When George and I go on our annual North and South Carolina beach trips in May each year, we always break the trip by stopping at various places (usually new waterfalls) along the way both going and coming. When searching for pictures this week, I saw some pictures from our 2004 spring trip that I thought I would show you. The title (Sea to Mountains) is exactly where we went. We stopped at Mount Mitchell on our way home from a glorious week enjoying the ocean and beach. It was truly a "Sea to Mountains" trip.
After leaving the gorgeous Atlantic Ocean, we headed toward the highest mountain peak east of the Mississippi River. This area is along the Blue Ridge Parkway east of Asheville, NC. There are a few places in the world which still stand apart from the ordinary. Rising more than a mile high at 6684 feet, surrounded by the gentle mist of low-hanging clouds, Mount Mitchell State Park is one of these extraordinary places.
In the crest of the timeworn Black Mountains lies the summit of Mount Mitchell. For those like us who ascended this mighty peak, looming in the horizon were breathtaking views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, rolling ridges and fertile valleys. The 1,946 acres of forested Mount Mitchell State Park provided us with some of the most tranquil moments we've ever experienced. Above is a glorious picture we took atop Mount Mitchell!! Below are more pictures of our "Sea to Mountains" experience.
We drove up as far as possible and parked in the parking lot (note picture above). We then hiked the remainder of the way UP that beautiful mountain. Glorious , isn't it???
This picture above shows Mount Mitchell ---with clouds and fog all around. I love this picture, don't you???? This was quite a change from our days at the beach!!!!
Before we left the 'sea'---this was one of the sunsets we enjoyed while walking along the beach at North Myrtle Beach --looking back toward the west. Wouldn't you enjoy a trip from "Sea to Mountains"????? WOW!!!
Such majestic beauty! What a magnificent trip Betsy.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a wonderful trip. I love the sunset picture.
ReplyDeleteLovely photos Betsy,.. Mt.Mitchell is higher than our Adirondacks! I didn't know the southern mountains were so high. Is that above sea level height? or is it from local ground to summit? Perhaps you start from a higher level than we do. I'll add that to my "bucket list!"
ReplyDeleteWhat a view Betsy! Thanks for taking us along. :c)
ReplyDeleteWhat breath taking pictures. I'm glad you went back through your old photos and shared them with us.
ReplyDeleteBetsy: Glorious photos and wonderful memories for you and hubby!
ReplyDeleteI am so grateful to you for the compassion and caring words given to me during these past weeks. It warms my heart. love and light aNNa
Beautiful, Betsy.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful trip pics Betsy. Love those misty mountain ones..and oh for that shore line to be beneath my feet right now!! ahhhh. Your pictures are luring my to go south..:)
ReplyDeleteBetsy, those are great pictures. That mountains sounds like somewhere that I would like to go. I'll have to look into that.
ReplyDeleteWhat beauty! I miss the Blue Ridge.
ReplyDeleteI remember when driving on the Blue Ridge Parkway being so impressed that we were above the clouds. It's exciting.
ReplyDeleteJust gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pics Betsy. That one reminds me of the parking lot on top of Newfound Gap in the Smokies.
ReplyDeleteThis is gorgeous. Have you been to Northwest NC when the Rhododendron are in bloom? It has been 30 years since I have, but for some reason you made me think about it. It is a sight to see.
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Beautiful! That's a place I want to visit. I love all of your pictures, especially the first one.
ReplyDeletewow....incredible! I've never hiked up a mountain like that. These are stunning pictures, Betsy. The two of you are very lucky...for many reasons!
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Lori
Wow! This is truly a wonderful post with such beautiful photos Betsy.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pictures and description of the area.This is most refreshing,as my hands are just warming up from driving the school bus and fueling it.Thanks for the warmth of the pictures and words.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,Ruth
You have shown everyone part of the reason North Carolina is the greatest state in the country. Great photographs of places I have visited many times.
ReplyDeleteBetsy, this is a wonderful post! And they are all glorious shots.
ReplyDeleteSuper, super pictures. What beauty---Mother Nature--she's a wonder.
ReplyDeleteWhat fun you all had. I want to join you. MB
Right now the only thing we are doing is waiting for my appt in February. We really do not know anything until then. We are discussing what we might do if it is cancer, but I am trying not to worry too much about it right now. We got about 3 inc of snow/ice last night and more to come today and tomorrow. They are saying we might lose power later today bc of the mix of snow and ice weighing on the power lines. I am keeping my toes crossed that does not happen!
ReplyDeleteOnce again, a lovely trip, with great views. The ocean has or can have such a calming influence in a wild sort of way yet the mountains do the same. Here on the West Coast of B.C. one doesn't go far to go from the sea to the mountains. In many places, the mountains seem to rise right out of the sea.
ReplyDeleteBetsy, thank you so much for sharing this . It's nice to see water that's NOT FROZEN.
ReplyDeleteYour trips and photos are so special.
Please stop by my blog today--there's a give-away happening.
I really love that first shot! Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteYes, Betsy, this sounds like a wonderful trip from the mountains to the sea! Great pictures, too.
ReplyDeleteYes Betsy - I do want a sea to mountains trip. I also have to tell Greg that goes on the list in addition to bringing you snow balls in Tennesee, getting a goat, horse and big dog. Whew this list is getting long!
ReplyDeleteHugs!
Shelley
Those really are spectacular shots - what a view!!
ReplyDeleteWe did go to Mt Mitchell while traveling between Alabama and New Jersey one year with our small children. It was quite a sight for our young eyes. Thanks for the walk down our memory lane.
ReplyDeleteThose are certainly gorgeous photos. In our family, my husband is the mountain man - I'm more of a flat-lander. But just about any beach is heaven to me! And this one looks really beautiful.
ReplyDeleteBetsy, You've captured some beautiful views. Thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteWhat a great trip to make with the different landscapes - great piccies.
ReplyDeleteBTW I did your brain test and came out almost identical to you, but with a 8/10!
WOW!!!!...m...
ReplyDeleteSuch beautiful views, Betsy! It must have been a great trip! I love you guys' stories (you & your husband). I get the feeling that you two are soul mates & you're great together!!!
ReplyDeleteYou and George are so lucky to have each other and the health to be able to go on these wonderful adventures...
ReplyDeleteHi Betsy,
ReplyDeleteThose pictures are beautiful, especially that one of the mountain where you can also see a parking lot and the one of the sunset.
Thank you for sharing those with us today.
Nice pictures! I popped over from Shelley's blog - her waterfall inspired me to post some pics from my neck of the woods and a waterfall in yellowstone nat park - have you ever been there? anyway, same fall but two different seasons - thought you might enjoy it if you wanted to go look! have a good day! Michele
ReplyDeleteHow beautiful, Betsy! You two have really taken time to enjoy the beauty all around! You have wonderful photos to show from it!
ReplyDeleteI loved both, but the mountains are dear to my heart...my very favorite! :)
Have a great evening!
Tammy
Looks like it was a great vacation.Scenery is fab.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a wonderful trip! Beautiful photos!
ReplyDeleteMildred--Thanks again for mentioning me in your blog. You all should check out Mt. Mitchell sometime.
ReplyDeleteKallen-- Me too... I love sunrise and sunset pictures. It was a great trip--like all of them when we travel.
Cedar--That is measured above sea level. We here on the Cumberland Plateau are at 2000 feet above sea level. Clingman's Dome near Gatlinburg is 6642 ft.. So we have alot of high mountains around here. Yes, add Mr. Mitchell to your 'list.'
Hi Jayne--- You are quite welcome. Come along anytime!!!!
Connie-- Me too... We have TONS of photos and it's fun to get some of the old ones out and publish them again.
Anna---Bless your heart. My prayers are still with you. Thanks for stopping by
Helen-- Thanks, Friend!
Tina-- I love seeing the mountains with fog/clouds on top also. But--like you, a trip to Florida would be nice right now, wouldn't it????
Neal--How much ice and snow did you get? We only got rain. You and your family would love Mt. Mitchell. The entire Blue Ridge Parkway is a neat trip..
Rosa-- It is beautiful. I love just driving on the Parkway... So special!!!!
Sally--Glad you have been on the Blue Ridge Parkway before; It is so much fun... AND--there are alot of waterfalls not far from the parkway. You know how much we love that!!! ha
Vanessa-- Thanks Friend...You ever been there???
Susie--Newfound Gap is another gorgeous area.. Last year, we stopped at the parking lot during winter---and it had snowed. SO pretty. They had the road up to Clingman's Dome closed that day.
Leedra-- Oh yes---that's another upcoming blog... I love seeing the rhodies and the laurel also... All I can say is WOW!!!!
Thanks Carla... It's not that far from here ---so someday, jump in the car and head to Asheville and then get on the Blue Ridge Parkway doing east. That whole area is beautiful.
Lori-- Well luckily, we drove to the parking area and then walked up from there. It wasn't too bad. Hope you can go there someday.
Darla--Thanks!!! When are you going to get up this way to see some of these beautiful areas?????
Ruth--Oh ---it's hard to imagine driving a bus --even in the summer. Do they call off schools in your area when the weather is bad???? I hope so... Glad you enjoyed my 'tour' of Mt. Mitchell.
Carolyn--I love North Carolina... The ONLY thing I don't like about NC is the price of gas there. When we travel, we make sure we buy our gas in surrounding states since NC's gas is higher.
Rose--Thanks!!! I hope you get to go there someday. It is pretty.
MB--Well our mountains are no more beautiful than yours. There are so many beautiful places around this country, aren't there???? Someday--I hope to see 'your' mountains!
Natalie--Well, just keep us posted. Our prayers are with you. Be careful out there in your snow/ice. Snow is not too bad--but driving in ice is horrible. Hope you don't lose your power either. HUGS!
Hi Cicero-- I agree. It's hard to pick one over the other. I guess I'd choose the mountains since I enjoy them ALL year. I only get to the beach once a year.
Fiona--I'm sure that you would enjoy seeing anything NOT frozen... Living in your area has to be depressing at times ---when the snow and ice and cold temps just keep coming. I did check your blog. Thanks!!!
Mary--Thanks!!! Mt. Mitchell is a beautiful state park.
Judy--Thanks!!! Hope you are okay tonight --and hope the ice and snow hasn't been too bad in your area. Hope you don't lose your electricity either.
Shelley---Thanks again for mentioning George and me in your blog. That was SO special. HA---your list is getting longer... Just keep the trip to TN at the top!!!!!
Deb--Thanks!! We do like that area of NC... Hope you can get there someday.
Nonie---Well, since you've been there, you need to take Carla now!!!!
Joy-- I love them both--mountains and the beach. We only go to the beach one time a year (for a week)---but we get to see mountains most all year. Hope you get to your beach sometime SOON.
Diane--Thanks!!! You have some beautiful views in your area also... Someday, we'll try to get out west. There are lots of waterfalls waiting out there for us.
Sarah-- It was a fun trip---and I hope you can do it sometime. I'll talk more tomorrow about Left Brain-Right Brain. Interesting stuff.
Mary---Thanks for taking our 'tour' today!!!! Come back often!!!
Tricia--George is truly my soul-mate.. I was married for 20 yrs. to my first husband. BUT--I didn't know what real love was until I met George. Thanks so much!!!!
Michelle--Yes, when we met --both of us realized how much in common we have. Life is wonderful with him in it. AND--so far, we do have good health.
Betty--Thanks!!! Have you all ever been there???? It's a beautiful drive through the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Hi Michele---Thanks for coming by. I just checked out your blog--and loved it. Montana is so GORGEOUS. George and I need to get out there someday. Please come back!!!!
Tammy---It's hard to choose between the ocean and the mountains. I love both too--but I'm closer to the mountains year 'round. We do go to the beach once a year --so that's a special week.
Cassie--Thanks!!!! I hope you all can visit Mt. Mitchell someday!!!!
Woody---Have you all been in that area???? You'd enjoy it. Actually going on the Blue Ridge Parkway is a great journey!!!
Barb-- Well, do just that!!!! Jump in your car and head to the Blue Ridge Parkway and Mt. Mitchell.
Fantastic trip up the mtn. Thanks for letting us go along. Went there one time witn DH. It sure is pretty looking out over the mtns & valleys.
ReplyDeleteOK,now I took the test. Right brain 10, left brain 9. So what does that mean other than I use all of my brain? LOL!
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This is a stunning series of photos and I love each and every one.
ReplyDeleteIncredible photos, amazing journey! You have a wonderful area to do your trekking in! Such lush vegetation.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful rewards await you when you get to the top! Amazing!
Magnificent mountain photos, Betsy. I love Myrtle Beach too. I have been there a couple of times and really love it there. :D
ReplyDeleteHi Lola--Glad you enjoyed our Sea to Mountain trip. It was beautiful.
ReplyDeleteLeedra-- Wasn't that quiz interesting??? I love the spinning girl also. Amazing what our brains can do!!!
Barb--Thanks!!! We enjoyed that trip.
Michele--Well---our area is pretty but not any more gorgeous than yours. One of these days, we'll visit out west.
Daisy--We enjoy the area north of Myrtle Beach --since there are less tourists around. BUT--we go into Myrtle to eat and go to Barefoot Landing.
Absolutely beautiful! Love your photos!
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed our 'tour' Karin... Hope you can see it in person someday.
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