Quick turn around for us, we drive in tandem with Gram for a planned week in Lake Laurel, NC and Asheville, NC. We go through our punchiest and set off on the road early on a snowy morning.
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| Bowne Township, MI, ice on the wipers and hood |
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| Van Vert, OH, weather has been warming up as we travel further south |
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| Piqua, OH all a glow for Christmas |
Keith once lived in Piqua, OH and wanted to see if the out homestead still stood. We met the new owner of the property, who built a new home there.
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| Keith speaking with the new owner about his stay here on the property |
We have reservations at the Radisson in Covington, KY across the Ohio River from Cincinnati, OH. The views from Eighteen at the Radisson, revolving restaurant are very memorable. The service was good and food was delicious but the view was spectacular.
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| Cincinnati in the background |
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| Ohio River |
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| Full moon over Covington, KY |
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| Lake Lure, NC |
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| Lake Lure |
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| Chimney Rock Village, NC |
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| Rocky Broad Riverwalk, Chimney Rock, NC |
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| After lunch we took a walk along the Rocky Broad River after lunch at the Old Rock Cafe. |
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| With Gram enjoying a stroll along the riverwalk |
We had a great time with Gram during our stay at Lake Lure. We were very active going to the gym, hiking up Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park, trip to The Biltmore Estate in Asheville and Hendersonville. The trips highlight was The Biltmore in all her glory stage for Christmas.
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| Incredible views from Chimney Rock of Hickory Nut Gorge |
In 1902, Dr. Lucius B. Morse purchased 64 acres at Chimney Rock Mountain, including the Chimney and cliffs. Morse and his family owned and operated "Chimney Rock Park" as a privately managed park from 1902 to 2007. Many small tracts purchased over the years expanded the Park to 996 acres.
There are many hiking trails on Chimney Rock Mountain for all levels. The hiking was fun for us and Gram did some of the lower trails. The elevator to the top was a surprise and well worth the trip up, then walk down the trails and explore.
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| Gram enjoying her day hiking the lower trails |
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| Keith and I hiked to some of the higher trails |
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| Chimney Rock from the parking lot |
Gram surprised us with tickets to tour Biltmore house and Estate in Asheville, NC. We took the audio tour of the largest house in the United States. We were so happy that we started our day at The Downton Abbey exhibit then Biltmore House. The house took us 3 hours going from room to room, gazing at the artifacts of this stately home.
Biltmore House, the main residence, is a Châteauesque-style mansion built for George Washington Vanderbilt II between 1889 and 1895 and is the largest privately owned house in the United States, at 178,926 square feet of floor space, 250 rooms. Still owned by George Vanderbilt's descendants, it remains one of the most prominent examples of Gilded Age mansions.
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| Biltmore |
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| Winter garden |
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| Keith and I outside on the deck overlooking the valley |
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| The Italian garden and conservatory |
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| Christmas setting of plants in the conservatory (anthurium, double red poinsettia and white poinsettia) |
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| Gram taking all that is Christmas at Biltmore |
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| Keith amongst the ferns and greenery |
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| Banquet Hall Biltmore |
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| Gram listening to the audio tour |
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| Biltmore house garden |
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| The former dairy barn was converted into the Biltmore Winery in 1985. We had a wine tasting while talking to the server, while taking in the experience. |
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| Christmas Dinner buffet |
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| Our table to the right by the window |
The Biltmore House is even more magical by candlelight for the holidays - complete with 55 elaborate hand-decorated trees including the favorite 35 ft. live Fraser fir in the Banquet Hall, a thousand poinsettias, miles of garland and live music. Throughout the estate, find decorated trees with over 25,000 ornaments, miles of fresh garlands, 500 wreaths and sprays, 2,000 poinsettias and other favorite holiday plants.
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| Harpist play in the Winter Garden |
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| Banquet hall lit by Christmas garland and fireplace |
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| The beauty of the Candlelight tour |
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| The stairwell and chandelier |
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| We spent an entire day and evening at Biltmore Estate, our last look back at a charming family day. |
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| Our last look back on a fabulous day, we all had such a good time at Biltmore Estate. |
We decided to take a trip along the Blue Ridge Parkway through Pisgah National Forest. One of the most scenics roads in America (and part of the National Park Service), the Blue Ridge Parkway offers unmatched, spectacular mountain scenery. Drive north or south on the Parkway from Asheville and quickly ascend in elevation.
We stopped several times along the roadside to take in the wonders and vast beauty of the parkway even in winter.
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| Pisgah National Forest |
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| We quickly ascended from Walnut Cove at elevation of 2920 to Wash Creek Valley Overlook with elevation of 3435. |
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| Wash Creek Valley Overlook |
It was a very cold day with strong winds. We decided to exit the parkway and head back to Lake Lure. The following day we would tour Hendersonville, revitalized downtown area.
Hendersonville's downtown is part of the Main Street Program, the National Trust for Historic Preservation's program to revitalize the nation's central business districts through historic preservation, attention to design, thoughtful recruitment of businesses and promotion.
20Dec we leave Western North Carolina for a visit to Raleigh for the holidays. We visit Pittsboro and Jenny while we are there. What's a stop to Pittsboro without going to the olde fashion soda shop.
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| S&T's Soda Shoppe |
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| Nothing says it better than ice cream |
We spend the holidays with family in Raleigh and Laurinburg, NC. We had a great time and laughed a lot. White Elephant and Oysters on the grille. Memorable times in Laurinburg.
We make our way continuing South towards Sylvania, GA to see Rusty and Michael's new home. We will stay a few days before we continue our travel through Port Orange, Florida before we head west to Fort Myers.
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| Downtown Sylvania |
We spent a couple of nights in Sylvania enjoying the new house, a hospitality of our hosts, worked on the 'house on wheel' and played cards. Next stop Dayton Beach RV Resort for a couple of days and New Years Eve.
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| Set up for a couple of days. |
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| All a glow for the holidays |
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| Sunrise in Port Orange |
After a great trip South to Fort Myers, seeing family and friends on the journey. Meeting new friends and family in Laurinburg. We are so lucky to have this life, 1,974 miles complete from Alto, MI to Fort Myers, FL.
