Welcome to JOYFUL REFLECTIONS. Also welcome to MARCH!!!! My header picture this month is a photo I took of the pretty Crocus blooms in our yard... The Crocuses and Daffodils are the first signs of spring here in Tennessee. I am definitely ready for SPRING...

Monday, August 8, 2016

Birthday Celebration at Mt. Pisgah Inn, North Carolina - August 2016

It was so nice and cool when we got here so I had to put on a sweatshirt... Amazing
Last Friday was my 74th birthday... YIPES---I am getting SO old!!!!!!  Why can't this 'getting older' STOP?????? ha ha .....  But--since I feel like I'm 24 instead of 74,   I guess I shouldn't complain!  This year,   George took me on an amazing SURPRISE Birthday Trip!!!!! What an awesome time we had!!!!!  Here's a quick synopsis of what we did/where we went:
-August 3--- Cherohala Skyway,   Indian Boundary Recreation Area,  Blue Ridge Parkway,  Mt. Pisgah Inn
-August 4--- Blue Ridge Parkway,  Craggy Gardens,  Biltmore House and Gardens,  Mt Pisgah Inn
-August 5--- Left Mt. Pisgah Inn,  Blue Ridge Parkway,  Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Birthday Dinner in Knoxville at the Olive Garden;  Then HOME.

I had no idea ahead of time where we were going,  but George had asked me what I would like for a short trip!!!!  Here's what I told him:  1.  Go somewhere in the mountains where it's COOLER and where we can have the windows opened in the car when we are traveling!;   2.  NO long hikes in Summer --when it's so hot.;  3.  Find a place where we can just RELAX and enjoy each other....

WELL---as you can tell,  George did GREAT planning this trip.  AND---I was SO SO surprised... I have been (and enjoyed) most of the places we went  except for the Mt. Pisgah Inn (where we stayed)... We had passed by it before --but had never stayed there... What a fantastic place to stay!!!!  Our room was great---and we had a terrific view  of the mountains from our balcony.  The inn is right off of the Blue Ridge Parkway --and is at an elevation of 5721 feet (which made it COOL --60's and 70's--- the entire time we were there).  Talk about relaxation!!!!!    It was hard to LEAVE that fantastic place since here at home, the temperatures are still VERY hot and EXTREMELY dry....  I'm ready to go back!!!!! ha

As you can imagine, we took a billion pictures I think (Ha) ---but today,  I'm only featuring the Mt. Pisgah Inn.   Hope you enjoy the pictures --and can click on them to see them larger.


View of the Mountains from our Balcony



George was taking pictures with his iPad from our Balcony..



And of course,  George had to take a picture of a HAPPY Birthday Girl  on the balcony.



Our unit was named Tree Tops and our room was close to the end of the sidewalk.  We had a King-Bed, fridge, TV, and Wifi.   I'd say it was all of the conveniences of home... VERY nice!



The Mt. Pisgah Restaurant was a popular place --and I know why!  The food was TERRIFIC.



George is waiting on his entree --after finishing the salad....



This was the VIEW from our table in the restaurant... Isn't it gorgeous?



George had to get this picture of his 'lefty' Birthday Girl --as I was about to chomp on some pork chops and veggies.... YUM.



I took this picture of a sign in the office --so that I could remember our elevation!



The 'grounds' around the Inn are fabulous ---with places to sit and relax and just enjoy the view.



Is this not Heaven on Earth---sitting here relaxing with the Love of My Life,  enjoying the beauty around me---after a delicious dinner!!!!  Life is good.



We took a walk around the grounds one evening and experienced this marvelous SUNSET.



There had been some rain one evening --so we woke up to FOG all around us!!!!



But we did manage to see a 'bit' of the sunrise that morning despite the fog and clouds.



I love this picture of our view one day when the fog was below us.  Doesn't it look like whipped cream?



Here's one more picture of a VERY VERY Happy Birthday Girl!!!!
Well--that gives you some idea of where George took me on this marvelous surprise trip.. Don't you think he did GREAT?????  Absolutely!!!!   I would recommend this Inn to anyone who loves the mountains and the Blue Ridge Parkway... Here is the link to their website if you would like to check it out: Click HERE.

There are many more great pictures on their website of this inn and area... If you want to know where it is,  the Mt. Pisgah Inn is located just west of Asheville,  North Carolina on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

I'll be sharing more pictures from this amazing trip soon...  But I just had to show you our Inn first.... Hope you enjoyed seeing the pictures.

Hugs,