Fernandez Family of Five: March 2009

Regan had Spring Break this week so we decided to head to the mountains for the week. Tony has been planning where to go for about a month now but we did not have any solid plains or any reservations. We just decided we would head to the Blue Ridge Parkway and go from there. We had several places in mind we wanted to see but again no definite plans. So, with 3 kids packed up in the van and no place to stay we headed out for our GREAT ADVENTURE! Tony and I knew this would either be really fun or really bad!

I am going to journal the trip in detail for my own records so if you want to skip down to photos feel free.

Monday, March 9 - We headed to Mt. Mitchell. We realized quickly that the GPS navigation system is very handy and takes you the most direct route but sometimes that route is NOT accessible. On our way up to Mt. Mitchell the GPS took us on a small road that led up a very steep, curvy, narrow, road. There was no ledge or guardrails and only one car could fit on the road at a time. Regan and I were getting queasy stomachs but I have to admit the scenery was GORGEOUS! There was a beautiful stream, a dammed up lake that was very pretty, a small grist mill and of course the pretty mountain woods. We finally saw a sign that said "Road Maintenance Ends" and it was now a gravel road but GPS kept saying we were on the right road. So, we kept going. We finally reached some kind of State Park Camping area but there was a gate across the road saying it was closed for the season. So, GPS would probably have been right if the road was accessible. So, we turned around and had to go back DOWN the long, winding, narrow road. Then, we took an alternate GPS route up 221. It was paved and looked like a good road. But, it ended up being the curviest road we have ever seen. Tony said "the only road I think I have been on that is more curvy is Lombard Street." It had so many tight curves that we were thankful we were not in Tony's truck. Tony said his truck would not have made those tight turns. At this point, Regan and I were ready to throw the GPS system out the window. She and I were extremely carsick. BUT, we finally made it to the Blue Ridge Parkway and to Mt. Mitchell. We were able to look back down the mountains and see the winding road we had just come up on and had to laugh. Amazing we made it! We drove up to the top of Mt. Mitchell and there was still some snow on the sides of the road from the week before. The girls enjoyed seeing the snow and being on the highest Mt. east of the Mississippi. Next, we headed to Linville Falls. The girls loved hiking after being cooped up in the van all morning and the weather was gorgeous. We hiked about 3 miles round trip and saw three beautiful views of the waterfalls. The girls did great with the hike. Then, it was dinnertime so we decided to head toward Blowing Rock and find dinner and a place to stay. But, to our surprise, Blowing Rock was pretty much a ghost town. Almost all the local restaurants and stores were closed for the season and the hotels looked dead. This was the story of our trip - many things closed for the winter season or at least operating differently than usual. But, we also benefited from this b/c it was not busy and we got great rates on hotels. So, we decided to head to Boone since Blowing Rock was deserted. We found a very nice Comfort Suites to stay in for a GREAT price. Reece was so excited when she saw that the sofa turned into a bed for her. I think she would have stayed there all week. :) Tony and I spent the evening looking through brochures and planning our next day. We were not planning on staying in Boone the next day but we found some fun things to do that changed our minds.

Tuesday, March 10 - Today after our yummy, free breakfast we headed to Sugar Mountain to go snow tubing. It was not busy and we had all the lanes to ourselves. We had a blast and spent about 1 1/2 hrs. tubing. Reece had to ride in a tube with us but Regan and Riley were able to ride in their own tubes. We found that linking together made us go faster so we had fun doing that. There was a little conveyor belt that took you back up the hill that they called the "Magic Carpet" and the girls loved this. I think the snow tubing was one of the highlights of the trip. After tubing we grabbed lunch and headed to Grandfather Mountain. They have a suspension bridge that connects two mountains and is a mile above sea level. We were not sure how the girls would do on it or if they would even go across. But they did and thoroughly enjoyed it. Once you cross the bridge there is a rocky path you can climb up so you are at the highest point of the other mountain and you can see for miles. We were not sure if we should take the girls on it b/c there is nothing keeping you from going off the mountain. But, the girls wanted to go so Tony and I took turns taking the girls up one at a time, even Reece went. At Grandfather Mountain, they also had a museum, animals and a fudge shop. So, the girls got to see a big Black Bear, an Eagle, Otters, Panthers and Deer up close. They thought this was cool. We enjoyed the yummy fudge and toured the museum about the mountain and the area. There was a lot of information about Daniel Boone which was cool b/c Regan's class had just studied him. We then headed to a Mast General Store (this was the original one) and could have spent a lot of money there. There was so many neat things. The girls spent some of their money on some neat toys and candy. Then, we headed back to our hotel. The hotel had free snacks in the afternoon so we enjoyed some nachos and then played some Air Hockey in the hotel arcade. Then, we ate dinner at a place called, "Pssghettis" right outside Boone. They had delicious homemade meatballs and the girls loved them. Then, we came back to the hotel and swam in the indoor pool before heading to bed. Whew... a busy, fun day. I am glad we decided to stay in Boone an extra day!

Wednesday, March 11 - Today we decided to head up to Charlottesville, Va because Regan really wanted to see Monticello (where Thomas Jefferson lived) and the weather report was not looking good for the end of the week when we originally planned to do Monticello. So, we spent the morning driving. The girls were able to rest up some from our busy day yesterday. We got to Monticello after lunch and had plenty of time to tour the house. Regan found it very interesting and loved the fact that Thomas Jefferson loved to read and taught himself. She also liked all his gadgets especially his clocks. Riley seemed to enjoy it too. Monticello is opening a whole new visitor center/interactive learning exhibit next month. A lady stopped us and asked if they could do a photoshoot of our family for a press release they are doing for next month's Grand Opening. They took photos (mainly of the girls) of us interacting with the touchscreens and said they would email us the photos of how they use them. Then, we headed to a historical tavern called, "Michie's Tavern" and took a tour. The tavern usually has a guide take you through but b/c it was off season we had to do a self-guided audio tour. The lady at the ticket counter was very friendly and found some old costumes for the girls to dress up in to make the tour more fun. Regan really liked the tour b/c she had studied the Colonial Time period in school and on Colonial Trade Day she had the role of the tavernkeeper. We then headed to downtown Charlottesville for dinner. They have an open air mall with lots of restaurants and shops. We settled on a pizza place b/c that is what the girls were craving. It ended up being very good pizza. Reminded us of Felini's Pizza in Atlanta. We then drove to Stauton, Va and found a Best Western hotel for the night.

Thursday, March 12 - Today we slept in and then went to a Frontier Culture Museum. Regan's class had just finished a unit on the pioneers so we thought this would be neat for her. Usually they have interpretors dressed up and acting out all the different roles and you walk around and tour everything but since it was off season they did not have the interpretors. So, we had a guide take us around and show us everything. She drove us around in a golfcart which was nice since it was pretty cold and there was a lot to see. We got to see a lot of neat houses - one that they had brought in from England, one from Ireland, and one from Germany. And then they also had some homes and farms to show you how they lived in the 1700's. We also got to see some animals (sheep, cows, hog, horses, barn cats) and we got to pet the sheep, cats and hog. The girls seemed to like the museum. Then, we headed up to Lewisburg, WVA to stay with some Chick-fil-A friends, Rod and Donna Stoner, for the night. Rod and Donna were so kind to open their home to us and served us an incredible Turkey dinner. They had a beautiful home in the mountains and the girls loved running all over their house and cuddling with Rod. After dinner, Rod made a fire and we sat around the fire and read and enjoyed one anothers company. About 9:00 pm it started snowing and that got the girls excited. I don't think they went to bed until 10:30 that night.

Friday, March 13 - Today we woke up to a beautiful snowy day. There was about 2" on the ground and the views were amazing. The mountains are gorgeous covered in snow. The roads were clear so that was good. Rod used to work at The Greenbrier Hotel (he was in charge of all the food services there) so he was able to take us for a tour. He took us all through the hotel, including the kitchens, bowling alley, indoor pool, movie theatre, spa and even the bunker underneath the hotel where all of congress would have gone in the event of a nuclear attack. Yes, the hotel had all of these things! It was neat. The Greenbrier is very historical and 26 different presidents have stayed there over the years. Rod and Donna treated us to lunch at one of the cafes at the hotel, "Drapers Cafe" and it was excellent. After our tour, we went back to Rod's and packed up. We hated to say goodbye. They are such a neat couple and we had a lot of fun with them. We decided to head home b/c we were all very tired and had seen most of what we wanted to see. So, we arrived back in NC around dinnertime.

We had such a fun trip. It was a GREAT adventure!!! The girls did very good and we had lots of laughs and made lots of memories. It was hard to say goodbye to the mountains but we are glad to be back home.

The above photos are of the grist mill and dammed lake we saw on the GPS inaccessible route to Mt. Mitchell.

An entrance to the Blue Ridge Parkway. We were happy to see this after driving up 221!

Views from the top of Mt. Mitchell. Regan took this photo of Tony and I.

On our hike to Linville Falls the girls wanted to feel how cold the mountain stream was.

First view of the Linville Falls. This is from the top of the falls.

Top of Linville Falls

This is looking down on the Falls from the highest viewpoint.

Views from the Blue Ridge Parkway

Snow Tubing at Sugar Mountain

The "Magic Carpet" that took us back up the hill. The girls thought this was so cool.

The animal habitat museum at Grandfather Mountain

Crossing the suspension bridge at Grandfather Mountain

Daddy and Reece walking up to the top of the mountain

Regan and Mommy made it to the top

Beautiful view from the top of the Grandfather Mt.

looking back down at the bridge

Original Mast General Store in Valle Crucis (near Boone)

Regan reading the Monticello information before going on the tour. At this rate, she can lead the tour through the house.

At Monticello

Regan was very fascinated with Thomas Jefferson's clock. He had a clock that had the days of the week written on the wall but only 6 days fit on the room wall. So, he made a hole in the underneath part of the house and the seventh day was found underneath in a lower room. Regan is standing next to Saturday. You would have to see it to really understand it. Thomas Jefferson was a very creative and talented individual.