Becks and the Cities

I had a full week off from work two weeks ago, and I decided to escape the city and head home to my roots- a small town (population 2,687) situated in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina. Sylva, NC holds a special place in my heart now, but if I’m being completely honest, that hasn’t always been the case. If you knew me growing up, you’d remember I was shy- painfully shy. I often attributed my introverted ways to the limitations of my hometown. I thought the only way to grow as an individual was to leave the comfort of the town that raised me. In a way, that was true.

When I turned 18, I moved to another state to start college. Although challenging at first, I pushed myself to meet more people and become involved by joining clubs and organizations. I continued my education and ended up in places like Clinton, MS and Charlotte and Winston-Salem, NC. Most recently, I made the move to Baltimore, MD, where I’ve lived and worked for the last year+. A lot has happened during the past 9 years. From the constant moves to a drastic career shift, I’ve found myself missing the familiarity of home. Luckily, my family still resides in this quaint town, so I always have an excuse to visit. I’m constantly in awe of the beautiful mountains and the familiar roads I’ve traveled on so many times before. I guess you could say I kinda miss home (shh, don’t tell anyone I said that).

On Saturday, we left Baltimore bright and early and made the 9-hour drive down I-81 towards Sylva. Sunday was July 4th and we knew with the perfect weather forecast, it needed to be spent outside. We drove about 40 minutes onto the winding Blue Ridge Parkway until we found milepost 451.2, where Waterrock Knob is located. I’ve hiked this trail many times before, and it never gets old. Whether you’re up for a mile-long hike (roundtrip) or just looking for a picnic with a view after you park, this is the place for you. I’ve included a photo from the top to convince you that it’s worth the steep climb up to 6,292 feet! Apparently, it’s the 13th-highest mountain in the Eastern United States?? There’s even a protruding rock to grab a seat and take those cute Instagram photos. Unfortunately, Deacon wasn’t too keen on posing for our photo.

After our hike, we grabbed a bite to eat and made our way over to Bridge Park for live music. The town brought in the All in One band, who gave a great performance! We ended the night by watching the scheduled fireworks display as the crowd sang along to Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA.” How very patriotic!

Also, check out the video below from the following Friday’s concert for some good ol’ country music (can’t miss the kid with the mullet who is literally giving me life).😊

During he rest of the week, I made sure to stop by some of my favorite local places in town:

1. Baxley’s Chocolates

I might be a little biased in saying this, but visiting this store is a must for anyone with a sweet tooth. They have a little something for everyone: assorted chocolates, unique gelato flavors, cashew brittle, fudge and truffles. Not only are the desserts great, but the staff is very knowledgeable and extremely friendly (small town vibes). Also, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to stop by and bother my little sister!

2. City Lights Café

If you want a great lunch spot, look no further! This café has everything you would need to start your morning (hello locally roasted organic coffee), or you can stop for a mid-day lunch (I ordered the Turkey Club Panini). Ingredients are local and the menu includes many vegan or gluten-free options. It’s such a welcoming and inclusive space, so I always make sure to visit when I’m in town (we literally went 2 days in a row). We stopped by for lunch and hung out while Tristan worked for a few hours. Also, special shout out to the café owner, Bernadette, who taught me tennis in high school (peep the courts in a photo above that I used to compete on)!

3. City Lights Bookstore

No, this isn’t a duplicate of #2, though it is right next door! It just so happens that the best thing to pair with a café is a bomb-ass bookstore. City Lights Bookstore has been a part of my life from the moment I could read. I have such fond memories of visiting this bookstore to pick out a good read, while simultaneously searching for and petting the store cat. I even attended American Girl doll events (lol) that were held in a room here waaayyy back in the day. Not much has changed over the last few years, and I love it. The staff consistently has great picks out on display and can quickly order something if it’s out of stock. I picked up The Music of Bees and look forward to reading it soon! Also, if you visit during the summer, you might stumble across some wild blackberries growing next to it. We did on our most recent trip!

On Thursday, I went wedding dress shopping with my mom and two sisters in Greenville, SC! Since there’s so much to share, I’ve decided to include that trip in a separate post coming soon! I’m also going to give you all a sneak peak of the venues we selected for our wedding!! I’m so excited!

On our last day, we went on a hike to Craggy Gardens in Asheville, NC. Again- more amazing views with a few options for trails you can hike (including a walk to a waterfall)! After our hike, we were starving so we went to one of my favorite places in Asheville – White Duck Taco Shop! Even at 3 pm, there was a line out the door! Luckily, the food comes out quickly! For snacks, we ordered chips and queso, as well as, watermelon with mint. For tacos, we ordered combinations of Black Bean, Jerk Chicken, Spicy Buffalo Chicken, Bangkok Shrimp, Korean Beef and Mole Roasted Duck. Around 2-3 tacos per person should do the trick! D-E-L-I-C-I-O-U-S!

Initially, I wasn’t sure if I should write about my week off at home. I didn’t know how much I would be able to see and do, considering I was the only one in the family on vacation that week. And as much as I’d like to be the solo adventurer (#maincharactervibes), I really just enjoy being with others. I felt anxious that I wasn’t exploring new places to post about and that I wasn’t using my time off wisely. I had to stop and remind myself it’s more than okay to take it slow and just be– a gentle reminder from my sleepy hometown. Sylva- you’re truly a special place to me.

Check out more Sylva posts, here!