Take the plunge and check out these four epic North Carolina waterfalls for a splashing day (or weekend!) excursion.
TLC famously told us not to go chasing waterfalls… but we rec the opposite. And fall is prime time to explore NC’s many beautiful cascades (hey, fall foliage!).
Here, we round up four awe-inspiring Western NC waterfalls to visit this season, plus pit stops for snacks, sips and sleep along the way. Amid your waterfall wanderings, plan to check out gift shops with products from local vendors, bite into BBQ sandwiches and baked goods from small shops, and end a day of adventuring with a good night’s sleep under the stars (or stay somewhere luxurious—dealer’s choice!).
Essentially, just go with the flow (!). Whether you’re into splashing, strolling or simply stopping to see the views, there’s a NC waterfall that you’re sure to fall head over heels for. Water you waiting for?!
DO
Looking Glass Falls One of the most accessible in North Carolina, these picturesque 60-foot waterfalls—named for their glistening, glassy appearance during those frosty winter months—are located just off U.S. 276 along the Forest Heritage Scenic Byway. You can see the waterfall from the road, but you’re gonna wanna get out of your car to take in its full beauty—or dip your toes in!
Moore Cove Falls Just a hop, skip and jump away from Looking Glass Falls is this hidden gem, one of the rare NC waterfalls visitors can venture behind by path. A fam-friendly 1.5-mile hike, the unmarked journey to Moore Cove Falls features a walk through a lush forest of ferns and rosebay rhododendron (translation: plenty of ’Gram-worthy ops!). Trust us, Moore Cove is no mainstream stop.
Sliding Rock Oh, chute! If slipping down a 60-foot boulder into chilly water is your thing, then this natural waterfall is right up your alley. A staple stop for light thrill-seekers, this mountain waterfall tempts patrons to skid into an 8-foot pool of water, swim to shore and repeat. After all, they say happiness comes in rushes. But if you don’t want to get wet, post up at the observation area to relish the views—and splashes. You don’t wanna mist this one.
Whitewater Falls Falling at 811 feet, these jaw-dropping waterfalls along the border of North and South Carolina are the tallest east of the Rocky Mountains. The short 1/4-mile trail leading the way lends its own gushworthy views (think a wildflower forest and Lake Jocassee)—and the paved overlook offers plenty of spectacular photo ops. Things are really looking up…
EAT
Historic Toxaway Market and Mountain Cafe There’s no need to wine, as this friendly market and cafe has everything you need for a perfect picnic, from ~500 wines to cheeses to breads and pastries from local bakeries and more—plus coffee and Hershey’s Ice Cream to refuel after a day spent adventuring. How sweet! Lake Toxaway, historictoxawaymarket.com
Bracken Mountain Bakery You’re bound to fall in loaf with this neighborhood bakery, featured as one of Southern Living’s 2022 Best Bakeries in the South. Located in historic downtown Brevard, it’s best known for scratchmade European-style breads and pastries, making it the perf stop for breakfast, lunch or a snack pre- or post-waterfall viewing. Seriously dough. Brevard, brackenmountainbakery.com
Smoke on BBQ Get ready to go hog wild at this drive-thru BBQ resto that smokes its meats daily and makes all its own barbecue sauces, marinades and seasonings in house (!). Despite its small size, this smokin’ joint packs a serious punch with generous portions, killer collards and cooked-to-perfection ’cue. Pig out! Brevard, eatsmokeonbbq.com
DRINK
Cup & Saucer (photo by Chris Wilson)
Cup & Saucer Started as a mobile coffee cart, this cute coffee shop now serves up specialty coffee and fresh housemade baked goods to satiate sweet or savory cravings within its quaint digs (the flaky, buttery biscuits are a must-order!). Post-nosh, wander down to the Mercantile to grab some gifts for the foodies in your life. Brevard, cupandsaucernc.com
Noblebräu Brewing The brainchild of Cody Noble, this bangin’ brewery began in Noble’s basement before he moved up to the big leagues and opened up his brewery + tasting room at hoppin’ live music venue 185 King Street. So, come for the brews and stay for the tunes. Ale, yeah! Brevard, noblebrau.com
Oskar Blues Brewery There’s no feeling blue at this “adventure-crushing” craft brewery. With 32 beers on tap year-round and a rotating selection of specialty brews to boot, it’s the perfect spot to chill with a cold one on the spacious covered patio and relish the cool fall air—or within its cool industrial interior. Tap in! Brevard, oskarblues.com
STAY
Deerwoode Reserve Oh, deer! With 175 acres of wildlife along the banks of the French Broad River, this serene reserve is a true Carolina paradise. In addition to the cozy cabins (studio; one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom ops are available), the property serves up trails, water activities, yard games and more. Goodbye, boredom! Brevard, deerwoode.com
Cherryfield Luxury Group Camping This luxury camping venue puts the glam in glamping—we’re talking luxury indoor steam showers, signature swings, fire pits and plenty of places to relax under the stars. With four spacious side-by-side tent pavilions, the glamping destination is ideal for gathering with friends or fam for a neat nature retreat. Pitch, please! Brevard, glampingwnc.com
High Hampton If you’re a fan of the high life, book a room at this charming inn that touts a balance between “removed, but not remote” and “social, but not stuffy” (um, the perfect balance!). When you’re not resting your head in one of the historical-yet-upgraded abodes, treat yourself to a spa day, tee up at the golf course or enjoy a fine dinner at one of the on-site restaurants… if you feel so inclined. Cashiers, highhampton.com
We chat up renowned producer and Raleigh native David Burris about his new Netflix reboot of The Mole.
Into unscripted adventure and mystery? It’s time to add a new show to your watchlist. Uberpopular unscripted TV show The Moleis getting a reboot, slated to hit Netflix on Oct. 7 (!)—and to boot, one of the executive producers behind the show is Raleigh native David Burris, who previously spearheaded production of several wildly successful series and films (think CBS’ Survivor, Ultimate Ninja Challenge and The World Made Straight). Burris’ latest endeavor expertly blends suspense, adventure and brain teasers into one unbelievably bingeable show. With both Burris and Netflix prioritizing storytelling, cinematic presentation and strong characters, fans are sure to be on the edge of their seats all season long.
Raleigh Magazine recently chatted with Burris to get the scoop on The Mole, its creative/production process and why being from Raleigh rocks (natch!). No bad streams here…
Let’s dig in. Give us the lowdown on The Mole reboot.
The Mole is a tried and true competition adventure format. It’s sort of the classic dynamic of what I like most about unscripted reality television, which is taking ordinary people and putting them in extraordinary situations. It becomes part adventure and part sociological experiment. In this particular situation, we’ve got 12 Americans traveling all over Australia and engaging in adventure challenges to win money. You’ll watch contestants scale a cliffside mountain or see them robbing a bank in the outback—and if they succeed in the challenge, they win cash. Of course, the twist is that someone else is there who has a different mission entirely—to sabotage the efforts of their ‘teammates.’ For those that aren’t the mole, their goal is to accumulate cash by doing well in these high-adventure challenges and to figure out the identity of the mole so they can keep playing the game.
We’ve gotta know… how do you cast a mole?
Once we decided on our 12 competitors, we started to think about basic strategies of deception, manipulation, believability and someone who was intelligent enough to pretend to be trustworthy—but not actually be trustworthy. And we all agreed as producers and with the gang over at Netflix about who we thought should be the mole.
School us on your role in the production process.
I’m what they call a showrunner—it’s sort of like the director for the whole series. I’m essentially in charge of creative decisions, like ensuring the creative vision for the show is maintained, the story structure is cogent, that the arcs of the characters are coming out and the right questions are asked during interviews. Basically, I oversee that everything going into the creative soup of the series is also in line with our intentions; from setting up the structure of the show, the cast, where challenges will take place and what the twists will be… and it all has to line up logistically—basically, the marriage of creative and practical.
What are your tricks for survivingthe unexpected aspects of filming?
I consider myself fortunate to have been through the ringer quite a bit. After 10 years on Survivor dealing with typhoons, getting chased by elephants and dealing with a leopard stalking a camp, I’ve built up an ability to stay focused and maintain the creative course while insane unpredictable things happen every single day. It’s all unscripted and you have no idea what’s going to happen, so you have to be prepared for whatever comes down the pike. After Survivor, I’ve learned to be ready for anything, to maintain my calm and more than anything else, to take the challenges as one of the fun parts of television, rather than one of the pains in the ass of making television and just going with it.
How have your Raleigh roots contributed to your creative career?
I was born in Durham, grew up in Raleigh and was educated in Chapel Hill—so I’m a real Triangle baby. I still have a house in Raleigh and spend a good bit of the year there when I’m not working elsewhere. I think Raleigh is one of the coolest midsize cities in the country, if not the planet. It’s a wonderful combination of things that make the South great without a lot of the things that make the South not so great.
What do you think sets Raleigh apart?
It’s a creative and friendly place and a lot of really creative individuals have come out of the Triangle community. My theory as it stands currently is that it’s an open, progressive and supportive community that allows a creative individual to believe they can see their dreams come true and that it’s worth pursuing them, whether that’s to be a huge rock star or a Beard Award-winning chef. People have the space to fail and say ‘that didn’t work, let me try again’—largely because of how valued the education system is there, which is a cornerstone for creatives. Education is all about working at it, making mistakes, learning from those mistakes and then carrying on. That’s my theory on why coming from the Triangle area is a good thing and why it’s produced so many super-talented creative people.
And why should people press play on The Mole?
If you’re looking for a bit of escapism and want to watch people do adventurous things in exotic locales, you’re going to get that watching The Mole. The cinematography is beautiful and the things the contestants have to do are fascinating, engaging and interesting. It’s like a perfect combo of fun, high adventure television and intellectual processing, keeping your brain engaged almost to an addicting level.
*Responses have been lightly edited for length and clarity.
North Carolina-based band LYLVC takes home Rock Band of the Year title at the 2022 Carolina Music Awards.
If you haven’t yet heard of Raleigh-based band LYLVC (pronounced lilac), well, they’re about to be everywhere.
With only two singles and an independently debuted EP—Perfect Drug—under their belt, the six-piece genre-defying band just took home the Rock Band of the Year award at the 2022 Carolina Music Awards… making this sweet victory only the beginning of a long and successful road.
Referred to by Hollywood Life as a group that “delivers an emotionally-fueled anthem for those who are doing their best to keep it together despite all the demons living behind their eyes,” LYLVC artistically blends powerful female vocals with rap and rock music, managing to be edgy and feminine, rough and profound with a one-of-a-kind sound. And we’re here for it.
Raleigh Mag recently got the chance to chat with lead vocalists Alyse Zavala and Oscar Romero about their group’s comeup, music-making process and what’s next for the band. Take a beat to read our conversation. Rock on!
For starters, how did LYLVC bloom into the band it is today?
Alyse: When the pandemic happened, I wanted to start a band to combine multiple genres and break standard rock music. I’ve always loved the band Linkin Park and how they combine hip-hop and rock, so I wanted to create something similar—but with female vocals and more modernized choruses. Once I started auditioning members, I found Cam (keyboardist) through a mutual friend; Oscar through Craigslist; and the other members through Craigslist, Bandmix or on Facebook. We quarantined together and wrote songs, then, before we knew it, we were sending out demos to different producers to be considered for recording. We ended up working with Mike Plotnikoff and Joe Rickard from West Valley Studios in California to record our first EP, Perfect Drug.
What was it like packing up and hitting the road to record your first EP?
Oscar: It was an incredible experience. All of us were fortunate enough to be able to take the trip out to California together as a band, and we spent the whole week in a confined space working toward our goal of writing the EP, and the entire energy around us musically was such an amazing high. It was a once-in-a-lifetime type of experience to spend a week away and focus on our music, writing songs and putting together the idea of what we wanted to accomplish.
Recording in CA with such a prominent recording studio must’ve raised the bar for your band.
A: If you haven’t heard of West Valley, they’ve produced people like Three Days Grace, Seether, Halestorm and My Chemical Romance. We were pushed and pushed—the standards were so high. If you miss a note, some other studios might edit it, but we were held to crazy standards. If we missed a note, we might have to do the whole song over again. I would sing at all these different keys, and it really pushed me to be the best vocalist I could possibly be, and the same was true for everyone else in the band.
And what was it like to work with Plotnikoff?
A: Plotnikoff actually gave us a homework assignment two weeks before we had to go to California. We already had five songs we were planning to record, and he wanted us to write a new song because sometimes the best hits are written when the pressure is on. We were still writing the song and the chorus up until the last day we were there for Perfect Drug. The moment we were supposed to record, the song wasn’t done and we were freaking out and racking our brains over the last lyric. Then the internet went out, and we finished the song and it sounded perfect. Mike loved it; we loved it; and right when that happened, the internet came back on.
Talk about fate! So how would you describe LYLVC to people who have never heard of you before?
O: LYLVC is a mix of hard rock, electronic and hip-hop—and there’s some metal vibes in the music as well. That’s what’s been so cool about finding and building our fan base… people who find flavor in different things we do, who love strong female artists—and just to see how wide our reach has been.
What’s your goal when it comes to songwriting?
O: I think what we try to do with our music is create personal stories. We want our songs to be stories people can grasp. Our new song ‘Undertow’ is about feeling overwhelmed and drowning in a new life stage and the process of overcoming that feeling. I’ve felt that way sometimes, and I’m sure others have too. We really want to create a personal connection with our music to remind people they aren’t alone.
Did it rock when LYLVC won Rock Band of the Year at the 2022 Carolina Music Awards?!
O: We were all shocked but crazy excited. … We had some explosive feelings when we found out we won it. It was just a great evening because we got to connect with artists of all genres from all over the Carolinas. We were just super excited to be there.
What’s next for LYLVC?
A: We are going on tour with New Year’s Day starting Oct. 8 in CA! Our tour will go through Arizona, Texas, Oklahoma, Florida, and then back up to North Carolina, where it ends Oct. 23. We are very excited. This will be our first nationwide tour from the west coast to the east coast. We are also planning a release of our new upcoming single and music video for the song ‘Undertow,’ and we’ll be announcing when we do the full EP release very soon. There will be a lot of music coming at people, and we’re writing a lot of music right now too.
Responses have been lightly edited for length and clarity.
Football fans, rejoice! Football season is finally upon us! Looking for the best spot to find your fellow fans and catch your team? We’ve done the hard work for you. Whether you’re a Pack fan looking for an away game party with your pack (or find yourself without tix in coming weeks to CF) or you cheer for one of these other teams (but why—jk), game day is at a bar near you. Here’s where to go on *The Big Day* this weekend—and this season—so you can join the huddle with your home team to get blitzed (get it?) with your peeps. Time to put your game face on. Punt, intended.
They say the strength of the wolf is the Pack… and with its highest preseason ranking ever at No. 13, all eyes are on NC State. So if you can’t make it to Carter-Finley—or State is away—and want the fan feel, find your fellow wolves around Raleigh at such go-to game-day hot spots as Brickhouse (home of the Dave Doeren Radio Show), Carolina Ale House, Amedeo’s (swing by this Saturday for drink specials, a celebrity bartender and a halftime raffle!), Players Retreat (s/o to the OG) or Village Draft House for a howling good game day with your pack. #WITH amedeosrestaurant.com; carolinaalehouse.com; brickhouse-nc.com; playersretreat.com; villagedrafthouse.com
If you must watch the Heels or the Blue Devils—we don’t hide our Wolfpack pride at Raleigh Mag—there’s a handful of spots around the Triangle to catch the game. Cheer on UNC while sipping from the signature blue cups at He’s Not Here in Chapel Hill, or, if Duke is who you choose, go “crazie” at Mavericks in the Bull City with a milkshake and BBQ. NTM, word on the street is Brier Creek’s Carolina Ale House is always a good game-watching spot for fans in blue. maverickssmokehouse.com; hesnotherenc.com; carolinaalehouse.com
This is arrrrgh state?! You can’t spell parties without pirates. Hey, #PirateNation! The Pirates are back in action this year at Highpark Bar & Grill, so don your best purple and gold and get that Pirate pride on with fellow fans. #PiratesTogetherPiratesForever! Wake County, NC Chapter, ECU Alumni Association, piratealumni.com; highparkbarandgrill.com
O-H! I-O! Bond over bacon (AKA that ol’ pigskin) and $5 Buckeye bombs—plus $3 Miller Lite 16 oz. drafts, $5 Lunazul tequila shots, and plenty of grub—over at Brickhouse. Ohio’s alum club is bringing those Horseshoe home-game vibes to you via the fighting song playing on every score and DJs on deck for the big games. Go Buckeyes! The Ohio State University Alumni Club of the Triangle, triangle nc.alumni.osu.edu; brickhouse-nc.com
Sammy’s Tap & Grill is the place for Bama fans, friends, food and brews to unite, complete with Bama music, cheers, shakers and more (like, I don’t know, making a drinking game out of the gazillion scores). Don’t miss the weekly raffle (we love some Bama swag!) to benefit the local chapter. Roll Tide! Roll Tide Raleigh,rolltideraleigh.com; sammystapgrill.com
If you can’t be between the hedges swaying to the “Battle Hymn,” travel to Tobacco Road Sports Cafe in Raleigh. Catch the dawg fights all season and keep sniffin’ for some post-season play. Sic ’em, UGA. Good dawg. UGA Alumni Association – Raleigh Chapter, alumni.uga.edu, tobaccoroadsportscafe.com
Share your OSU distaste and shout “Go Blue” with fellow fans at Wild Wing Cafe in Brier Creek. With a fight song dubbed “The Victors,” solo watching is just not an option. Specials will keep you satisfied (plus, Wild Wing donates 10% of food sales to MTAC!) while you bop to beats and let the fight song to transport you to The Big House. And keeping Blue benevolent, be on the lookout for Wild Wing’s MTAC charity nights. Michigan Triangle Alumni Club,alumni.umich.edu; wildwingcafe.com
In Louisiana, the 12th man is food—and Sharky’s isn’t here to disappoint. … Down some drinks (stay tuned for drink specials) and grub on some gumbo and po’boys all football season long. NTM co-owner Simone was born and bred in the Big Easy! So, “hot boudin, cold coush-coush, come on Tigers, push push poosh.” Geaux Tigers!sharkysnc.com
Hotty toddy, gosh almighty! Cheer on those Ole Miss Rebels right down the road at Moe’s Original BBQ in Durham, where the owner just happens to be an Ole Miss alum (!). While Moe’s is no Vaught Hemingway Stadium, there’ll be plenty of barbecue and beer to go around for your whole squad. Game on. Ole Miss Alumni Association,olemissalumni.com;moesoriginalbbq.com
While it isn’t Death Valley, you’re gonna wanna get your roar on with fellow alumni and fans at Lynnwood Brewing Concern at Dock 1053, where, if nothing else, the “Tiger Rag” will never get old. So scoot on in and “hold that tiger” (and find out if QB DJ Uiagalelei can meet those lofty expectations). C-L-E-M-S-O…N! carolinaalehouse.com
The luck of the Irish can be found at Trali Irish Pub—natch. “We are Irish. We’ve got Guinness. We’ve got TVs.” Pop a squat at the bar to watch the Fighting Irish “play like a champion today.” traliirishpub.com
Small business owner-slash-single mom Baily Rich ensures style is never stationary with her mobile retail shop.
“We stop, you shop.” So goes the saying for Baily’s Rolling Boutique, the cute, creative full-service boutique on wheels that’s always ready to roll with the punches—and the latest fashion.
A retail veteran, namesake owner Baily Rich first got the itch to do her own thing during the pandemic following a five-year stint as GM at a Raleigh boutique. Then, switching hats, if you will, she purchased a beat-up 1987 Chevy Stepvan on Craigslist in 2021 and worked with her boyfriend for seven months to transform it into a beautiful rolling shop, complete with skylight, heating and cooling capabilities, and a fitting room.
“I had a vision of what I wanted it to look like,” says Rich. “I wanted it to look like an upscale boutique, not a truck. We really just figured it out as we went.”
Bringing the goods straight to shoppers’ homes, neighborhoods and jobs, Baily’s Boutique offers a curated collection of clothing that you won’t find elsewhere in Raleigh, stemming from Rich’s vision to provide fashionable fits for women that strive to look stylish yet stay comfortable.
Aside from curating apparel, Rich’s favorite part of owning a mobile boutique is just that—it’s mobile. “It’s been really neat to get out in the community in a way that I would not have been able to if I didn’t have my mobile boutique,” she says. Mobility also means flexibility, which helps Rich balance both being a small business owner and a mom to a 10-year-old boy.
As she keeps on trucking, Rich has goals to partner with more small business owners and rack up miles beyond Raleigh. “I would love to do another truck with extended sizes,” says Rich. “It would also be cool to do men’s and kids’ [clothing].”
In true mobile fashion, Baily’s Boutique also pops up at markets around the Triangle, and Rich’s clothing can be found at Painted Tree Boutique in Cary and White Street Boutique in Wake Forest. You can even book the truck (for free!) for your next girls’ night, private party or event. Talk about fast-rolling fashion! shopbailys.com
