There's something about being on top of a mountain...majestic, serene...just plain awesome! There's nothing like it and the experience is often like pressing the reset button in one's life gone out of control, taken over by rush hour and petty preoccupations. Recently, the family took a trip to the renowned Grandfather Mountain in Linville, North Carolina. The tallest peak in North Carolina as well as the south east, extending one mile above sea level. Breathtaking just doesn't express it all...
Interestingly, my husband was miles away in Texas, but thanks to cell phones he got to experience the mountain too with his dad...well, sort of. Juxtaposition of today's society...wilderness combined with technology.
The star of the trip...us...just kidding, the mile high bridge was the main event and a place where we spent alot of time.
Hair pin curves driving towards the top, also where several car commercials have been filmed. One curve named "Forest Gump Curve" is where Tom Hanks was filmed during his run across America in the movie. The story is that he showed up unexpectedly as his brother was planned to be the body double for the shot, but because Tom didn't want to miss out on an opportunity to be with his brother he showed up anyway...incognito. Supposedly, only one staff member of the mountain knew Tom was there.
A cool naturalist area featuring life on the mountain...bears.
Cousins enjoying being together on the trip.
Museum inside the cafe...one display featured a huge tree TUMOR...rather disturbing.
Me and my chocolate...
Lil' bro doing his best to enjoy the mountain.
So besides the obvious highlight of seeing this spectacular specimen of nature, other cool aspects of the adventure were the 10 degree cooler temperatures at the top and the audio CD they give you at the front gate. Popping in the CD while driving up the mountain gives a guided tour of wildlife and history of the area. For a geeky homeschooling mom such as myself...I was impressed and gave the field trip an A+++!
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