Small Home Town Charm, Brevard NC

Hi There . . .

This past weekend I dropped off my 9 year old at camp.    To me (and she, after spending last year), knows it's a little piece of heaven.  There are some things that should never change, and this is one of them.  Now-a-days you can't turn around without trying to catch up on the latest "thing," and this is the one, little bubble of timeless charm, that doesn't change.

Rockbrook is just a few miles off Main Street, Brevard, North Carolina.  Brevard is small town USA.  Quaint and rustic, you immediately find yourself sliding into "mountain time."  That expression has always makes me laugh.  My parents have a place up there and once, while waiting on a contractor, heard a transplanted local refer to the lateness as "being on mountain time."  Everything moves slower, just one of the reasons I love the 3-day camp drop off.   I drive up and from the minute I see the mountain ridge line, I loose cell phone reception, bummer, but not really.

We have started a new tradition of spending a night or two at the Sunset Motel, a quirky, retro, old school model in Brevard.  We dumped our stuff and took a stroll.  Thought I'd share a few Main Street sights . . .

A lot of local artists, galleries, and great restaurants.  If you time it right, chances are you can hit a festival or two.  The 4th of July is big, as is the White Squirrel Festival in May.  Yep, white squirrels, known to love Brevard.  There is, of course, plenty of music and a Box Derby.  Halloween isn't forgotten either.  Being in Transylvania County, it's only natural to celebrate.  Home to the world renowned Brevard Music Center, during the summer, the Center will host over 80 concerts !

Our tradition also include the early drive over to camp.  Kate likes snagging the best bunk in the cabin.  Driving up, I can "smell" camp in all it's dewy, clean glory.  It has been raining a lot, so everything was extra green.  The cabins, covered in their grey, green age and the hillside loaded with welcoming counselors.  

I spotted a little piece of loomed art I so wanted to snag, frame and slam on my wall at home.

If you are even pondering a great summer camp for your daughter, Rockbrook should be high on the list to check out.  It will create all types of memories that will (obviously) stay with you, as it has me !

Check out last year's post for more Rockbrook pictures.

ok . . . back to reality . . 

Oh . . to be a kid again . . .

Hey there . . .

Summer isn't summer without doing those memorable, familiar things you did as a kid.  The family trips to those places close to your heart.  The sights and smells that calm you and make you want to just turn it all off for a bit . . . I felt that way yesterday.  Dropped off my 8 year old for her first of what I am sure will be years to come of summer bliss ... camp.  I went to Rockbrook, and so did my mom.  "In the Heart of the Wooded Mountains" and it is.  Old school.  Nothing, and I mean nothing, has changed, that's what is so special about it.  The old wood cabins - smelling a bit mildewed, the green dining hall chairs, the mountain laurel everywhere, the creeks winding around the rock steps up to "Deeducky" (a.k.a the bathroom), stacked canoes and the archery bullseye.  I was killing me to leave . . . and I don't mean her, I mean leave. . . I wanted to stay myself.   She's the kind of kid that will eat it all up and love every minute, wondering why I didn't sign her up for a month (maybe next year).

Rockbrook Camp for Girls

There is something special about the mountains.  We stayed in Brevard the night before the drop off (of course she wanted to be early to get that top bunk!) Brevard is that kind of mountain town where everything slows down.  Main Street is filled with galleries, sofa shops, and oddities, the White Squirrel Festival and Brevard College.

 The Sunset Motel was my choice for something close and quirky to stay.  A classic "roadside" motel, newly saved and renovated back to it's 50's glory.  It was filled with new campers coming in for the drop off and people just wanting to get away to hike the mountains.  With a drive thru fried chicken joint across the street, and walking distance to real milkshakes and pickled green tomatoes who could ask for anything more.

Had the day to visit DuPont State Park.  If you haven't been, it's worth the trip.  Home to Hooker Falls, Triple Falls and High Falls (and for you Hunger Game fans - it was filmed there -  Lucy was into that)  Take a look at the pretty sights . .

In the morning the drop off was made . . . one happy girl!

Have fun my little camper . . you are made for this . . .

Unlike some . . . taken from the NY Times . .  (so funny)

See you in two weeks !