Brad Beatty

I'm ok with the bears. We back up to a 1000+ acre summer camp. The bears know I have dogs and try to steer clear. I'm more spooked by some of the coyotes I've picked up on my trail camera. People tell me they're coyotes but I swear they're hellhounds, man. Like WTF is that thing stalking around every night?

I was in Nashville for 20+ years, but have been in WNC for about 18 months now. First in a rental in Canton, now on a mountaintop between Hendersonville and Pisgah Forest. We love the area! The vistas, hiking, etc in this area are amazing. Not sweating non-stop in the summers -- lifetime achievement unlocked. I'm just east of Pisgah National as well as Dupont State Forests. I can see Mt Pisgah through the trees in the winter. I can't speak to the eastern 3/4 of the state, but the mountains of WNC are glorious. Maybe not Colorado glorious, but we also don't deal with snow for 3 months!

My mom's family is from the area - New Lexington/Crooksville. My grandfather was a cast maker at Roseville Pottery. Please do me a favor & have a black & white sundae from Tom's Ice Cream Bowl for me. Also wouldn't mind some nuts & chocolates, I'm just sayin

I ate at the Beacon in Spartanburg for the first time last month. Will not be the last. Old guy taking orders was amazing - how does someone remember all of that?

Graeter's Ice Cream in Lexington, Jeff. You're welcome.