As the wildlife calendar hanging in my cabin gently turned from January to February, it is a good indicator of the onset of a fun outdoor activity that could involve the entire family, even the dog.

Have you ever heard stories about people finding a rare treasure in their yard, whether it was a fossil in their garden, a rare coin, or even a gemstone, and thought, "Wouldn't it be amazing to find ...

Western North Carolina offers several locations for gem mining and exploration. Emerald Village, near Spruce Pine, allows visitors to dig for gems and go underground. Other popular spots in and around ...