Our Smoky Mountains Vacation: Day 1

Last week, Kyle and I wrapped up what I would classify as one of our best vacations!  We didn't get a summer vacation, so this was it, a full week in the relaxing Smoky Mountains of Tennessee.  The vacation was way too long with too many memories to put in one post, so I'm breaking it up by day.

Monday morning, we left bright and early for Asheville, NC, where we got to finally use our 2.5 hour Segway Tour from Living Social!  We went down and "trained" last February, but it was about to rain, so we took a raincheck for October.  We went all around Asheville on our segways and stopped in a local coffee shop for coffee and pastries.

Once that wrapped up, it was time for lunch.  When you're in Asheville, you can't avoid trying a local restaurant, so we went to a little Mexican place.  I forgot the name of it, but it was definitely "Asheville."

After lunch, it was off to the much anticipated Creekwalk Inn on Whisperwood Farms in Cosby, TN.  How did we find this place?  Living Social escapes, of course!  Our deal came with a Monday afternoon Tea Time, so we needed to get there by 3:00pm. 

 




The Office and Owners' Home

 

 

We pulled up on the property and discovered the Office.  We went inside and met Tifton the co-owner of the Farm at the Office.  (We'd soon meet the other co-owner, his wife, Janice). 



Tifton and Kyle



He greeted us as you would expect a Southern gentleman whose been living in the smokies for more than 15 years would greet you, with real hospitality!  He took our bags (and our money) and walked us over to the Bed and Breakfast Cabin.





The Creekwalk Inn (The Bed and Breakfast Cabin)



We would be staying in the "Balsam Mountain" room, which greeted us with a nice bottle of Sparkling Grape Juice.  Each room is named after a Smoky Mountain hiking trail.  By the time we got unpacked, it was time for Tea in the dining room.





A little background on our room









Our walk from our car to the Cabin every day, so pretty!





  



  






 





The Balsam Mountain Room



Tea time is where we finally met Janice, the nicest Bed and Breakfast lady we have ever encountered!  She came in the room, introduced herself, and then displayed our many options of tea.  I chose some kind of vanilla tea, which turned out delicious, and I can't remember what Kyle chose... but it was good too.  Cookies, pastries, tea sandwiches and scones arrived on a tower of plates, along with our tea came.  Each of us has a whole pot!  We sat for about an hour, enjoyed our tea and delights as we listened to different CD's of Appalachian bands/singers, all of whom with which Janice had a personal connection.  (As the week went on, we discovered she had personal connections with just about everything - all the music, the dining room chair, the hiking trails, the apples, the list could go on and on).



Tea Time

It was here, at tea, where we met "The Doctors," Pat and Virginia.  They are both ER doctors that met in their Residency and got Married in November.  They are currently in their last year of Residency and pregnant!

Pat and Julie

By this point, we were stuffed.  We neglected our original dinner plans at the local Carver Apple Orchards farm and restaurant (we could go there tomorrow), and decided to explore the Whisperwood Farms.  Here is what we found...



A Big Praying Mantis




A Hammock

 

A Wedding Alter



                   

                    A Beautiful Chapel

 



          A Honeymooner's Cabin      

A Cabin being fixed up

A Deserted Cabin

                   


A Creek



             

       

   

 

  A Horse



 

  Puppies!

We asked Janice for any opinions on something relaxing to do for the night, and she suggested going on the Parkway to watch the sunset, so we did!  However, we got up there and the sun wasn't setting off in the horizon.  Instead it was setting RIGHT there, behind the closest mountain, the one we were on.  We were tired anyway, so after taking a few pictures of the mountains, we decided to go on and head back to our relaxing cabin.

On the Parkway

Back at the cabin, we met another of the couples that would be staying for the week, "The Police Officers," Michael and Julie.  I'm not sure how much information I'm allowed to say, so we'll just leave it at that and show you a picture of them.



Michael and Julie



  

Around 8:00pm, we decided to call it a night.  We were up at 5:30, and afterall, this is a vacation!



Bed Time!