The days are getting shorter and the holidays are rapidly approaching, which can send us into a frenzy as we try to accomplish so much before the end of the year. But this shift into winter is the perfect time to pause and give thanks for things in our lives we might otherwise take for granted, like the vast outdoor landscapes across the state that offer so many wonderful things to do in North Carolina.   

The mountains, wetlands, rivers and beaches of the Tarheel State provide us with so many fun outdoor activities throughout the year, whether it’s the quick and accessible escape from city life on the Little Sugar Creek Greenway, which connects a series of parks through the heart of downtown Charlotte, or the quiet solitude found deep inside Linville Gorge Wilderness (shown above), which protects one of the deepest gorges east of the Mississippi. Or maybe you appreciate our state’s rugged landscape because it gives you the chance to push yourself out of your comfort zone, like climbing the 120-foot granite cliffs at Pilot Mountain State Park. Regardless of how you enjoy the outdoors, take a moment to reflect and express gratitude for how NC’s wild side has enriched our lives this year.  

The professionals that guide us through North Carolina’s wild places deserve a nod of thanks as well. Guides like Dave Stelling at High Country Guide Service, who will not only teach you how to catch a wild trout in the depths of North Carolina’s High Country, but he’ll underscore your adventure by relaying the key principles of river stewardship, like packing out everything you brought into the river with you, even that discarded fishing line from when you snagged your hook on a tree, which can entangle birds, turtles and fish if left in the wild. Professional guides like Stelling add layers of cultural significance and stewardship to every adventure, deepening the value of your time in the woods.  

Speaking of stewardship…no note of thanks would be complete without mentioning the stewards that preserve our most cherished resources. All across the state, groups work tirelessly to make sure the peaks we hike and rivers we paddle are pristine not just for us to enjoy, but for future generations too. We’re fortunate to have groups like the Watershed Association of the Tuckasegee River in Swain County, which works year-round to monitor water quality and restore the river’s habitats so we can all fish, swim and paddle the beautiful Tuck.