Anna Ruby Falls, Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest, Georgia

Where does the water forming Anna Ruby Falls come from? Above the falls is a 2,600-acre basin on the southern side of Tray Mountain. This forested watershed stores, filters and funnels rain water into streams that lead to the twin waterfalls. Abundant, clean water is one of the prime values of a healthy forest. The mountains in this forest are a part of the Blue Ridge, which runs from Virginia, through North and South Carolina into Georgia. The geology here is ancient and complex. About 300 million years ago continental plates collided, buckling the earth's surface, and creating mountains. Erosion has reduced the once massive mountains to their present form.

Botanical Gardens & Geology Museum, Clemson, South Carolina

Open to the public at no charge, Clemson University has a beautiful botanical garden where they study plants and butterflies. There are trails, pathways, ponds, streams, woodlands, xeroscape, and trial gardens. Dogs are allowed on the trails, and the girls enjoyed the walk around the gardens. When we were there workers were building a gazebo out in the middle of a pond. It should be very nice when completed.

Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, Manteo, North Carolina

Roanoke Island has been the scene of historical dramas spanning over three centuries. Algonquians, European settlers, Civil War soldiers, and African Americans have played their parts. Between 1584 and 1587, Sir Walter Raleigh sent three ships across the Atlantic Ocean from England to the New World. These voyages became known as the Roanoke Voyages. During the Civil War, Union troops occupied Roanoke Island, which hosted a colony where the formerly enslaved prepared for life after the war. Radio pioneer Reginald Fessenden transmitted the human voice using wireless technology on Roanoke Island in 1902. Fort Raleigh National Historic Site preserves sites and commemorates the stories connected with these events.

Map, circa 1492

Wright Brothers National Memorial, Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina

The Wright Brothers National Memorial Visitor Center highlights their lives and family with exhibits and programs that tell the story of the Wright Brothers' progress from beginning to first flight. It sits on the actual site where their first four flights took place on December 17, 1903.

Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge, Outer Banks, North Carolina

Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1937. It's located on Hatteras Island on the Outer Banks of North Carolina on the Pamlico Sound side of the Island. The Sound is relatively shallow throughout, averaging 5 to 6 feet from the island to the mainland (about 15 to 20 miles) and is about 80 miles long. We did not see many birds or wildlife when we took the trail to the lookout point, except for a couple of Canada Geese. So most of the pictures are taken from the brochure and inside the Visitor Center.

Monument to a Century of Flight, Kitty Hawk, North Carolina

Took a long drive up Highway 12 from the campground to the northern end of the island to go to Walmart with stops at the Monument to a Century of Flight and the Wright Brothers Memorial. The Monument is at the Visitor Center and is dedicated to the many years we have found ways to get into the air.

Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum, Hatteras, North Carolina

The water off the coast of Hatteras is treacherous and bears the name Graveyard of the Atlantic. Over 600 ships wrecked there as victims of shallow shoals, storms, and war. Diamond Shoals, a bank of shifting sand ridges hidden beneath a turbulent sea off Cape Hatteras, has never promised ships a safe passage, but seafarers risked the shoals to take advantage of the north- or south-flowing currents passing nearby. Many never reached their destination. Fierce winter nor'easters and hurricanes have driven many ships aground, like the schooners Carroll A. Deering in 1921, G.A. Kohler in 1933, and the infamous Blackbeard's Queen Anne's Revenge.

Ghost Fleet of the Outer Banks

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, Hatteras, North Carolina

Since 1803 there has been a lighthouse near Cape Hatteras warning mariners of the Diamond Shoals ~~ dangerous shifting sands just under the ocean surface upon which ships wrecked. For over 130 years, 82 known lighthouse keepers have kept the light shining to help guide ships to safe passage and save mariners' lives. The first lighthouse keeper of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse from 1803 to 1809 was Adam Gaskins; in 1809 Joseph Farrow took over. The last time the lighthouse had a keeper was in 1989.

Blackbeard & Queen Anne's Revenge, Beaufort, North Carolina

We visited the North Carolina Maritime Museum where they had a special exhibit about Blackbeard. His ship was recently recovered with some of the artifacts from his ship on display here, and some of the ship itself is on display in Greenville, North Carolina.