Field Notes capture moments of attention in situ: observation from walks, travels, museums, vineyards, and working landscapes. Some are brief; others linger longer.
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Laurel Bluffs Trail along the Eno River (Durham, North Carolina)
OverviewLocated in north Durham, the Laurel Bluffs Trail offers a roughly 5-mile out-and-back hike along a beautiful stretch of the Eno River. The route begins from Eno River State Park’s Pump Station Trail and continues to Guess Road. For most of the way, the trail hugs the river closely, climbing up to ridge tops only…
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Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area (Hillsborough, North Carolina)
OverviewOcconeechee Mountain State Natural Area, located in Hillsborough, North Carolina just off I-85, is widely appreciated for its geologic uniqueness and its unusual plant and animal communities. Occoneechee Mountain is one of North Carolina’s classic monadnocks—an isolated mountain rising above the Piedmont peneplain. Its elevation and relative isolation create conditions suitable for a number of…
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Pettigrew State Park (Creswell, North Carolina)
On Saturday, April 3, 2010, my husband, our kiddo, and I visited—and spent the night at—Pettigrew State Park in Creswell, North Carolina. If you’re interested in camping there, be sure to reserve a spot in advance. As usual, the park did not disappoint: interesting bird, amphibian, and reptile sightings began almost immediately. Below is a…
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ROADTRIP: The Galapagos Islands, Santa Cruz edition
More than 2,600 miles from North Carolina’s Triangle—and nearly 700 miles from the nearest continent—the Galápagos Islands rise like uncut gems from the cerulean sea west of Ecuador’s coastline. At first glance, the volcanic archipelago’s fifteen major islands can look rough and spare, some only lightly painted with a thin crust of vegetation. But closer…
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ROADTRIP: Galapagos Island, Rabida edition
Overlooking a pock-marked landscape dominated by grim volcanic scoria—partially covered by a crust of scrubby verdure and rimmed with a thick band of maroon sand—for a moment I felt like a visitor to the strange red planet now prominent in North Carolina’s evening sky. Instead, I stood firmly on Rábida, a tiny island (less than…
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Turtles Time at Goose Creek State Park (Beaufort County, North Carolina)
Here is all you really need to know: it was May 2007. We arrived at Goose Creek State Park—and “turtle time” began. My trusty companion (my husband, Mark) and I pulled into the primitive campground in our reliable blue Jeep. I jumped out before Mark even turned off the ignition, my feet landing on coarse…
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Pettigrew State Park (Creswell, North Carolina)
We stand on a boardwalk that extends over a large, glassy lake, encircled by bulky cypresses whose stark horizontal branches are softened by curtains of Spanish moss. Through the morning mist, I can almost discern an ancient Algonquian fisherman canoeing in the shallows. I can nearly hear the low voice of this mirage calling to…
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Dendromania at Pilot Mountain (Surry & Yadkin Counties, North Carolina)
One Sunday morning, a number of years ago—when my husband and I were still new to North Carolina and dedicated to seeing its natural wonders one by one—we ventured forth to visit the widely esteemed Pilot Mountain, about 25 miles northwest of Winston-Salem. Our mission was to see for ourselves this place of legend about…
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Chinqua Penn Hiking Trail (Reidsville, Rockingham County, North Carolina)
Note: This site is now closed. Overview: Located about 30 minutes north of Greensboro, Chinqua Penn Plantation once consisted of 22 acres of gardens, a short hiking trail, and one of North Carolina’s architectural treasures: the Chinqua Penn home. Built in the 1920s, the English-style house includes 27 rooms filled with antique furniture from around…
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Eno River State Park – Few’s Ford Access: Birding Trail (Durham, North Carolina)
Overview: Eno River State Park offers several easy-to-moderate trails (plus a few more challenging options) for weekend hikers. If you want a short, easy loop through a variety of habitats, try the Birding Trail at the Few’s Ford access. Starting from the Few’s Ford parking loop, the route can be completed in about 40 minutes.…
Sense of Place 