End of Summer 2017 Adventures and an Eclipse

During the month of August, we continued with our weekend and weekday trips to the pool. There were a few weekends that were not unbearably hot and we spent a day at a park or museum. We also made it to a concert in the park that's adjacent to our neighborhood. The big event and travel for us in August was taking a long weekend to go see the eclipse of 2017 in Greenville, SC! Rose also started soccer in August. Rose turned 3.5 in August and Zoe approached her 2nd birthday. Both girls grew like weeds all summer and it's been fun to have them be more self-sufficient and be able to communicate.

Zoe's eating her favorite peanut butter crackers at the pool

Zoe smiles when she wants to.
She loves to see the camera herself.

Rose and Zoe are running in Bond Park. 

One of the many concerts we have listened to at the ampitheatre in the park

Lunch time at Pullen Park in Raleigh,
after going on the carousel and train and before heading home.

The first of back-to-back birthday parties at an indoor playground.

To see the Eclipse in Greenville, we spent the weekend at my parent's place in the mountains of Western NC. On Saturday we made our way to a Renaissance Festival at a farm after going to a farmers' market. The girls enjoyed getting their face (Rose) and arm (Zoe) painted, seeing the costumes, and playing on the slides and in the creek. Rose also enjoyed feeding some goats. We spent the middle part of the day driving the Blue Ridge Parkway while the girls napped and ended our day with dinner and music in Asheville.

Rose's Hello Kitty face paint

Zoe getting her arm painted

On Sunday, we made our way to Charlotte (2 hours away) to get my brother at the airport. Instead of going straight back to the cabin after lunch, we decided to walk around a small museum, called Discovery Place Nature for a little bit. The exhibits were just right for the girls and it was nice to be in a small museum with the short amount of time we had before the girls would need a nap.

Spending a few hours at a museum in Charlotte where Zoe's a bug:

Monday was Eclipse day! I was really nervous about finding a place to go to see the eclipse, especially as we left Tryon for Greenville around mid-day. We had to pack everything (including Darwin) and it was a hot August Day. I was cranky with the heat and with the stress of packing what we needed to be accessible. Thankfully, we found a science/technology elementary school that was hosting a watching party through Facebook. We headed straight there and found some shade by 1p or so. In the hour or two before complete darkness, the girls enjoyed the splash pad, we ate some moon pies, we watched the moon change through our viewing glasses and through a shadow box, and we listened to some of the music from the DJ. I was most grateful for shade and bathrooms. Even just sitting in the shade I was sweating! 

Rose was really into the Eclipse, which made it more exciting for us. She did a great job looking through her glasses - which were ridiculously hard to purchase before the event. I was grateful for a friend who got some in the week leading up to our trip. The elementary school staff were giving them out at the viewing party, but we would have waited in a long line in the heat to get them.

Rose and Zoe had learned about the eclipse at school, and Rose kept giving us updates on what she saw. Zoe was more interested in maintaining her schedule, which should have included lunch and a nap. She managed to stay engaged with all the excitement despite being a bit "hangry".

The full eclipse was pretty amazing. In the few minutes just before it turned to dusk, our surroundings looked "chalky" with a tinge of almost grey. The temperature was noticeably cooler for the few minutes of complete elipse and for some of the minutes before and after. During the total eclipse, the stars came out, we could see the ring around the moon, we could hear crickets, and it looked like dusk at 2:30pm. It was so cool and an experience I hope to never forget. As we left Greenville for Raleigh, we started making plans to visit upstate NY/Burlington for the 2024 eclipse!

Because we hadn't eaten a good lunch and we didn't really know where to go in Greenville, post-eclipse was a bit of a disaster. We waited too long to be seated at a restaurant and ultimately gave up after almost 45 minutes because the girls were getting too cranky. We knew it would take a long time to get home as well. We had enough snacks that held everyone over as we slowly made our way home, and the girls napped. The four-hour trip took about 6-7 hours with a stop for dinner near Charlotte. It was close to midnight before we arrived home. Thankfully, the girls slept for most of the ride after dinner.

Finding food and shade at an Elementary school Eclipse viewing party in Greenville, SC

Rose would check on the sun's progress often during the hour we watched

It was difficult to capture the eclipse in a camera. I didn't bother trying to get the ring.

A glimpse of the total eclipse from Greenville, SC on August 21, 2017

Because we traveled to see the Eclipse, Rose missed the first soccer game of her career. While soccer runs in our veins, an eclipse is a pretty rare and memorable event worth missing soccer to see. Rose made up for it by being an attentive participant in the practice and scoring two goals in her game that followed the practice session. That first game we attended was pretty chaotic. Kids were picking up the ball all the time and clearly didn't know what to do. We were proud of Rose's ability to pay attention and participate. There were a few games after that first one where the other team was aggressive and we struggled through those with Rose. I'll admit, it is challenging to tell your child not to take things from people or push or hit and then try to teach them to be aggressive in sports.  

Rose's first soccer practice, held for 30 minutes before her first 30 minute game.
We missed the first week because of the Eclipse, so she had to wait for a shirt.

Rose scores a goal in her first soccer game

I finally captured some video footage of Zoe talking and singing. If she notices she's being recorded, she immediately runs to grab the camera. I'm surprised she let me take video of her singing. We did have a few outtakes before capturing this longer video. The teachers at Zoe's school say that her Spanish is very good. It's amazing to me that she can switch between English and Spanish so easily. I love getting to learn the songs she sings at school and I'm also glad that Rose is my translator. While I can speak and understand Spanish, understanding toddler Spanish without context is sometimes difficult. Rose often translates for us because she knows the songs, expressions, and/or words that Zoe has picked up at school.

Lots of singing at bedtime

Stay tuned for Miss Zoe's 2nd Birthday and more September updates!

A Weekend in Asheville

Back in early September, we had the opportunity to spend a long weekend in Asheville, NC.  Colin had a work meeting on a Monday and the weekend had a promising forecast, so we decided to make a last minute trip as a family.  Thankfully, there were a few airbnb rentals available that seemed nice and were reasonably priced.

After work on Friday, we packed up the car and made the 4 hour journey west on I-40 without any problems.  Our airbnb rental had a key lock box, which was perfect for our late arrival.  The small 3 bedroom house was cozy, but not crowded, with only one other person staying there that weekend.  All that really matters is that there was enough room for Darwin's bed on the floor and for us to sleep in the bed. We didn't chat much with the owner's father (who was staying with his daughter for an extended period of time) until the last day.

Saturday morning we were up very early thanks to our morning dog Darwin. We had plans to drive to several waterfalls in the Brevard area of the Pisgah National Forest, but spent a leisurely morning in Asheville before setting out.  We found a food co-op close to our airbnb rental and made our way to a store that was essentially Whole Foods with its own name (Greenlife Grocery) to have breakfast, then wandered through some neighborhoods in the area of Asheville between the main downtown area and the Grove Park Inn, and finally stopped to check out a festival at the Habitat for Humanity Restore that wound up being an anniversary celebration.  There was a bunch of free food that nourished us before we set out to the mountains.

Around noon, we made our way from Asheville towards Brevard and entered the Pisgah National Forest on route 276.  I had mapped out a route into the forest that included several waterfalls and a couple of hikes.  We decided to hike the first trail on our route, John Rock Trail, which we thought was going to be 1.8 miles, but was actually closer to 3 miles.  The hike was fairly easy, rising only about 800 feet to the summit of John Rock and the views were pretty.  After having hiked in New Zealand, Washington, Oregon and California, it's hard to call the North Carolina mountains impressive, but it was certainly a very nice view.

Colin and Darwin enjoying the view from the top of John Rock

After our hike, we got back in the car and drove two miles farther into the national forest to Looking Glass Falls, an impressive, 45-foot waterfall just off the side of the road.  The falls were visible from the road, but we descended the 30 or so steps down to the water and put our feet in.  Darwin seemed to enjoy the water, which was fairly cool and I was surprised at how many people were actually swimming in the plunge pool below the falls.

Colin's newest favorite picture of Darwin, 

with Looking Glass Falls in the background

Just one mile from Looking Glass Falls, we arrived at the trailhead for a hike that led us to another waterfall called Moore Cove Falls.  The very easy 1.4 mile out-and-back hike brought us to a waterfall that was beautiful in the sun's rays.  While the water was not as forceful as Looking Glass, the spot was a peaceful retreat in the middle of the woods.  Unfortunately, we were not the only ones enjoying the view, so we didn't linger too long.

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Moore Cove Falls with a mid-afternoon sun

I really wanted to see Sliding Rock since I had heard such great things about it, so when we came upon the sign for it one mile beyond Moore Head Falls on Highway 276, I was glad we could stop to check it out.  The forest service charges $1-2 per car, and most people were leaving when we arrived.  The many teenagers enjoying the slide made it look like tons of fun and I was a little bummed that I couldn't participate. I didn't want to risk any injuries with a bun in the oven.  After Colin told me how cold the water was on his trip down the slide, I was grateful to have an excuse!  While it may have been fun, I'm just not a fan of freezing cold water.

Colin braving the cold water on Sliding Rock

The last waterfall on my list, Skinny Dip Falls, took us about 10 miles off the loop back to Asheville, but I wanted to check it out since the reviews made it sound like it was worth the trip.  Instead of heading north (back to Asheville) at the intersection of Highway 276 and the Blue Ridge Parkway, we drove about 5 miles south to mile marker 417.  Before hiking the mile into the waterfall and while enjoying a lovely view from the Parkway, we decided to have a second lunch/snack of sardines, chips, and apples that we had purchased at the food co-op.  Darwin also enjoyed his dinner (and a little of ours too).

View from the car at mile marker 417 on the Blue Ridge Parkway

The mile hike to the cascading waterfalls was super easy and we were at the falls in no time.  With the light getting lower in the sky, I didn't get great photos, but I ended up going back on Monday when Colin was at his meeting, so there is a photo of one of the falls farther down this post.  The falls reminded me of an area in Vermont called Triple Buckets, where people would jump from the rocks into one of three deep pools.  These cascades may not have been as deep, but did have a few pools that looked perfect for swimming.  

From Skinny Dip Falls, we drove the 40 minutes back to Asheville on the winding Blue Ridge Parkway, going through lots of tunnels on the way.  It was already dinner time when we got back, but I needed a shower before setting out. With our late arrival into downtown and our inability to choose a restaurant, it was pretty late for us to have dinner when we were finally seated at the Italian restaurant called Modesto (around 9pm). I didn't bring my good camera and had to rely on my phone, but it served the purpose.  We ended up splitting a salad and having a few bites of the chicken parm pasta dish, with plans to save the rest for Sunday, but ended up giving our leftovers to a man on the street who asked us for food.  While we frequently refuse to give individuals on the street money, Colin always gives food if we have some and people ask. In fact, Colin will actually offer people our food (leftover or food we just purchased to eat), and many times it is refused.

Our shared salad

 Eggplant Parm

I think we were all exhausted when we arrived back at the house. Even Darwin, who is frequently restless, was passed out all night.  Thankfully, being tired meant we all got to sleep in a little later on Sunday morning.

Our main adventures were all planned for Saturday, so on Sunday we did much more relaxing. After a light breakfast at the house and some chatting with the airbnb host's dad, we set out to enjoy the day in Asheville. We started out at the dog park and then made our way downtown to the Organic Festival going on in Pack Square.  There were a bunch of dogs at the dog park and they were all very friendly, and I was somewhat disappointed that the Organic Festival included only a handful of tents, one stage, and didn't allow us to walk around with Darwin.  Colin and I took turns checking out the single block of vendors while the other sat on the perimeter with Darwin.  

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Darwin meeting some Asheville dogs at the dog park

The weather threatened rain most of the afternoon, but we were lucky to enjoy our meal outside at Salsa's Mexican Restaurant.  Thankfully, I had my camera ready when the meals came out so I could document how beautiful each plate was.  Both of our meals were delicious, but I would say that my slow-roasted pork empanada was a little bit better.  In our usual fashion, we shared both meals, and I did enjoy Colin's burrito that was filled with shrimp and steak and included french fries and cheese.  The only thing we didn't really enjoy was the rice, which Darwin was glad to have.  Colin also gave him some tortilla chips.

Slow-Roasted Pork Empanada with rice, beans, and salsa

"The Asheville" burrito with shrimp, steak, fries, and cheese

On Sunday night we stayed at the Crowne Plaza, located just outside of the downtown area.  It was nice to have a big, spacious place to put our things and Darwin enjoyed laying on the second bed while we relaxed and watched some football.  The hotel, while not right in downtown, had a really nice outdoor area with hang gliding, a walking path, and outdoor pool.  The only down side was that someone complained about Darwin's bark, even though he barked twice to alert us that people were in the hallway.  Thankfully, we only received a warning.

On our last day in Asheville, while Colin attended his meeting for most of the workday, Darwin and I went to hike Mt. Pisgah and enjoy Skinny Dip Falls.  We made our way back onto the Blue Ridge Parkway and hiked up to the top of the "mountain" in the morning and then enjoyed our lunch on the rocks at the falls.  The weather cooperated all day, though there were some spotty dark clouds around all day.  

Looking up at Mt. Pisgah from the Blue Ridge Parkway

View back down to the the Blue Ridge Parkway from Mt. Pisgah

Enjoying lunch with our feet in the water at Skinny Dip Falls

When Colin's day was done and before heading back home, we made one last stop at French Broad Chocolates to pick up dessert for the road.  I stayed in the car while Colin went in and I was very surprised that my chocoholic husband opted for a carrot cake at a chocolate factory!  It was very rich and tasty and didn't last long into the 4-hour drive.

It's always nice to be home after traveling, especially after having Darwin stay in the same room with us, but I will say we had a wonderful weekend in Asheville.  While the rain threatened most of Sunday and part of Monday, it never actually rained.  And, we were able to enjoy beautiful clear skies on Saturday while hiking and exploring lots of waterfalls. I really wanted Colin to see the beauty and enjoy the amazing food the Asheville area has to offer and I think after our long weekend there, he now appreciates it much more than he has in the past.

What do you think is the best thing about the Asheville area?

Experiencing Peace in Asheville

I'll admit that I wasn't too excited to drive to Asheville just 3 days after returning from my Pittsburgh/Cleveland and Charlotte trip.  Don't get me wrong, the mountains that surround the city are stunning, the city is so pedestrian friendly and walkable, and the food is amazing. But, I just didn't want to drive 4 hours each way, by myself.  I don't mind being in the car for long distances, or driving, but it is so nice to have someone in the car with me.  It's a shame Colin couldn't join me on my trip because of a work training he was expected to attend.

As expected, the only negative part of my trip was the drive.  On the way to Asheville, I managed to get caught in a few torrential rain storms.  It made the 4 hour drive closer to 4.5 hours.  And on the way back I had to drive 4 hours in the evening after conducting a training all day.  It made for a very long day.

But I cannot complain about my visit to Asheville, it was a wonderful experience. I seemed to immediately be at peace moments after checking into my hotel.  I had never stayed at Hotel Indigo before, but I was extremely impressed that a hotel that nice would allow dogs and take the state rate.  If Colin didn't have to attend training, I definitely would have brought him and Darwin with me! Asheville is also a dog-friendly city.

This was the first view of my room - I love the privacy screen.

I really appreciated the coffee/tea area at the entrance.

The decor was so modern and tranquil.

The entire hotel was clean and comfortable, with modern decor and tasteful artwork.  One of my favorite aspects of the room was the wood floors. It just feels so much more comfortable than carpet!

I also can't talk about Asheville without mentioning the amazing food.  Since I've been there several times, and I've eaten at some of the more popular eateries like Early Girl Eatery and Tupelo Honey, I wanted to try something different.  I trusted the advice of some coworkers and ate at Modesto Wood Fire Kitchen the first night and The Black Bird restaurant on the second night.  The owner of Modesto also owns a restaurant next door called Chorizo, which serves more Latin American inspired fare. Since I was in the mood for Italian, I opted Modesto and ordered the prosciutto, fig pizza.  It was delicious and so filling!

Indulging in the prosciutto, fig pizza at Modesto

On the second night in Asheville, I went for a 4.5 mile run with my colleague from the area.  Rebecca is such a sweet person, and was a joy to teach with all day. She loves to run, and took me through the lovely areas of Historic Montford, UNC-Asheville, Jackson Park, and Five Points.  It was certainly a challenge for me with the steep hills and us talking during the run!  But it was a beautiful evening with clear skies and temperatures in the mid-70s.  

After working up my appetite, I made my way through downtown to The Black Bird. I immediately loved the large open windows and modern look to the restaurant.  I didn't know how big the portions were, so I opted for a bowl of tomato soup and the soft shell crab appetizer.  I'm glad I didn't order an entree because the appetizer was huge! In retrospect, I should have only ordered the appetizer. While the soup was tasty, it paled in comparison to the crab with tomatoes and croutons, and I ended up feeling too full at the end of the meal.  To say the soft shell crab appetizer was delicious is an understatement.  The sauce and the saltiness were perfectly combined and I savored every bite of the dish.

My tomato soup, bread and butter

The soft-shell crab appetizer

Walking back to the hotel from the restaurant, I stopped in the French Broad Chocolate and considered ordering dessert before I realized I was too full.  I also considered taking something back to the room for the next day, but didn't see anything that really appealed to me.

Throughout the two days I was in Asheville, I felt at peace with the world.  I know part of it had to do with being in the mountains, but I also think it had to do with my colleague and our teaching experience.  It is such a joy to share with people the skills to manage their health.  The training we conducted taught community leaders how to teach this type of program to their community.  And my colleague is so compassionate and an experienced leader, which made the training flow so smoothly.

I'm glad I was able to go and experience the beauty and tranquility of the mountains and the experience.  It certainly more than negates the long, tedious drive each way.

What do you love about Asheville?

A Conference at The Grove Park Inn in Asheville, NC

Five days after returning from the Pacific Northwest, I had an opportunity to present at a conference in the western part of North Carolina. Our state hosted 8 other states that comprise the Southeastern Associate of Area Agencies on Aging (SE4A).  The conference was held at renowned Grove Park Inn in Asheville.  This hotel has a long list of awards and accolades from Travel + Leisure, Conde Nast, and other popular travel magazines.  It is also listed as a Historic Hotel of America.  People gasped and voiced their surprise and envy that I would be presenting at a conference at the prestigious hotel. After all, I work in state government and we are not known to hold conferences in nice hotels.

Sure enough, to lessen the costs, staff were expected to share rooms (2 people per room). I was very lucky to have a room to myself for the first night since I had to be there early for my presentation.  Sharing a room with my coworker for the other 3 nights was not too bad, but I will admit that it is awkward to sleep in the same room with someone you only know from work.

When I arrived at the hotel, or rather "resort," I was impressed with the enormity of it all. Everything just seemed massive! From the golf course, to the buildings, and even fireplaces on either side of the lobby were enormous.  I was most impressed with the brick facade and stonework inside the building, until I experienced the spa. I'll share more on the spa experience later.

One of the two giant fireplaces in the lobby

The courtyard of The Grove Park Inn from one of the hallways

The outdoor portion of the spa in the foreground, golf course in the background

The view of downtown Asheville (to the left) from the courtyard

on one of the beautiful sunny days

My hotel room was unimpressive. It looked like a room inside any hotel and the double beds were actually very small. I didn't mind since I had the bed to myself, but it would have been very cozy for two people.  I assume they had king beds for couples.  I also had a room without a view. It looked out to a driveway and some bushes.  I did appreciate a K-Cup coffee machine with regular coffee, decaf, and tea. Other than that, there were no exciting amenities in the room.

My hotel room

During the conference, North Carolina had a room that was used as the hospitality suite, which was stocked with snacks and beverages.  The first day of the conference ended with a reception that brought most people to the hospitality suite for an "after party."  The room was packed and there were a few people that definitely had too much to drink!  Other than the first evening, the room was used for people to hang out and relax together.  The theme for the room was the 1950's and the decor was fabulous. It made for a perfect place to get together.  That, and the amazing view of the mountains and downtown Asheville!  My favorite part was the Murphy Bed.  Colin and I talk about getting one someday!

The 1950's room at The Grove Park Inn

The conference itself had some high points and low points. The sessions I attended, and the one I co-lead were all very informative and very good.  It was also nice to see people that I work with from all over the state. There were a few good keynote speakers as well, except for the final speaker at breakfast on the last day.  I did not enjoy the storyteller, Bill Thompson, share his "Front Porch Stories" about traditions in North Carolina and The South.

I could go on a rant about how terrible the food was, but I'll only describe the breakfasts, which were the worst I have ever had at a conference or in a continental breakfast.  On the first morning, the only choices were sausage or ham biscuits. And they put out jelly - for what, I'm not sure. Then there was juice and coffee.  That's it! As a dietitian and someone who strives to eat well, I was appalled.  The second day wasn't much better when they put out 2-3 varieties of pastries. I heard that the food vendor at The Grove Park Inn changed after the conference costs were agreed upon, so the menu had to change and that food was all that could be offered at the approved price.  It angers me that pastries are so much less expensive than real food like fruit!  Thankfully, I did enjoy some good dinners by leaving the hotel and eating downtown.  Asheville is a foodie's paradise with lots of options for local farm-to-fork foods, vegetarian, and vegan options.  You would think that a place like The Grove Park Inn would strive to bring some local foods to it's patrons. But I think that everything about the resort was expensive (to keep with the "enormous" theme).

A conference room in The Grove Park Inn looks just like one in any other hotel

I did take some time for myself to enjoy the highly acclaimed spa one evening.  We had the option to go on a  tour of The Biltmore Estate, but since I have been there twice already, I decided to go to the spa instead.  I debated between the Spa Access Twilight Pass and the 50 minute Classic Massage.  I mainly wanted to spend time in the spa, enjoying the pools, sauna and steam rooms, but I also really wanted a massage.  The pass to the spa for the evening was only $50, while the massage was $129, which included being able to go to the spa all day.  I decided it would be unlikely that I would ever go back to The Grove Park Inn - unless I could convince some girlfriends for a weekend retreat - so I went all out with the massage.  The massage and a couple of hours in the spa was just what I needed after 2 weeks of travel in the Pacific Northwest and 3 days of the conference! I enjoyed the hot and cold contrast pools, steam room, sauna, waterfalls, and swimming pools for an hour before the massage and then went back for another hour after the massage.  I wasn't allowed to take pictures in the spa, but there are a few on the hotel's website.  

In my experience, the hotel is not worth the $300+/night price tag, but the spa is definitely worth a visit.  I know Colin wouldn't enjoy it, and we wouldn't be able to enjoy the steam room or saunas together since they are in female and male-only areas. The spa would be a great experience for a girls getaway.  Maybe I'll convince some ladies to go to Asheville with me some time. We can stay in a less expensive hotel, go to the spa, and eat delicious local food in downtown Asheville!  Any takers??

Have you ever been to a conference where the conference rooms were amazing and the food was delicious? If so, where was it?

In my opinion, conference rooms look the same everywhere I go. They usually have hideous carpets, fluorescent lighting, and dark walls and chairs.

Lots of Upcoming Travels!!

Happy almost long weekend to all!!

It's going to be in the upper 80's this weekend so Colin and I are headed to the outer banks this evening!!  The plan is to stay with our friend's parents tonight and then head down the coast to find a campground with room for Saturday and Sunday night reservations.  I know that I always look forward to camping, but never sleep well in a tent.  But, I am just so happy to have a long weekend ahead of me and we haven't really spent a lot of time of the beach since....gosh I can't even remember.  I'm guessing some time last summer, or maybe even before that.  No wonder I can't wait!

We've also been planning other fun summer adventures the past few weeks. Colin's got a work trip to Fort Lauderdale in early June (yes, right around the corner!) and his conference finishes up on a Friday.  I'm very excited to go and spend a long weekend at the beach (3 full days).  And that trip will be even better than the outer banks because 1.) we will be more comfortable in a hotel and 2.) it will come at the end of a very busy time at work (which I am in the middle of now!!).

At the end of June and into early July, my dear friend from college is getting married in Burlington, Vermont.  So, we've got a whirlwind of a trip planned to fly into and out of Boston, visit friends in the area, spend some time in RI and be in Burlington for the weekend.  All of that is planned in just 5 days!!  I wish I could go longer to visit with more friends in the area, especially since there are so many babies I haven't met (and some are already 2).  But alas, we're trying to save up some vacation time for a big trip in the fall (I won't disclose until we are sure we are going).  Thankfully, many of my college gal pals will be with me at the wedding (though none are bringing their babies) and they all live fairly close to each other in Boston. To make things easier, I'm trying to plan a day (or night) with each set of friends along the route between RI and VT.  New York friends will have to wait until a visit in that direction.

And if these three trips were not exciting enough, I had a meeting today at work regarding a conference in Asheville in September.  I love that town because the vibe brings me back to Burlington and always get excited to spend some time there.  The best part about the conference is not that it is in Asheville, but that we are all staying in The Grove Park Inn!  My friends in the area will need no explanation, but for those of you unfamiliar with the resort, it is a large antique resort spa that boasts a "bed and breakfast" feel and is located in the middle of the mountains with amazing views all around.  The spa is supposedly a-m-a-z-i-n-g and September is usually a fantastic time of year in the mountains of North Carolina.  Though I do have to present at this conference on Sunday, I'm getting excited at the prospect of going up early to enjoy the area, especially since all rooms are discounted for conference attendees.  I hope I can convince Colin that it is an opportunity he does not want to miss.

I'm sure that by now you know that I love planning trips and getaways.  With the beautiful weather we've been having in Raleigh, we've been enjoying "staycations."  Now that the weather is getting a bit too warm, it's time to escape to places that offer more comfortable temperatures (like the mountains) or places to cool off from the heat (like the beach).

I'll keep you posted on how Darwin does with his second attempt at camping.  We will definitely be taking the "chew-proof" tie out cable and stake to prevent him from chasing night time critters in case he's still scared of the tent.  And we are taking our big tent in case it rains and he needs to sleep with us.


What are you up to this long weekend? 
Any summer vacation plans being made?

Anniversary/Birthday Escape to the Mountains (July 22-24)

Do you know what happens when your dog is teething?  He chews anything he can find, including SD cards if they happen to be in reach.  I am sorry to report that our 5 year anniversary weekend get-away photos have been destroyed by the developing teeth of Sir Charles Darwin.  There were a few photos taken with our phones, but they do not highlight the best parts of our trip.  I therefore apologize for the lack of beautiful photos to share.

To celebrate our anniversary and escape the 100 degree temperatures in Raleigh, we spent the weekend in the mountains of North Carolina.  My work travels had taken me to the Pisgah National Forest last year, around the same time of year.  If you read that post, you can see photos of the mountains that were similar to what we experienced on this trip.

Each day started beautifully, with sun and temperatures in the low 70s.  By lunchtime, temperatures in the 80s brought thunderstorms that lasted most of the afternoon.  It was nice to get away from the heat, and we did a lot of hiking. But, the thunderstorms halted our attempts at climbing higher or going further on the trails we explored.

On our way into the Pisgah National Forest, we refueled our bodies at the sustainable restaurant Vidalia. With rain showers already in full effect, we semi-successfully sat outside under the awning with Darwin tucked under our table.  He is still such a shy pup!  It's nice that he sits so quietly under the table when we go out to eat, but he is so scared when anyone tries to pet him.  We definitely need to keep working on that!

Above, Colin's BLT with fried green tomatoes (the day's special)

Below, my local farm burger with fried vidalia onions and swiss cheese

For the record, I haven't had tater tots in ages! They are so good but definitely a once in awhile treat.

I could not pass through Blowing Rock without showing it off to Colin.  It's such a cute town.  Photos of the "downtown area" are available on the blog post of last year's trip.  Any trip through Blowing Rock merits a stop at Kilwin's for ice cream, especially when you can enjoy it in a very secluded seating area behind the ice cream shop.

Indulging in Kilwin's ice cream (Blowing Rock, NC)

Since the rain prevented us from hiking Saturday afternoon, we made our way down the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway to Asheville, NC.  With the rain showers pouring down I would not say it was my "favorite drive" as the Parkway slogan boasts.

Asheville is becoming one of my favorite towns.  They have so many delicious eateries and the culture is so laid-back and relaxed - in a good way!  The last time I was in Asheville for work, my coworker and I really wanted to try the tapas bar Zambra.  I managed to convince Colin we should eat there, which was not the best idea for us.  The small plates were not as filling as we had hoped, especially after a morning of hiking.  Once again, Darwin laid under the table as close to Colin or I as he could.

From Zambra, we made our way through downtown Asheville to the French Broad Chocolate Lounge where I waited in the 20 minute line to get a chocolate truffle torte and a nibby brownie.  The brownie was delicious and I think next time we'll try the quintessential chocolate cake since the torte was not our favorite.  The free chocolate samples and live music in the lounge made for a pleasant waiting experience.

The best part of our trip to Asheville was hanging out in Pack Square Park, meeting the locals and their dogs, and listening to live bluegrass.  We came across two great danes, one of which looks like a huge version of our little Darwin.  The owners of that great dane also had a full grown black lab mix.  I wish we had a better photo of our little 40lb lab making friends with his 70lb and 150lb "twins."  We also quickly became friends with their owners and even had invitations to come to the river to play with them on Sunday!  It's too bad the Asheville culture does not yet exist in Raleigh.

Though not a great photo, you can see how small Darwin looks compared to a 150 pound Great Dane

Since it was going to be rainy much of the weekend, I didn't want to deal with camping. With expensive hotel prices, I instead opted for the vacation rental option and found us a quaint 2 bedroom cabin-like place near Newland, NC - right in the middle of the mountains.  If you are lucky enough to find a last-minute place that is not yet reserved, you can typically get a better deal.  The unit owner knocked $10 off per night, making our "home" much cheaper than any hotel in the area.  Camping would have been the cheapest option, but it is much nicer to have a bedroom, living room, and kitchen.

Speaking of kitchen, each morning we prepared a delicious and healthy vegetable omelet, served with a side of farmer's market fruit.  For our hikes, we packed peanut butter sandwiches, granola bars, and fruit.  One day we even made our own veggie pizza!

I prefer to balance my meals by preparing 2 of the 3 meals of the day.  At home, I know what goes into my food.  The choices I make are to limit salt and fat and add as many vegetables as I can.  While the sustainable restaurants we typically choose use fresh ingredients, restaurants are known to use lots of butter and salt to make their food taste delicious and keep people coming back.  Choosing a sustainable restaurant, or a restaurant that offers sustainable foods is usually more expensive, but I also balance the cost by making meals at my vacation home.

Where do you go to find lodging when preparing to travel?
What choices do you make about where to eat?

Look for my next post about the hiking we did over the weekend!!

Traveling to Asheville, NC - December 9-11, 2010

The months of October and November have been extremely busy with work.  Since I now work on a federal grant, our fiscal year starts October 1.  Once we receive our official award letter, it's a race to Thanksgiving.  During those two months we are printing curriculum, ordering supplies and making sure appropriate logos and non-discrimination statements are on any materials we are developing.  This year was difficult because the program doubled in size and the team of 5 increased to 7.  As a result of this increase, several of my travel experiences in the past two months have included large cargo vans with several trips to Rocky Mount, NC - an hour away.  I also had the great pleasure of helping to drive the 4 hours in a cargo van to Asheville, NC.

The only fun trip I've had in the past two months was a short Thanksgiving break where I did too much traveling.  It started with an hour flight to Boston and an hour drive to RI on Thanksgiving Day followed by a 3 hour drive to Albany on Friday.  Saturday was a day of rest.  Sunday was the 3 hour return trip to RI, with the 45minute drive back to Boston for my 1 hour flight first thing Monday morning.  It makes me tired just writing about it.

All of the hard work our team has done since October (and developing curriculum before then) was completed with two culminating events.  The first on December 2 with a training here in Raleigh and was the larger of the two the second on December 10 with a training in Asheville.  Today's post is about the trip to Asheville.

While driving a huge cargo van 4 hours is not ideal, the trip did not seem so long while in the company of good coworkers.  Thankfully, the weather cooperated all three days, and it wasn't until we were coming back, and an hour from Raleigh, that we saw any precipitation.  Since the Asheville training was the day we gave out the last of the supplies, it was a time for celebration when we finished.  Our boss was kind enough to buy us all tickets to the Biltmore Estate candlelit tour, which also allowed us entry to the grounds during the following day.  So, after the full day of training, we enjoyed exploring the Biltmore Estate, enjoyed a wine tour and tasting, and ended with a dinner at the Bistro, one of the Biltmore restaurants.

Upon reaching our hotel, we realized the Clarion Hotel in Fletcher, NC has a club where the locals visit on the weekend (it was a Friday night).  A few of us decided to explore the attraction and enjoyed the metal band mixed in with a DJ that had a difficult time transitioning songs.  The locals were typical of a small town - 20 year olds mixed in with 60 year olds - at the "club" to get wasted and pick someone up.  We quickly realized we were tired and headed back to our rooms.

Saturday morning we enjoyed the Biltmore grounds and Biltmore Village before returning to a rainy Raleigh.