Family Vacation part I: Linville Falls

This past week we had a chance to take
the girls up to the mountains of western Carolina for a family vacation. On a side note, it's taken my 5 years of living here to finally come to grips with the fact that it's ok to call them mountains even though they really are more like big hills. Anyways...

Among other things, we took the girls on a hike to Linville Falls. Very nice afternoon, not too many bugs, no rain, and a good couple of miles for the girls to get worn out with.

There is actually an upper and a lower falls; the upper falls is more like a moderate rafting rapid. The water then cruises down a chimney-like shute and over a lower falls (about a 45 foot drop). There are multiple overlooks, and the ladies did great with the hiking and such.

One of the other great things about where we were was the relaxing drive up the Blue Ridge Parkway. There's a photo of it below...even in the clouds and mist on a stormy day it was beautiful!