The fall season is a wonderful time of year for nature-oriented activities. Outdoor fall activities are a great way to stay active and nature can lend a helping hand in many ways. Leaves are changing into wondrous colors and the weather can be just the perfect temperature. Regularly participating in activities such as hiking, rock climbing, nature walks, camping, and other outdoor adventures can be a workout. It's also fun and a great way to spend time with family and friends. One way to be sure you get these outdoor activities in regularly is to form a nature club.

Decide who you are interested in forming the club with. Will this be strictly for family? Are friends invited to participate in the activities? What are the age groups? There could be separate groups for adults and children or it could be all-inclusive. Some may prefer even to ask around the community and make it a more formal club. Decide also if there will be dues or if everyone will just pay their own way whenever there are any associated costs. Many nature venues, such as state parks are free or low-cost, but there may be equipment and supply costs or a number of other small fees.

Scheduling should be something to think about when making plans. The group can decide together on a schedule that best fits all participants. Think about how many times per week or month is ideal, as well as days and times. Also remember to consider holidays, as well as possible weather conditions. Some activities, such as kite flying, would be good on a windy day.

Some may choose to focus a club on one fall hobby or activity. Others may choose to be more versatile. Whatever option you go with, be sure the chosen activities fit the skill levels of your nature club members. A fun way to keep track of everyone while on nature excursions is to get custom-designed t-shirts and matching shoes. Just be sure the shoes are durable and comfy, as well as appropriate for certain activities. Nature activities can be hard on the feet without proper footwear.

Sources:

http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/texas_parks_and_wildlife_promotes_family_nature_clubs

Looking for a challenging trail that hikes over a few mountains, sticks you in the wilderness away from your comfort zone and allows you to explore a remote area of New Hampshire that few people ever visit? Then look no further. The Cohos Trail in New Hampshire is it. The Cohos Trail begins its winding way just south of the White Mountains and heads north up to Canada. It crosses several mountain ranges and even climbs up to over 4,500 feet (the peak of Mount Eisenhower), so it's not one for those who don't like heights. It is, however, a beautiful part of New Hampshire, and any nature buff would love hiking on this 160-mile trail.

The Cohos Trail has many delights, including more than 50 species of birds; Table Rock, with one of the scariest views imaginable (you really are that high up, with a straight drop down); waterfalls with a kettle hole; lunch spots with stupendous views; a suspension foot bridge to cross and several high peaks you can climb.

You can hike the entire Cohos Trail, which will take you around 10 to 14 days, or you can do one of many day hikes. For a cool day hike, try the Davis Path to Stairs Mountain near Notchland, Percy Peak Trail or Percy Loop Trail.

The Cohos Trail really is that remote, but recently more campsites have been established, and several information kiosks have been opened along the way. So, if you're thinking of heading up the Cohos Trail, don't hesitate. The campsites are in beautiful spots, there's now a hostel you can stay at only a few miles off the trail, and there's also a new guidebook, which will help you all the way along the trail. The Cohos Trail is also being expanded by another 20 to 40 miles, which are projected to be ready by next year, with some new trails ready as early as spring 2009. Why not be the first to try them out? If you're doing it in the fall or spring, don't forget to pack your winter woolies. You'll need them up on the higher elevations.

From pretty much any vantage point in Seattle, Washington, you can see Mount Rainier. So it makes sense when people think about hiking trails around Seattle, Mount Rainier is one of the first places to come to mind. You could of course hike (and climb) up to the summit, but - at over 14,000 feet - it would take you a fair while. Plus, unless you've done it before, it's also recommended to take a guide and that can be quite expensive. For a challenging, yet not too dangerous hike in the real outdoors, Mount Rainier National Park is still the place, and the Wonderland Trail is the hike.

The Wonderland Trail is a 93-mile trail that hits just about every major zone of the park. You can start the Wonderland Trail at many different places along its way, but it will take you at least 10 to 12 days to complete it if you decide to hike the whole thing, so be prepared.

The Wonderland Trail actually circles Mount Rainier, meaning if you do the whole thing, you'll see the mountain from pretty much every conceivable angle (except from the top, of course). There are also ranger cabins all over the park. Because there aren't any places to purchase food, if you do decide to walk the entire trail, you're going to have to arrange to have food packages mailed to several ranger locations for pick up as you hike.

The weather in this area can be a bit iffy, even in the summer. Park rangers will also warn you to watch out for sudden, extreme changes of weather. If you're walking the whole Wonderland Trail, there's a good chance you'll experience some severe weather during the almost two weeks that you'll be hiking. So make sure you're prepared with all the right equipment.

The Wonderland Trail sounds like it could be too much like hard work, but, in reality, it's one of the best ways to see the park. All kinds of flora, fauna and wildlife exist, not to mention the panoramic views. And let's face it, if you've seen anything of Mount Rainier from Seattle, it'd be kinda cool to see it from so close up.

Vermont is a wonderful place to hike during spring, summer and especially fall (think fall colors!). There are thousands of hiking trails in Vermont, with some going on for hundreds of miles (The Appalachian Trail) and some just mini hiking trails. Three trails, though, have always been fascinating to me and all for different reasons.

The Long Trail - This is the oldest, long-distance trail in the U.S. as it's been around for almost 100 years. It has a 270-mile main footpath and almost 200 miles of side footpaths, making it a trail you can visit again and again without hiking in the same place. The Long Trail is also challenging, because it's steep in many places. But there are also areas that casual hikers can hike in and not feel too threatened by the climb. Going from the Massachusetts border to the Canadian border, you can see most of Vermont while hiking this trail, and there are some beautiful places for camping.

Camel's Hump - Some of my hiking buddies tell me this is Vermont's best trail. Camel's Hump is a Vermont mountain with lots of unique plant life and some great bird watching, and the summit provides one of the best views in the state. It only takes around three hours to get up and back, because the trail is just over 3 miles each way. But, yes, it's uphill all the way. When you get to the top and see those amazing views in green and deep blue, you'll be happy you did it.

Green Mountain National Forest - This enormous Vermont forest has well over 25 well-maintained hiking trails for all levels of hikers. You've got to try Mount Horrid, just because of the name. It's also a mini-trail at less than one and a half miles round trip, and it's a good one for inexperienced hikers. Two trails that intersect each other, Rattlesnake Cliffs and Aunt Jenny, are also awesome trails for a couple of hours hike. On these trails, you can see beautiful waterfalls, and on Rattlesnake Cliffs, there are spectacular views of Lake Dunmore.

These are just three of Vermont's hiking trails; there are thousands more. Vermont is a beautiful state with hiking trails that won't disappoint.

I've only been to Louisiana once, a long time ago. I don't remember much except the water in the hotel smelled like rotten eggs (it's something about high sulfur content in the water), and Louisiana has some darned good hiking trails. One of the most famous places to hike in Louisiana is the Jean Lafitte National Historic Park. This national park is a maze of swampland and marshes and, yes, part of it smelled like sulfur too. But there are some excellent hiking trails in this neck of the woods, and none of them are too terribly taxing when it comes to effort.

Before you set off, make sure you go to the park's visitor center, which is actually in the French Quarter in New Orleans. They'll give you a booklet with information on all the hikes around the area. All the Jean Lafitte trails are very short (most of them less than a mile), but it's such an unusual area it's worth hiking just for the scenery and wildlife. My favorite hike in this area was the Roadside Wildflower Trail. Like its name suggests, it's a mass of wildflowers during much of the year and short enough (just short of a mile) that it really is just a quick jaunt. Just remember, you're not allowed to pick the wildflowers, because they're protected by local authorities.

If you like birds, the Wood Duck Bird Trail is also very cool. There are hundreds of species of birds in this area, but look out, especially for the woodpeckers. They're colorful, odd looking and one of the famous birds from around this area. There are also five or six other short hiking trails where you can see much of the swampland and the wildlife the waters hide.

Also, in the Jean Lafitte National Historic Park, after hiking you can take a swamp boat tour through the Louisiana bayous and look for alligators, snakes and other scary critters. Quite fitting really, because Jean Lafitte was a pretty scary individual himself. Famous as a local 'pirate,' he was in fact a privateer - legally paid to knock off Spanish ships and fight against the British in 1815. The Jean Lafitte National Park is a must-see. Beautiful, a bit spooky and definitely unique, a hike in this park will make you feel like a true early pioneer.

A few years ago, I lived in the San Francisco Bay area for a few months. At the time, I wasn't into any kind of exercise so looking for San Francisco hiking trails was definitely not an option. Nowadays, though, being the fitness guru I am, hiking trails in San Francisco would be right up my alley, and these three easy hiking trails would be perfect places to start.

Cezar Chavez/ North Waterfront Park Trail - This 1.7-mile trail is a very easy hike. It's pretty much flat all the way and follows the shoreline, which is quite unspoiled and has a beautiful view of Angel Island and San Francisco. This hiking trail is also great for dog owners, because you can take your dog with you. There's even an off-leash area where you can let Rover run free. Open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., it also has a perfect hiking climate year round.

Crissy Field - For something that's a bit longer, try this 5-mile hike from Crissy Field. It's flat, so hikers of any age can do it, but what's great about it is you can keep on going as long as you want to get the type of challenge you're seeking. Start out at Crissy Field and walk down Golden Gate Promenade. Then go over the Golden Gate Bridge (gorgeous views!) and into Marin. Right ahead is Sausalito, a fabulous place to stop for a coffee or a snack, then either walk back or grab a bus. Or you can stay at Crissy Field and walk a 1.6-mile hike up to Fort Point. Turn around and retrace your steps to give you an almost 3 ½-mile hike.

Pescadero Marsh Nature Preserve - Just a little south of Half Moon Bay is Pescadero Marsh. It's lovely, with tons of wildlife, flora and fauna, and is a cool place to bird watch. There are three or four hiking trails through Pescadero Marsh, all of which are only 1-2 miles long. Parts of them can be challenging, because you're walking on open sand, but this pretty location makes it worth the extra work.

The San Francisco Bay area has literally thousands of hiking trails. These three are a good, easy start, especially because they're all such beautiful places to hike.

I went to school in Oxford, Ohio, and one of the great things about the school was its location. Only about 20 miles from Cincinnati, Oxford is slap-bang in the middle of gorgeous countryside. Rolling green hills, woods and country lanes, it always reminded me of England, which is where I grew up. Hiking around Oxford, Ohio is also pretty wonderful, especially if you go to Hueston Woods State Park. Hueston Woods State Park is made up of more than 3,000 acres of pure nature. There are more than 10 miles of beautiful hiking trails and even 20 miles of bridle trails, if you like to ride horses. A lot of the trails are around Acton Lake, which is in the middle of the park, so you can also watch the canoeing and folks swimming while you're having a nice hike.

The best way to plan a hike in the park is to first go to the ranger's office and pick up a trail map. These detail all the hiking trails and the easiest way to get to them. There's also part of the American Discovery Trail that goes through the park, as well as some of the most beautiful trees you've ever seen. Ohio is known for its beech, red oak and ash trees, and Hueston Woods has tons of them. Another cool thing about Hueston Woods, especially for kids, is you can search for fossils there. And when I say 'search,' it's often no more than looking down on the ground and picking one up, because there are a lot of them.

For me, the best times to visit Hueston Woods are between March and June, and again, between September and the beginning of November. Ohio tends to be pretty hot and humid, and because I'm not a huge fan of hiking in sweltering heat, I didn't hike much in the woods during the summer. If heat doesn't bother you though, it's a pretty time of year, and you'll definitely work up a sweat. Winter in Ohio, though, can be brutal. A lot of snow and ice storms from November through February make hiking around this area a bit too trying and potentially dangerous. So, throw on your trail pants, stick to the spring and autumn months, and you won't be disappointed!

Zion National Park in Utah has tons of hiking trails for pretty much everybody. The great thing about Zion National Park is the weather is awesome all year round, so you can hike whenever you want to. The Narrows and The Subway are two of the most popular hiking trails and here's why.

The Subway is a challenging hiking trail but a lot of fun. You get to climb over rocks, into crevices and down steep cliffs, and you even have to swim through some fairly deep pools of water. The water in the pools is very cold, which is awesome in the summer months, but make sure you carry emergency equipment just in case there are any accidents. At the end of The Subway, you'll find water shoots that you can slide down, and somebody told me there are even fossilized dinosaur tracks you can see. But remember, have some common sense and don't attempt this one if it's raining. This area floods really quickly, and you could end up in some serious trouble.

The Narrows is the most popular hiking trail at Zion National Park and for good reason. It's more than 16 miles long and was cut out of the rock over the millennia by the river that runs all the way through it. The first couple of miles into the bottom of the canyon are easy and very beautiful with hanging gardens and little streams. The rest of the hike is pretty strenuous, so much so that it requires a permit if you're planning on doing all of it. You could potentially do this in one day, but most people do it as an overnight hike, camping somewhere in the canyon along the way. Either way, you'll have had an amazing workout when you're done.

Zion National Park is easily accessible for everyone. It even has its own shuttle service, which will drop you off at the beginning of many of the trails. Can't get more convenient than that, eh? And don't forget your camera. The red and orange rocks are simply stunning; you'll want to take as many photos as you can.

I lived in Dallas, Texas (Go Longhorns!) for eight years and used to hike a lot there. The weather in Dallas is hot for at least eight months of the year, but it's also quite dry, so it can be great for hiking as long as you don't mind the heat. Dallas has some amazing areas for hiking both in and around the city. It is a very flat area of the country though, so don't expect much in the way of hills unless you get down into Texas hill country around Austin, where you'll find much more hilly hiking country.

White Rock Lake was one of my favorite hiking places. It's over 2,000 acres of lake and park. It's very pretty and even has an Audubon society and wetlands area. There's a trail around the lake that runs for almost 10 miles. It's quite flat, which is perfect for beginners, but watch out for the bikes as it's also shared by cyclists who fly by very fast. There's even supposed to be a Lady of the Lake, a ghost that several hikers have reported seeing. (I've never seen her though, wish I had!) In the spring, the area around the lake is covered with wildflowers, especially the famous Texas bluebonnets, so it's a great time to hike then. In summer, the park areas will be drier, and it's harder going due to the excessive Texas heat. But, if you want a great workout and don't mind sweating, it's fun to hike at White Rock Lake.

One of my favorite places to hike just outside Dallas is the L.B. Houston Park, which is about 7 miles north of downtown Dallas. This is a fabulous place to hike for beginners, because it's easy and pretty too. There are four trails to choose from. One is as short as a mile, and the longest is about four miles. The great thing about L.B. Houston Park trails is the plant life and the birds. I've seen many unusual looking birds in the park (sorry, don't know anything about birds, but they were unusual to me!), and in the spring, the flowers and plant life are really pretty too. The trails are pretty flat to hike on but still fun. You can get here by going north on Interstate 35, turning left on Northwest Highway (the loop road) and following the signs.

Don't forget, if you do hike on either of these trails, especially in the summer, take plenty of water in your backpack. It's hotter than heck in Texas in the summer, and you can easily get dehydrated. Not fun if you're a long way from a water supply or a 7-11.

Wide expanses of snow, ice and glaciers are what we think about when most of us think about Alaska. Going hiking in Alaska probably isn't something most of us would consider. Surprisingly, Alaska does actually have a summer, and it is possible to hike there then. Alaska also has some fabulous hiking trails in incredibly beautiful country where you can get back to nature more than anywhere else in America. If you're thinking of hiking in Alaska though, you really should consider these two hiking trails: the Kachemak Bay State Park near Homer and the Kenai Fjords near Seward.

The Kachemak Bay State Park is stunning and easily reachable from Homer but only by plane or by boat. Here there are two options for trail hiking. Either stick to the well-maintained trails, which will take you up mountains and glaciers and around hidden coves, or branch out to the eastern part of the park. Here it's basically completely Alaskan wilderness with no marked trails, making it a huge challenge but really gorgeous. The Kachemak Bay State Park is also home to loads of wildlife and birds, so don't forget your camera and notebooks. Oh, and be careful of the bears! They may look cute and cuddly, but they can kill you.

The Kenai Fjords are something else entirely. These fjords will rival anything Norway has to offer, with trails cut through the woodland as well as a lot of hikes that cross the glaciers. If you do these hikes make sure you're fully prepared for glacier hiking. It can be somewhat dangerous for those with no experience. (You don't want to fall down a crevasse or break a leg and have to get the Alaskan rescue service to save you.) Near the Kenai Fjords is also one of the most popular places in Alaska for hikers, a coastal defense depot that operated during World War II. Check out the old buildings and pretend you're a WWII soldier. You can also camp in the Kenai Fjord National Park overnight. Just make sure you stock up on provisions in Seward before you set out, because there's nothing to buy in the national park itself.

There are many more amazing hiking trails in Alaska. Your best bet is to start out in Anchorage, Homer, Seward or Juneau and branch out from there.

Looking for one of the most beautiful places on earth? Want to see amazing scenery? Like to work out every muscle in your body, and then relax on a gorgeous beach when you're finished? Then look no further. The Kalalau Hiking Trail is definitely for you. Sure, hiking trails are supposed to be relaxing, fun and easy, right? Well, this one isn't. The Kalalau Trail will give you a major workout, and as it's an 11 mile long trail, you'll be working out for a while. But, part way through the trail, you'll be rewarded with a breathtaking view of the ocean and a sandy beach second to none.

The Kalalau Trail is on the Hawaiian island of Kauai and is also known as the paradise trail. This 11-mile trail starts out with a pretty, winding and strenuous, hike upwards until, at the top, you'll be confronted with a narrow hiking path that overlooks an incredible ocean view. The trail then continues on, up and down, up and down, and finally descends until it ends up at Hanakapiai Beach. Hanakapiai Beach is around two miles up the trail, but because of the narrowness of the trail and the incline, it will still take you several hours to get there.

Hanakapiai Beach is a small sandy beach, which is lovely. The only warning here is please don't swim in the ocean. The currents are very strong and even a strong swimmer could be pulled out to sea very quickly, so keep your water emersion to no more than a quick wading.

The Kalalau Trail begins at Ke'e Beach and ends up in the Kalalau Valley. The whole trail normally takes a couple of days to do, even for experienced hikers, so make sure you have your camping equipment with you if you want to hike the whole trail. Be warned that a camping permit is required for people who want to go further than Hanakapiai Beach as the state park is strict about access to this part of the trail and beyond.

For a great workout with an unbelievable view, you can't beat the Kalalau Trail. Hawaii has gorgeous scenery and this trail will show you some of the best.

Big Bend National Park, in southwest Texas, is in the middle of nowhere, but that's a good thing. Big Bend National Park has more than 150 miles of phenomenal hiking trails, which is great for people who like being out in the real wilderness. The terrain in Big Bend is your typical Texas desert: wild and isolated. If you're going hiking here, you're going to need to take food, water, a tent, camping supplies, a medical kit and enough oil for a few days in the desert. Plan on camping out at night or heading to one of the small towns 40 to 70 miles away for a night in a motel.

Big Bend is such an enormous park that it is split up into different areas; east side, west side, north end and mountain. All have amazing hiking trails. Choosing one just depends on which direction you enter the park. The park has a lot of self-guided trails, and booklets and maps for each trail can be bought at the park tourist centers for as little as 25 cents. The Lost Mine Trail sounds really fun, as does the Hot Springs Historic District and the Window Trail. You can easily hike all of these in one day.

Big Bend National Park also has backcountry hikes for those who are not faint of heart. These trails pretty much require an off-road vehicle to get there. Mariscal Canyon Rim Trail is a 6.6-mile roundtrip, backcountry trail and Pine Canyon Trail is just 4 miles long. You can also do overnight hikes if you want to camp out in the desert somewhere, but you really need to understand the desert at night before you do this.

Another cool thing about Big Bend National Park is that the bones of a pterosaur, a Jurassic-type flying creature, were found here. The pterosaur is the second-largest flying creature ever found. How totally cool would it be if you found another one!

The National Park service has an excellent web site on Big Bend. Go to http://www.nps.gov/bibe/ to check out all the hiking trails and how to get to each one.

Living in California, I often visit Lake Tahoe. Lake Tahoe is known for its boating, camping, horseback riding, skiing and, of course, hiking. It's a beautiful area of the country with some of the prettiest hiking trails but the Tahoe Rim Trail is the nicest of them all. This trail is huge, more than 160 miles long, and it's absolutely one of California's best.

The Tahoe Rim Trail runs in a loop, so you can start at any point on the trail, and if you walk long enough (about a week should get you all the way around,) you will come back to where you started from. The best place to join the trail though is at one of the trailheads - Brockway, Tahoe Meadows, Spooner Summit, Barker Pass, Echo Summit, Big Meadow or Kingsbury Grade - any of these trail heads are perfect spots to start your hike. Don't forget though, take the right gear with you and wear the right clothes. The Tahoe Rim Trail is a wilderness hike and you could end up walking for miles without seeing anyone, so you want to make sure you're outfitted properly for it. I say you might not meet anyone, but you also do need to be on the lookout for mountain bikers and folks riding horses. Both are allowed on the trail so make sure you've always got your wits about you so you can hear them coming.

The Lake Tahoe area really is something. You've got the crystal blue water of the lake, the clear blue sky with hardly a cloud in sight on most days and mountains that are still covered in snow in June. There are also carpets of wildflowers that make this place the closest place to heaven you can find. Don't forget too, if you're a dog lover, you can take Fido on the Tahoe Rim Trail. You just have to keep him on a leash or within the sound of your voice - no running off for him or the U.S. Forest Service will collect him and lock him up.

Best time to hike around Lake Tahoe is between end of May and beginning of September. Stay away during winter as the snow comes down very fast, and the trail will disappear, leaving you stranded and feeling like a popsicle. Save the hikes for the spring and summer months and enjoy the lovely weather and the amazing views. You can't beat this trail.

When I'm in the US, I spend a lot of time in North Carolina, so it's become one of my favorite places to hike. One of the best places for awesome hiking trails is on the Appalachian National Scenic Trail. It has a bit of a dry name but the trail is unbelievably beautiful and stretches almost 2,200 miles long from Maine down to Georgia. I've probably hiked about half of it at one time or another and, let me tell you, it's never a disappointment.

The last time I hiked part of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail I started in Asheville, North Carolina and walked two one day hikes from here that were stunning. The trails were in true wilderness in parts with no one around but, on both trails, the wonderful thing too were the other hikers that I did meet - many of them - all friendly, all helpful and all loving it. I even met a couple of thru-hikers, people who were planning to walk the entire length of the trail in one season.

The Appalachian National Scenic Trail does have disadvantages to completely comfortable and easy hiking. There are black bears that are seen now and again and a few different types of poisonous snake that you should steer clear of. The bugs though are the most annoying part, especially in the northern regions (I hiked part of the trail in New York State one year and was almost eaten alive with mosquitos), so make sure you have your bug repellent with you and long hiking pants. But, the positives so far outweigh the negatives that, after a while, you don't even really notice the bugs or worry about the scary snakes. The views are spectacular (come on, it's the Appalachians, of course they're gonna be) and breathing the air in the higher regions feels like breathing pure oxygen it's so clean. There are also some really cool towns that the trail passes by. I recommend Harpers Ferry, West Virginia or Hot Springs, North Carolina as two pretty towns with nice people and only a stone's throw from some awesome hiking.

My next goal is to hike part of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail in Pennsylvania because there are some ghost mining towns the trail runs through. Now, how cool is that?

Cold Mountain, North Carolina, became famous when the Charles Frazier book of the same name won the National Book Award. It became more famous when a movie was made from the book. Cold Mountain, North Carolina, not only has movie-worthy scenery and breathtaking views, it also has some of the most challenging hiking trails you'll ever experience. The trails are only accessible for six months of the year though (May to October.) At other times the severe snow makes them impassible.

If you want to hike to the summit of Cold Mountain, it's a long hike. The trail runs for 11 miles in some of the most beautiful country in North Carolina. Streams, campgrounds and carpets of wild flowers line the trail, but if you go in the summer, be prepared for 100 degree heat. To get to the summit, it will take you a good six to eight hours of climbing, and your muscles will be screaming for you to stop by the time you get to the top. Make sure you're wearing the right hiking shoes before you set off.

If you are a Civil War buff, I don't think you can miss this hike. This area of North Carolina was patrolled by the Home Guard during the Civil War. Their goal was to capture deserting Confederate soldiers and return them to their units or kill them. Climbing this trail you can easily imagine how this incredible rugged country turned out to be a trap for so many soldiers who only wanted to return to their families instead of fighting a war they didn't believe in.

To get to the trail, you should drive from Asheville, NC, on I-40 West. Get off at exit 33 and head into Canton. I would ask someone in Canton how to get to the Cold Mountain trail, as it's around 14 miles outside Canton. When you get to the Scout Camp, if you park at the back, you'll see the hiking trail beginning right next to one of the last buildings.

I can't stress enough how beautiful this trail is. On Cold Mountain, you feel like you're in God's Country and also connect with the history of the South and the Confederate soldiers who were pulled into a war many didn't understand. When you get to the summit, even if you're not religious, say a prayer for the souls of those who lost their lives on Cold Mountain.