Year 3 Day 8

Short post tonight. South Carolina...nothing to offer me. Myrtle Beach was so croweded you couldnt move or drive through the town. The "butterfly" habitat was a dud...we saw 3. Mostly full of naked statues...why do statues need wee wees?

Long traffice infested drive to Savannah, GA...another creepy bridge way up in the sky...good dinner in City Market though. Tomorrow a little walk around Savannah and then to moms.

Traveling Mama

Year 3 Day 7

Another good day..a long drive all the way across North Carolina. Long state! We made it to Nags Head on the outer banks and were met with really strong winds. We went to Jockey Ridge State park and the sand dunes....we all had a nice cleansing with blowing sand...we are still finding it tonight in our ears and such. YIKES. Was pretty and lots of people flying kites...but what a croweded island. Too many people for me!

Heading out we decided (of course) to take a side road to our next stop. What beautiful farm land out there. I had no idea they farmed so much all the way over here. Absolutely beautiful...Chris and I said we could by and start a farm...but Im a bit nervous about the houses that are raised up 8 or 9 feet on blocks for flooding from hurricanes...I think we will pass.

Tonight we are in a town called Washington tonight on the bay in southern North Carolina. Weird people and not nearly as friendly as Tennessee. Oh well, we leave in the moring on our way to South Carolina.

Traveling Mama

Year 3 Day 6

Another Fantastic Day...well almost all of it.

Started off leaving Tennessee through the Great Smokey Mountains. What a beautfiul place that I could spend a week or more hiking trails and exploring. The timing was perfect...the dogwoods and other trees were in full bloom with flowers and bright green leaves. A bit nippy up at the top at 5000 feet, but absolutely beautiful.

We made our way through the mountains and down to Ashville, NC where we experienced the Biltmore Estate. Holy Moly...I dont know where these folks found all their money, but I wish I had just a piece...something like 300 rooms, 43 bathrooms, a basement with a pool, bowling alley and servants quarters. WOW...then we went out to the gardens. I would be ok with living in the tool shed for the gardens. So many beautiful things I couldnt post enough pictures of it. The azela garden was beautiful...wish Grandma could have seen it, but I took a ton of pictures for her.

I was forced to take the interstate up to our hotel...and Ill have you know this is what happens when you do...We were 15 miles from our hotel and the freeway was shut down in both directions. A horrible accident of some sort. Detour with a ton of other people put us at the hotel much too late...see, this is why you stay off the interstate. :-)

Honestly we could not have asked for a better week..everything is spring blooming and there have been no clouds at all and nothing that even looked like it might be a tornado. FANTASTIC. Only need 5 more days of that please.

Off to the ocean today and the outerbanks..

Traveling Mama

Year 3 Day 5

Today was the best we have had so far. The weather has been absolutely beautiful and today was no exception.

We started bright and early at Ruby Falls in Chatanooga. The tallest underground waterfall in the US. You take an elevator 260 feet down and then walk about a mile in an undergound cavern with tons of cool formations. The hike ends at a 100 foot underground waterfall! Absolutely beautiful and a great tour guide as well. Then onto Rock City on the same mountain and a long walk through rocks and onto a lookout called "lovers leap" that looks out onto 7 states. WHAT A VIEW! Very cool place...even had White Deer. Weird looking guys.

After eating a Krystal hamburger...or 20...(not our favorite), we went to the Jack Daniels Distillery in Lynchburg. Also super neat and fun. Our guide was fascinated with Becca so we got the start treatment. He was great! Of course...everyone we have come across so far is fascinated with her...even the boys we run into at night in the pool...Beautiful Blond Cali girl I suppose. :-)

We finished our Easter Day having Mexican Food in Crossville TN...interesting town with an even more interesting hotel clerk...

We have started talking with words like fixing and fussin...who knows what 5 more days will do to us...yikes!

Traveling Mama

Year 3 Day 4

Atlanta was not as bad as I had expected. The traffic was nearly nothing and the aquarium was right off the interstate...it helped that it was Saturday.

The aquarium was extremely cool. Tons of fish and things to see...a bit crowded...ok a ton crowded, but we made it through. We had to skip the World of Coke...a huge wait just to get in and we didnt have the time or the patience to wait.

Heading north we took a tiny little road through the Chattanooga National Forest and saw some really beautiful areas. No traffic and lots to look at! What a beautiful place. At one point we had a rooster and a hen walk out in front of the car, causing us to stop completely until they made it across...they were not waiting for us. Super cute! Also saw some really cool butterfly houses. Really neat and the butterflies were hatching.

We made it into Chattanooga tonight and had a great dinner (FINALLY). Looking forward to some more Tennessee tomorrow!

Traveling Mama

Year 3 Day 3

After leaving Flordia through the Tampa area...and one super super scary bridge that is high enough for cruise ships to go under...

Georgia welcomed us in today with beautiful hills, green grass, and beautiful weather. So far I like Georgia..we will see how I feel after Atlanta tomorrow.

We started in Thomasville where we saw the Lapham - Patterson house. Cool! He survived the Chicago fire and moved to Thomasville because his lungs were damaged. He had the house built for $4800 and every room in the house (there is like 30) has a door to the outside in case of fire. Super pretty place.

Onto Griffin for the night through lots of pretty small towns one being Leesburg, GA..home of Philip Phillips (on American Idol this season)..this was not a planned stop, but cool still. Theres not much there, just a stop sign. I saw a small sign on the highway for a covered bridge and screeched to a hault to investigate...glad we did..beautiful and a huge nest of fire ants that Chris had to distrub...

Some of the best stops are at little gas stations where you "overhear" people talking...love to hear the accents, like 'weddin', 'fixin', and 'chilen'...or Wedding, Fixing, and Children. :-)

Great southern hospitality here in Georgia and freindly people.

Best quote from mom today was "the more north you go...the more southern people get"...ok

Best road names "eggs and butter lane" and "possum trot road".

Tomorrow Atlanta and the Aquarium.

Traveling Mama

Year 3 Day 2

Florida. Sun is intense here. Im red today...but only on the one side from driving for 300 and some miles up the west coast of Florida today. We took off from Key West after visiting Hemmingways house. What a wonderful tour. We had a super nice local boy (of 21 who was super hungover) but he was fun! There are currently 44 cats living there at the house. They have a vet in once a week and are very well taken care of. Super neat tour. Ill need to read some Hemmingway books now. Lots of chickens to look at too! Cute little families of them.

Up the Keys we went. In Islamorda we stopped to feed the Tarpin; huge fish that leap out of the water to take the feeder fish you drop to them. There were a ton of people and they were not super hungry, but the pelican that was hanging around got one of the fish stuck sideways in its throat and provided some good entertainment.

Turning left to the west we started through the Everglades. We saw about 5 aligators along the way and decided to take a leg stretching break and saw 10 - 15 more in a small stream. SO NEAT. They look so friendly, right?

Finally we made it up the west coast to Sarasota which is our stop tonight. Tomorrow takes us just into Georgia away from the ocean and maybe into the mountains.

Traveling Mama

Year 3 Day 1

Hello All - This year we took off on our trip for year 3. We will be seeing Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina, and South Carolina.

The drive to through Miami was no biggie this time. I must be getting better at driving in these huge cities. Im building up for New York I suppose.

Day 1 took us to Key West, FL. What a beautiful place. Crystal clear teal water, islands and sun. Duval street is a little crazy especially on Spring Break, but still beautiful. Celebration of the sunset is always a must and this year it was as spectacular as always. Chris even found a new hat that I think makes him look like a Cuban mobster! We call him Antonio now.

Short post for this day, more fun to come in the following days.

Traveling Mama

Year 3 Kick Off

Hello All - We are taking our trip a bit early this year to take advantage of the wonderful weather in the spring time in Florida. Our trip starts on Wednesday and we will be seeing Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Stay tuned the next 12 days for our progress.

Traveling Mama