Western North Carolina, 2018
In the spring of 2018
the family visited western North Carolina, including the cities of Cherokee and
Asheville NC, Gatlinburg TN, and two state parks.
Somewhere
on I-40. Sunday,
Easter, so Zoe decapitates a chocolate rabbit.
Smoky
Mountain National Park - Oconaluftee Visitor Center. The Bucks letting Ron know which way to go.
(At least not down.)
We decided to skip
the busy, Vegas-style downtown Gatlinburg and did the nearby 8 mile loop of the
“Arts and Crafts Community.” We got about a third done in 4 hours.
See http://www.gatlinburgcrafts.com/
Gatlinburg, TN – Ownby’s Woodcrafts. The Ogle family doing
woodcrafts since the late 1800s. (35.743321, -83.456085)
Smoky Mountain National Park. Traveling back to Cherokee we did an impromptu
stop at a mountain stream.
Bryson,
NC – Great Smoky Mountain Railroad (GSMR). The family
getting ready to board the train for a 4 hour trip through the Nantahala Gorge.
Great Smokey Mountain Railroad – The official family photo.
Nantahala
Gorge – River's End Restaurant (& Nantahala Outdoor Center). We had lunch
at this delightful restaurant on our hour long stop. This area seems a real hot
bed of water sports, even on this cool day. (35.331266, -83.592162)
Cherokee,
NC. The next day it was the museums and crafts in Cherokee. The sign says
‘Welcome’ or ‘ᎤᎵᎮᎵᏍᏗ’ (pronounced ‘u-li-he-li-s-di’).
Cherokee,
NC - Museum of the Cherokee Indian. This is a world-class museum with a
matter-of-fact history of the Cherokee Nation. Recommended! Here Andrew and Zoe
are looking at arrow heads.
Cherokee,
NC. - Museum of the Cherokee Indian. A display of dance masks.
Cherokee,
NC - Museum of the Cherokee Indian. Richard Saunooke doing
some really wonderful beadwork. Some of the belts on display are antique
and nearly priceless.
Next
to the Cherokee Museum is Qualla Arts and Crafts.
There Andrew Buckles got this traditional war club for his birthday!
Asheville,
NC - Western North Carolina Nature Center. Much like our own VLM, here the family looks at creepy-crawly things in the
World Underground exhibit.
Asheville,
NC - Western North Carolina Nature Center. An otter chasing
its own tail and really enjoying itself.
Asheville,
NC - Western North Carolina Nature Center. Two cougars doing a head butt. Beautiful animals.
Asheville,
NC - Western North Carolina Nature Center. A “bridge” over troubled waters that
Carol and Andrew really wanted to cross, but were able to restrain themselves.
DuPont
State Forest (NC) – Theresa at the base of the Triple Falls on the Little
River. (35.199074, -82.617125) Andrew and Zoe in the
background.
DuPont
State Forest (NC) – The Triple Falls. So beautiful.
Total drop of 125 ft. (35.199048, -82.618098) This
falls is seen in the movies “Last of the Mohicans” and “Hunger Games.”
DuPont
State Forest (NC) – Near where the last picture was taken, Carol found some
Bobcat prints.
Chimney
Rock State Park (NC) – Hickorynut Falls. Total drop 404 ft.
Most of us decide to hike out to the bottom Hickorynut Falls, also seen in the
movie “Last of the Mohicans.” (35.433433, -82.259080)
Chimney
Rock State Park (NC) – Hickorynut Falls. Carol, Andrew and
Zoe at the base of the falls. They said the water was really cold.
(Theresa decided to climb all the way up to the top of Chimney Rock!)
Asheville,
NC - North Carolina Arboretum. A really pretty arboretum with huge bonsai
collection and a large model train display. Here Carol grips an apple from the
'tree of the knowledge of good and evil.' Note the snakes at the top. And no,
she did not bite it.