Hello! Did you miss me last week? I bet you didn’t even know I was gone! ha! ;) Thank goodness for pre-scheduled posts & social media shares. ;) We were actually gone all week visiting the beautiful area of western North Carolina. I usually say I grew up in Texas, but we did live 4 years near Asheville, North Carolina from 5th grade until 8th grade when we moved back to Texas. So I have a little Carolina girl in me, too! ;) It was so nice to go back & visit. My older two boys & hubby attended Camp Daniel Boone most of the week, while my daughters & youngest son got to hang out with me in Maggie Valley & Cherokee, North Carolina. We had a blast! So keep reading to see some of what we did in beautiful North Carolina. :)
When I was in 5th grade our class went on a field trip to the Oconaluftee Indian Village, & I knew I wanted to take my kiddos back to see it. It was a lot smaller than I remembered! ha! ;) Buuuut it was just big enough to hold my kiddos’ attentions. We got to see canoes being made, a blow dart demonstration, learn how to make baskets & belts, view reenactments & see how these amazing people lived long ago.
It’s really neat that their traditions & culture are still being passed down to future generations today. Our tour guide was pretty good with that blow gun, too! She hit that target dead on. :) That night we went & saw the outdoor drama ~ Unto These Hills. It’s an amazing portrayal of the story of the Cherokee nation. It was amazing! It is definitely worth checking out if you are ever in the area.
After we had gone to the Indian Village, we happened upon the Oconaluftee Islands Park right across the street. We decided to eat our picnic lunch there. After lunch the kiddos wanted to go stick their feet in the stream that ran along both sides of the park. Then we walked down a ways & stumbled upon this amazing bamboo forest.
Pictures don’t do it justice! It was beautiful ~ it had huge bamboo on either side making a natural tunnel. We took the older boys back later in the week. You can tell they loved it, too! ha! :)
We also did a lot of swimming at the hotel, a game or two of putt putt (my 4 years old favorite part of the trip!), did some shopping and ate lots of ice cream. :)
We also got up super early one morning & walked down to Soco Falls which was between Maggie Valley (where our hotel was) & Cherokee, NC. It’s just past the Blue Ridge Parkway on the left if you are coming from Maggie Valley. It has a teeny tiny parking lot which was always full. So that is why we decided to go early in the morning. We were the only ones there! Our plan worked! ha! ;)
On Friday we picked up the boys from summer camp. My dad’s dream was to have most of the grandsons attend camp all together. I think he got his wish! :) On the back row ~ my dad, Hunter (nephew), Josh (brother in law), Cole (sneaking in!), Zach (my oldest), & my hubby ~ Clay. On the front row ~ Cody (2nd cousin), Bradley (nephew), Karston (nephew) & my son, Rylan (who never smiles in pictures!). They really had a great time being together. :)
After we picked up the boys we had just enough time to show them the bamboo forest, waterfall, go swimming at the hotel & have a huge pizza party. We even had time to take a few pictures at this awesome photo spot in Maggie Valley! :) Then it was time for some more ice cream, a family selfie & lots of fireworks. Then the next day we were headed back home. :)
North Carolina will always be one of my favorite places to visit!
I don’t miss their super curvy roads though! ha! :)
Have you ever been? Do you have any fun trips planned?
I’d love to hear. Leave a comment below. :)
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This post was created for Ginger Snap Crafts by Ginger Bowie.
