You can make all the plans, but you never know what is in store. After a lot of deliberate planning, decided to head out to the Jumping Off Rock. Starting off with delayed rental, to the not so dynamic sunset after the long and bumpy drive, the day just fizzled out. The next day when trying to chase waterfalls, the rain decided to chase us. But luckily along with rain - the mist, rolling fog and views like this - just by the road saved the day. Here it is - a view just by the roadside, from Carolina Mountains :)
Google Maps, you need to step up. Occasionally navigating me to the back side of Walmart is manageable, but putting me on a spot (Rich Mountain Road : F744), back side of the water falls, where there is no potential trail and telling me to walk the reminder of the way, not cool :) Luckily, I was able to assess and get to the Hwy 28S and located the trail head. I generally love waterfalls, but some are just really enchanting. This is one of them - Yellow Branch Falls ! The hike to Yellow Branch Falls is a backtrack hike over moderate terrain that ends at a beautiful waterfall with many individual cascades. Give enough time to get to the falls with regular breaks and u can call this an easy hike & fun hike. On the route you pass through groves of dignified hardwood and meander across a number of streams. But the highlight of the hike is the 50 foot multi tier cascade, that awaits you at the end :) When you are treated with views like this, all the huffs & puffs from the strenuous hike magically disappears :)
“See you at Sunset !” - This iconic phrase has embodied the spirit and history of Key West since the event took off in the late 1960s ! The “Key West Sunset Celebration” is a nightly festival @ Mallory Square. It hosts visitors from all over the world, to take part along side with local magicians, jugglers, clowns, psychics, local musicians, artists and food vendors, that combine for an incredible cultural experience. But for me the sunset itself was iconic enough. I preferred the nearby Fort Zachary Taylor State Park (which probably is the true south most point in continental US, as opposed to the one commercialized at Whitehead street ). It too was a bit crowded, but much less touristy than Mallory Square. There is something magical about Key West Sunsets, wouldn't you agree :)
