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.

Arrived Asheville, NC yesterday and took a drive downtown.  We're only here for a couple of days so we went to Black Mountain today.  It's another quaint mountain town with lots of artsy shops and a great lunch at The Veranda Cafe.

Welcome to Asheville

A mobile bar in downtown Asheville
If you want a drink, you have to help pedal

Black Mountain, NC

The Veranda Cafe, Black Mountain

Lunch with Judy and Steve Smith
 at Boondocks, Blairsville, GA

We met Judy and Steve Smith today for lunch then went out to their lovely home. Steve and I worked together for many years at GBA in NC, and they are now happily retired in Hiawassee, GA.  Their home is surrounded by mountains and cool breezes. It was great spending time with old friends. We then went to Helen, GA which is a Bavarian town.  It looks like you are in Germany as all of the buildings are built in a Bavarian style.  There were lots of nice shops to go into, and we couldn't pass up going to a German restaurant for dinner.  It was delicious!

Judy and Steve's home

Meeting their dog

We came home with fresh vegetables from Judy and Steve's garden.
Thank you!

Helen, GA
Bavarian Village

 

Watching tubing down the river

Yesterday was another great day of golf at The Ridges, Hayesville, NC, with more breathtaking views of the mountains and beautiful homes overlooking the course. Nick had an 'Eagle' on this course so it's one he'll always remember.  There is even good fishing right on the course.

The Ridges Clubhouse

A young fellow enjoying the fishing

Beautiful homes surround this course

Unbelievable settings

Sightseeing today through winding mountain roads -Hayesville, NC, Franklin, NC, Highlands, NC stopping at a beautiful waterfall and having lunch outside at a lovely inn. What a delight to be outside on such a pretty day and shopping in Highlands.

Waterfall on way to Highlands, NC

 

Underneath the falls

 

 

Looking down Main St of Highlands,NC

Great day to have lunch outside

Overlook

Arrived River Bend, Hiawassee, GA yesterday so we were ready to play golf in these much cooler temperatures. We played at Butternut Creek, and it was unlike any course we'd ever seen in FL with many high and low elevations.  It was a lot of fun and a true challenge because it was so different than what we are used to. 

River Bend Entrance

Butternut Creek Golf Course, Hiawassee, GA

Beautiful mountain scenery 

Driving down from high up

Driving up a hill 

Just beautiful all the way around the course

Nick's former cabin in Blairsville, GA

Another view of cabin