This past summer I went on a spontaneous camping trip with my father to Brevard, North Carolina. The quaint town sits just at the edge of a national park, and my dad had been excited to try out some of the new camping gear he had recently acquired.

I have always been spatially challenged, and putting up my dad’s brand-new, roomy REI tent was a bit difficult for me. We set up our base at Davidson River Campground, located only a mile into the national park. My dad and I spent five nights at the campground, sitting outside each night by a cozy fire blazing until the last embers died away and we fell asleep after a long day of hiking and exploring.

Escaping the stifling Florida summer heat and humidity and breathing the fresh mountain air of North Carolina never gets old, and to stay in a town I have fond memories of made this camping trip perfect. Brevard had been the site of one of the running camps I used to attend when running cross-country in high school, and I had always wanted to return to walk the trails, see the waterfalls and visit the historic town. The sheer number of activities and things to see is baffling for such a small town.

Brevard is a town of hyperboles. In this sense, I mean the town is home to some of the best food and beer I have had in my life — it may be a slight exaggeration, but it remains true. Hearty soups and homemade sandwiches can be found at Mayberry’s, an establishment that has become a favorite among locals and tourists alike. The food never ceases to amaze me, as each dish is made fresh and with care. Even the peanut butter and jelly consists of peanut butter made in the region and Brevard jelly. The potato soup is definitely worth the visit, too.

The best ice cream I have ever had also hails from Brevard, and my father and I made sure to stop at Dolly’s to get a scoop of one of the many unique flavors. I always need chocolate of some sort in my ice cream, so I opted for the vanilla raspberry ice cream with chocolate raspberry pieces scattered throughout. My father went for a blackberry ice cream, which he raved about for at least the next 1.5 days.

Just a five-minute drive outside of Brevard is an outdoor brewery adorned with vibrant paints across the walls, Oskar Blues. As the summer sun began to set behind the trees lining the mountains, it was the perfect time for a visit to this brewery. With locally sourced beers and a menu of snacks, we sat out on the picnic benches for a few hours enjoying not only the beer but also the scenery.

Camping so close to scenic trails and iconic waterfalls wasn’t too bad either, of course. We were just up the road from a number of trails, waterfalls and other scenic outlooks. Sliding Rock, a long and slick rock with cold water constantly running down it and ending in a pool, draws many visitors, especially in the summer for a dip in the cool water. Glass Falls and Hooker Falls can also be found nearby, and we made sure to stop and take in these sights as well. The most memorable sights for us, though, were the waterfalls we had to work to see. These types of waterfalls sit at the end of hilly trails and rocky steps after a long hike, like Rainbow Falls, a magnificent 80-foot-high waterfall with mist that glistens in the sunlight. Of course, as the type of person who wasn’t prepared, I wore flip flops to hike the rocky and steep trail.

— Aoife O’Riordan, associate editor