When mythic landscapes of childhood imagination turn into real-life father-daughter adventures
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If there were a warning for films that induced transcendental dream states, Ain’t No Mountain High Enough would have to carry it—though the narrator basically tips you off himself. “As a child,” says Eternal Polk, “I would often lose myself in the wilderness of my own imagination, finding myself in faraway lands I imagined look like the trails [of Stone Mountain].” Anyone who’s ever daydreamed will see his point as he leads his daughter Maxwell-Rose and her dog Gigi McLickious through this lushly forested state park to the hypnotic stylings of sound designer Omari Jazz.
Polk also happens to be the film’s director—and as a twice Emmy-nominated pro, he knows precisely how to showcase beauty at its most ethereal. But he doesn’t do so for the exclusive benefit of the audience: “One of the jobs as a father is to make sure that my daughter has a collection of beautiful memories,” he says. And you’ll love watching him add to that collection with this gorgeous “cinematic poem” to her.
What to do
along the way
You’d be hard-pressed to find any better sustenance—or reward—for a day on the trails than the BBQ plates and sandwiches you’ll find at Brushy Mountain Smokehouse and Creamery, a Wilkesboro institution. For dessert, needless to say, it’s the house-made ice cream (crowd favorites include Brushy Mountain Mudpie, Cookies and Cream, and Red Velvet), which you should order in a freshly baked waffle cone for bonus goodness. For trail-ready local snacks, such as Brushy Mountain Granola in an impressive range of flavors, head to Elkin’s Yadkin Valley General Store, where you’ll also find edible souvenirs of your time in this part of the state—a spicy chili bacon jam, for starters.
60 miles northwest of Winston-Salem, you’ll find a landscape of 200-foot waterfalls, meandering streams, densely wooded trails, and at the heart of it all, an awe-inspiring granite dome that’s been designated a National Natural Landmark. Little wonder Eternal Polk found an echo of his childhood dreamscape here—and decided that Stone Mountain State Park was the perfect place “to get lost under a canopy of trees” with his daughter. Ranging from just under half a mile to just over 11 miles, the trails that wind through the park’s montane oak forests, coniferous forest, mountain glades, and other ecosystems, suit hikers of any experience level—and welcome pets, too (a fact that clearly pleases Gigi McLickious, though she seems as content to explore from the comfort of Maxwell-Rose’s arms as on foot).
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This story is part of North Carolina’s Firsts That Last
film series. See more stories here.
Some of the trails are good for horseback riding, too—one of several onsite recreation opportunities that include rock climbing, fishing, birdwatching, picnicking and camping. History buffs will enjoy visiting the Hutchinson Homestead and other remnants of the 19th and early 20th centuries, but the undoubted centerpiece of the experience is the namesake 600-foot dome, whose beauty is almost too outsized not to be shared. As Polk observes, “sharing these sacred moments with my daughter allowed me to witness something beautiful—the mountain—through her eyes.” And that’s a gift worth traveling for.
When it’s time to rest up from the day’s adventures, you have great options for staying immersed in nature. Sandy Creek Family Campground in Traphill is a well-equipped site, whether you show up with an RV or a car and a tent. And if you BYO horse for the riding trails of Stone Mountain State Park, this campground even has boarding. If you prefer cabins to tents or RVs, consider High Mountain Cabin Rentals, with countless listings throughout this region’s mountains. To stoke extra wanderlust while exploring your cabin options, filter by “long range views”—though filtering by “rentals with game rooms” and “rentals with hot tubs” is fun, too.
Ain't No Mountain
High Enough
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Stone Mountain State Park
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Seagrove: Where art becomes an escape in more ways than one
about the journey
watch
their storY
Stone Mountain State Park
what
to do
This story is part of North Carolina’s Firsts That Last
film series. See more stories here.
WATCH THE FILM
Watch some North Carolina stories, then
start planning your own adventure.
Ready for more?