THE GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS

Hello!! I hope you're having an amazing week so far!! It has been raining here 
for the last few days but that's ok... we certainly need the rain and the plants grow
so rapidly as if grateful for the fresh showers they depend on to thrive....

The beginning of Autumn is always such a special time for me.... it's usually when 
I start new projects.... I'm working on a new scent... I want it represent the fall... 
the color is orange and the smell woodsy .... touches of sandlewood and musk with
a little myrrh .... so far so good ... :) ..... and.... to properly welcome Autumn...
A new story .... how about it? .... let's take a trip!!! A special trip..... I think you will enjoy.
So.... without further ado.... 

I hope your comfy..... there's nothing like a private plane to transport us to new adventures...

and today we go to .....

The Great Smoky Mountains is the best place I have ever been to during the fall season...

the most colorful....

The Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina is a Picture Postcard.  The 496 mile road has been specially crafted for drivers to go on a magical trip with scenic panorama all around. 

Nature is at its very best around Blue Ridge.

There are plenty of waterfalls, rivers and creeks around with lush vegetation...

Do you enjoy horseback riding? So amazing, especially in the mountains with such

beautiful scenery..

Oh!!! River rafting is fun, fun, fun!!! you might want to try out the beginners side though, 

just in case... :) 

                          

Standing on top of the 315 foot Chimney Rock is spectacular... overlooking Lake Lure and the 

Hickory Nut Gorge with 75 miles of stunning views. It's scenic hiking trails, guided rock climbing

tours and live animal education programs attracts visitors from all over the world.

Ghost Town in the sky ... is not only loaded with fun but sits 3300 feet on top of 

Buck Mountain in Maggie Valley.... it's an amusement park with a Wild, Wild West 

feel....

they even have a live shoot em' up show in the middle of Main Street...

Their very own can can show...

And a double incline railway

If you've never been on a hot air balloon ride .... put it on your bucket list ... lol

More amazing scenery along the way ...

                           

At 6,643 feet, Clingmans Dome is the highest point in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. 

It's quite a hike .....

Spectacular views!!

Whew..... we finally made it to our cabin.... time to kick off our shoes and relax a bit ...

Incredible balcony with fireplace.... I may never leave!!

Oh oh .... we have company.... we may as well go relax a little in the jacuzzi ..

ok.... I guess not.....

Dinner al-fresco with amazing views..... just lovely!! How about a walk after dinner? ....

Oh no..... not again!!!! 

I love roasting marshmallows ..... 

This is what I call a "Rustic bedroom" ..... wow.... loving the bedframe!!

Another amazing trip comes to an end..... we head back home in the morning .... 

One last walk in these amazing woods with incredible colors bursting all around us ...

Picture perfect scenery.... you will never forget this amazing autumn day.... 

Well..... until the next trip..... I wish you all a great evening and wonderful adventures!!!

                                    

ALL ABOARD!!!

Train travel is so amazing.... you can really get down and dirty with the incredible views...

So what do you say? Want to take an incredible journey? It sure is beautiful outside....

I'm almost packed..... will be ready in just a minute.....

Oh... let's not forget my photographer who is ready to take incredibly amazing pictures!!!

The break of dawn is here..... and we're ready to board....

And with Autumn right around the corner, with the rich colors of reds, browns

and yellows.... it really is an amazing sight to behold... and winter!!!! I love train travel in the 

winter while it's snowing outside ... you can see the snowflakes as they gently fall on the glass

right outside your window .... by your side...

Oh.... our train is arriving.....come .... ALL ABOARD!!.............

Have you ever heard the expression that "Sometimes the journey IS the destination" ? 

Well that's exactly how you will feel as you sit back and watch the spectacular

mountain scenery unfold right in front of you. 

The Glacier Express passes through the heart of the Swiss Alps...with lush meadows, mountain

streams, picturesque villages, vineyards and lakes. The train climbs up to the Oberalp

pass at a height of 2,033 meters.

And wether you're crossing the Banff National Park of Canada or visiting Montreal....

there is always something to do, something to see, something to experience and plenty

of amazing pictures to be taken....

Winter or summer? Hmmmm.... decisions decisions..... I love all the seasons ... so to pick 

one .... is really very difficult...

And the Rocky Mountaineer is a trip between calgary and vancouver where the 

landscape is filled with mountains, passages, valleys and glacierstakes.

The great thing about trains is that you have many options.... for instance, you 

have dining choices.... in the main dining rooms ..... 

                           

Or you can choose to have your meals in a more "open" and intimate setting.....

And it doesn't stop there.... magnificent places to visit like New Zealand and Australia ..

Ontario and Scotlamd...

And the White Pass and Yukon Route Train in Skagway Alaska .... well, although 

it does have some hair raising, nail biting twists and turns....  amazing scenery will

win your heart (and open eyes) in the end...

Getting your own stateroom is the best and most comfortable way to travel by train.... 

there are different staterooms to accommodate every budget... take advantage of this..

But too much dining and comfort tends to make you inch an inch... not to worry..

there are trains that provide "relief" for that too .... hey, no pain-no gain ... :)

And back in the States ..... oh....ok.... I guess that's where we're going ...!

The Pacific Surfliner offers a unique vantage on the Southern California seascape...

what an amazing ride this is...offering some the the most breathtaking ocean views

in California. You can get close and personal with scenes of pristine beaches and dramatic 

cliff side panoramas of the Pacific Ocean. Also, along this route are acres of strawberry 

fields in Ventura, the amazing cities of Orange County and the art deco scene of Los Angeles

Union Station. And don't forget to visit Micky & Minnie!!! Disneyland is only a short shuttle 

ride from the Anaheim Station...

The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad is in Colorado's largest town and

near the Four Corners junction with New Mexico, Arizona and Utah.

This amazing trip will take you through the spectacular canyons in the remote wilderness

of the two million acre San Juan Natural Forest. Get your cameras ready!!!

And in the fall.... it is truly incredible to go through West Virginia and Bardstown,

Kentucky for some of the most incredible Autumn views you will ever experience...

definitely another "Kodak Moment" ... lol ....

As our trip reaches it's end..... and we look back at the amazing experience and 

unforgettable memories that we will carry with us the rest of our lives...

we show gratitude and thank God for our beautiful Planet Earth which He constructed

with so much care.

The sun is setting and we have reached our stop.... but this is not, by any means good-bye...

it's only a farewell for now.... because.... there are so many amazing places to visit.... and

incredible adventures .... and unexplored beauty..... that, yes..... only farewell .... for now...

See you soon ...... have an amazing day!!