We want our boys to see the strength of our relationship and how much we are committed to each other and to our family. In making that a priority, we have committed to taking a few getaways a year - just us. Nothing fancy, nothing that involves extravagant travel plans, just a destination, the open road, a weekend bag, and us.
Nana and Babu came in town Friday afternoon and spent the weekend with our two kiddos as RA and I headed back to North Carolina for a weekend of relaxation. We chose Waynesville, NC this go round and had a fantastic time, as usual. There is something so exciting to me about disconnecting from life for a few days and indulging in us-time. Our trip in photos, for your viewing pleasure. :-)
Welcome to Waynesville, NC!
The Andon-Reid Bed and Breakfast. The innkeepers George and Andrea were amazing.
(front view)
The Andon-Reid Bed and Breakfast.
(side view - that balcony was our room)
The Andon-Reid Bed and Breakfast.
(back view)
Common area with a fully stocked refrigerator of beverages, assorted coffees, teas, a daily sweet treat and an assortment of candy
Breakfast area
Gorgeous fireplace in the breakfast area that was going strong each morning as the lows were consistently in the low 40s while we were there...
Our room, The Mountain View Room...
The Mountain View Room...
The Mountain View Room...
The Mountain View Room bathroom...
Homemade cookies (there were two, but RA had already gobbled his up) in our room upon our arrival...
After settling into our room we ventured into the downtown area for dinner at a local brew pub, Tipping Point Tavern, before settling in for a good night's sleep before a fun day of wandering on Saturday...
Downtown Waynesville, NC...
Cute and quaint...
Saturday breakfast menu...and it was delicious!
We began our wandering on Saturday in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
And a beautiful day it was...
We started driving through the park and stopped when we wanted to stop to admire the sights and sounds of our great nation's physical beauty...
Beautiful day enjoying the weather...
Waterfalls...
A massive rock that RA had to have his photo taken on as RF is obsessed with rocks of all shapes, sizes, colors, etc...
Taking it all in...and hunting river rocks for our oldest kiddo...
Beautiful flower in bloom all throughout the park...
Clear blue skys and wide open roads...
Mountain river...
Mountain trail...
We drove back in to Waynesville for lunch at another local brew pub, Boojum Brewing Company Taproom before making the 30 minute drive into Asheville to visit a well-talked about antique mall.
Mr. Ellis is in to flags right now, spotting them while we drive and watching them blow in the breeze. This one was on the wall at the restaurant we had lunch in on Saturday and I had to take a photo for my little man.
Tobacco Barn Antiques in Asheville, NC...it was massive...
We came back to the bed and breakfast to relax Saturday afternoon. This is the view from our balcony. Absolutely beautiful, peaceful and relaxing.
We headed out to dinner at a local Italian eatery, Frankie's Italian Trattoria in neighboring Maggie Valley, NC. After dinner we came back to the bed and breakfast for a glass of wine on the balcony as we watched the sun set over the mountains...
Great wine...
And a great view...
Sunday's breakfast menu, again, it was delicious...
Sunday morning RA had an itching to go back into the park, but this time to 'the least visited part of the park.' When I asked why, he said, "You'll see."
This. This is why it is the least visited part of the park. It's a GRAVEL, CURVY, STEEP mountain road only wide enough for one car at a time with an incredibly scary drop off on the right side
Cataloochee Valley, part of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
View from the top of the mountain before descending down in to the valley. Getting here was scary. Seriously. Uphill, gravel, steep, and winding.
But the view from the top of the mountain was breathtaking...
We had cell service at the top of the mountain and were able to FaceTime with the boys back at home. RF told us to "watch out for the volcanoes and the lava." And "those are the world's tallest mountains, mama."
Descending in to Cataloochee Valley...
Cataloochee Valley...
1902 homestead that was abandoned when the government created the park...
Still had the newspaper that the residents used for wallpaper on the walls...
whatever encourages folks to deface a place like this by carving or writing on the walls is beyond me...
If these walls could talk...
Cataloochee Valley...after this photo we had to travel back UP that steep, winding, gravel, one-car road as we headed home to our little ones...
Another great getaway in the mountains of North Carolina for RA and I. We highly recommend The Andon Reid Bed and Breakfast to anyone looking to travel to the area.
