Arrived Oak Hollow, High Point, NC yesterday and looking forward to golfing here at their course as well as a few others in the area.  Today we went to a picnic at Debbi and Arnold Butner's house.  It was fun spending time with them and meeting some of their friends as well.  We hope to play golf with them tomorrow if the rain holds off.

Today was a special day because I was able to reconnect with my cousin, Kim Gauss and her husband Tav, after many years.  I truly think the last time I saw her was in my 20s.  Her father is my Godfather and lives in Wilson, NC.  He had told me that Kim and Tav had a home here in the mountains so it was great that we were able to find them here at this time.  We had a wonderful time catching up and hope to be able to do more of that when we visit this area again.

Another beautiful day in the mountains with cool temps so we could eat outside.  We are going to miss this as we head out tomorrow to hotter weather again. 




Then on to historic Jonesborough, TN, well known for it's Story Telling Festival. They are getting ready for a big July 4th weekend with crafts, food and music.

Beautiful restored log house where Andrew Jackson
once practiced law

 

Historic Jonesborough Museum

Storytelling Hall

Today was an absolutely perfect golf day at Sugar Mountain Resort.  The temperature was in the 70s most of the day with a cool breeze.  The course is an Executive course with lots of par 3s and much shorter lengths on the longer holes that we are used to.......so I really liked it.  There were still lots of elevation changes so it was still a challenge. 

Elevation Challenges

 

They even landscape around a rock

We're definitely not in FL anymore

Waiting to tee off

Ski slopes

Time to relax by the creek

Grandfather Mountain

Since heavy rains last night changed our golfing plans for today, we rode on the Blue Ridge Parkway to the Moses H. Cone Mansion stopping at some overlooks. The home is now a craft center for local artists with beautiful items for sale.  Lunch was in Blowing Rock and then shopping in the many quaint shops.  We are loving this cooler weather and enjoying the outdoors.  After a ride through Boone, we went to Kevin's for dinner. He's an incredible cook and has begun making crate-type furniture, which is just perfect for this mountain area.....so creative.  Kevin's friends joined us, and it was great evening.

Picture doesn't even begin to show how awesome this was in person

Moses H. Cone Mansion

Making new friends

Kevin's buddies, Fred and Reagan

The chef at work

Adria and Bascha

Reagan thinks he's a lap dog

Arrived Banner Elk, NC today to the smallest campground you can imagine.....4 sites.  It took more windy roads to get here but so worth it as we are parked right beside a roaring creek in a beautiful setting.  We will be visiting Nick's son, Kevin, and explore the area.  We already have a tee time for tomorrow on Sugar Mountain. Kevin took us on a tour of some of popular skiing/tubing areas including Beech Mountain, where they have now reopened The Land Of Oz.

The Little Campground, Banner Elk

Nestled  in by the creek

Beech Mountain

Follow the Yellow Brick Road

Took my kids to Oz when they were young.
It has been closed for years and recently reopened
so the costumes could finally come out of the museum

Fred's General Store

Loving these flowers

A lovely Carolina day so we set out to explore a bit.  Went to Biltmore Village and also rode around Montreat, which is Billy Graham's home. Then we headed to Chimney Rock since neither of us had ever been there. It took another very windy mountain road to get there but worth it.  Thank goodness Nick is such a good driver....probably from his pilot training. 

River Walk

Medina Cafe

Good shopping in Chimney Rock, NC

Lake Lure, NC

Chimney Rock is a really nice area with lots of shops and great restaurants.  We were able to once again eat outside with a nice breeze just under the actual Chimney Rock.  We found out there are 500 steps up to the top, and the elevator no longer works; thus pictures from the ground level.  We then road to Lake Lure----where Dirty Dancing was filmed.  It's just beautiful with a beach area that looks so family friendly.  I was wishing we had our bathing suits.....that's my cup of tea though, not Nick's.