chasing waterfalls

Evidently, TLC had not been adventuring with an 18-year-old in the temperate rainforest of the North Carolina mountains.
Otherwise, they would have known that chasing waterfalls is an amazing activity up here.
(Note: I am well aware of the serious message in the song lyrics. I've even performed the song in karaoke. It's harder than you might expect.
Okay, back to my intended post...)

Today, we headed toward Franklin, planning to lunch in Highlands
along the way.
Our first stop was at the Highlands Biological Station.
We wandered around the research building, then hit the Nature Center.
That's where we learned about the rainforest thing.

This area gets 100 inches of rain annually!
The different elevations serve to alter
the latitude, greatly expanding the
types of flora and fauna
that call the region "home".
The Nature Center was "hands' on", too!
How super cool is that?!

Next, we explored the Botanical Garden,
which has several trails through
the many types of ferns and in-bloom laurels.
Oh, and don't forget the rhododendrons!
And all the bee- and butterfly-friendly plants, too!
So many yellows and pinks and purples!

Time to go into town, the girl said.
We explored one side of the street, finding The Spice & Tea Exchange (got tea for Barbara, she chose sugar for her mom).
Mostly, we saw expensive clothing and jewelry stores.
There were also fancy restaurants.
On the other side of Main Street were more of the same.
But also Kilwin's Chocolates & Ice Cream of Highlands, elevation 4,116 feet. Chocolates for the woods, caramels for me! Yum!

Definitely time to seek lunch.
But where to go?
On a side street was the answer: Pescado's!
Obviously a local hang-out, too, as the foot traffic attested.
Excellent blackened fish burrito for me!
Morgan had the veggie quesadilla and ate every bite!

Back on the street, we returned to our exploration of the town.
The Church of The Incarnation drew
our gaze with its lovely structure,
and drew my camera
for the bell tower nestled under
the protecting arm of the tree.
Storm clouds coming!
On with our travels to Franklin!

Or so we had thought.
But the waterfalls waylaid us!
The first was hidden around a curve,
so we missed it.
No worries, we would catch it
on the way back!
Then came this one,
with lots of parking and signage.
And stairs.

Lots of stairs.
But dig this:
it was a switchback staircase!!!
There were even several straightaways,
as well as benches, for those who wanted to stop along the way to the path under the Dry Falls.
How absolutely marvelous!

According to the sign, there were actually three waterfalls in this area.
All were along the road, too!
Yeah! No hiking to be done!
The next one up, on the way to Franklin, was Cullasaja Falls.
We very nearly missed it, having to circle back, then cross the road to really see it.
Y'all be careful for this one!

By this time, we had decided to
forgo Franklin.
We'd had plenty of excitement for the day... and the pool at the Rec Center
was calling our names.
Back toward Highlands, and the missed
waterfall, we turned.
We caught it this time, too!

We could have driven the car under it,
but someone was already parked there.
No worries!
We were still able to walk close enough to bathe our hands and arms in the water of the Bridal Veil Falls!
Ah! What coolness!
What a lovely last day here!