START YOUR ENGINES:

Nascar Revs It Up

By many parameters, NASCAR racing is really America's pastime. With a fan base of millions people (about a third of the nation's adult population), a single NASCAR race often draws bigger crowds than a Super Bowl, NBA finals game, and World Series game combined. In fact, NASCAR is the Number One spectator sport in the nation, with an average of attendance of about 100,000 fans per NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event. That's a lot of varied vehicles heading to races many weekends from spring to fall!

NASCAR fans are part of a fun and fueled driving culture. A Simmons National Consumer Survey revealed NASCAR fans own more vehicles, drive further distances, and simply like starting their assorted engines more than non-fans-to the tune or 25-50 percent more in most categories.

Originally published in TrailBlazer Magazine

ON THE ROAD: DARIUS RUCKER

Everyone knows his deep Southern drawl and 'Hootie' nickname, but some may not know that Darius Rucker (www.dariusrucker.com) is a Charleston, South Carolina native who can't stop singing the praises of his hometown. "I was born here," says Rucker. "Charleston is embedded in who I am."

Born in 1966 and bred in the Lowcountry, Rucker originally hit national airwaves and venues as the front man for Hootie and the Blowfish. With hits like "Hold My Hand" and "Only Wanna Be With You" topping the rock charts through the 90s, Rucker released the solo R&B disc "Back to Then" in 2002. More recently, his popular country CDs "Learn to Live" and 2010's "Charleston, SC 1966" have revealed his long-time love affair with country music-and Charleston.

In the CD liner notes for "Charleston, SC 1966," Rucker says, "I was born, raised, and live in the greatest city in the world. You should definitely visit." The CD's name is a tribute to an album titled "Del Rio, Texas 1959," by Radney Foster, which convinced Rucker to pursue country music. "I'd always liked country music, but that album was the first time I thought I could sing it."

Originally published in TrailBlazer Magazine

MILD TO WILD WHITEWATER

One of the many things I love about Charlotte's U.S. National Whitewater Center is that it provides a great "taste" of whitewater and other diversions in this adventure-rich region. With so many other mild to wild rivers and outfitters within easy driving distance of the Charlotte area, the USNWC is sure to seriously whet some appetites for further river explorations and more.
Along with other options nearby in North Carolina, an array of companies offer paddling possibilities in South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Virginia. A multi-location company appropriately called Wildwater specializes in adventures on and off rivers in the Carolinas, Georgia, and Tennessee. Adventures on the Gorge up in West Virginia offers river adventures and much more. And, over in Virginia, Riverside Outfitters features urban whitewater and more on Richmond's James River.

Originally published in TrailBlazer Magazine

WATERFRONT CAMPING WITH A VIEW

There’s just something about the water--and the beach. From the endless views to the sounds of waves, waterfront camping on or overlooking a beach just can’t be beat. With thousands of miles of beaches along the Atlantic, the Gulf, the Pacific, and the Great Lakes, it’s easy to find world-class waterfront camping right in the United States!

The Carolina Coast

The great states of North Carolina and South Carolina offer miles of peaceful beaches, with many located on outlying islands that also feature campgrounds (and seafood restaurants) that highlight the Atlantic Ocean above and below the surface. That’s certainly true up in the Outer Banks of North Carolina!

Originally published in RV View

KAYAKING NORTH CAROLINA'S

OUTER BANKS WITH KITTY HAWK KAYAKS

The Outer Banks, located in northeast North Carolina's Dare County, remain relatively pristine, making the area one of the best Atlantic Ocean getaways for the non-resort beach set. The natural environment and wildlife of the Outer Banks means the area is ideal for exploring by sea kayak and Kitty Hawk Kayaks is the ideal company to get you out and paddling in some of the East Coast's most pristine wilderness.

Kitty Hawk Kayaks was the original kayak company on the Outer Banks and is a division of windsurfing leader Kitty Hawk Sports. For the 1995 season, they've added new tours and programs that offer more unique forms of adventurous exploration in this extraordinary ecosystem.

Originally published in Ecotraveler

DOME-ESTIC BLISS

Yurts -- circular, domed tents -- combine camping with comfort at Bryson City's Falling Waters Adventure Resort.

If you love the outdoors, but your idea of “roughing it” doesn't necessarily involve a traditional tent and sleeping bag, then Bryson City’s Falling Waters Adventure Resort has yurts you'll love. Quite simply, yurts place the concepts of "luxury" and "camping" under one, well, roof.

Tenting Tonight

I found out about the yurts while planning a whitewater rafting trip with Wildwater Ltd., a rafting outfitter on the Nantahala River. One of the premier adventure operators in the nation (including two locations in Tennessee and one in South Carolina), Wildwater was founded 35 years ago and welcomed its 1 millionth rafter last summer.

Originally published in Our State Magazine

NORTH CAROLINA:

The Graveyard of the Atlantic and other geographic wonders

When most new divers think of diving in the Western Hemisphere, they think anything north of Florida may involve cold water, low visibility, and little to see. That's because many new divers don't know about North Carolina. It's the perfect place for an introduction to wreck diving and all that North Carolina's unique geography has to offer.

GEOGRAPHY

Mother Nature has cooperated to provide near-perfect conditions for a diving experience unlike anything else in the world. The warm Gulf Stream flows closer to the North Carolina coast than anywhere else in the east, except for the tip of Florida. The result is abnormally warm and clear water. Add to this mix more than 2,000 natural wrecks and just thank Mother Nature and the diving gods and goddesses.

Originally published in Dive Geo

THE NANTAHALA OUTDOOR CENTER:

A SOUTHEAST OUTDOORS MECCA

If you thought you had to head out west for world-famous whitewater adventures and instruction, think again. A whitewater instruction mecca is situated nearby, just south in North Carolina.

The Nantahala Outdoor Center in Bryson City, North Carolina is an ideal destination for adventurers of all types. Located just outside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the center has become a magnet for people interested in whitewater canoeing and kayaking, rock climbing, mountain biking, kayak touring, and other outdoor activities. Over the years, the NOC has become world-famous for its unsurpassed outdoor instruction programs.

Originally published in Washingtonian Magazine

MANUFACTURERS & DEALERS DO THE CHARLESTON

Charleston’s East Coast Canoe & Kayak Festival has obviously become a big deal to manufacturers and dealers. The 12th annual version this past April drew more boaters and exhibitors than ever, with a long list of top manufacturers and dealers in attendance.

“It’s a unique opportunity for paddlers to interact with all aspects of the industry,” says John Pagenstecher, a ten-time attendee who was once a manufacturer’s representative for companies like Wilderness Systems and Kokotat. He’s now co-owner of Carolina Coastal Adventures/Kayak Carolina, an outfitter in Carolina Beach, North Carolina. “From designers to manufacturers, instructors, guides, and retailers, everyone’s here,” he adds. John’s wife, Angela, who is the other owner of the company, taught several classes during this year’s festival.

Originally published in Paddle Dealer

AN OUTER BANKS ADVENTURE

When you think surf-fishing, you think sand, surf, and lots of fighting fish. That’s exactly what you'll find--and more--along North Carolina’s famed Outer Banks.

This area may be one of the best surf-fishing getaways in the world. The barrier-island chain juts out into the Atlantic Ocean like a giant fish surrounded by waters teeming with fish. Combine the ideal location with several beaches where driving is allowed, a wide variety of accommodations options, super seafood, and lots of local fishing experts, and you have a surf-fishing Mecca.

Originally published in Southern Progress

CANOE CAMPING IN A TREEHOUSE

A treehouse just may offer one of the most civilized canoe camping experiences a paddler can possible find. And, it seems only fitting that it’s in the genteel state of South Carolina, where paddling has a distinctively southern-and civil-accent.

The two treehouses on the Edisto River were the brainchild of Scott Kennedy, founder of Carolina Heritage Outfitters-a long-time paddler’s paradise that he recently sold to Coastal Expeditions. The new owners, also veteran South Carolina operators are committed to keeping the treehouse experience the same or even better.

Originally published in Canoe&Kayak.com

SMOKIN' IN THE SMOKIES:

NORTH CAROLINA'S NANTAHALA OUTDOOR CENTER

The Nantahala Outdoor Center in Bryson City, North Carolina, has developed from a whitewater paddling mecca into a complete outdoor adventure destination. Located just outside the stunning Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the NOC has become well-known for its unsurpassed outdoor instruction and programs. With great mountain biking terrain and a brand new full-service bike shop, the NOC is now a major mountain biking destination.

The center was started as a family venture in the summer of 1972, when Horace Holden and Payson and Aurelia Kennedy of Atlanta opened a restaurant, a motel, and an outfitters store in the Nantahala Gorge. Their objective was to provide facilities, services, and instruction to help others enjoy the mountains, the Nantahala River, and other nearby rivers. They began by offering guided rafting trips on the Nantahala and the Chattooga, as well as whitewater canoe and kayak lessons.

Originally published in Mountain Bike Magazine

ADVENTURE GATEWAY:

ONE-STOP SHOPPING FOR PADDLING ADVENTURES

If you’re looking for one-stop shopping when it comes to river adventures that range from mild to wild, simply contact Adventure Gateway. This consortium of high-quality companies located throughout the U.S. makes it easy to book a complete paddling getaway ranging from a half-day to more than a week.

Organized in 2002 and made up of 11 companies, Adventure Gateway provides a perfect portal to a wide range of paddling offerings on more than 30 rivers. They strive for quality and only accept new members to the group by unanimous vote. Collectively, they’ve been in business for more than 300 years and several companies started in the 1960s--when whitewater rafting was in its infancy.

Originally published in Bend Weekly

THE NORTH CAROLINA COAST:

UNDERWATER MILITARY HISTORY

Many members of the Armed Forces are intrigued by military history. But not all history can be found on battlefields and in museums. Lots of history can be found off the coast of North Carolina. . . and it's underwater.

When most people think of scuba diving, they think anything north of Florida will likely involve cold water, low visibility, and little to see. That's because many divers haven't been to North Carolina. It's a wreck diver's (and military history lover's) dream. For non-divers, the North Carolina coast offers the perfect place to learn and experience world-famous diving and lots of unique history.

Originally published in Army, Air Force, and Navy Time