Looking at Looking Glass Rock

The Blue Ridge Parkway provides the onlooker with majestic views of mountain ranges.This scenic highway is equipped with overlook parking areas for the parkway visitor to relax and enjoy the view. The section of highway between Graveyard Fields Overlook (mile marker 418) and US 276 provides a view unlike any other that can be seen along the Blue Ridge Parkway. The onlooker travelling through this section of the parkway can look at Looking Glass Rock.

The construction workers who carved the roadway out of the mountain side must have been inspired while working this section of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Their labor paved the way for all who travel this way the opportunity to experience an incredible view of Looking Glass Rock. This inspiring backdrop can be seen from one of several overlook parking areas.Tourists and local residents alike will marvel at the majestic beauty before their eyes.

Looking Glass Rock is a gigantic rock rising up out of the earth.While the viewing angle from the parkway may be looking slightly downward towards Looking Glass Rock, don't let this vantage point deceive you. The height of this rock is 1500 feet from its base to the summit.The lofty heights of the rock face is the home of the Peregrine Falcon. Adventurous rock climbers also seek the heights of the rock face.

Looking Glass Rock is one of the more notable rocks of western North Carolina, other notable rocks include Chimney Rock, Shining Rock, and John's Rock. This particular rock resides within the Pisgah National Forest and is surrounded by hundreds of acres of undeveloped landscape. The Blue Ridge Parkway provides excellent viewing opportunities of Looking Glass Rock. The brilliant display of beauty beacons the would-be traveler to partake in the thrill of an exceptional viewing experience.

Land of Waterfalls

Southwest of Asheville, North Carolina lies Transylvania County, the 'Land of Waterfalls'. This beautiful landscape has most everything that mountain outdoors has to offer; gorgeous mountain views, terrific hiking trails, exhilarating waterfalls, horseback riding, mountain biking, picture perfect picnic sites, and fabulous fly fishing to name a few. Transylvania County is the home to the Pisgah National Forest, DuPont State Recreational Forest, Gorges State Park, and the Cradle of Forestry. The Blue Ridge Parkway also winds its way through Transylvania County as it stretches from Northern Virginia to Western North Carolina.

Pisgah National Forest

Looking Glass Falls

Pisgah National Forest is an outdoor enthusiast paradise. Many of Transylvania's most notable waterfalls lie within the borders of Pisgah National Forest which include, Looking Glass Falls, Sliding Rock Falls, Moore Cove Falls, Slick Rock Falls, Daniel Ridge Falls, Cedar Rock Falls, Grogan Creek Falls, Twin Falls, and Courthouse Falls.

While Looking Glass Falls is the most accessible and most impressive, Sliding Rock Falls is the most entertaining Thousands of visitors slide down the rock into the chilly waters waiting at the bottom. Slick Rock falls and Courthouse Falls are located near a gravel parking area. Moore Cove Falls and Daniel Ridge Falls can be reached with an easy hike. Cedar Rock Falls, Grogan Creek Falls, and Twin Falls require a vigorous hike to view.

Make it a quest to visit each waterfall the Pisgah National Forest has to offer. Whether you are looking for a day adventure, weekend getaway, or an extended vacation Pisgah National Forest provides a great getaway. Each waterfall provides a unique experience. Visit one or visit them all. Beautiful waterfalls are waiting to be discovered.

Courthouse Falls

Slick Rock Falls

Pisgah National Forest also contains challenging hiking trails.

Looking Glass Rock trail is 6.2 miles round trip to the top of Looking Glass Rock and rises over 1500 feet from the beginning of the trail to the summit. The mountain range view from the top of Looking Glass Rock is breathtaking.

John's Rock is another adventure trail located within the Pisgah National Forest. This trail begins at the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education and rises 1000 feet. The round trip journey is five miles. John's Rock hiking attractions include spectacular views, access to Cedar Rock Falls, and lovable log bridges.

For an in depth look at Looking Glass Rock Trail [click here].

For an in depth look at John's Rock Trail [click here].

Daniel Ridge Falls

Moore Cove Falls

With so many activities to explore within Pisgah National Forest an overnight camping trip may be in order. Davidson River Campgrounds provides a more civilized camping experience with over 150 camping sites, modern facilities including hot showers, and  limited number of sites with electric hook-ups. If you prefer a more rugged camping experience here are plenty of roadside campsites to choose from. Most are ideally located along the branches and streams that feed into the Davidson River. There are no hook-ups for the roadside campsites so bring your tent and camping gear.

Cedar Rock Falls

Grogan Creek Falls

Perhaps picnicking is your pleasure. There are numerous picnic sites scattered throughout the Pisgah National Forest equipped to accommodate both large gatherings or single family outings.  Sycamore Falls picnic area has covered sheds and restroom facilities with a convenient access to Davidson River. If you prefer roadside picnic tables then Pisgah National Forest has those too. Come early and come often. Easy access makes Pisgah National Forest the ideal place to make memorable moments that will last a lifetime.

Keep Moving Forward

Critic Cricket Reviews Meet the Robinsons

Left on the steps of an orphanage, does his mother no longer care?

Lewis is a young inspiring inventor but what’s with the spiked hair?

No one seems to want him, will he ever find a happy home?

He keeps working on his inventions, has he never heard of a comb?

If only he could remember his mother, as a little baby her face he has seen.

If he is such a good inventor then he should invent a memory scanning machine.

The memory of his mother has to be somewhere inside his brain.

With the help from this invention any lost memory he can regain.

This invention will take lots of work, he can get his roommate Goob to help him out,

Then he can unveil it at the science fair where its success will leave no doubt.

Goob was so tired from helping Lewis that he fell asleep in his little league game.

Goob could have made the winning catch but instead his life will never be the same.

Meanwhile back at the school science fair Lewis is approached by a time cop

Who is from the future and sabotage to the memory scanning machine he must stop.

The time travelers name is Wilbur who is actually a thirteen year old boy.

He claims there is a boiler hat guy from the future on a mission to destroy.

Lewis does not believe Wilbur although the boiler hat guy is real.

When Wilbur jumps the wrong person it makes a young girl squeal.

The girl’s name is Franny, her exhibit is to show how frogs can sing.

She sticks to her convictions no matter how much teasing it may bring.

While Wilbur helped gather the frogs the boiler hat guy enacted his plan.

Loosening a bracket caused an explosion, where are the pieces going to land?

Lewis is frustrated at his failure so he decides to run away.

Wilbur follows close, one simple failure can’t stand in the way.

The memory scanning machine must be repaired at any and all cost.

If the boiler hat guy is successful then life as we know it will be lost.

In order to convince Lewis that the words he speaks are true

Wilbur takes Lewis to the future, what else is a time traveler suppose to do?

Does Lewis fix the memory scanning machine in time to restore the space / time continuum? Critic Cricket will not say how the movie ends.

No matter what the outcome, a time traveling teenager and a young aspiring inventor makes a unique pair of friends.

More Critic Cricket movie reviews.

Outside Your Door

Do animals have rights? Some say it should be.

There’s no place in this world for animal cruelty.

Animals were created by God and placed here on earth.

Are they granted any rights from the time of their birth?

Those chosen as pets should have sweet happy dreams,

But everything around us is not always as it seems.

I hold out my hands as I look to the sky.

Why do God’s animals have to tragically die?

Pitted against each other in a duel to the death.

The fighting isn’t over until one no longer draws breath.

You’ve trained your pet well, is it ready for the pit?

If others were to ask, it’s not something you’d admit.

Money exchanging hands as fast as the eye can see.

Everyone wants to bet on which will score a victory.

You don’t care if the animals have any rights.

You are only interested in watching them fight.

You tied two cats tails together with some twine.

When the knot was secure you tossed them over a clothesline.

They scratched and clawed until one’s life was spent.

This is what you considered to be entertainment.

You discarded the dead one and set the live one free.

This was your reward as the spoils of victory.

You don’t care if the animals have any rights.

You are only interested in watching them fight.

While you sat in warmth having a good time,

You didn’t realize that you may be committing a crime.

But if the truth were to be told

You left your puppy out in the cold.

It cried for help until it could whimper no more.

It froze to death that night just outside your door.

You buried it in your yard to keep suspicion at bay.

When someone asked, you said it ran away.

Tweeting The Night Away

Well I heard so much about Twitter

That it was getting too hard to omitter

So I decided that I would check it out.

Now I have never been known as a quitter

But I must admit my nerves were a jitter

Because I had heard that Twitter carried clout.

You post a message that is called a Tweet.

The trick is to keep it short and sweet.

So be clever with what you have to say.

You can follow your favorite interests, how neat.

For getting the latest info this site is hard to beat.

Now I enjoy Tweeting the night away.

Twitter is social networking service where members answer the question ‘What are you doing?’ A Tweet can be up to 140 characters so it is not a site to post a written article but it is a good site to post a tidbit. For example, if I were a famous poet I could not post my poetry on Twitter, however, I could post a Tweet about where my next poem is to be published so my adoring fans could find it.

There is more to Twitter than just a place for famous people to post tidbits for their fans. You can follow topics of interest such as news, politics, sports, entertainment, public safety or just about any topic of interest through Twitter. Simply find the topics or persons that you are interest in, click follow and you will receive their updates. Think of Twitter as a traffic cop where Tweets from all the people you are following are gathered in one spot. The people that you are following can provide links that will take you directly to a website or blog if you want to investigate further.

Twitter is a good site to post a Tweet about your thoughts and opinions too. If you are passionate about a particular subject Twitter is a good tool to help you get the word out.

Twitter is also a good site for ‘if you look at mine then I will look at yours type posts’. Get you mind out of the gutter. I am referring to websites. If you have a personal website Twitter can be another tool to generate traffic to your website. You can post a catchy phrase or snappy headline in your Tweet to create interest and a link to your site. In return you can look at websites from you friends profiles.

Although I must admit that I did consider

Reflecting about this review while sitting on a $@*#!%#.

There you go again with your mind in the gutter. I was referring to a critter, like horseback riding. Here I am thinking about enjoying the wide open spaces and some of you have your minds in the outhouse.

Since my primary thought emitter

Now includes thinking about Twitter

I like to take a sheet

So I can work on my tweet.

I said sheet, like a piece of paper. I like to keep something handy to write on whenever I get a thought. Give me a break.