Cherokee Trip

Last weekend we took a trip to Cherokee, NC about 3.5 hours away. Mimi came with us. 1st stop picnic lunch at a really nice rest stop!

Next stop bear zoo. This place was so neat. You could throw food down to the bear and they'd usually catch it in their mouths. It made for a very close up view.

A rare and glorious picture of Addy smiling, only because she didn't know I was taking a pic.

We toured the Cherokee Indian Museum and had ice cream in town.

Then drove up to Clingmon's Dome from the southern entrance of the Smokey Mountain National Park.

Short 1.2 mile hike but wow what a view! Thankful for the beautiful day.

And the very BEST part of my entire weekend was seeing a baby BEAR right next to our car!!! I rolled down the window and took a video. He was only a few feet away and not in a hurry to leave.

Close up. Wow!

In the evening we saw the outdoor drama Unto These Hills telling the story of the Cherokee Indians and Trail of Tears.

It was entertaining but not as good as the one we saw in Boone a few years ago about Daniel Boone.

Day 2 and our reason for the trip. We drove an additional hour west to Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest to see some 400 year old trees.

More NC wildlife noticed by Addy.

Aww. Cute picture. We're about to celebrate 15 years of marriage bliss.

Much time spent looking up.

Group photo by 2 biggies.

What a beautiful place! And right here in the NC.