Decided to take the family on a road trip this past weekend (Labor Day weekend) and head up to the mountains. It's been a long time since I went up that way, and I'd been feeling the need to just get out to do something different.

So we packed up T.D. one morning and headed out early. Took 70 and 64 to get to Lenoir, and then 321 up to Blowing Rock. 321 was a riot to drive on! Especially when you get closer to the mountains.

We got to Blowing Rock, did some looking around, ate in Boone, (skipped Tweetsie Railraod) and then got on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Drove on the BRP for about 10 miles, stopping every so often at the scenic overlooks. Very beautiful country up that way. Drove over the viaduct and then got off the BRP onto 205.

Now, 205 is a 2 lane road that sorta parallels the BRP. Faster speeds and more twisties! T.D. was zooming and I was happy. Headed down 205 to Linville Falls and stopped at the caverns there (bypassed Grandfather Mountain though.... would have cost us $30 to go up, and we felt this was too much). The kids LOVED the caverns. Really spectacular rock formations in there. Crampt, wet and cool, but quite lovely as well.

Then back onto 205 for a couple miles when I got the itch to make another side trip. Stopped to take a small hike to see Linville Falls themselves. Had to hike about 1/2 mile, but the falls were worth it! The kids loved hiking through the woods too.

Had to cut the side trip short when the youngest (3 years old) decided it was time for a bathroom break. :( Well, in that area there are almost no places to stop for gas or food. So we zoomed along 205 till we got to 183 and then finally 181.

Let me say that 183 and 181 were tremendously fun to drive!

Found a gas station about 10 minutes from Linville Falls on 181. Little country farmhouse looking store setting up on a hill. Bathroom problem solved, filled up with gas. Then more excitement on 181!

181 took us into Morganton and from there we got a bit turned around and wound up on 64 to Lenoir. So we ended up backtracking the way we came.

Got home around 6pm. Left at about 9am that morning. All driving, all fun. All for the price of gas, a meal and $13 to see the caverns.

Planning another trip in a couple weeks. This time jsut the wife and I, and we're heading to the Tail of the Dragon. Plan to drive both Hwy 129 (Dragon) and Hwy 143 (Cherohala Skyway). I'll post my experiences afterwards.