Lynchburg Thousand Trails

Adult Lodge Lynchburg TT
Originally uploaded by Amanda Perez-Carroll

Where is Lynchburg Thousand Trails?

Lynchburg is in Gladys Virginia. It is a short drive from Lynchburg which is a large city that will have grocery and other types of shopping. When you check in the ranger will offer to give you a map with the major shopping areas outlined (Wal-Mart, Sims, Target etc.)

The address is for those who have GPS...
405 Mollies Creek Road
Gladys, VA 24554

The directions on TomTom are not correct. They take you to the right road about are about 4 miles off of the actual park. If you put in the GPS coordinates you will be able to find the park…

N 37°12'36.39"
W 79° 2'50.20"
Elevation is 740 ft.

How many campsites does Lynchburg Thousand Trails have?
Like many Thousand Trails campgrounds there are many forms of accommodations at Lynchburg. They are...

191 Full hookup campsites
32 partial hookup campsites (no sewer)
There are no overflow or getaway cabins at Lynchburg.

The preserve map is available online at...
http://www.1000trails.com/maps_pdf/lynchburg.pdf

The preserve map does not show the actual campsites but a general outline of the layout. All sites are dirt and most are back in. There are a few sites that are pull through in the A and B loops but when we were there in the summer many parts of the A & B loop were rough ground so those less adventurous may want to focus on the areas of the A & B loop that are farther away from the lake or the C loop.

What amenities does Lynchburg Thousand Trails offer?
Lynchburg is home to one of my favorite adult lodges of any Thousand Trails park. It is located on the large lake and has a porch with benches are you can sit and watch the people fish or read one of the many books on the active trading selves. There is no internet access in the adult lodge but if you are looking for a quiet place to have coffee and read you will find it in the adult lodge.

The other amenities that Lynchburg Thousand Trails offers include:

•Family Center (a large area with a few games inside, also has a large grilling area with picnic tables outside, free Wi-Fi is available at the Family Center)

•Fishing in the large Lake and a small fishing lake (back by the sewer system)

•A walking trail that goes around the lake

•Rental boats for the lake

•Basketball courts

•Beach Volleyball

•Trading Post

•Pool at the family center (which they will rent out to local children’s groups)

•Laundry at the Family Center

And although they do not advertise it as an amenity the rangers at Lynchburg Thousand Trails patrol much more often than other parks we have been to and are very helpful.

Things to do near Lynchburg Thousand Trails:
Lynchburg Thousand Trails is a good distance from many of the site seer landmarks. Lynchburg which is the nearest large city will have a few things to see and do. Check out the visitors site for Lynchburg for places to see and eat.

Thousand Trails also offers a few things to see while staying at Lynchburg Thousand Trails on the about Lynchburg Thousand Trails page.

Photos of Lynchburg Thousand Trails:


*Lynchburg Thousand Trails is a Thousand Trails park.

free samples t-shirt at Cafe Press

free samples t-shirt at Cafe Press
Originally uploaded by Amanda Perez-Carroll

Having fun with my new conversation t-shirts at Cafe Press.

www.cafepress.com/Zerepa.406039939

Great Smoky Mountain National Park

Smoky Mountain Road Trip 2009
Originally uploaded by Amanda Perez-Carroll (on a road trip...)

The Great Smoky Mountain National Park celebrated its 75th anniversary as a national park in June 2009. Besides have fantastic soft rolling mountains, lush forests and beautiful streams and rivers the Smoky Mountains is also a place to discover Appalachian history. There are many places inside the National Park to see historic structures and artifacts. The park also has a lively animal population. More than 1500 black bears live in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Most bear encounters can be found at Cades Cove or Cataloochee Valley.

The Great Smoky Mountain National Park is about 800 square miles of the Appalachian Mountains. Admission to the park is free. Here are some of the great things you can see and do while in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park… (Maps are available at the visitor center and at many visitor centers on the way to the park)

Newfound Gap: Is located at the center of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. It is a gap that crosses through Sugarlands and Oconalufree. You can view this from Newfound Gap Road. The Newfoundland Gap crosses east to west across the Tennessee and North Carolina borders. The elevation at Newfoundland Gap is 5,046 feet.

Alum Cave Bluffs: Here hikers will enjoy the 2.5 miles of bluffs some reaching 100 feet high. The trail is strenuous and the trailhead is located on Newfound Gap Road.

Andrews Bald: Balds are large portions of the mountain ridges that have no trees. Andrews Bald is the easiest bald to reach in the park. It is located 1.8 miles south of Clingmans Dome. You can only reach it by hiking in. Instead of trees you will see a field of grass and flowers.

Charlies Bunion: is a 1000 foot rock cliff. There are great views of Mount LeConte and a portion of the Appalachian Trail goes through the area.

Cherokee Orchard Road and Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail: Historic sites of the people who lived in the Smoky Mountains after the civil war. RVs and trailers will find the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail impassable.

Chimney Tops: The chimney tops are twin peaks that many enjoy visiting. There are overlooks on Newfoundland Gap Road where you can photograph the twin peaks. If you are a hiker you can hike a steep 4 mile round trip trail that will give you even better views of the peaks.

Clingmans Dome: is the highest spot in the Smoky Mountains at 6,643 feet. There is a ½ steep hike to the observation tower that will allow you to see more of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park than anywhere else. It is often colder up there then other part of the park so make sure to bring a jacket just in case.

Mingus Mill: Is on Newfound Gap Road. Here people can see two water powered mills that are still operating, in fact you can buy corn meal and wheat flour at Mingus Mill. It is a short hike through the trees to the first mill.

More pictures of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park can be found in my flickr album.

More information about the Great Smoky Mountain National Park can be found here . There is also a great booklet that can be found at many visitor centers in North Carolina and Tennessee called “Oh Ranger… Guide to the Great Smoky Mountains” that will give you history of the park and things to see and places to stay and eat.

Carolina Landing Thousand Trails

Fishing at Thousand Trails
Originally uploaded by Amanda Perez-Carroll (amandavisualzen)

Where is Carolina Landing?
Carolina Landing is just inside South Carolina. Close by are Georgia and North Carolina. It is on Lake Hartwell. If you are traveling with GPS the correct address to put in is…

120 Carolina Landing Drive, Fair Play SC
Directions are correct on TomTom.

How many campsites does Carolina Landing have?
Carolina Landing has several forms of accommodations. There are…
217 RV and tent sites (only 94 of the 217 are full hookup- some are 30 and others are 50 amps)
18 Rental Cabins (actual log cabins not trailers)
The preserve map is available online at...
http://www.1000trails.com/maps_pdf/carolina_landing.pdf

The preserve map is not entirely accurate. Sites near the Family Lodge are not accurately depicted and there now appears to be more sites (some still look like they are under construction) down by the lake. Although the map designates the sites as “tent site” we did see RVs down there.

The sites are somewhat smaller than other Thousand Trails parks and the steep hills inside the park may pose a problem to larger RVs or those who are pulling near their limit. Many of the roads appear very small (almost like sidewalks) but we were able to pull our 30 foot fifth wheel around the roads. It is not recommended that larger RVs (we would not attempt it) travel to the C section (down by the lake).

What amenities does Carolina Landing offer?
There are two pools (one up front by the store and one near the family lodge). There is an adult lodge and a family lodge. The adult lodge is located in the same building as the store. It is just a room with long tables. There is no bookshelf or brochure rack. There is Wi-Fi available in the adult lodge.

The Country Store is a typical Thousand Trails store with a few necessities and DVDs for rental. The store is where you will check in. The laundry is also located in this building.

The Family Lodge is across the road and up a small hill from the main gate. It is a much larger building than the adult lodge and country store. It has a large area where there is a stage, and several hang out areas. Downstairs in the family lodge is a workout center that actually has decent equipment. During our July visit the workout area was locked. There is also a pool located outside the back of the Family lodge.

The largest attraction at Carolina Landing is the Fishing Dock and lake (Lake Hartwell). There is a large portion of beach that is dedicated just for Thousand Trails members. It is a popular spot even in the off season. You can find lots of boats and fishermen hanging out down there.

Additionally there is a playground, mini golf course, sand volley ball court, horseshoe pits and basketball courts. Although it is listed on the Thousand Trails website that Carolina Landing also has a petting zoo, we did not find one in July 2009.

Things to do near Carolina Landing Thousand Trails:
South Carolina Botanical Gardens: Located about 20 miles from the Carolina Landing preserve the South Carolina Botanical Garden is 295 acres of beautiful gardens and nature trails. If you are traveling with GPS the address you want to put in is…

102 Garden Trail Clemson, SC 29634-0174

Admission to the Garden grounds is free and they are open from dawn to dusk. There are also a couple of museums on the grounds and admission is around $3 for adults to each.

Smoky Mountain National Park: The Smokies are about 100 miles from Carolina Landing to Cherokee (just before the entrance of the Smokey Mountains). Cherokee is a nice little town that has a lot of Cherokee Indian Art, restaurants and it is the last chance to get gas before entering the Smokey Mountains. From Carolina Landing to Gatlinburg is a drive of about 135 miles (at the other end of the park).

The Smoky Mountain National Park full of sites to see and trails to hike. Some of the popular sites include: Newfound Gap, Alum Bluff Caves, Andrews Bald, Charlies Bunion, Cherokee Orchard Road and Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, Chimney Tops, Clingmans Dome, Mingus Mill, Mount LeConte, Mountain Farm Museum, Cades Cove, Cades Cove Loop and Cataloochee Valley.

Admission to the Smoky Mountain National Park is Free. If you are traveling with GPS you can put in Cherokee North Carolina or Gatlinburg Tennessee and then follow the road signs to the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Some GPS units will also find it if you put in Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Here is some more information and photos of the Smoky Mountains.

Anderson South Carolina: is the nearest “large” town to Carolina Landing. There is a Sams Club and Super Wal-mart in Anderson. There are also several large shopping areas and many antiques stores. Anderson is easily accessed from I-85 (exit 19-B). Most GPS units will find the Sams Club in Anderson (which is the city center with many other places to eat and shop).

Whitewater Falls: Near Brevard North Carolina there are many waterfalls that are worth seeing. Look for a brochure called Water Falls of North Carolina for a detailed map. GPS is not much help when it comes to finding many of these waterfalls and the directions on the website listed are not that clear.

Thousand Trails page about Carolina Landing

Photos of Carolina Landing Thousand Trails:


*Carolina Landing is a Thousand Trails, Naco and RPI park.

Sitting in Peace

Sitting in Peace
Originally uploaded by Amanda Perez-Carroll (amandavisualzen)

By simply being on the spot, your life can become workable and even wonderful. You realize that you are capable of sitting like a king or queen on a throne. The regalness of that situation shows you the dignity that comes from being still and simple.

~Chogyam Trungpa “Shambhala: The Sacred Path of the Warrior”

"Sitting in Peace" is available for sale at Zerepa: Zen Buddhist Art.

Zen Meditation

Past Present and Future
Originally uploaded by Amanda Perez-Carroll (amandavisualzen)

Zen Buddhist meditation is referred to as Zazen. Zazan is the heart of Zen Buddhism. Meditation differs for each person, but essentially Zazen is the “study of the self.” Zazen is performed seated in half or full lotus position (or any seated position you find comfortable).

There are three ways to practice Zazen…

Concentration: To achieve concentration you are encouraged to focus on your breathing. Counting can help to focus on each breath you take. Another way to help focus on your breathing is to repeat a mantra mentally (For example: Om Mani Padme Hum).

Koan: Once you have developed your concentration in your meditation sessions you can then move onto Koan, which is introspection. Koans are often a paradox that will not have solutions but they will allow you to intellectually think about various subjects.

Shikantaza: is basically just sitting or objectless mediation. It is a state of awareness not based on any object but a peaceful existence in which you are aware of the present moment.

Zazen is meant to be a relaxing practice so, no worries if do not achieve all levels or if you modify zazen to suit yourself… just relax and enjoy.

Past Present and Future is available for purchase on My Red Bubble Site.It is also available on greeting cards, mugs and Sigg bottles at the Zerepa Cafe Press Store.

The Awakened One

Awaken
Originally uploaded by Amanda Perez-Carroll (amandavisualzen)

"Any perception can connect us to reality properly and fully. What we see doesn’t have to be pretty, particularly; we can appreciate anything that exists. There is some principle of magic in everything, some living quality. Something living, something real, is taking place in everything."

~ “Shambhala: The Sacred Path of the Warrior” Chogyam Trungpa

The Buddha pictured above is commonly referred to as “The Awakened One” or the Gautama Buddha. For more information on the life of Siddhartha there is a brief history on Wikipedia…

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gautama_Buddha

Awaken is available for purchase at My Red Bubble site.