First stop, Mast General Store in Valle Crucis.\u00c2\u00a0 We went to two, the main store and then the annex Candy Barrel.\u00c2\u00a0 I could have spent the whole day here.\u00c2\u00a0 So much history, so much to look at and buy…lol.\u00c2\u00a0 We came away with a few things at the main store, and then headed for the candy.\u00c2\u00a0 If you’ve never been here, picture what a candy store must have looked like back in time.\u00c2\u00a0 Barrels and barrels and…of candy.\u00c2\u00a0 There are baskets at the door and you fill them to your hearts (or wallets) content.\u00c2\u00a0 You could go nuts in here if you have a sweet tooth (or a whole mouth full, like me).\u00c2\u00a0 The fun is seeing all the brands you remember as a kid…BB Bats, Mary Janes, Whistle pops, those little wax bottles with the sweet liquid inside, candy cigarettes (the kids were a little dumbfounded on that last one).\u00c2\u00a0 It sure brought back memories of when my dad would give me $1 to walk up to the corner store for candy.\u00c2\u00a0 I guess I can blame him for my love of sweets.\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n
Linville Caverns came next.\u00c2\u00a0 We weren’t sure what to expect, but we all ended up loving it.\u00c2\u00a0 Well, except Randy when he realized they were taking us down this extremely narrow passage that had only one way out.\u00c2\u00a0 He bowed out of that part.\u00c2\u00a0 Close spaces wig him out.\u00c2\u00a0 The highlight for the kids was “total darkness”, when they turned out all light sources so we could see how dark it is.\u00c2\u00a0 Completely dark.\u00c2\u00a0 Nothing, not even a hint of light.\u00c2\u00a0 Freaky!\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n I carried Lainey in the Ergo since it would have been hard for her to walk and back carriers weren’t allowed.\u00c2\u00a0 She LOVES the Ergo and gets giddy with excitement when she sees it.\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n Abbey saw a store with this sign, so we had to get Randy’s picture under it.\u00c2\u00a0 He loves to talk to the kids in a Scottish accent.\u00c2\u00a0 Weird.\u00c2\u00a0 They crack up.\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n EJ was so looking forward to his time at the Grandfather Trout Farm.\u00c2\u00a0 They stock the ponds and provide all the equipment you need, clean, and ice pack the fish.\u00c2\u00a0 We were there for quite a while and only getting nibbles.\u00c2\u00a0 Lainey used the time to learn the fine art of rolling down a grassy hill.\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n Finally, right as I was focusing this shot he yelled out “I’ve got one!”.\u00c2\u00a0 See the line pulling?<\/p>\n His first Rainbow Trout…the boy could NOT stop smiling.\u00c2\u00a0 We had trout for dinner :)<\/p>\n At the trout farm, there was also gem mining.\u00c2\u00a0 They loved the process of finding the cool rocks.\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n The last stop of the day was Hawksnest.\u00c2\u00a0 During the winter months, this is a snow tubing place (years ago, it was a ski resort…when Randy and I were dating, we came here with friends for Midnight Skiing).\u00c2\u00a0 They are now in the process of adding a huge system of cables for zip lines!\u00c2\u00a0 They had 4 lines open, with plans to open a total of 14 next week.\u00c2\u00a0 Since Randy took the big kids\u00c2\u00a0rafting, I had the pleasure of zip lining with them.\u00c2\u00a0 I was a little nervous…heights aren’t really my comfort zone.\u00c2\u00a0 To say the least.\u00c2\u00a0 But, I have to say.\u00c2\u00a0 It was AMAZING.\u00c2\u00a0 I’d do it again in a heartbeat.<\/p>\n Is it possible that anyone looks good in these things?<\/p>\n We did 4 runs, each one longer and higher.\u00c2\u00a0 The last one was 2000 ft. long!\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n One of our guides was impressed with how aerodynamic Marley was.\u00c2\u00a0 We joked she was like an arrow shooting through the air.\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n EJ flying through the trees!<\/p>\n On the last run, Payton had a very concerned look on his face!\u00c2\u00a0 He assured us he was fine and loved it.\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
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