Okay, back. It wasn't overly hot there - more of a summer than we've had here in NH though. Pretty much high 70's, low 80's all week. We drove back through 95-98f in VA - brutal.
Anyway, like I said, had a great week. The house was good - as much as I would have expected from an online rental. Clean, inside was very nice, outside needed some TLC. The house was down this crazy road which brought you 3,000 feet *down* a mountain (6.5 miles) to the house.
Let's see...what did we do...Blue Ridge Parkway (of course), Linville Gorge/Falls/Caverns, Elk River Falls (*great* swimming hole!), Grandfather mountain (spectacular), Blowing Rock (tourist ripoff), white water rafting on the Wautauga in TN (class I-III - fun stuff), Little Switzerland (what was that?), driving and re-driving Linn Cove Viadcut (awe-inspiring)...lot's of BBQ (super yummy), etc.
The bugs/snakes were a little creepy - I live in the "woods"but am not used to spiders as big as my hand, lizards running over my feet, and copperheads sunning on my steps. ;-)
It was a very peaceful, laid back place. We loved the locals we got to talk with -- so friendly -- so unlike New England. We were told we were "born southerners" (LOL), that most folks from the "Nawth" weren't as nice as we were. I'll take that as a compliment, even though you'd have to tie me down to get me to eat Okra. ;-) Had our share of adventure... hubby & my youngest "discovered" a nest of ground bees the first day there, hubby almost stepped on a Copperhead, we pulled a car off the side of our road with our tow rope --doesn't sound scary, but four more inches and he would have been skidding straight 2,000 feet down.
Had more than my fair share of crazy mountain switchback roads....1,000 feet up or down in less than a mile.
Spent a couple hours in the Mast General store in Valle Crucis...what a cool place. Fished for trout with the locals....that was cooler than cool.
In the end, we were glad to come home. The mountains are beautiful, but while more "vast", they really were not more beautiful than the mountains 2 hours from home. And there is so much more to do here within "reach". I think we are spoiled travelers....here we have the mountains 2 hours from us, and the beach less than an hour from us. What struck me was how much of a drive it was to do everything and anything. I guess that's part of the "quiet". But being the impatient New Englanders that we are, the long drives kinda wore on us. ;-) Seemed like it was 2 hours get anywhere.
Boone is a very cool (although very busy/trafficy) town. The old soda fountain at Boone drug is a step back in time. Pulling up to a gas station where the only magazine they sell is "Tractor Times" is cool. Buying fresh watermelons and locally grown peaches off the side of the road was the best.
I think the memories that will stick with me the most are the steep winding roads...lots and lots of scary hairpin turns and loops with me hanging on for dear life. ;-)
The scenery was fantastic. There can't be a better place to just "wind down". More than anything, I love the friendliness of the south. Our "neighbors" were actually excited to take my 11 yo out to fish. Everyone was willing to talk and tell us the best places to see. I'd recommend the area a 1,000 times over.
Next year, we're thinking of heading to the beach....prolly NC again, but we'll likely break up the trip. That drive was just brutal. ;-) Anyway...will be bugging 'ya'all' for info on the NC coast before long....maybe I am a born southerner. LOL
Thanks again for all the help & advice!