A couple weeks ago, my husband, Chris, and I went on our first vacation together (not counting our honeymoon). It was fantastic! We drove down through the Smoky Mountains to Florida and stayed with my aunt. I thought I would share a few pictures of the beautiful scenery we saw along the way. We also took a friend with us.


    Everything went off without a hitch. As a matter of fact, the only time we got lost was in downtown Detroit. Two friendly looking gentlemen kept a watchful eye on us from behind their tinted car windows as we turned around in their parking lot at 3AM.  And people say the ghettos aren't friendly. Pssh.

    One of our motivations for driving instead of flying was that Chris had never seen the mountains. In Kentucky he start taking pictures of the rock walls convinced we were in the mountains already. Every ten feet was a sign warning us to "Watch for fallen rock." Maybe I'm alone in this, but my greater concern was falling rock...

   

    The first night we stayed Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Our hotel sat right on the bank of a river chock full of ducks and geese.

    The next morning we drove through Smoky Mountain National Park. I have to give kudos to the pioneers who crossed these mountains on foot and horseback. At the first foothill I probably would have gone home to sit in my living room and watch The Walking Dead.

We spent the next few days in Florida. The Rainbow Springs Park had a beautiful walkway with waterfalls and a platform out over the springs.

Turtle Beach, Florida.

Storm-head rolling in.

Sunset

Myakka River State Park. Alligator capitol of the world.

    We drove home again a few days later. We made great time if you overlook Atlanta's rush hour. A bit of change from our neck of the woods where a good traffic jam consists of seven cars behind a tractor. And throwing a snow plow in that bad boy could make the evening news.

Oh. And we got the best souvenir ever.

Part II of my recent excursion to Virginia.

Photographs from our trip home.

I love the first two photos- smooth like butter.

Beautiful mountain. Looks like it belongs in the jungle. We did so much traveling that I can't remember what state this was in. Let me know if you know the name of this place.

    Lately we've been doing so much writing I feel like I am ripping you guys off by writing a short blurb then posting pictures. But I must remember this is a photography site; it's supposed to be about the pictures. (We do have a few photo projects we're working on this Spring, and then we are into full blown summer photo shoots.)
    But those who love the writing don't worry its not going anywhere.
    I just wanted to share some highlights from our trip this week to Virginia.

    Have you ever watch "The Walton's"? My family loves them.
    I can watch a few before I fall into a deep coma. But we actually went to the location where Earl Henry Hamner Jr. grew up. This is the place where he drew inspiration to write "The Walton's". From there he went on to write the screenplay for "Charlotte's Web", "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang", and one of my favorites, "The Fox and the Hound".

Walton's House

BBQ.... delicious!

The women on the right was the fastest talkin' Southerner I met, and had an awesome personality to boot. Also, I tried fried green tomatoes for the first time. Not too shabby!

We got a big bite of history when we went Monticello-  home of Thomas Jefferson, writer of The Declaration of Independence.  Gorgeous property! Full of vineyards and gardens  and rich in patriotic history.

(Just a sweet church.)

(with a sweet door.)