Friday, April 15, 2011

Spring is HERE!


Spring! Even the word sounds invigorating. After the winter of 2010-11, I expect everyone is thrilled to see the new foliage burst forth. The native Redbud trees have been so vibrant and the dogwoods are still very beautiful. It is such a feast for the eyes as the hills wake up from their winter nap! HIS Majesty gloriously shines all around us. The Burckhard family loves to hike and we couldn’t wait for spring. We relish our opportunities to get out and explore the vast “wilderness” all around us. Our winter hikes are especially enjoyable. We pack a picnic lunch and sometimes stop at the little grocery stores near the parks for a few extras then head out on our explorations. Sometimes we see new plants that we haven’t seen before or in a while. Sometimes we spot a new bird or other animal. Other times we uncover recent history of the area. Often, we bring friends and/or family along to share our day. Anyway it goes; we count our blessings and enjoy God’s creations – including each other. There are many great hikes in the area. Fall Creek Falls State Park, Cumberland Mountain State Park, Burgess Falls State Natural Area, and the Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area are just a few over our family favorites, plus the drives to these locations are also superb. Make plans now to get out and about to enjoy the season! Happy Trails! For more great stories on hikes in and around the areas, visit http://www.VisitTheCumberlandPlateau.com and click on the area that interests you most (also check the archived copies of the guides) and take a look at the guide to the area. Not all have stories of our hikes, but several do.