Lots of links and photos in the post for you to check out. I did a gallery of photos becasue there were so many but also because I wanted you to be able to see larger photos of the mountains.
Our friends Lynn and Bob B. drove up from Charleston SC (4 hours) on Thursday and we spent the next three days creating a wonderful weekend memory for all of us. We had planned on driving directly to the wineries in the Yadkin and Swan Creek in NC. Bob B. suggested taking a little longer route and driving part of the Blue Ridge Parkway. The rest of us were more interested in going directly to the wineries but he convinced us, thank goodness. Bob and I have driven the mountains int he fall and thought Maggie Valley was pretty spectacular. This was even more beautiful and our short journey about 20 miles long. I think we hit peak color and around every bend we raved about the view. It was cloudy and at one point we actually drove through a cloud. We stopped at many overlooks. This drive in the fall should definitely be on your list of things to see. The drive starts in the Shenandoa Valley and goes 469 miles to the Great Smoky mountains.
We stopped in a cute little town called Little Switzerland for lunch. The pumpkin photo is from there.
We stayed at a charming little bed and breakfast called Home Coming in Elkin NC and had a fantastic dinner at 21 on Main. We all agreed it was one of the best meals we have ever had. Bob and I had gumbo soup, a butterknife tender fillet of beef with goat cheese mashed potatoes and roasted asparagus and a trio of chocolate desserts. I think maybe there were also a few bottles of fantastic wine. It was worth every penny.
Check out a few photos. Click on the little photo so see a larger photo.
Here is a link to all the photos: http://picasaweb.google.com/fchoban/2009_10_16?authkey=Gv1sRgCPuGh6fNp4-z1QE&feat=directlink
Since it was cloudy and we didn’t spend a large amount of time on this first trip, Bob and I are driving back this Wed. and taking our chairs, books, wine, cheese and fruit picnic basket and really soak up the beauty.
In my next post I will tell you more about the wineries.
