Have you ever been on a hike where the destination was only half the magic? That is exactly how I felt when my family and I parked at an unassuming trailhead in North Carolina, not knowing we were about to stumble into a fairytale.
The path wound through mossy boulders and past several smaller waterfalls, each one more surprising than the last. My kids scrambled over roots, pointing at ferns and skipping across wooden bridges.
The sound of rushing water grew louder with every step, building anticipation until the final reveal. And then we saw it, a stunning two-tiered cascade tumbling over ancient rock, with a spray so cool it made us all laugh…