Last day in Asheville

All good things must come to an end.The last few days of our trip to Asheville had rain in the forcast so our outdoor exploring was put to an end. Good thing there are lots of fun places to go in town. One morning we had breakfast at Sunny Point Cafe. The wait was long and the place was packed! A local favorite for sure.

I had some orange corn cakes that were so yummy! I should try to make them. I wish I could have some this morning.

Travis had the vegan huevos rancheros which he really liked.

We passed the Moog factory several times and decided to visit on Saturday. We wanted to tour it, but sadly the tours only run during the week! It was still fun to play around with all the equipment.

I really liked playing with the theremin. It sounds like a UFO.

We got more donuts at The Vortex, because why not? The one in the back is mango margarita flavor!

Someone at the donut shop recommended that we go to the Grove Arcade downtown. It was mostly lame, not really our thing, but The Battery Park Book Exchange and Champagne Bar was pretty great! It is a big used bookstore with all kinds of nooks and crannies that make you want to explore.

Also you can bring your dog!!! There were sleeping dogs around every corner!

I had been looking for a cool older edition of Watership Down. Perfect!

This teeny baby puppy was the star of the store. Look it how sweet! I wanted to go pick her up!

Another place we wanted to see was The Odditorium. It is a side show themed bar with cool art on the walls and weird stuff for sale. We were pretty lame and went during the day, instead of at night when there was a show.

Every wall outside was painted.

We got some mid afternoon cocktails. I had some kind of cherry cider thing I think?

The bar tender was real cute!

There was cool and weird stuff everywhere.

They even have a mural painted by the wonderful Camille Rose Garcia! I love that gator!

I had heard The Hop had vegan ice cream, and we couldn't pass that up! I got a Sundae...

And Travis got a banana split! Yowza!

When we got back to Lake Junaluska we wanted to swim in the pool but it was reserved for a special event, AGAIN! Ah well, Travis and I rented a canoe and paddled around the lake. (Well, he paddled).

That little canoe speck is us (I think. Crystal took our photo)

It started to rain so we headed back in. Ah well.

Asheville was very good to us. Anywhere with as many waterfalls I can swim under is A-Ok with me!

Tubing down the French Broad

Tubing was on my 'must do' list for Asheville. We went with Zen Tubing, and picked the southern location. Sadly it turned out the be the coldest/rainiest day during our trip. But it was still really fun! I want to go back and do it again next summer.

We rented a cooler tube of course.

My friend Marrion came with us too!

When we were paying there was a HUGE group of kids getting ready to go. Oh no! We put in right before them, but they really spread out so thankfully we weren't stuck in the middle of their group the whole time.

I loooooooved it. The water was really low so the trip took about four hours. Which was perfect.

It is hard to tell in photos but it rained for probably 30 minutes in the middle of our trip. Which kind of sucked. But if you are already on the water I guess it isn't so bad.

After a while we pulled up to some rock islands and ate our packed lunch.

Since the water was low you would be waist deep, then two steps later be ankle deep. Travis liked pushing us along and it was funny to see him suddenly towering above us. Next time I do it I hope the water is high. It would have been great to swim every once in a while.

Ahhhh, this is the life! I could have fallen asleep it was so cozy.

Oh no those kids caught up with us!

Tubing was just as fun as I hoped it would be. I really wish there was a place to do it in Nashville!

The Blue Ridge Parkway and Skinny Dip Falls (Not What You Think!)

We left Sliding Rock wanting somewhere we could actually swim. We asked a guy directing traffic in the parking lot if Skinny Dip Falls was close. He said yes, but sneered that it was small and would be crowded. Which was funny because Sliding Rock was PACKED with people! We went anyway.

To get there we had to get on the Blue Ridge Parkway, which is breathtakingly beautiful. The mountains seem to go on forever.

That is Looking Glass Rock. A photo doesn't even capture the beauty.

We enjoyed the view by taking very classy photos, as usual.

Skinny Dip Falls is off of the parkway and there is quite a hike to get there. We were cracking up because the site I looked it up on said it was a super easy hike, nothing strenuous, no climbing....it wasn't terrible but I definitely wouldn't take Grandma (that was our standard. Definitely don't bring Grandma)

This tree looks weirder every time I look at it.

Finally there! Once you can see the falls it looks fake! Like something a theme park would make.

There was a whole series of falls and swimming holes. Nothing huge, but beautiful. There were people there, but it definitely didn't feel crowded.

The water was so clear!

I took 6 pictures of Travis jumping but none came out clear. Ah well.

We all loved this spot. It was really fun to explore.

This felt like our personal swimming hole. It was down below the bridge.

Travis made several of these.

Glamour.

Travis was really in his element.

Topped with a tiny piece of pink quartz.

Wonderful! Skinny Dip falls is so nice. I would love to go again on a hotter day.

We drove close to an hour back to Asheville for dinner. All that hiking and swimming and sliding called for carbs! We seem to always end up places that have a Mellow Mushroom. Yum.

"Make a pizza face!"

I got a vegan calzone. With tomatoes and mushrooms and spinach.

Such a good day.