New Years Camping

 
 Well after a fun New Years camping with Joaquin and Karen last year, Jesse and I go it alone again.

We booked a great park in Sebring called Highland Hammock State Park.

The only down fall was how close the sites were to one another.









Luckily we didn't have anyone on the other side of us.

We arrived on Saturday and set up camp. We ate lunch at the picnic area and then set off with the dog and completed 5 hikes for the day.

We also visited the CCC Museum. There were so many interesting facts about what went on during the Great Depression.

After dinner we sat in on a campfire with stories about the boys of the CCC. I learned so much that night. Capone curled up in my lap and slept since it was past his bedtime.

The next day we started out early and completed 2 hikes before catching our tram ride through the hidden parts of the Park.

We spotted 4 Gators, turtles, Several different birds which included a red tail hawk.

After the tram ride we headed back to the camp site to complete our final trail in the park.

Capone kept up with us everywhere we went.

We went outside of the park for dinner at the sunset grill which was on the lake.

We drank Margaritas and Pinacolada's while eating a great burger.

Monday we packed up and went back to our favorite trail before leaving the park.

The holidays of 2011

Now that everything has settled down I can finally post the last two trips.

In November Jesse and I headed to North Carolina and Tennessee to see my family.











 We drove friday night and stopped over in Savannah for the night.

The next morning we drove to Congaree National Park.


This park reminded me of the Florida Everglades but without the alligators.

We set off on the Oakridge trail which was 7.5 miles. We made good time stopping only once for lunch.

Capone dined on peanut butter since we forgot to bring him a snack.
After hiking we were back in the car and drove to my moms house in Newport Tennessee.











The next day mom and Ricky took us into Knoxville for the Craft Fair. Such amazing artists!! The ride home was great going through the Smoky Mountains.









Then we stopped in Gatlinburg and walked around before having dinner in Pigeonforge.

On Monday Capone met his first cow in the morning then we met my Dad and Wanda in PigeonForge and went to the zoo..

I always love seeing the animals but it also makes me sad that they are locked up.

We did a little shopping and then lunch at Fudruckers.

Tuesday we drove to Canton to see my Dad and Wanda.

We took the afternoon to ride down the Blue Ridge Parkway stopping for a hike.
 

 

Wednesday we went to Dupont State park and hiked several trails.
We started with the Triple Falls Trail and then further down we walked the High Falls Trail.

Thursday was Thanksgiving with lots of family and food.

 
 

I think I ate way too much but I had the best time... I just wish I lived closer to everyone.

On our last day we headed to Asheville and the Artists District.







 We spend several hours walking around the warehouses and looking at all the artwork.

 I don't think we hit them all but we came pretty close.

We had a great lunch at a Mexican Restaurant before walking around the downtown area.

I can't wait to do it again!!