We rarely vacation more than once a year. But for 2016, I talked Adam into having us fly up to Cleveland, Ohio to visit all his family, as that is where my husband was born and raised. Since visiting family is not really a total vacation, he surprised us with a long weekend in Murphy, North Carolina. This is our third trip to Murphy, a small town that we have all come to treasure in our little family. My sister and her husband came along too, increasing our fun.
I have never really experienced a real winter. One where temps dip below the 20's and snow is possible.
It was beautiful. The bare trees that exposed the mountainscapes, the deer, the brisk air. I still have yet to see a bear. Or elk. They must sense me when I arrive.
My first ever icicles.
Hers too. When I ask what was her favorite part of the whole trip, it was the icicles. We literally pulled over on the side of the road the minute we spied them glistening on the rocky mountain slope.
The girls wanted to eat them. So they did.
Soco Falls, a tucked away wonder on the side of the highway.
Snow. Real snow. The girls and I danced outside like fairies catching them on our tongues as the floated down. I was pleasantly surprised at the meandering route they took to reach earth. No straight line for them, they wanted to swirl about.
We hiked a trail in the Cherokee National Forest. I was the only one without reception. I think it might have worked out for the best. ;-) Just teasing. They posted some gorgeous Instagram pictures.
The funny thing about Murphy, is that we don't always plan on going. It ended up that Adam had a friend who had a cabin we could rent cheap and it just happened to be in Murphy. Do you have a place you enjoy going back to? Do you get to experience a real winter? Do you love it? Where would you travel right now if you could?
I do get to experience real winters, but you already know that. The five years that we went to Vikings games, I'd come to enjoy getting back to Minneapolis. And if I could travel right now I'd love to go back to Germany.
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Deb I saw this on Google's homepage and thought of you :)
Deletehttps://www.google.com/maps/about/behind-the-scenes/streetview/treks/miniatur-wunderland/
That's cool! The Neuschwanstein one is saw awesome. I was there!
Delete~Deb
That is really cool Jean!
DeleteI hope you get to head back there to catch a game next season. Germany. I bet I would totally love it. Scandinavia too. Dying to do into a legit castle.
Ooh, that last photo is my favorite. I was surprised it was that wintery in North Carolina, maybe it is in away from the coast or in the mountains.
ReplyDeleteI am hoping to see my first bear some day too, there were some local bear hijinks last summer that I missed out on, one wandered into the downtown square.
If I could be anywhere it would probably be exploring waterfalls, like the one you saw, in Oregon while driving the coast from Northern California to Canada. Or somewhere further south for a dose of sun.
It was in the Smokey Mountains as far from the coast as NC can get.
DeleteI don't know why I am obsessed with seeing a real life bear. I have seen scat but no bear. My eyes rake the trees where ever we drive.
The waterfalls are so beautiful. I could sit and stare at them for hours. Like a dancing fire. It attracts me. I would love to see the Pacific Northwest too!!!
So happy for your first icicle :) There is nothing better (imo) than a cabin in the mountains!! I've been blessed and have lived in Winter Park, CO and Mt Shasta, CA.. so I have had my fair share of real winters. I do miss the snow and get so excited the times we get a small amount here in WA.
ReplyDeleteYou are so right. It is a true vacation. Deep in nature, feet up by fireside, animals everywhere. Colorado sounds beautiful. So does WA not get much snow?! That surprises me for some reason. I would not have thought that.
DeleteYour pictures are stunning! As always. I had a great time and I always enjoy spending it with you and family. I can't wait for our future shenanigans and whatever surprises our husbands decide to spring on us. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you! I want to see yours too! We did have a nice time. I hope we get to head to all the places David talked about next year. That would be amazing!
DeleteAbsolutely gorgeous photos Julie! That waterfall and those icicles are incredible. So exciting that you were able to see snow too! As someone who experiences real winters every year, the first real snow never ceases to amaze me. I am a winter lover, though I do get a bit whiny about it towards the end (like when it snows in April lol). Last year we were up in Breckenridge, Colorado for a week and it was my first time up in the mountains during winter and it rocked my world. Nothing like winter in the mountains!
ReplyDeleteThanks Jacqui! There is just SO MUCH to take in. I feel like the flora and fauna are so much more diverse and apparent. Colorado. It was mentioned twice now so I NEED to go now. ;-) Winter in the mountains is the best. Next time we will bring waterproof boots.
DeleteLove the photos! So glad y'all were able to get away for a bit & experience some winter! We enjoyed our little trip too, too bad it wasn't the same weekend -- I think we were close to Murphy! We loved seeing the icicles & snow! I love the Smoky Mountains so much, it's so beautiful!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Tricia! You guys WERE really close to Murphy! Glad you finally got to getaway for a bit, I remember us talking about that recently. The Smokey Mountains are beautiful. Adam and I want to get a house up there so bad. Maybe one day. :-)
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