Monday, October 10, 2011

Hometown Tourists






The Hubs and I spent our Saturday pretending to be tourists in our own backyard. There are so many pretty places to see where we live. So many sights. So many hikes. So many waterfalls and vistas and mountaintops. We all take field trips to these places when we are small, but it's easy to forget about them when we are actually old enough to appreciate them. We take it for granted and overlook the things that tourists flock to see every year.

We drove to Mt. Mitchell, which is the highest peak east of the Mississippi, via the Blue Ridge Parkway. While there, we hiked a loop that smelled so strongly of spruce trees that we sniffed and grinned the entire time. After stopping at every overlook on our way back, we decided to hike down to Crabtree Falls. A nice long hike on very rocky trails. I would like to thank whoever it was who blazed these trails and built stone staircases and retainer walls and bridges and benches. And I'd like to thank God for making the things that are worth the effort to see.

So if I get behind you on the road during tourist season and you are driving ridiculously slow, I will probably cuss you a bit under my breath. But truly, I can't blame you one bit. My big backyard of the Blue Ridge Mountains is one spectacular sight to see.



*all photos are my own.

2 comments:

Michelle said...

ohhhh! I love this! This is one of my favorite parts of the South East, sooo stunning and beautiful. I totally hear you, that smell of pine is fresh and crisp and so fabulous to smell in the clear, crisp air. ahhhhh

Dawn said...

The Blue Ridge Mountains. I will go there. One day. And you may swear at me as I drive super slow but I'll forgive you.
Then after you show me around we will find the pool in the next post;D
Have a wonderful wonderful weekend! And your captures are breathtaking!