Scout Trail is accessible from the Parkway to the Calloway Peak summit on Grandfather Mountain. My go-to hiking spot to wow friends and family visiting the area is Rough Ridge. It's a fairly short, but stout hike with incredibly rewarding vistas.
Another great aspect of the Blue Ridge Parkway is the ability to access other local towns and communities for an endless variety of trips and excursions. I like to visit Asheville to the South and Roanoke to the North. I incorporate the Parkway into my route and it makes for an amazing facet to my travels. I'll often exit the Parkway to a town I've never been to and explore a little there. I like finding a new eatery, checking out shops, or simply stopping for gas.
The Blue Ridge Parkway continues to fascinate me even when I'm not taking it in. The rich history has depth in how big the park is, how many years it took to complete, and the many people and communities which were involved in its construction. It’s remarkable that so many generations of local people were involved, from stone masons building massive bridges and tunnels to Park Rangers protecting flora and fauna.
My camera always goes with me and I've even made some music playlists just for my rides on the Parkway. I've got in the habit of packing a quick day bag to toss in the car whenever I plan on hitting my favorite stretch of road. It contains some essentials like a few different clothing layers, water, snacks, a map, and some good hiking shoes. The day bag comes in handy because I never know when I'll be tempted to explore!
- Fox, Mast Store Home Office
For more of our Mast Family National Park Service adventures and recommendations, click HERE