Southport Water Tower
This photo was captured with a DJI Mavic pro drone and a PolarPro Cinema Series filter.
Fresh Seafood
This photo was captured with a Sony a6300.
Southport Gazebo
We visited Southport for the first time last weekend. It was a quintessential North Carolina coastal town with a waterfront stretch of a dozen restaurants and bars. We had a great time relaxing with the kids and Lori's parents and even ran into some old friends who used to be our neighbors 15 years ago (Hi Dena & Lisa!).
This photo was captured with a DJI Mavic pro drone and a PolarPro Cinema Series filter.
The Two Castles
This photo was captured with a DJI Mavic pro drone and a PolarPro Cinema Series filter.
Plotagraph: Mill Pond Dam
Banner Elk is named for the Elk River and the Banner family, who established the first permanent settlement in 1848.
The Elk River and Shawneehaw Creek merge at Mill Pond. If you ever have the opportunity to visit Banner Elk and the surrounding towns, you won't be disappointed!
This photograph was captured with a Sony a6300 and then converted to a Plotagraph.
Fawn
Just another day on Beech Mountain. The deer population here is off the charts and it's not uncommon to see a dozen in a day but it never gets old... Especially when they bring their babies out for a shaky walk around town.
This photograph was captured with a Sony a6300.
Sugar Creek Gem Mine
I admit we used to scoff at the "gem mines" that we'd pass on our way through tourist traps like Gatlinburg and Myrtle Beach. I still can't vouch for them but I can say that the Sugar Creek Gem Mine in Banner Elk is a lot of fun!
The kids love the place and they pull enough stuff out of the buckets that you feel like it was money well spent. Semi-pro tip: the bigger buckets come with bigger gems so if you have several kids, get a giant bucket rather than a small one for each kid.
They have some neat stuff in the gift shop, too, like soapstone candle holders and geodes that haven't been cracked open yet so you can discover what's inside on your own.
This photograph was captured with a Sony a6300.
Providence Road
After a long day of relaxing at home on Christmas this year, we ventured out for some fresh air. There's a little park and playground on Providence Road, just outside of the city that we always drive past so we thought we'd check it out. It turned out to be great and all of the people from the neighborhood who were out taking post-Christmas day strolls couldn't have been more friendly.
If you're not from Charlotte, Providence Road winds it's way through South Charlotte, ultimately leading you right to the center of the city. Locals know it as the street that changes names and directions at a drop of a hat. If you tell a friend to meet you at Providence and Providence, Queens and Queens, they'll know exactly what you're talking about. It's the intersection where Providence and Queens meet, each deflecting off the other with a 90-degree turn.
This photograph was captured with a DJI Mavic Pro drone.
Peaceful Bridge
This bridge is on the Blue Ridge Parkway just north of Blowing Rock. I pass over this bridge at least once a month and I'm always fascinated by the dozen dead trees towering over the forest. It's reforestation happening right before your eyes. If the trees were all hit by the same storm, it must have been a sight to behold.
This photograph was captured with a Sony a6300.
Romare Beardon Park Christmas Lights
Romare Beardon Park in Uptown Charlotte is a really nice green oasis in the middle of the city. It's currently hosting Charlotte's Christmas Village in the upper park. The lower park is a wide open field with some interesting interactive music and art installations. Here, the retaining wall lights are cycling red and green for Christmas.
This photograph was captured with a Sony a6300.