Our favorite hiking destination

Pisgah National Forest is my favorite outdoor destination — specifically the section near Brevard, North Carolina. It’s only about two hours from home and is easy for us to make a day trip like we did yesterday. The kids love being out on the trail and we go several times a year. And in the summer, it’s always about 20 degrees cooler than it is here in Columbia.

Trails for everybody. Pisgah has a range of trails of different lengths and difficulties. Sometimes, the kids are ready for a nice, long hike, and sometimes, they just want an easy trail with a waterfall. Pisgah has many options, and we are constantly discovering new trails.
History. I’ve been going to Pisgah for a long time. I went to summer camp nearby and remember going to Pisgah as a camper and later, as a camp counselor. Liz and I hiked these trails when we were in college. And we’ve been bringing the kids up here for the last few years. It’s wonderful to be able to come somewhere familiar and explore it further.
No tech distractions. In Pisgah, your cell phone has no service. (Every so often, you’ll see a 1X… which is pretty much the same as no service.) We use our phones to take a bunch of pictures on the hike and it’s nice not have any unnecessary notifications or distractions.

We made the trip yesterday and had a great time on a flat and easy trail with bridges and butterflies. Can’t wait to head back a little later in this fall.

Bob Wertz writes about design, technology and pop culture at Sketchbook B. Bob is a Columbia, South Carolina-based designer, researcher, college instructor, husband and dad. He’s particularly obsessed with typography, the creative process and the tools we use to create. Follow Bob on Instagram.