Writing — Page 23

Triple Falls in DuPont State Forest — three tiers of Little River waterfalls, a Hunger Games filming location, and some of the best hiking in western North Carolina.

The highest waterfall east of the Rockies at up to 411 feet, plunging through Nantahala National Forest on the NC-SC border.

A 14-foot waterfall in DuPont State Forest with one of the best swimming holes in western North Carolina — short hike, big payoff.

A 60-foot roadside waterfall in Pisgah National Forest near Brevard, NC — most accessible and most beautiful, no hike required.

The Blue Ridge Parkway runs 469 miles through the Appalachians from Virginia to North Carolina, with no stoplights, no trucks, and an overlook every 1.7 miles — one of the country's most celebrated scenic drives.

A short Ozark hike through a rocky gorge with hand-cut stone steps, small waterfalls, and the alleged hideout of the Jesse James gang after the Gads Hill robbery.

Nearly 7,000 acres of St. Charles County habitat with 32 fishing lakes, diverse wildlife, and a history tied to the Anheuser-Busch family and Missouri conservation.

Missouri best-preserved water-powered gristmill, built in 1908 on Huzzah Creek — the red building, blue water, and intact original machinery make it unforgettable.

An Ozark shut-in where Rocky Creek cascades 40 feet over billion-year-old rhyolite — one of Missouri's best natural swimming holes and an Ozark Trail trailhead.