It's been a long time since I've been on vacation and actually done vacation type things. Usually, my "vacations" mean taking a few days off work, sitting around the house, catching up on those things I have desperately wanted to do for so long, or visiting my parents. Last year I spent my vacation in class from 8 am to 5 pm every day! But this year I decided I needed to take a real vacation. So, I called up my friend Teresa, made plans to head to the mountains, and decided to do whatever I wanted (well, within reason).
Yeah, it wasn't much, but it gave us a good laugh. I felt like Laura Ingalls all week because my bed was in the sleeping attic! Yes, I had to actually climb a ladder every night to get up there. Let's just say I made sure I went to the bathroom right before I went to bed each night. It was too much trouble to climb up and down multiple times! The guy who owns the cabins, Joe, was really nice and was always helpful. So, if you're looking for a place to stay in that area, I highly suggest the Cabins at Nantahala (http://www.cabinsatnantahala.com/) Just make sure you go in a vehicle with 4 wheel drive. That hill has to be at a 70 degree incline! It's a tough drive and a tough walk!
We went to Bryson City, NC. While there's not much in this little town, it is full of friendly people and the area offers no shortage of outdoor activities to keep one busy. We stayed in this little cabin off the beaten path. When I say little, I mean little, but it was cute and clean and fit into our budget quite nicely. Here's a picture of the satellite TV they adverstised!
Yeah, it wasn't much, but it gave us a good laugh. I felt like Laura Ingalls all week because my bed was in the sleeping attic! Yes, I had to actually climb a ladder every night to get up there. Let's just say I made sure I went to the bathroom right before I went to bed each night. It was too much trouble to climb up and down multiple times! The guy who owns the cabins, Joe, was really nice and was always helpful. So, if you're looking for a place to stay in that area, I highly suggest the Cabins at Nantahala (http://www.cabinsatnantahala.com/) Just make sure you go in a vehicle with 4 wheel drive. That hill has to be at a 70 degree incline! It's a tough drive and a tough walk!On the first day we drove over to Fontana Dam. I was excited about this because I read on a 
website that you could actually ride a tram down to the bottom of the dam and tour the Power House. Okay, yes, I'm getting old when I want to do something educational on my vacation, but I'll own up to it! Unfortunately, they stopped all of that after 9/11 for security reasons. I don't think they've updated the visitor's center at the dam since 1978, but it was interesting all the same. This dam was built over a three year time period during World War II, when the country needed another power supply. It's made mostly out of concrete because of the difficulty in getting steel into the mountainous area in a timely fashion. Most of the work force was brought in because the local workers were either away fighting in the war or were driven from their land and homes because of the construction of the dam (more on that below). Anyway, it's pretty interesting to see. They get a lot of hikers from the Appalachian Trail over that way since the trail actually crosses the dam. We ran into a few of those as well.
website that you could actually ride a tram down to the bottom of the dam and tour the Power House. Okay, yes, I'm getting old when I want to do something educational on my vacation, but I'll own up to it! Unfortunately, they stopped all of that after 9/11 for security reasons. I don't think they've updated the visitor's center at the dam since 1978, but it was interesting all the same. This dam was built over a three year time period during World War II, when the country needed another power supply. It's made mostly out of concrete because of the difficulty in getting steel into the mountainous area in a timely fashion. Most of the work force was brought in because the local workers were either away fighting in the war or were driven from their land and homes because of the construction of the dam (more on that below). Anyway, it's pretty interesting to see. They get a lot of hikers from the Appalachian Trail over that way since the trail actually crosses the dam. We ran into a few of those as well. After lunch at Fontana Village (which interestingly was built to serve as the town/dormitories/barracks for the people building the dam), we headed back to Bryson City to find the Road to Nowhere. It really and truly exists. You see, when the government came in to build the dam and the resulting Fontana Lake in the 40s, hundreds of families lost their land. Some sold out to the government. Some refused and were forced off of their land for "the public good." Much of the land was flooded by the creation of the lake. The rest of the land was designated National Forest land. A major highway leading into the area was flooded by lake, and the government promised to come back in and build a new road so that families could visit cemetaries whose access was blocked due to the formation of the lake. 
They built about a six mile stretch, including a bridge and a tunnel, but construction was halted in the 1960s because of environmental issues. When that was cleared up, there was no money or interest for continuing the construction of the road. To this day, the Tennessee Valley Authority provides boat rides across Fontana Lake to family members throughout the year so that they can visit family burial grounds. The local residents designated this partial road as "The Road to Nowhere." It's a pretty sad story, but the road and the tunnel have become a tourist attraction of sorts. Hiking trails abound in the area through the Great Smokey Mountains National Forest. So we set out to travel down the Road to Nowhere. I had a lot of fun inside the tunnel because of the acoustics! I don't think my friend Teresa was as excited as me. 
You see, I was singing and making noises throughout the tunnel, just listening to the echoes. She kept saying, "Shut up. This is the place where the girls go missing and they just find their shoes." It was kind of desolate. I was reminded of the time when I was a little girl and my family went on vacation to Kentucky, including a visit to Mammoth Cave. My mom's main memory from that experience is me singing Jesus Loves Me at the top of my lungs throughout the tour of the cave. She says I just wouldn't stop! She was embarrassed then just like Teresa was on this trip. All joking aside, the story of this area just breaks my heart. So sad for those families, but I guess there is a price for progress. There has apparently been a lot of political debate about this issue, too. I see both sides of the issue, and I'm not so sure there is a solution that would make anyone happy. One day, I want to hike the trail that leads past the tunnel. They say there are lots of bears in that area. Sounds like another vacation plan to me!
They built about a six mile stretch, including a bridge and a tunnel, but construction was halted in the 1960s because of environmental issues. When that was cleared up, there was no money or interest for continuing the construction of the road. To this day, the Tennessee Valley Authority provides boat rides across Fontana Lake to family members throughout the year so that they can visit family burial grounds. The local residents designated this partial road as "The Road to Nowhere." It's a pretty sad story, but the road and the tunnel have become a tourist attraction of sorts. Hiking trails abound in the area through the Great Smokey Mountains National Forest. So we set out to travel down the Road to Nowhere. I had a lot of fun inside the tunnel because of the acoustics! I don't think my friend Teresa was as excited as me. 
You see, I was singing and making noises throughout the tunnel, just listening to the echoes. She kept saying, "Shut up. This is the place where the girls go missing and they just find their shoes." It was kind of desolate. I was reminded of the time when I was a little girl and my family went on vacation to Kentucky, including a visit to Mammoth Cave. My mom's main memory from that experience is me singing Jesus Loves Me at the top of my lungs throughout the tour of the cave. She says I just wouldn't stop! She was embarrassed then just like Teresa was on this trip. All joking aside, the story of this area just breaks my heart. So sad for those families, but I guess there is a price for progress. There has apparently been a lot of political debate about this issue, too. I see both sides of the issue, and I'm not so sure there is a solution that would make anyone happy. One day, I want to hike the trail that leads past the tunnel. They say there are lots of bears in that area. Sounds like another vacation plan to me!After our trip down the Road to Nowhere, we went Gem Mining. Now 
I'm convinced that this is the only reason Teresa agreed to go on this trip to me. She is not a mountain person, nor does she really like the outdoors. Several years ago, though, she saw a documentary on the Travel Channel about Gem Mining in the NC mountains. She has wanted to go since that time. We kind of laughed at her, and I offered to make her a box with a piece of screen attached to it and a bag of dirt so that she could share in the experience. This was not enough for 
her. She wanted the "real" thing. So, we went gem mining.
I'm convinced that this is the only reason Teresa agreed to go on this trip to me. She is not a mountain person, nor does she really like the outdoors. Several years ago, though, she saw a documentary on the Travel Channel about Gem Mining in the NC mountains. She has wanted to go since that time. We kind of laughed at her, and I offered to make her a box with a piece of screen attached to it and a bag of dirt so that she could share in the experience. This was not enough for 
her. She wanted the "real" thing. So, we went gem mining. While we did find some stuff, the part of this that is fun is the actual search and the anticipation of what you just might find! We both found some amethist, fools gold, topaz, and as the man at the Gem Mining store put it, "some really beautiful rocks!" Regardless of what we found or didn't find, we had a great time doing it!
The next day included a ride on a jet boat on Fontana Lake. While I'm not sure it was worth the price I paid, it was definitely fun. And it was a beautiful ride. More on that in a subsequent blog post...I promise! The second half of the day found us whitewater tubing at Deep Creek. This has to be the most economical and family friendly activity around. You can seriously rent a tube for $5 from 9 am to 8 pm and ride the rapids as many times as you wish. There are picnic tables and grills at the end of the tubing run, great for picnics and fun! You do have to carry your tube about 3/4 mile up the trail to the put in spot, but it's well worth it. Now Teresa didn't make it all the way up the trail. The "whitewater" on the way kind of made her uneasy, but I continued on. I inadvertantly joined a church youth group in front of me. It's not like I could help it too much. I just had to go where the water took me! I did this as a child at summer camp, and it was just as much fun as I remember! I can't wait to go back!
Finally, a few other "gems" we found along the way. One was an ice cream shop in Bryson City called Soda Pops! It has lots of the old fashioned stuff that most ice cream places don't make anymore. We went twice! The owner is a really nice guy who makes the best Chocolate Ice Cream Sodas! They also have real fresh squeezed lemonade and orangeade! If you ever find yourself in the area, I suggest you stop in for a treat.
Also, on Wednesday night we ate at this place, cause I don't know really what else to call it, called Pittsburghs Grill. 
It's a great place to eat after rafting or kayaking, or just if you're hungry! You sit outside, there's only two choices (a pittsburger or a pulled pork sandwich), and the food is free! That's right. All free. You only have to pay $7 for reserved seating. You see, the owner cooks the food, fresh to order, on a wood fire grill. If he called himself a restaurant or food stand, he would have to cook on something else, therefore compromising the taste. So, you just have to pay $7 to sit down and you get your choice of a burger, pork sandwich, chips and drink for free! The food is great, and the company is even greater. You'll get the chance to meet Little Girl, a part lab part German Shephard mix, and you might even see a wolf while you're eating! Yes, I real, live wolf...fully domesticated though. Again, if you're in the area, stop by, take a seat, relax, enjoy the atmosphere, and the great food!
It's a great place to eat after rafting or kayaking, or just if you're hungry! You sit outside, there's only two choices (a pittsburger or a pulled pork sandwich), and the food is free! That's right. All free. You only have to pay $7 for reserved seating. You see, the owner cooks the food, fresh to order, on a wood fire grill. If he called himself a restaurant or food stand, he would have to cook on something else, therefore compromising the taste. So, you just have to pay $7 to sit down and you get your choice of a burger, pork sandwich, chips and drink for free! The food is great, and the company is even greater. You'll get the chance to meet Little Girl, a part lab part German Shephard mix, and you might even see a wolf while you're eating! Yes, I real, live wolf...fully domesticated though. Again, if you're in the area, stop by, take a seat, relax, enjoy the atmosphere, and the great food!Well, that's it for Vacation 2009. It was a great week of relaxing, enjoying God's beautiful creation, and having lots of fun! Can't wait for another vacation, and I'm not even back at work yet!
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My friend lives in Bryson. I wouldn't be surprised if you ran into her while you were there...
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