For more than 200 years, elk were missing from the landscape in the Tar Heel State. But in the early 2000s, a small herd was reintroduced to live in the wilds of the Cataloochee Valley in Western North Carolina. Today, a visit to the Cataloochee Valley to see the ever-growing herd of wild (but closely monitored) elk is nothing short of magical.
After a visit to this remote part of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (on the North Carolina side) some people are surprised to discover that the elk usually outnumber the people wandering around on foot to admire the majestic creatures.
A vast system of trails lead to old homesteads and historic structures that are now empty, yet still maintained by the Great Smoky Mountain National Park so that visitors can go inside and explore the history found within.
As if the hike through the valleys isn't enough to make the experience an enchanting time you'll never forget... the wild elk herd sends it over the top.
When you're ready for an elk spotting adventure like no other in the Tar Heel State, see this link for directions to Cataloochee Valley.
Love spotting majestic, wild animals in the Tar Heel State? Head to the coast to discover a wildlife preserve that's filled with BEARS. Keep reading here to learn more!
You may be surprised to learn that North Carolina is home to a number of highly poisonous mushrooms, so think twice before foraging and then cooking and consuming what you find. Some of the toxic varieties are more deadly than others, while at least one of them has psychoactive effects on those who eat it. Even though there are likely additional varieties, nine of the poisonous mushrooms in North Carolina are listed below. Pay attention, you wouldn't want to accidentally stumble across one of these toxic mushrooms in NC!
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1. Amanita chlorinosma
One of more than 600 mushrooms found in the Amanita species, the chlorinosma is poisonous and should be avoided at all costs. It's commonly found in pine and oak forests in North Carolina.
This one is especially tricky because it doesn't have a lot of notable physical characteristics to help identify it. It looks like any ordinary white mushroom.
Known widely for its psychoactive effect, the Amanita Muscaria rarely causes death, although it's considered toxic. Eating this variety requires special cooking instructions and, even then, cooking might not boil out the psychoactive substances. Don't be fooled by its beautiful coloring, this mushroom is a dangerous one! Beware.
3. Amanita virosa
strongly poisonous toadstool (Amanita virosa) in forest
The extremely toxic Amanita virosa has been responsible for scores of mushroom poisonings. One reason is its' similarity to other non-poisonous varieties of mushrooms. Some people even advise against placing this mushroom in the same gathering basket as the mushrooms you plan to eat. It's just that poisonous. If you're going to be foraging for food, it's best to go with a trained professional for safety purposes. You don't want to accidentally be chopping this up for dinner.
4. Leucocoprinus birnbaumii
Yellow Houseplant Mushrooms, Leucocoprinus birnbaumii growing in the Thailand forest.
Often found growing in houseplants, the Leucocoprinus birnbaumii is also found on the forest floor in warmer environments. Its edibility is unknown, but North Carolina State University includes it on a list of mushrooms to avoid in North Carolina. We certainly don't want to be the ones to test out whether it's edible or not!
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5. Amanita flavoconia
A closeup shot of Amanita flavoconia mushrooms growing in the forest amid fallen autumn leaves
This colorful Amanitaceae variety is marked by yellow warts on the cap in its infancy. It grows to about 2.5 inches in diameter and does well in hemlock forest undergrowth. Wikipedia lists its toxicity as unknown, but North Carolina State University includes it on a list of poisonous mushrooms. It's always better safe than sorry with these mysterious fungi.
6. Chlorophyllum molybdites
Closeup of a false parasol mushroom, chlorophyllum molybdites or green-spored lepiota and vomiter in the grass field. Beautiful parasol mushroom or wild mushroom grown in the green field of grasses.
The Chlorophyllum molybdites can grow to an enormous 12 inches in diameter. Its toxicity causes much gastrointestinal distress, including vomiting, diarrhea, and colic, which occur within hours of consuming it. The Chlorophyllum molybdites is the most commonly eaten poisonous mushroom in America. It doesn't cause death (usually) so that's a plus, but the side effects are still well worth avoiding.
The golden Amanita gemmata is highly toxic and contains muscarine, which is deadly if ingested. You'll likely find this mushroom growing in the summer and fall in coniferous forests. It looks cute and harmless, but be warned!
8. Galerina autumnalis
Autumn Skullcap -Galerina autumnalis-, Untergroeningen, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany, Europe
The highly toxic Galerina autumnalis sets to work destroying the liver almost immediately after it's eaten. It's a common mushroom in North Carolina and, because of its deadly properties, should be avoided.
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9. Omphalotus olearius
Also called the Jack-o-Lantern, this poisonous orange-gilled mushroom is commonly found throughout North Carolina. Interestingly, in very low light the gills of this mushroom appear to glow in the dark, as its bioluminescence kicks into gear when the sun sets and the gills glow in a bright blue-green hue. But as cool as the Omphalotus olearius is, you should not eat this one. It's highly poisonous. Making matters worse, it closely resembles a variety of edible mushrooms belonging to the genus Chanterelles. At least the glow-in-the-dark properties are a bit of a tipoff.
If you forage for mushrooms, have you ever encountered any of these toxic, poisonous mushrooms in North Carolina? How about toxic plants in NC?
I think we have just stumbled upon one of the best orchards in North Carolina. I have heard alot of great things about Grandad’s Apples and went to confirm the rumors of awesomeness. I can confidently say all the hype is real. Take just one bite of their apple cider donuts and all doubts will melt away like the soft cinnamon dough in your mouth. We spent an afternoon taking in everything there is to do on the farm and it was the perfect way to experience a fall day trip.
The first thing we did was head to the kid’s area. With an inviting large haystack, how could you say no? Our girls challenged themselves by jumping off the tallest hay bale while we found our way to a hay maze. This brain teaser kept us busy as we tried to figure out this fascinating farm puzzle. I eventually got it, but I have to admit it took me a long time, so no shame if it takes you a while too. The pumpkins particularly caught my attention not just for their iconic orange color but also for the wide variety offered.
When we travel to a new place, we do our best to soak in every opportunity we can, so we buy tickets for every attraction they have on the farm. The first up was a classic fall pastime, the corn maze. Apparently, we are much better at corn mazes than we are at hay mazes because we made quick work of this fielded conundrum. Next up was the cow train. This adorable ride takes kids (and adults) in painted cow drums towed behind a tractor on a tour around the farm. Each cow is even named, which makes it even more enduring.
The cow train was a long ride, so we enjoyed the shade under a massive weeping willow tree by the pond while we waited. This was also right next to our next activity which was the apple cannon. This powerful tool shoots apples at an alarming speed towards a billboard in the water. A loud bang ripples through the orchard when we hit the sign as we watched the exploding remains of that apple fly through the air in every direction. Nothing like a little wanton destruction to get the blood pumping.
Don’t fresh off-the-tree apples taste better than most apples? I certainly think so and when it comes to fall traditions my absolute favorite is to go apple picking. At Grandad’s Apples, we went deeper into the orchard to get to the succulent fruits and it felt like an exciting journey to get there. We pursued the rows of trees to find the biggest and best low-hanging fruit (Pun intended). I thought this would have been my favorite part of the day until we visited the bakery…
If you do only one thing at Granddad’s Apples make sure you visit the bakery and maybe get one of everything, seriously, it is all that good. I recently discovered the pleasure of apple fried pies (I know what kind of southern I am if I haven't tried a fried pie by now, but I rectified it!), and that was my choice at the bakery. My wife chose apple pie ice cream, and I have never tasted anything so delicious! The apple cider donuts were slightly crispy on the outside and super soft and spongy on the inside. I had to channel master-level self-control not to eat the entire dozen. They even had apple cider slushies. I have never heard of such an epic combination, but it works brilliantly. Everything found in the bakery was worth the trip alone!
I think we have found a new favorite orchard to visit and this will now be a tradition for us each year. If you haven’t visited Grandad’s Apples then you owe it to yourself to indulge all of your senses at this incredible farm. Pick up some cute pixie pumpkins for home decor and bite into an apple cider donut; trust me, you won’t regret it.
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Looking for one of the best orchards in North Carolina? Grandad’s Apples is the place for you. To learn more about the farm, please visit the Grandad’s Apples website.
