Smoky Mountains 2009

Last week we went with my family to the Smoky Mountains for our annual Balota family vacation. We stayed in a chalet in Sky Valley, Georgia, the highest point in Georgia near the North Carolina border. We were 3300 feet in the mountains. No cell phone or Internet service, a lot of game playing and reading books. But we were close enough to a lot of cool places that we got to visit each day.

One day we visited Helen, Georgia for some German fun. We ate at Hofer's where we enjoyed some authentic German food. Lennox ate an entire knock wurst. Totally shocked mama. 

In Helen we visited Charlemagne's Kingdom, a giant model train exhibit set in the Alps. Lennox followed the train around and around. 

Then we spent some time in Helen shopping and went to a free bluegrass concert at Unicoi State Park. Lennox mostly sat on the big porch at Unicoi in a rocking chair :-)

The next day we went to Cleveland, Georgia to Cabbage Patch Babyland, the birthplace of the Cabbage Patch.

Lennox loved running around all the dolls and watching a Cabbage Patch be born with the help of an LPN, licensed patch nurse.

Lennox got his own Cabbage Patch. He chose this one. He did not want one out of a box. He wanted this little dude who he said wore the same kind of jammies he used to wear. He named it Lennox Maximillian and picked out his birthday, June 7, same as his. Got a little birth certificate and everything. Lennox carried the doll around all week, feeding it a bottle and insisting that we did not leave it in the car because it would "get scared."

On the way back to Sky Valley we stopped at the Nora Mills Granary. Lennox was fascinated by the mill. 

The next day we got up early to go to the Oconaluftee Indian Village in Cherokee. It was fascinating. It is a recreated 1700's Indian village. We had a guide show us around and explain everything to us.

We saw a replica of a Council House.

Learned about weaponry.

Canoe making

Visited a sweat house.

Saw traditional Indian dances.

Did a children's pottery class. Poppy helped Lennox with his since it is all done by hand. 

Lennox's finished product.

That night we stayed in Cherokee for "Unto These Hills" an outdoor Cherokee drama. We had front row seats. Lennox was engrossed in the show, there were a couple moments of shooting and battle scenes which Lennox loved. He left there wanting a Wolf costume. He learned about the Wolf clan during the day at the village and at the show. 

After the show we got to meet some of the stars. 

On Tuesday, a trip on the Smoky Mountain Train out of Bryson City, NC.

We had a four hour trip with a stop at the Nantahala Outdoor Center.

Lennox looked out the window the entire time over to the NOC. He loved it.

That night we went back through Cherokee for an Wolf Costume quest and a visit to the Qualla Indian Arts center. Lennox was very concerned that this statue of a Cherokee Indian was crying. Mama told him he was sad because he had to leave his home. I love how my little man is always noticing things like this. He is such a sweet soul.

We could not find an Wolf Costume. This is the best we could do. Lennox spent the whole evening on the back porch at the chalet dancing and singing Indian songs :-)

On our last day we went back to the Nantahala Outdoor Center so the boys could go rafting. Lennox was dying to put his feet in this 48 degree water and climb the rocks.

While the boys went rafting we went ruby mining. Lennox took this very seriously and we were quite successful.

Lennox ended up with some sapphires, amethysts, rubies, garnets, and a "moon rock." Exciting stuff.

When we got back to the river to pick up the boys, Lennox was so upset he couldn't raft with the boys. When he saw them get off the raft he cried crocodile tears about it. Mama promised him that we would return when he was old enough for a trip down the river.

Then we celebrated Poppy's birthday at a restaurant on the river. We had such a great time in the mountains. It was a fabulous way to spend the last few days of summer.