10 Things To Do in Lake Lure: 2026 Edition

Lake Lure, North Carolina, is nestled between Asheville, Hendersonville, and Rutherfordton, NC, in a beautiful little bowl in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Our story began in 1902 with plans for a man-made lake surrounded by a resort town. Elizabeth Parkenson dubbed this spot Lake Lure. In 1925, the dam, spearheaded by the Morse family, was built across the Rocky Broad River. The dam still stands and is managed by the town of Lake Lure, and continues to produce power for Duke Energy even today. The Town of Lake Lure was incorporated in 1927 but the grand plans for it’s surrounding resort town came to a halt in 1929 as a result of the Great Depression. Eventually, in 1945, the lake property was acquired by the Town of Lake Lure, and at that time, the Lake was no longer privately owned. In the fall of 2024, the area suffered a tremendous blow when Hurricane Helene swept through, destroying homes, roads, businesses, and riverbeds. The lake is officially open again, 19 months after being full of debris washed down the elevation in the storm.

If you’re planning a trip this summer, this list is for you! Our area offers many things to do with your family, including swimming, fishing (license required), hiking, shopping, dining, golfing, and more.

Chimney Rock State Park - Lake Lure and Chimney Rock boast some of the most stunning hiking trails in North Carolina. Among these, the Chimney Rock Trail, situated inside Chimney Rock State Park, stands out as a favorite. more…

Shopping in Chimney Rock Village - Bubba O'Leary's General Store, Mountain Traders (Minnetonka footwear, gifts, salt lamps, fantasy items), Willow Creek (drinks, treats, hot sauces, jellies), The Hickory Nut (mountain home decor, antiques, Native Amercian artifacts, crafts, and quilts, currently being rebuilt), Cliff Dwellers Gift Shop (inside Chimney Rock State Park), John Bull Trading Company (home decor, jewelry, gifts), Chimney Sweeps (home decor, moccasins, apparel, souvenirs), the Village Scoop and more!

Riverwalk - The Riverwalk was unfortunately destroyed by Hurricane Helene. We hope it will be restored in the near future.

Lake Lure Flowering Bridge - Lake Lure is truly the perfect destination for a romantic getaway, offering numerous picturesque spots to explore and leisurely strolls to bask in the breathtaking natural surroundings. The Lake Lure Flowering Bridge presents an enchanting setting for a romantic walk, boasting a rich variety of over 2000 flowering plant species that burst into vibrant blooms throughout the garden. More Info

Morse Park and Gardens - The meadows cover a large grassy area located beside the Welcome Center at 2926 Memorial Hwy. With a large paved parking lot, portable restrooms, and plenty of level ground, the meadow is an ideal location for athletic events, reunions, festivals, boat shows, car shows, tournaments, outdoor concerts, and craft fairs. It also offers a basketball court, a children's play area with slides, swings, and climbing structures, covered picnic tables with grills, a friendly fully staffed visitor center for information on area attractions, a network of over a mile of walking/jogging paths with benches along the way, a large covered gazebo for events, two wooden wharfs, landscaped gardens, fishing areas along the Rocky Broad River side as it empties into Lake Lure, wooded wetland areas and a large pond for wildlife viewing and birding. Restrooms and approximately 225 parking spaces are also available and the park is pet-friendly (please keep dogs on a leash). The physical bridge was destroyed by Hurricane Helene in the fall of 2024, but much of the original garden space remains and volunteers are working hard to restore it to its original splendor.

Lake Lure Beach and Water Park - Who knew you could find a beach by the stunning Blue Ridge Mountains? Lake Lure Beach & Water Park offers lake activities like tubing, picnicking, and sunbathing. The water park has fun water games and slides. Rent canoes, kayaks, or paddleboards to explore the lake. Lifeguards and staff are there to help with your needs. The Lake Lure Beach & Water Park typically operate from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. Please contact the Lake Lure Beach at 828-625-0077 or Lake Lure Tours at 828-625-1373 for a complete listing of hours, closures and also their rules/regulations.

Dittmer-Watts Nature Trail - The trail features a covered picnic area that is ADA compliant, complete with picnic tables and benches conveniently located throughout the 3.3-mile trail. Additionally, the trail is pet-friendly, although visitors are kindly reminded to keep their furry companions on a leash. For added convenience, there are nearby dining opportunities for visitors to enjoy after their outdoor adventures. Download the Dittmer-Watts Nature Trail Map

Zip Lining - Swish through the treeline canopy of the Blue Ridge Foothills on an exhilarating zipline adventure. Nestled near the eastern shore of Lake Lure in the Hickory Nut Gorge, Canopy Ridge Farm offers thrill seekers the opportunity to soar through the lush green forest while taking in breathtaking views of the park below. The highlight of this experience is the Zip Zilla, a thrilling 1000-foot zipline that propels you through the trees at high speed, making it a perfect choice for those seeking an exciting activity in Lake Lure.

Family Portrait Session - You’ve traveled from here, there, and everywhere to enjoy this time together as a family (or are you here getting married?!), take advantage of this opportunity to capture the feeling of togetherness. A family photo session provides you with a tangible memento to enjoy for generations. More info

Emily + Tyler

I met Emily and Tyler last fall when Emily’s family was visiting in Lake Lure, NC. Their extended family session was great fun - they are a hilarious group of people, to be sure. We did that session in the garden section of Morse Park, right off the lake. It’s a favorite spot of mine for so many reasons - it’s never crowded, it’s clean, offers views of a cove, long-range mountain views, the marina, and the landscaping is amazing year-round. There’s always something lovely to find there, and the path throughout is paved, making it easy for kids and adults alike.

When a message came in recently from Tyler asking about doing a “special” session for he and Emily while they were going to be spending a long weekend in Asheville, I was immediately hopeful that he was planning to propose - and he was! He had decided to ask Emily to be his bride on top of Mount Mitchell, right off the Blue Ridge Parkway, to kick off their vacation together. We planned out the timing, the specific location, and Sarah and I arrived half an hour early to stake our spot. We wanted to find just the right lighting and a great view of the mountains. I’d told Tyler ahead of time to look for Sarah and then to go stand where she was, pause, and seize the opportunity! That moment was impeccable - blue mountains, electric blue sky, cloud drama, and the surprise on Emily’s face was everything. We captured that magical millisecond for them and then Emily turned, spotted me, and was surprised to see me behind the lens. I loved capturing the moment when she started to comprehend how much time and attention Tyler had dedicated to making this proposal as special as possible for her.

Once we wrapped up on the top of the observation deck, we explored around the base of the structure, and continued down the path, stopping to take in the views and snap a few candids along the way. We did ring shots (I love these so much), played with ferns in front of the lens, and got a little bit silly. These two had dinner reservations at the Grove Park Inn (fancy!) that evening and we almost simultaneously suggested that we pull off Parkway on the way down to snap a few shots. We headed out and Sarah and I spotted the vantage point at the Graybeard Mountain overlook. From this spot, the layers of mountains reminded me of an ocean of blue, with waves rolling towards us, one right after another. It was spectacular, The light was just right, and Emily and Tyler were playful and relaxed. It was the perfect ending to our session. We followed them down the parkway a little further, and when they turned off to go to dinner, we gave them a little ‘beep beep’ to send them off!

Feel free to click here to see more highlights from their session.

It's about the service for me.

What does being a good photographer mean to me? Service. It means I provide you with the best service that I possibly can.

It means knowing ahead of time that our location has mosquitos, so I bring bug spray to the shoot for your crew.

It means exchanging hundreds of emails and texts, multiple trips to and from to scout your location, conference calls, and video chats with you to perfectly plan your proposal, from location to the ideal time based on sun direction and color, how to place your body so I can catch your almost-fiancé's expression, and everything in between.

It means taking our time and having cold bottles of water in my car for you after we're done on a hot day.

It means making sure you look like the best, most rested version of yourself and fostering an environment that allows you to have more fun and stress less.

It means shooting hundreds (thousands for a wedding) of images and picking the most perfect ones to deliver to you, the ones that show you how loved you are, how beautiful your family is, how incredible your big day was.

It means hand-editing each one of those images to ensure that the color, light, exposure, balance, and content is consistent and authentically tells your story.

It means delivering all of this in a timely manner, usually under 2 weeks, so that you can share with all the people you love most.

It means researching professional labs, ordering prints to compare, and choosing to partner with only the best.

Being a good photographer is so much more than a click of the shutter on a fancy camera - you should feel taken care of when we are done. I hope my clients always feel taken care of. 🖤

How to look better in photos - painlessly!

Do you feel awkward when having your picture taken? Have you ever said, “I’m not very photogenic”? I have to disagree - looking your best in photos is easier than you think!

1. Perfect your posture: Stand tall with your shoulders back and slightly down to avoid slouching. This not only makes you look confident but can also help define your jawline. “What do i do with my arms??” Put them in your pockets, put a hand on your waist, hook your thumbs in your back pockets, touch the fabric of your dress, or put your hand on the shoulder of the person standing next to you. You can also just let them hang there! It’s not weird, I swear!

2. Find your best angle: Experiment with different angles to discover which side of your face you prefer or how you like to tilt your head. Knowing your best angle can make a big difference in how you appear in photos. Generally, taking a photo straight-on is a bad idea. I like to rotate my clients slightly towards the light to slim the body line and soften the overall shape of your body.

3. Bend something! Bent limbs = angles. Angles create triangles and leading lines. What the heck does that mean? It all adds up to a more visually interesting image, an image that isn’t so flat. Consider putting a hand on a hip or crossing one foot over the other, or, if sitting, crossed legs or ankles.

4. Smile naturally: Practice a relaxed and natural smile to avoid looking forced or awkward in pictures. Think of something that genuinely makes you happy to capture a genuine smile. You can also practice a calm, relaxed facial expression by taking a breath, letting it out slowly, opening your eyes fully, and letting your bottom lip drop open just slightly. Placing the tongue on the roof of your mouth behind the front teeth helps the jaw to relax and can change the shape of your face, too!

5. Mind your clothing: Wear clothes that make you feel comfortable and confident. Choose colors that complement your skin tone and avoid busy patterns that can be distracting in photos. Picking an outfit that makes you feel fabulous puts you on the right track before your session has even begun.

6. Lighting is key: Natural light is the most flattering for photos, so knowing where to position yourself in relation to the sun is key. Midday sunlight is the strongest and can create deep shadows under the eyes, nose, and chin. As a general rule, avoiding midday by an hour or two is preferred. Golden hour - an hour or so after sunrise or before sunset - light is very flattering, warm, and provides a beautiful haze when handled properly.

Planning ahead, choosing clothes you love, and having a great photographer that you vibe well with will all help you get the best possible outcome from your photo session. Try not to overthink it, I promise it’ll be easier than you expect! Want to learn more? Let’s connect!

Making your next family photoshoot easier - and more fun!

When preparing for a photoshoot with children, consider the following tips to make the session smoother:

1. Plan Ahead: Schedule the photoshoot during the children's happiest hours, typically after naps and meals. If your kids are happiest in the mornings, ask for an early session. The same goes for evenings!

2. Keep it Brief: Children have short attention spans, so aim for a quick session to capture their best moments. I often give kids a break during sessions, or ask them to help me ‘direct’ their parents. This helps them feel empowered and engaged and also holds their interest just a little bit longer.

3. Choose the Right Location: Opt for a familiar or child-friendly setting to help them feel comfortable and at ease. Have a park that you love? Is the light really beautiful in the afternoons in your breakfast nook? Is your garden looking really outstanding right now? These are all great, easy locations for your family session.

4. Choose clothes that are comfortable: and let everyone try them on ahead of time! I can’t tell you how many times kids have simply refused to walk another step because their shoes are pinching them. These things are hilarious down the road but can feel very frustrating to parents in the moment.

5. Bring Snacks and Toys: Keep children engaged by offering snacks and bringing along their favorite toys. Don’t forget to bring wipes!

6. Be Patient: Children can be unpredictable, so stay calm and patient throughout the photoshoot. Often times, our most beloved photographs are the ones where our children are crying or running or dancing. As a mom myself, I know that kids can only be constrained for so long. the out-takes are really great, too!

You can help reduce your stress and enrich the experience for your children by doing a little bit of leg work before the big day. Want to learn more? Let’s connect!

How to choose the best wedding photographer for YOU.

In a time when it seems that everyone and their neighbor is calling themselves a photographer, choosing the right one to document your big day can be daunting. Google will return page and pages of results. A Facebook inquiry will flood your inbox. It seems impossible, I know, but it doesn't have to be overwhelming.

Your best bet is to start with people in your circle who have recently used a photographer. Here's the catch, though - make sure you like the photos they received. Seasoned photographers each have their own distinct style and rarely agree to edit outside of that style. Recommendations from people you trust are much more valuable than those of strangers on the internet, without a doubt, so if they loved their photographer and you’re a fan of their style, that’s a great start!

If this isn't an option for whatever reason - you don't know anyone with recent experience, you don't like the styles you're seeing, or perhaps you're planning to elope in a different area than where you live - your next stop should be Google. Please take the time to read the reviews of any photographer you're considering. Check the dates on them, too: do they go back for years or do they all seem to be very recent? Do they seem genuine or does it seem like they could be written by friends or in exchange for free servIces? Treat the reviews the same way you would with a large purchase on Amazon!

Another very important step is to have an actual conversation with any potential choice. I know that we dislike the phone these days but this is worth it, I promise. Having a conversation will immediately give you a sense of your photographer’s personality. You'll have the opportunity to ask questions about their methods, equipment, experience, and contingency plans. You can ask about how they will back up your images and for how long they'll store them. They should ask you about the pertinent details of your planned day, and about your story. An experienced wedding photographer has learned over the years what to be prepared for and how to handle hiccups along the road. Don't forget to ask about their approach to capturing candid moments and formal portraits to ensure your wedding day is beautifully documented. You should feel confident and calm with the person you choose for this position. This is, after all, one of the most important days of your life.

IT’S NEVER TOO SOON TO begin the process of choosing your wedding photographer, and the best ones book up to two years in advance. Hiring your photographer should only be preceded by choosing your date and venue.

Helen Pace is a certified professional photographer specializing in clean, emotional, and timeless documentary-style wedding and elopement photography. We cover all of Western North Carolina and beyond. Want to learn more? Let’s connect!

‘Budget’ is not a four letter word.

Budget is not a four-letter work, but it sure feels like one these days.

Let's face it, 2023 was hard for both families and businesses. Everything costs more, we are all trying to save wherever we can. That's all of us, including wedding vendors! The days of planning two years in advance for a $50K wedding seem to have disappeared. Instead, we’re seeing the emergence of sweet micro-weddings, elopements in beautiful backyards and gardens, and destination events where only your favorite people get an invitation.

To be honest, this shift in the industry really fits my style. 

A tear trickling down a cheek, a baby crying out, an inside joke being quietly told, a father's breath caught in his throat... These are the things that fill my cup!

If it feels like your budget is stopping you from having the photography that you've always dreamed of, I encourage you to convey that budget with your potential vendors and see what happens. Just be open. So many photographers now offer flexible payment options and smaller, time-based packages. I tailor my packages to fit each client so that you can still have the photography you have been dreaming of! Planning a wedding or elopement? Let’s connect!

What makes a good headshot?

From photofocus.com: "Portrait photography is about capturing the essence, personality, identity and attitude of a person utilizing backgrounds, lighting and posing."

So, what makes a traditional portrait different from a headshot? Context.

Think about portraits that you've seen hanging on the walls of museums and castles, for instance. What story do they convey? Riches, torment, love, importance, sainthood, martyrdom.

But for headshots, what we want is to convey something totally different, something that ties you to characteristics of your occupation:

Are you a trainer? You might want your headshot to define your physical attributes and athleticism.
Are you a makeup artist or aesthetician? Your headshot should highlight your skin and makeup capabilities.
Are you a realtor? Trustworthiness and approachability are two important traits that you'll want your potential clients to see in your photo.

How do we convey something like trustworthiness within a photograph? Body position! A head tilted with the chin pushed forward can give an air of defiance, whereas a relaxed body and low shoulders shows the viewer that you are easygoing and confident. Colors and accessories are equally important and your photographer can and should help you with these decisions before your session.

Why can't we just use a selfie for our business headshot? Well, there's no law that says you can't! But the truth is that your phone selfie looks like a phone selfie and is immediately recognizable as such. The question really lies in what you want your potential clients to feel the very first time they interact with you and your business.

Some photographers specialize in headshots and have studio setups specifically for those clients. Some of us shoot headshots on location, meaning we come to you and shoot at your office, home, or other space that you choose.  In my opinion, a good photographer needs to be able to adapt to your needs, rather than asking you to adapt to theirs. 

I challenge you to take a look at the images you use for your business sites versus the ones you use for your social media profile pictures and think about what each one tells the viewer about you. You might be surprised at what you see! Want to learn more? Let’s connect!
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But what should I wear?

Clients ask me at nearly every session what I would recommend that they wear - or not wear. My answer is very basic: no graphic tees (unless that's a look you're going for intentionally) and no super busy, small prints (hello, moiré). Those are the basics. My next suggestion is for the central person for the session (hi, mom!) to pick their outfit and then dress everyone to coordinate. I also recommend letting children try their outfits on ahead of time to avoid surprise “it’s itchy and it pinches!” moments.

If you want to get super detailed about color, you can check a handy dandy color wheel. The color wheel is a tool that artists use to help understand relationships between colors. Colors directly across from one another on the wheel are complimentary colors. We recognize these in our lives - red and green for Christmas, for example. These pairings are bold and familiar and strengthen the overall color scheme in a work of art or photograph. Colors next to each other are analogous, and offer a more calming, subtle feel.. There are lots of other types of color pairings, but these are the two I use most often.

It’s important to think about your location and the season. Are we outside? Are the leaves yellow-green, dark green, or warming up for fall? Are there a lot of flowers and what color might they be? Are we shooting with the Blue Ridge Mountains in the back? Figuring out the most dominant color of the scene helps me determine the most impactful color for my clients' clothes, and depending on their style, I know whether I want complimentary or analogous colors - calming or bold?

Really, the most important thing is to pick something that you feel great in - and then make sure it’s ironed! Planning to have your picture taken? Let’s connect!

Comparison is the thief of joy.

Comparison: noun.
"The consideration or estimate of the similarities or dissimilarities between two things or people."

So. Steaming hot plate of feelings comin' atcha.

I had this whole post ready to publish, about how comparing your accomplishments to others' work can really rob you of the pride you feel in yourself. This is a concept that I have struggled with both in my personal and professional lives. The prevalence of social media has given us all the previously-unknown opportunity to take a peek into other peoples' previously unseen moments. I've learned that we share our highlights, not our worsts, and that comparing my humdrum to someone else's most exciting moment is quite an unhealthy habit. 

If you've been following me and my business page, you know that I'm happily participating in the Shoot & Share contest for the first time since 2020, when we were deep in the pandemic and I was worried my brand new baby business would never have a chance to get off the ground. Both this year and in 2020, I was what they all "all-in", meaning I'd entered the max of 50 photos in the competition, dispersed among many categories from toddlers to brides to a fun grouping called "That Just Happened."

When I entered the first time, in 2020, I had shot exactly one wedding and the majority of my entries were of my own children. I didn't know what to expect and then, in the voting - which takes forever because it's 12 rounds - I started to feel really defeated and inferior. I was looking at the work of seasoned photographers, with drone footage, and these incredible styled shoots in exotic, incredible locations, thinking that what I was doing was the same as what they were doing. Why didn't my work look like that?? 

This year, the same thing started to happen - I was talking down to myself internally -and I had to stop myself. I have a choice in how I look at these things. I can look at this and think to myself that I'm not good enough, certainly. That's the natural reaction, to let the imposter syndrome sneak in and settle comfortably, taking up space and draining my confidence. 

Or. 

This morning I started to see these unbelievable photographs of brides with windswept hair in the middle of the Grand Canyon, looking like they had to be shot from a friggin helicopter, and think to myself, "wow, how fun would it be to get to do that?!" And suddenly I didn't feel like my work was less than, I felt inspired and encouraged and reminded of the fact that we are all growing in our work. We all started someplace. Many creatives burn out and go back to a life where a weekly paycheck is guaranteed and people won't criticize your blood, sweat, and tears on the internet. The rest of us will continue to push forward, expanding our portfolios, satiating our curiosity with classes and new techniques and concepts, finding ways to satisfy our creative hunger while also paying the bills.

I choose to be the latter. I choose to be brave and stand strong in my belief that I am capable and talented. Maybe I'll be able to look at my body of work someday and feel like I succeeded, but until then, I'll just keep trying to make each shoot just a little better than the last, to make each client a little happier than the client before. 

No more comparisons, just inspirations.

Just take the picture.

In the last few years, I have photographed a handful of people who are no longer with us. Some were lost suddenly, some were lucky enough to live rich, long lives. It is hard for me to describe the feeling that I have, knowing that I was able to be with these folks during especially important moments of their lives, not knowing them for more than just a day.

Mimi, my dear friend Blair's spitfire grandmother, passed last week. Blair told me ahead of time how very special Mimi was to her, and I made sure to spend extra time with her while photographing Blair’s wedding festivities weekend.  I am so glad I was able to enjoy time with this woman who is so important to my beautiful friend. I'm glad I got to capture a small piece of their family's story.

"We should take a picture of this."

If the thought even crosses your mind, stop and take the picture. There is no permanency in life. The moment will pass. Save it.

Rest in peace, Miss Mimi. You will be missed by so many. 

Who am I supposed to be tipping at my wedding?

I hear this question a lot. My wedding 20 years ago was very much a DIY situation and there wasn't really anybody to tip. I guess I could have tipped my mom, she would have loved that! These days, a quick Google search will tell us that we should be tipping your wedding planner, your hair and makeup team, your caterer and waitstaff, your officiant (as well as making a donation to the church if you used one), your musicians, your reception staff, your tailor, your band and/or DJ, the driver, the baker, the florist... the list goes on and on. Some of these tips are expected and some are optional. 

As a seasoned wedding photographer, I can honestly tell you that I price my wedding services in such a way that a gratuity is not expected. That being said, I do think that when a vendor - any vendor - goes above and beyond what you expected or contracted for, does an exceptional job, or in some way makes your day easier or more enjoyable, a gratuity is always appreciated. If you don't have the budget to tip, a thank you card is also a really nice thing for a vendor to receive!

And always remember, leaving a review for your vendors on Google (or wherever they prefer) is another amazing way to show thanks for a job well done. Google reviews drive web traffic to your vendors' websites, helping them sustain their businesses.