Beech Mtn, NC

We took a family trip to the Mountains of NC. It was kind of a last minute plan, in a destination far far away, but all came together seamlessly.

We drove all day Thursday to get to Beech Mountain, NC, but it worked out nicely to stop in Ridgeland, SC and pick up Dru, then meet Mama & Daddy in Charlotte, NC for dinner, then finish the last leg of the trip all together. It was definitely a family vacation that was meant to be.

Friday we went to Grandfather Mountain
Our first adventure involved the famous Mile High Swinging Bridge!
Perception, NOT Reality!

It's been a long time since I've been to Grandfather Mtn - It was fun thinking back on all of our great family vacations to the mountains of NC! Dru & Kistin
That's a LONG way down!
Grandfather Mountain had a habitat area with some of the animals you can find in their mountain environment. When we were at the bear exhibit, Dru would ask Ali if she could say "bear"... she would say "dog"!
Uncle Dru and Ali debating whether the animal we they were looking at was a bear or a "dawg". I think this was Ali's first attempt at an arguement... ...she was pretty sure that that was a dog!
Ali meeting her first corn snake up close and personal...
Another hike was to split rock...
Mama & Daddy were trying to hold this BIG rock up and keep it from rolling down the mountain!

I think Dru climbed every rock on the whole mountain!

Daddy (Lin)Family hiking photo @ Split RockWe stayed in a beautiful house at Beech Mountain...
with stunning views...
right on the golf course...

Saturday, we decided to go hiking at Linville Falls.
The trail to the upper falls was a perfect for Ali to walk w/ Hailey
Ali was very intent on seeing a waterfall for the first time!

She was just taking it all in...There were a number of lookout points that you could hike to. This picture is taken when we were at the upper falls and Dru and Kristin were at the lower falls.
These pictures are taken from Chimney View, the highest point of the trails.
The views were stunning to say the least.

Later in the day, we hiked all the way down to Linville Gorge and went swimming in the waterfall!

Ali did a great job on her first hiking trip!
Look, she's only 16 months old!!!

Me & Mama (Cici)

A Great Group Shot...Dru & Kristin (Self Portrait)
Ali, Eddie, Hailey & me
The more treacherous hike down to Linville Gorge at the base of the falls.
BIG Rock wall...
On Sunday, Dru and Eddie played golf while the rest of us took the day to adventure into Boone for lunch and browsing the shops.
Dru climbing the tree...

One of the stopps on the way home... Ali really loves walking Hailey (all by herself)! All in All... A WONDERFUL VACATION THAT WE WILL CHERISH FOR A LIFETIME!