Todd, North Carolina - One of the Best Kept Vacation Secrets

Tucked away in the mountains of Ashe County, North Carolina, at the junction of Elk Creek and the South Fork of the New River, is a cozy community called Todd. Named after Captain Joseph W. Todd, a leader in the county following the War Between the States, Todd is a small town reminiscent of days gone by. At its peak, in the 1920's and 30's when the Virginia-Carolina railroad line (The Virginia Creeper) ended there, Todd had a population of about 500 people. When the railroad pulled out, so did the people whose livelihood depended on it. Left behind was, once again, the small community where, for a moment, time seems to stand still.

Nestled among the trees and surrounded by serene mountainside pastures and Christmas tree farms, Todd, North Carolina is the perfect place to unwind and recharge. When I need a vacation and want to go somewhere far from the hustle and bustle of life to just do "nothing", I think of Todd. I've been visiting there for the last 20 years. I know when I'm in Todd I can unplug myself from the rest of the world. If "doing nothing" it what you need, you can do nothing all day long in peace. However, if you need some activity in your vacation, Todd certainly has other options to consider.

Start your visit off right by taking the Todd Historic District Walking Trail, newly developed by the Todd Community Preservation Organization. It is a self-guided tour through Todd's historic district. You can find a brochure for the trail in the Depot, the Todd General Store and the Todd Mercantile.

Next to the Depot, you can spot some train cars, one is from the "Virginia Creeper" herself. During my last trip to Todd, I found four goats out in front of the train cars munching away on the grass. You never know what you'll see in Todd.