Monday, June 30, 2008

Great Smokey Mountain Weekend Getaway

Dear Husband decided that we must have a weekend get-a-way! We packed a couple of bags and took off in the general direction of "the mountains". It looked stormy when we stopped for dinner in Spartanburg. We love us some "Cracker Barrel". After dinner, we drove to Bryson City, North Carolina. After riding around a bit we decided the Sleep Inn looked like our best bet. It was a very nice room! The hotel was tucked into the side of the mountain.Sunset through the windshield of the car. Somewhere in North Carolina.

Saturday morning we went to the Station Restaurant and had a fabulous breakfast. I had Crab Benedict. It was super delicious! After which we purchased tickets for a train ride through the "Smokies" We decided to ride in the over 21 Club Car which proved to be highly entertaining. It was very comfortable, air conditioned, snacks and beverages were served. If you were inclined you could purchase cocktails. Several ladies near us purchased "Railroad Relaxers" and they had a lively time! We met a group of eight "church" ladies and they were very entertaining. DH was surrounded by women and very happy!
Conductor Willie punching our tickets. Dear Husband surrounded by a bevy of women!



Fontana Lake and house boat type structures. Accessed only by boat or swimming! You would have to be very careful not to step too far off the front porch.


Fontana Lake Trestle. The water was beautiful, however we were a wee bit high up for a jump into the lake!


We spent a one hour lay over at the Nantahala Outdoor Center. We enjoyed watching the kayaks and canoes navigate the whitewater rapids. DH and I sat on the rocks by the shore and put our feet in the frigid water. It was sooo cold, icy cold. After our lay over at Nantahala Outdoor Center, the engine was moved from the "front" of the train to the back for the ride back. Conductor Willie is making sure everything gets hooked up and we are on our way!


Yes, this is an old door handle, I'll let you guess what is behind door # 1. My battery on the camera died and I purchased one of those throw away cameras to take pictures at Nantahala. Sunday was spent driving along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Riding along the mountain ridge we could see why parts where called the "Great Smokies" A layer of mist and cloud coverage gave the appearance of huge smoke stacks! Dear Husband and I ate lunch at the Mt. Pisgah Inn nestled in the mountains. The view was stunning and our food was excellent. My car is the perfect mountain touring car! Safer than a motorcycle yet you get the outstanding views. Dear Husband is already planning our next excursion.









6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Glad ya'll had fun!

Anonymous said...

AWWWWW. You guys are so cute!

Anonymous said...

UNBELIEVABLE! John & I spent a week in the Smokeys last summer - canoeing Fontana Lake, exploring many of the exact same places. It was MAGICAL. We're going back this summer to camp and canoe again. So glad to hear you loved it as much as we do.

Jack and Erika said...

That sounds like such a fun time!

Anonymous said...

Connie, we ate at the Station Restaurant twice during our week - it was just soooo good. And the owners were unbelievably nice. Looking at these pix again, I swear we canoed past that shack on Fontana Lake - no joke.

Rosezilla (Tracie Walker) said...

I love camping in the Smokies! (One time my Mom told some clerk she was going smoking in the campies! He looked at her like he knew just what she was smokin' too!)There were lots of bears there when we were there - in the '70's. Gee, I think it might be time to go back, eh?