We often go to Skinny Dip Falls. It's a pretty waterfall with a swimming hole not far from the Blue Ridge Parkway. About an hour drive from Asheville. During summer you can't miss the parking spot, it's Looking Glass Overlook (mile marker 417) and it's always packed. All that's left to do is cross the road, take the connector to the Mountain to Sea Trail where you take a left and get to the waterfall in about 15 minutes.
When the temperatures hit 90, it's an absolute joy to slide into the cold water. There is a rock to the side that allows to jump in as well. Nice, except of course when a group of fifteen tweens shows up at the same time. It becomes hard to share the space of even enjoy the peace of the site.But it didn't matter, my knees enjoyed the coolness, especially since I ran 13 miles that very morning.Not to mention that above the main swimming hole, there is an other space. If jumping is out of the question, there are small pools set up by visitors to allow the youngest swimmers to play in the water, as well as a deep but narrow hole under the upper waterfall to cool off.
But was caught my attention were little rock formations. They looked like stone kodamas (the forest spirits in Princess Mononoke).
Hubby was inspired and added a few more stone spirits by the upper waterfall...