My son is a full fledged teenager now. So that means mood swings, loud music and door slams are now a typical part of my weekend. But I refuse to let him sit in front of a television and play his fiftieth game of Fortnite while his brain cells rot.
So inevitably the door swings open and I tell him to get ready to go hiking. Eye-rolls and teenage angst ensures. But eventually, his pasty-skinned self gets into the car and off we go. It's father and son bonding time.
Today we are heading away from the mountains and toward the far side of Raleigh to Nash County. Recently I heard about a new trail system that runs through the town of Rocky Mount. The Tar River Trail is part of an outdoor system that covers over 300 acres and offers over seven miles of trails.
The trail runs, in part, next to the Tar River and links five different city parks. If you're looking to walk, bike, hike or Segway, this trail is easy to navigate. Most of the trail is paved but there is one boardwalk section that crosses marsh habitat. There are public boat and canoe launches, as well as numerous fishing spots along the riverbank.
If you're taking a moody teenager with you, this trail offers the dual benefit of being outdoors and still close to a working data connection. So there's always an opportunity to share a selfie with fellow teenagers who weren't forced to be outside.
Overall, the hike was amazing. My son and I talked. We laughed. We mistook sticks for snakes. We even learned quite a bit. Along the 3.9-mile stretch of trail we found evidence of early colonial history, the industrial revolution, even the Civil War. In fact, we strolled right by the Stonewood Manor. Built in 1830, it was the center of an antebellum plantation. Today, its scale and sophisticated design make it one of the most elegant plantation houses left in North Carolina.
Toward the end of the path, we ventured into Battle Park. At 57 acres, it's Rocky Mount's largest park and centered on the scenic Falls of the Tar River. This area used to be prime fishing and hunting ground for the native Tuscarora Indians. Biking and walking trails curve around the paths. There are picnic shelters, a gazebo, a boat ramp, and various fishing piers. Leaving the park you will find one of the longest wooden pedestrian bridges in the United States. I saw it as a beautiful feat of engineering. My son saw it as "the perfect place to head back and find some pizza."
One of the benefits of hiking trails in Rocky Mount is the close proximity to everything around the town. As it turns out, the Tar River Trail runs just beside the region's only beer incubator. It's called Rocky Mount Mills. The newly restored campus includes five breweries plus three restaurants. It was here we found an artisan, wood-fired pizza joint called the Tipsy Tomato. It was the perfect place to call it a day.
So, with a little over four miles of hiking behind us, my son and I decided to give it a rest. Sitting outside on the covered porch with a slice of Margherita pizza in hand and a gentle breeze at our backs, my son forgot about video games and iPhones and television and social media. For that moment, he was a just teenager having a conversation with his Dad. And I wasn't the worst parent in the world for making him go outside. I think I even saw him smile. Mission accomplished.