Grove Park Inn

Somewhere in Asheville where the houses are a little more expensive

The downtown buildings in the distance (I think the Sky Bar is visible)

That's more like it

One of 2 additions to the original structure (creating a U-shape and ruining the 180° view)

The Sky Bar

Located on a fire escape stairwell at the top of the Flat Iron Building

View to the left...

...up the middle...

...and to the right

Looking west towards California and the Pacific Ocean

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

The weather was not so nice today - these were the best photos I got

Top of the Appalachian Range looking east at North Carolina

Looking west at Tennessee

The Appalachian Trail crosses this parking lot - only 1972 more miles to Maine

A random and unnamed waterfall feeding Deep Creek

Photo op

One of the more profound sections of Deep Creek

Some green foliage - kinda rare this time of year

Indian Creek feeds Deep Creek

A neat-o waterfall at the end of our hike

Proper Growler Transportation Etiquette

Safety first

Drive/Hike to Hickory Nut Falls

Located within Chimney Rock State Park

Make a right when you see this sign...

...a left when you see these ones...

...pay $9 a head (unless you have a season pass like Jenn) and park here

After slamming a 20-oz Hawaiian Punch, climb this path...

...cross this bridge-like thing...

...up the stairs...

...under the trees...

...and boo-ya!  Hickory Nut Falls (a filming location for The Last of the Mohicans)

Still a bit of snow this day, but the air temp was well above 70 F... quite pleasant

This Is Where I Sleep

Chimney Rock, Broad River, & Lake Lure

Located about 25 miles south of Swannanoa up in the mountains off Highway 9

Town of Chimney Rock

View of Chimney Rock from town (sorry about the power lines in the way)

The smiling caricature is supposed to resemble Chimney Rock...

Crossing the Broad River and rolling into Chimney Rock

Looking west up river

Looking east down river towards Lake Lure

Pedestrian catwalks provide a closer look

Lake Lure public beach

A small island off to the left - complete with gazebo

Hiking the Biltmore Property

This was a good day.  I didn't even have to use my A.K.

Inn on Biltmore Estate ® (they actually show the trademark symbol on the trail map)

Cows.  They will be served as steaks at the Inn someday

Most of the trails here are well-graded and flat

In the meadow

The Brooder House.  It looks condemned and there may be a witch living in it

USS North Carolina Battleship

Wilmington, NC

Our tour begins here

Emma's new friend

Lots of guns

Big guns

They had 2 of these planes on every battleship back then

Emma on the 40 mm guns

What to shoot?

Lots of stairs to climb

View from the bridge

The Baptist Church of downtown Wilmington in the background