The most exciting day for an author is publication day, when your book is finally in the hands of readers.
The second most exciting day is the one where you get a giant box - or several giant boxes - of books and you get the first peek at the finished product.
Well, here it is: Moon USA National Parks Hiking. 100 hikes, 100 bonus things to do nearby, too many miles of trail to count. It hits shelves on October 14.
I love this book. From my first days as a hiker and a writer, from that first Boy Scout camp out, from my first night camping beneath the Milky Way I've been training to write this one.
In it you'll find hikes in my native West Virginia, my adopted home North Carolina, and favorite parks from Virginia, California, Arizona, Ohio, Maine, Colorado, Wyoming, Hawaii and beyond.
Grab a copy from the link in my bio, from your local indie bookseller, from your big box bookstore, your favorite gear shop, REI or wherever you can (and if your shop doesn't have it, ask them to order a few). When I meet you on the trail I'll sign yours while we catch our breath and adjust the laces on our boots.
Our resident rabbits have been hopping the ground at @trailborn_surfandsound for a while now—and honestly, we get it. But lately, they’ve gone from backyard locals to full-on magazine stars. 🐇🌴🏖️
Catch our furry friends (and a whole lot more of what makes this places special) in a gorgeous new spread in @ourstatemag , written by the talented @beardedwriter .
Pick up the latest issue or find the full feature at the link in our bio. And don’t forget to look out for these beach bunnies during your next stay!
#trailbornsurfandsound #trailbornhotels #ourstatemag #travelnc #visitwrightsvillebeach
Say hi to Buddy and his sister Lucky. They've been with us for about a week and have been the most polite of kitties. Could be the formal wear, could be they're learning their new home; regardless, @lafrye and I are smitten. #tuxedocats
Last year, I hopped over to Wrightsville Beach for a little wildlife watching at @trailborn_surfandsound . @ourstatemag magazine caught wind of the rabbits that live in the dunes and landscaping at this gorgeous sea-to-sound resort and they sent me to investigate.
The story - Beach Bunnies - is out now, and the outstanding photography of @mattrayphotography are the perfect accompaniment to what I wrote. It's a fun, unexpected story, and was a pleasure to write. The second slide gives you a little tease of what you'll find in the April 2026 issue of Our State (starting with a bunny portrait on p. 62). Go give it a read.
#ourstate #wrightsvillebeach #trailbornsurfandsound #moonnorthcarolina
Dinner at @voycebistro delivered exactly what I needed: perfectly fried shrimp an catfish, tots, and a super black eyed pea salad. Chef Keith Rhodes does it again, delivering big flavor in dishes that honor Gullah traditions, coastal cuisine, and international flavors. Fried fish did it for me this time, but I can't wait to go back and explore the menu more.
Just in time for your holiday shopping, winter getaways, and those dreams of summer beach vacations, the newest edition of Moon North Carolina is here.
Planning a trip to the beach? Whether it's the @obx@thecrystalcoast or the shores of @wilmingtoncoast or a getaway to @baldheadislandnc , I've got you covered. Need a cabin for your mountain escape? You'll find great places to stall all along the Blue Ridge and Smoky Mountains. Looking for wine or beer or some food so good you'll plan a second trip around it? Look no further.
This beauty hits shelves Dec 2, and you can grab your copy from@any online retailer or in person at your favorite bookstore.
Had an absolutely fantastic meal at @seabirdnc where @chefdeanneff brought in @shellemseafoodco and @inahalfshellist to showcase a menu of wild oysters and mussels. The company - @thecatherinecampbell@ericfscheffer@toneperez and @j_swain27 (the team at Ashevilles exceptional @jettieraes ) - was as good as every bite served.
Chef Neff and his team did an exception job on this menu, serving: oysters with prickly pear granita, Shellem Wilds with sunchoke veloute, boiled peanut stew with wild oysters, mussels carbonara, and a wow-worthy apple hand pie with cinnamon ice cream. To top it off, great drinks, including a collab beer between Jettie Rae's and @fontaflorabrew .
Thanks for letting me join your table, @ericfscheffer , it was a treat and I can't wait to get to Asheville to hang out again.
#michelinworthy #ilm #oysters #shellemseafood #oystersommelier
Wildlife watching makes any National Park visit memorable. You'll spot elk in parks like @greatsmokynps@grandtetonnps@yellowstonenps@rockynps@redwoodnps@theodorerooseveltnps , among others, and they're an impressive sight. When I'm in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, I head to the Oconaluftee Visitors Center around sunset (or a little later) to listen to the elk bugle in the dark. It's a wild sound, part of the natural soundtrack we've forgotten, neglected, erased or replaced, and I take every chance I get to hear it. In my new book, Moon USA National Parks Hiking, I included plenty of trails for wildlife watching and tips for safe (and responsible) wildlife viewing in parks across the nation. Grab a copy, hit the trail, and pay a visit to our parks' full-time residents, just remember to admire from a distance. #wildlife #nationalparks #elk #gsmnp #smokymountains #rmnp #tetons #rooseveltelk #hiking #nationalparks #nationalparksusa #travelwithmoon
Nineteen years ago, @lafrye met me at the altar and we said "I do" (actually, I said, "you bet your sweet bippy" so I'm not sure if we're technically married) and the rest has been one continuous road trip. From Antarctica to Svalbard, Rome to Cairo, Myanmar to West Virginia to a dozen national parks and more places than I can name, she's been the best friend, partner-in-crime, and wife a fellow could ask for. Thanks for being mine, La. Wanna sign up for another 19?
It's publication day!!! Get your copy of Moon USA National Parks Hiking at your favored bookstore, gear seller or online, then join me on the trail.
Inside you'll find 100 hikes in more than 40 parks, plus 100 more things to do nearby.
Keep a copy in your pack and I'll sign it on the trail.
#hiking. #nationalparks #findyourpark #travel
I was out in @visithaywood , North Carolina's gateway to the Smoky Mountains, and I took a little hike in @greatsmokynps . Found this beauty of a guidebook at the end of the trail. What trail? I headed out to Andrew's Bald to take in the fall color (and the cloud inversions in the valleys below), then I hiked to the top of Kuwohi, the highest peak in the park.
You'll find this hike and 99 others in Moon USA National Parks Hiking, plus 100 hikes, sights, waterfalls, and places to eat and rest.
The book hits shelves tomorrow. Stop by your favorite gear shop, outdoors retailer or bookshop to pick up a copy, or order it online.
Can't wait to see you on the trail (I'll put a Sharpie in my bag in case you want your copy signed).
