Vacation Count Down

There has been a lot of buzz in the air lately about vacation.  I've been hearing the words ocean, waterfalls, cabin and Mom telling Dad it's time to get things booked and scheduled.  I think we might be going to see the ocean.  I am so excited because I love the soft sand between my toes and the way the wind blows my Great Dane ears out like air plane wings.  It sure does make Mom and Dad smile and laugh a lot and that makes me very happy.  We went to the ocean a couple years ago and I enjoyed it so very much Mom and Dad promised to take me back.  I loved it so much that when they were ready to leave I refused to get in the EmmaMobile.  I never refuse to do anything ;)  I wanted to stay.  The air even smells different at the ocean.

I didn't have a blog when we went before and it was so very much fun that I still love sharing my memories of those two glorious weeks with my family.  I would like to share them now.

Mom wanted to go to Folly Beach South Carolina because we had never seen the ocean and she had read it was a great location to view dolphins and she thought walks along the beach would be nice and soft on our feet and much more comfortable than paved walks or gravel trails.   That was our destination and along the way we discovered.....................

What?   No,no,no not a bookstore come on Dad.  I thought we were going to do something fun.

First stop for us girls Red River Gorge and Nada Tunnel just outside of Lexington, KY.  Here we drove through a very dark hole in the hill.

We couldn't get any good pictures of the inside of the tunnel because there weren't any lights.  So if you wanna know what the inside of Nada Tunnel looks like go into a very dark room and close your eyes ;) hehehehe :)
After going through the tunnel we found a nice wooded trail to stretch our legs and check out the scenery. 

 

 Next stop is Cumberland Falls, KY.  It gets 8 paws up from us because dogs are allowed.  It's very pretty with several nice observation decks with good views of the waterfalls.

  Then we saw something totally amazing.........



The Great Smoky Mountains

Taken 2010 Roaring Forks Motor Nature Trail

taken 2010 at Cades Cove

We stopped long enough to pick up a souvenier for Grandpa and Grandma at the Old Mill General Store.  The Old Mill General Store, Mill and Restaurant is located along the river running through Pigeon Forge in the center of all the touristy shops on Winfield Dunn Parkway.

What we found on our return stop is a nice park...more about that later.  Lets stay in order so I won't get confused and miss something important.

We decided once we saw those beautiful giant mountains we must be sure to return via the same route and spend some time exploring the area.  Surely there would be places for us girls to stretch our legs and sniff about.  We would have to wait several days to explore these sites and smells. 

This photo is one of the first glimpses we got of the mountains as we entered Pigeon Forge, TN on the Winfield Dunn Parkway and it doesn't do the beauty of the area the justice it deserves.  The parkway is a very touristy area and you have to leave this and venture off to see the real magnificence there is to behold.  Hold on to your tail we will get back to this later.....on with our journey down memory lane.

Next stop Asheville, North Carolina.  We arrived just in time to get in a nice hike at the Arboretum.  Because it was getting late and the sun as not cooperating and setting already Mom must have forgotten to take pictures.  It was also wooded and the lighting dim so even if we had taken pictures they probably wouldn't have turned out very well.  The night sure does creep in too quickly we just got started and it's already time to find a soft bed and some yummies for our tummies.   We had a little trouble finding a pet friendly hotel but after stopping at the pet store and using their phone book to call around we did find one.  We can always count on Motel 6 to leave the light on for us :)  And while Mom and I were in the pet store we picked up two new pals to join us on our road trip.  Frog and Turtle. 

For tummie yummies Mom and Dad found a new restaurant chain that serves the BEST sweet potato pies, Bojangles.  Has anyone ever eaten at a Bojangles?  If you ever get the opportunity you just gotta get ya one of those sweet potato pies.   We don't always eat fast food, but wherever we eat one of my peoples always goes in to order and brings it out for us to eat in the EmmaMobile.  We are never ever left alone in the vehicle or motel.  So it always takes us much longer to do things because Mom and Dad always have to go one at time if we stop at any shops or attractions where us girls can't go.  I know it's hard to imagine anyone not wanting us to grace their establishment.  After all I'm practically a celebrity the way people flock to give me attention and pets wherever I go.

You'll notice in our hotel photos we cover the beds with our own comforters and blankets to keep dog hair off the hotel linens.  We hope it keeps the hotel staff happy and will help them maintain a pet friendly establishment.

To our joy we discovered there is a Three Dog Bakery right here in Asheville, NC.  We sure couldn't move on without some pawcakes and puptarts.  That is where the picture of me over on the side of my blog was taken.  The people are so friendly.  The pastries are delicious.

One of each, please

 We left Three Dog Bakery with a sack full of yummies and traveled scenic Hwy 74 to Chimney Rock, NC and along the way we gazed upon some of the most beautiful landscape.  Crisp mountain water flowing over giant river boulders.  It was absolutely heavenly.

Could this be our prince waiting for us..... we had to kiss him and find out.

What you never saw a dog kiss a frog before?

 The trek up Chimney Rock is breath taking, literally.  There are over 600 steps to climb :O

Dogs are allowed to climb up if they are up to the extreme challenge.  Mom met some Schnauzer doggies at the tip top lookout point.  Their owner had to carry the smallest of the three because it couldn't navigate the steps.  Dad said if us girls go Mom gets to carry the Emma.

Hmmmm, I'll pass.

 Mom and Dad didn't think it would be a good idea for us to go treking up all those steps so they took turns while one stayed with us and we admired the view from ground level.  Mom climbed up first and then Dad.  Mom was surprised at how quickly Dad returned and couldn't believe he climbed all those stairs so fast.  Yes, he workouts more consistently but Wow!  Then he told her he stopped at the half way point lookout.  He said it's the same view from either platform why keep climbing.  You know he's right....why couldn't he have said that sooner :)

I know, I know our destination is the ocean.

Come on ocean where are you???

To Be Continued.......................

Emma