Travel Journal - Ledge Creek Trail

Travel Journal - The end of our trip meant we headed to North Carolina and a quick visit with my son. As we waited for him to get home from work, we took a 'new to us' trail in Stem. This trail - #1, was newly added after we left Oxford. We loved the hike and enjoyed the view of this parcel of land from another side of the property.

 

Travel Journal - Virginia Creeper Trail

Travel Journal - LOVED seeing and crossing the train trestles on the Virginia Creeper Trail ...

 

Travel Journal - Virginia Creeper Trail

Travel Journal - We are considering taking a fall bike trek through the Virginia Creeper Trail, so decided to follow the road along the trail, stopping for short hikes from various points ..

 

Travel Journal - Cades Cove, TN

Travel Journal - While in the Great Smoky Mountains, we took the drive around Cades Cove -- A beautiful, bucolic area of former farms, fields, an old mill, and more ....

 

Travel Journal - Cataract Falls

Travel Journal - While in TN, we visited the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. We got our "National Park" stamp, then hiked the short trail to Cataract Falls.

 

Travel Journal - Tennessee

Travel Journal - We were camped at Chester Frost Park in TN, and decided to hike around the two islands the park occupied. It was a lovely campground bordered by Dallas Bay and the Chickamauga Lake.

The following day, decided to hike the Greenway Farm Trail - lots of steep hills and rocks, but found the really lovely quarry midway thru the hike.

 

Travel Journal - Rock City Gardens, GA

Travel Journal - Rock City Gardens, GA - The pathway through the gardens is mostly rock - and most often, surrounded by boulders interspersed by flowers, trees, and other flora that softens the view. Gentle music plays throughout the garden and lights of all kinds give the walk and views a hint of mystery as well as majesty ...

 

Travel Journal - TN / GA

Travel Journal - Rock City - TN/GA - After leaving Alabama, we entered Tennessee. Traveling thru South and North Carolina years ago, we always saw signs on barns and roadways stating "See Rock City." Before now, never thought to even look up what that was -- but since we were in the area and we just left a preserve of boulders, we thought we would check out "Rock City."

In Chattanooga, we took a ride on the "Incline Railway" up Lookout Mountain .... The seats on the train were cantered so that while we vertically ascended the mountain for this one mile trip, we remained upright in our seats. Quite a view - and a bit unnerving to be on such an angle! We had a gorgeous view over the mountain range!

After that, we decided to find the Rock City Arboretum -- or, according to the signs - see Rock City. This part of the mountain was located in Georgia - apparently the mountain is claimed by Georgia and Tennessee.

But oh - how AWESOME was that garden!!! Boulders, waterfalls, streams, trees, plants, a fairy garden with lights, music, replicas of Mother Goose tales, stunning views of 7 states, one of the most beautiful and breath taking gardens I have ever seen!

The pathway was one-way and the day we visited was rather crowded so it was hard to linger ... but this was certainly one of this trips highlights.

 

Travel Journal - Moss Rock Preserve, Alabama

Travel Journal - As we walked one of the trails at Moss Rock Preserve, we heard more water. This time, the waterfall was down a narrow, poison ivy strewn trail ... Charles braved the trail to make it down to the falls -- well worth the risk and thankfully, no poison ivy!