Raven Rock State Park - First Day Hike in 2023

As 2022 has come to a close, we decided to welcome 2023 with a simple First Day Hike at Raven Rock State Park. Located in the Piedmont of North Carolina in Lillington about 40 miles southwest of Raleigh, I was not sure what to expect. I had noticed multiple dates when North Carolina State Parks would list this park as full on their website and on Facebook, so I was curious why the park seemed so popular. This is one of the many state parks that does not charge an admission or parking fee.

The drive to the park was pretty uneventful. The roads were not particularly curvy and the signage and GPS worked well for our crew. As we approached the gate around 3:45 p.m., I noticed one sign that said the wait would be around 45 minutes to an hour from that point. I was glad the line was not that long, but we did have to wait for about 10-15 minutes to get in the gate. A ranger was letting in vehicles as vehicles were leaving the park. Rarely have we ever been to a state park that is full to capacity, particularly in the winter; however, we were visiting on the first day of the year when many parks encourage people to start the year out with a First Day Hike, so the number of people visiting was probably higher than normal. Also, the temperatures were hovering in the 50s and 60s, which is just about perfect for hiking trails.

The park appeared quite small with one parking lot on the right and the visitor center parking lots a short distance beyond that on the main road, which could explain why the park fills to capacity frequently. We did not venture over to the campground area; I believe the campground is closed due to construction. We also did not hike to the Cape Fear River, which looks to be quite the scenic spot at this park.

We opted to go to the Visitor Center first. The person at the desk was friendly and helpful. North Carolina State Parks offers a free passport program where you can get a booklet stamped as you visit each park, and the welcome center is generally where you can get your passport stamped and get tips for enjoying your day at the park. The welcome center does have some taxidermy stuffed animals, so that might be helpful to know if you have a child who loves live animals and might find that upsetting.

The lobby contains several interesting displays with arrowheads and various types of hand hewn tools. Visitors can also learn about the local ecology, good stewardship, and conservation efforts by reading, watching a quick video, and interacting with the displays. Visitors can find a QR code and a printed trail map on the wall just outside of the front door of the welcome center. We usually pick up a printed map in case cell signals are not strong at the parks.

We noticed a sign in front of the welcome center that stated the bathrooms would close at 4:30, but we were told the bathrooms at the parking lot closer to the entrance stayed open until the park closed. I'm not sure if this is a daily policy, but you might plan bathroom breaks carefully, particularly if you are traveling with children and if both parking lots are full. 

We opted to hike two trails on the day we visited: Longleaf Loop and American Beech.

The Longleaf Loop trail is classified as an easy hike accessible for those with special needs. The trail is very short, 0.2 mile, and is located directly behind the welcome center just a few steps past a fire pit at the end of a walkway. This trail remains almost in sight of the welcome center. The natural walking surface is not paved and has a few small roots and rocks, but it was easy to navigate. Below you can see a photo of the largest root on this trail on the day we hiked; the sides of the trail would allow people to go around that root. The trail appeared well maintained and easy to navigate. If the area had significant rain, I think the trail would have the potential to get muddy, which could pose a challenge if attempting to travel on it via wheelchair or stroller since it is not paved, but otherwise, this trail would work well for people of almost any physical ability.

The Longleaf Loop trail had several informational signs posted along the walk under the fitting canopy of several large longleaf pines. Since we were visiting in the winter, the deciduous trees had already lost their leaves, but the evergreens offered ample shade. Our group strolled leisurely while I snapped photos and we completed the loop in less than 15 minutes.

We drove to the other parking lot with a large picnic shelter that was closer to the entrance to access the American Beech Trail. Near the trailhead, a display with informational Track Trail Adventures pamphlets featured: Nature's Hide and Seek, Birds of the Piedmont, The Need for Trees, and Hikin' to Find Lichen. The colorful pamphlets featured nice pictures and interesting information that people could use on the trail along with a QR code for accessing the web site. North Carolina state parks has a different theme each year; 2022 marked the Year of the Tree, so if you are an educator or like to infuse environmental education with outdoor activities, you can find a wealth of pertinent information to go along with the brochures.

This loop trail had some areas with more rugged terrain and a slight grade going down to a small creek and returning back uphill. This trail would not have been accessible for those in wheelchairs or strollers, and I would not recommend it for someone who has problems with balance due to multiple natural roots along the trail. However, one of my daughters insisted on wearing flip flops for this hike and she was able to navigate this trail without any problems. The web site lists this short trail as one of those falling under easy in terms of difficulty.

The American Beech Trail was also shaded, and I thought the scenery was a bit more interesting since it had a feel of being more secluded than the Longleaf Loop trail. We walked a little ways to the right and behind the picnic shelter to find the trailhead. Soon after starting the hike, the trail began to meander downhill to a small creek. For me, listening to the sound of running water is always a welcome addition to hiking. Morning doves were calling back and forth throughout much of our New Year hike. We noticed one wooden bench near the creek on the side of the trail but opted not to rest since this trail was also pretty short.

As we approached the creek and crossed a small wooden bridge, we noticed that the trail got muddy with large puddles. I could see another small bridge just a few feet further down the creek, so I'm assuming we were very close to the far side of the loop. We opted to turn back and return to the parking lot the way we came. Yep, my crew did not want to get muddy shoes today! I would recommend wearing hiking boots or shoes you don't mind getting muddy if you hike this trail when it is wet. From what I could see, only a fairly small portion of this trail was wet. Total time to hike this trail was less than 20 minutes at a leisurely pace with multiple pauses for pictures.

Signage and upkeep for the American Beech Trail was also good. I never saw a piece of trash on either trail, which is a testament either to the hikers for adhering to the expectation to leave nothing but footprints and take nothing put photos and/or to the staff for regularly checking to ensure that the trails remain clean and enjoyable for everyone. Even on short trails, if you slow down and look around, you can find beautiful and simple pleasures, like a pine cone or holes that a bird left after looking for food along a tree trunk.

We only scratched the surface of this state park that offers 14 trails, ranging from 0.2 miles to 4.3 miles. Some trails welcome bikes and this park does have a few equestrian trails for those who have horses. In addition to hiking, biking, and equestrian riding, some visitors enjoy paddling and fishing at the Cape Fear River. Photos of the overlook online are quite beautiful! Visit the Raven Rock State Park page of the North Carolina State Parks web site for directions, trail status, park information, and more. If you are planning to visit the park, I would recommend checking the web site and/or Facebook to ensure they are not beyond capacity. If you did arrive to find a long line, you might try visiting nearby Weymouth Woods Sandhills Nature Preserve, Haw River State Park, or the NC Zoo.

Thanks so much for visiting my Travel NC With Kids blog! Feel free to explore my site map, type your desired topic in my search bar, or you may wish to also read these related articles:

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Rio Doce Gem Mine in Spruce Pine NC

Rio Doce Gem Mine is perched along Highway 226 almost in sight of the Blue Ridge Parkway in Spruce Pine, North Carolina. We had visited Linville Caverns earlier in the day. I had read about this gem mine and it was open on Sundays, so we decided to try it out. The mine was easy for me to find with a tall sign and beautiful, colorful flowers inviting us to give it a try!

We visited on a Sunday afternoon in mid-July and were lucky enough to be the only visitors. We hear they can be quite busy any day of the week but are often busier when it is raining and after about 3 p.m. when many hikers are done exploring and ready for their next adventure. Their hours are posted on the web site.

Gem mines typically offer various sizes of buckets that are mostly filled with something like gravel with some uncut gems interspersed within the mix. This gem mine offered a variety of bucket sizes with several additional options. Those purchasing larger buckets could choose a mix of gems or buckets with specific gems or fossils. Those wishing to have a gem cut can select pricing for either one or two cut gems which are mailed to you within a few weeks. For an extra $5, you can choose a family bucket that has one small special pre-cut gem, but we didn't opt for that since I had three kids with me.

Gem mining is a popular family activity throughout North Carolina, but I don't recall ever having done so. My kids have had the opportunity to do gem mining several times, so I leaned heavily upon their opinions regarding how this gem mine compares to other ones they visited.

We selected the family-sized bucket with a mix of gems sourced locally and internationally. Kim picked out our bucket and showed us what to do. We scooped out the mix into boxes with wire bottoms for sifting. Water flows along a track that will wash the dirt off so you can pick out any gems. I recommend looking at the beautiful flowers below the sluice.

Some of the gems were pretty obvious with bright colors and larger sizes. We were not sure about a few of the rocks, so I told my crew if in doubt to include the rocks with their special finds just in case. With four of us working together, we sifted through the large bucket in about 15 or 20 minutes. It was a fun activity of searching for birth stones and special finds!

After we had separated our special finds, we were invited back into the store. Kim and Elain then separated the gems we saved and identified each one, showing us examples of cut stones of the same type. It was fun for me to just stand back and watch the excitement in the room as various stones were identified. Each of us had a sandwich-sized Ziplock bag filled with gems to take home.

Elaine and Kim both seemed quite knowledgeable about the stones. Some stones were easy to identify, but some were different shades from the ones on display and were a bit harder to identify. Their official web site has nice photos of various stones that folks may find in the buckets. They had boxes of prepared stones and showed us how our various stones could look if they were polished and cut. It was actually quite educational and interesting to learn about the various rocks.

Kim mentioned that she is an accountant who helps on Sundays. Elaine is one of the owners and has a delightful British account that she acquired growing up in London. They took the time to chat with us for quite a while as we talked about the rocks, jewelry, and more. We learned quite a bit about different markings on jewelry. Elaine and Kim were quick to answer questions and offer suggestions after learning about my kids' different interests.

My kids mentioned that this gem mine had a larger number of gems per bucket compared to other gem mines they had visited. They also mentioned that at the other mines, they were handed a card for identifying the gems but that nobody looked at their gems to help them to identify what they had found. I think the personalized experience set this gem mine above the rest for my crew.

Lapidary supplies are in the back of the store where the stones are cut. If you are interested in learning more about various techniques for cutting and setting stones, they offer weekly and daily classes by appointment only and also sell lapidary supplies.

The store has a nice variety of items for sale, from arrowheads and jewelry to stone sculptures and lights. We enjoyed looking at all the impressive stonework in the store. Prices seemed to be in line with other stores in the area.

We traveled along I-40 and then Highway 221 for the vast majority of our travel time. If you have children who are prone to get carsick, I recommend waiting to eat and considering sea bands to prepare because Highway 226 has quite a few steep curves and is on a moderate grade for the foothills/mountains area in North Carolina.

My crew thoroughly thoroughly enjoyed the afternoon we spent at Rio Doce Gem Mine. This was a great activity for a hot and humid day in July. Both Elaine and Kim suggested that we visit the Orchard at Altapass, but we opted not to go there after a torrential downpour hit just as we were reaching the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Visit Rio Doce's official web site for complete address, hours, online store, prices, and more.

Thanks so much for visiting my Travel NC With Kids blog! Check out my site map, topics tabs, or try my search bar to find additional travel ideas. Here are a few other places we have visiting nearby:

• Linville Caverns - Enjoy North Carolina's Only Show Cave
• Beautiful Butterfly Habitat and More at Catawba Science Center in Hickory NC
• South Mountains State Park in NC - Great Hike, Beautiful Scenery, and More

Downtown Salisbury Ghost Walk in Rowan County NC

My crew is always up for something that is off the beaten bath, a bit unusual, and perhaps even a bit quirky, so we all agreed that a ghost walk might offer something that each of us would enjoy. We have lived near Salisbury for many years, but we had never tried out the ghost walk, so our tour on May 28, 2022 was a new experience for us.

I had seen groups gathering for a walking tour in Salisbury several times over the years and eventually read about the Downtown Salisbury Ghost Walk at their official web site. We could either make reservations or walk up and hope for empty spots. Since this was a spur of the moment decision, we decided to wing it and hope for the best. We were in luck! Even with our group of five, the tour group totaled less than 20 people. I recommend that you make a reservation if you are traveling to this event from out of town or if everyone has their heart set on a particular date because numbers in the group are limited due to COVID. Some tours may be full, particularly in October and near a full moon, but the web site looks pretty easy to navigate for reservations.

The web site recommends packing flashlights, but John Tucker, our guide was well prepared with flashlights for anyone who did not bring one. Although you might consider using a flashlight on a smart phone, it will likely be easier to use a separate flashlight if you are trying to get photos and videos with your phone during the tour. Warmer weather beckons mosquitoes to the Tarheel State like a porch light attracts moths, so be prepared with bug spray if you go on any outdoor adventure in NC in warmer months. We have been blessed with some unseasonably cooler nights lately and the mosquitoes were not an issue when we did the tour in late May. Be prepared with gear appropriate for any weather conditions since this tour goes rain or shine except for perhaps a rain delay or the possibility of a cancelled tour due to lightening.

The weather was perfect for our tour. The evening temperatures were ideal for jeans and a short sleeved shirt. About 15-20 minutes prior to our scheduled tour, people in our group began to join John on the white marble steps of a county office building nestled at the corner of Innes and Church Streets. Similar to Spencer's famous storyteller Jackie Torrence, John told stories to many children when he worked for the public library years ago. The starting point of the tour is actually in sight of Rowan Public Library and also in sight of the original location of Fame, a confederate statue that stood in the middle of the intersection for 111 years. Before the tour was even scheduled to start, John was already sharing tidbits of information about several ghost sightings while also sharing research related to the architecture and history surrounding us.

Amidst a city boasting several buildings predating the Civil War and a large overcrowded Civil War prison just a few blocks away from the main square, it is no wonder that ghost tales abound in the area. One person in our tour mentioned that he was going on his sixth tour and said he learns something new and different each time. Another group brought a contraption that I think was supposed to pick up ghost-like activity. John offered a few people in the group some devices that had green lights that turn red if they pick up paranormal activity. Ours turned red numerous times when we tried it out. Hmmm....could it be for real?

Did we see or interact with ghosts? The jury might still be out on that one. One of my daughters tried sitting on a rope swing that was featured on the tour. She said it was moving on its own, which could indicate interaction with a ghost. Did she want to have the experience so badly that she unknowingly moved the swing with slight movements of her own body or did a spirit give her a few pushes? The photo above, taken by John, shows two orbs above her. Are these orbs actually spirits captured by the camera or are they accompanied by some sort of scientific explanation like reflections of other light sources? I'll let you be the judge on these questions!

John offered various additional evidence of ghosts, including pictures on film, photos and videos on his phone, and recordings of what might have been voices of ghosts answering questions. The web site has examples of several photos, but the tour offers quite a few additional pieces of evidence. As we walked around, we were invited to peer in certain windows and several lucky people had a few moments to sit on a swing to see if a ghost would push them. We walked into a studio at one point, but that opportunity is not guaranteed. Pictures and videos are encouraged throughout the tour. Several pictures that were taken during our tour had orbs in them. John mentioned that the spirits often become much more active the week before a full moon. Who knew?

Even if you are not particularly interested in ghost sightings, if you are a history buff or would like for your kid(s) to learn some memorable information about the history of downtown Salisbury, this tour is likely to be a hit with your group. My daughter who is finishing the eighth grade lit up as she heard about famous battles and people who were featured in her social studies class. Tidbits that I particularly remember from out tour include a famous pre-Civil War era African American barber, a Lindbergh flyover, an elevator tragedy, card game clues, secrets under some of Salisbury's shops, famous postcards, the significance of the train depot, soldiers being buried alive, a haunted hotel and theater, Salisbury's ties to a former President of the United States, a lookout, a love triangle, a ghost cat, the bell tower, and a family cemetery in a basement that also offers a final resting place for a young student from an all-girls school. Yes, I'm being vague, but I wouldn't want to ruin the plethora of information that you'll glean from this tour. John certainly put a significant number of hours into researching his topics and also shared his personal experience of participating in the quest to find hauntings in quite a few buildings. He also mentioned that PBS was doing a special on the topic that will air soon.

The ghost walk web site mentioned to expect the tour to last about an hour, but our tour lasted about two hours - and nobody in our group seemed bored. No, you won't be walking for the entire time. The tour encompasses a total of about six blocks. John would stop often and offer interesting details of stories while mentioning names and details of various people whose spirits might still be near. We looked at some images of these people from the past and then compared them with photos that were said to be their ghosts. Our group actively asked questions and the weather was gorgeous, so I'm sure that contributed to our longer tour length.

Two of my kids are teenagers while one has surpassed the two decade mark, so it's challenging to find something to appeal to everyone. This was one of those rare activities that appealed to my whole group! I appreciate the obvious effort that went into researching the history and people of the area. John has been offering these tours since 2010, so he is well-prepared with a variety of stories and interesting opportunities and also knows about other ghost tales in other parts of the Piedmont. John carried a microphone, which was very helpful since we were walking along some busy streets. If you have small children who are frightened easily, you might want to consider how they might react if they hear about ghosts and such, but the atmosphere of this tour was one of learning and being inquisitive rather than attempting to surprise or scare people. "Family friendly" tours are also available that leave out information about drinking and such with a sole emphasis on history and haunted tales. I would suggest calling or emailing John if you wish to customize the experience.

Visit the official Downtown Salisbury Ghost Tour web site where you can see some pictures of the ghosts featured on the tour, find helpful tips about preparing for the tour, make reservations, find the address for starting the tour, and more. If you have a larger group, private tours can be arranged outside of the listed days.

Thanks so much for visiting my Travel with Kids blog! Feel free to check out other articles through my site map, topic area, or try typing in specific information in my search bar. Here are a few additional articles featuring additional activities nearby:

• NC Museum of Dolls, Toys, and Miniatures in Spencer NC Boasts and Amazing Variety
• Dunn's Mountain Park in Salisbury, NC - Beautiful View!
• Looking for Fun and Free Family Activities This Summer? Check Out Your Local Library