A renovated caboose, a bison farm, and the scenic views of the North Carolina Mountains combined for the perfect socially distanced road trip. It was a much-needed getaway after spending weeks staring at the same walls of my house, day in and day out. The weekend was part of my plan to visit 50 places I’ve never been the year I turn 50. Needless to say, many of those trips have had to be canceled or put on hold amid the plethora of ‘Stay at Home’ orders and uncertainty of travel restrictions.
But the charm of the caboose, with a front-row seat to watch the Bison, wasn’t dependent on area businesses being open. Buffalo Creek Vacations is centrally located just outside of Asheville and near Maggie Valley. Horseback riding, fishing, ziplining, and rafting are all within a short drive.
Two popular hikes in the area showcase the beauty of the region. At the summit, Max Patch in the Pisgah National Forest offers stunning 360 views of the North Carolina and Tennessee mountains. The more difficult Waterrock Knob trail near Waynesville is also a popular spot for hikers.
Out there, the world felt almost normal. Flowers bloomed with the hope of Spring. The sun rose and set in all the glory you’d expect, and birds soared with the freedom we’ve all been missing.
As I sipped on a glass of wine and ate the fish we caught earlier that day, I was thankful that a getaway like this was only a few hours from home.
You can see video of this trip and others and follow all the adventures of Milemarker 50 on Instagram at @milemarker_50 and milemarker.com. Buffalo Creek Vacations also has cabins for rent buffalocreekvacationsnc.com
