Christmas at the Biltmore Estate

Clint, Jean, Megan and I spent a very exciting weekend in the Asheville area to see the Biltmore mansion all decorated up for Christmas. Thanks to the generosity of Clint's family, we had a wonderful place to stay in a lovely mountain cabin in Weaverville.

We enjoyed the trip immensely, just spending time chatting and catching up, tossing the Frisbee, climbing Clint's parent's mountain land, sharing a great meal at Carraba's, and touring the Biltmore (which included a wine tasting - yum). We couldn't have asked for better company or a better time.

Biltmore Estate - Christmas at the Biltmore

Christmas Party

We had a great time at our house decorating Christmas cookies, in the tradition that we began together one year before at the farm in Navasota, TX. Now we had the chance to share it with our best friends Clint & Jean.

Christmas Party at our House

Fall Foliage at Caesar's Head State Park

We took these pictures while we were searching for some nice fall colors at a state park up near Greenville.

Fall Foliage

South Carolina State Fair

This is a big deal to the locals, so we had to check it out. Our conclusion: it doesn't compare to the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo. It's more comparable to Trader's Village, but it was still kinda fun to do something random.

South Carolina State Fair

First Visit to Charleston

We had heard a lot about this beautiful coastal town, and it was quite impressive in parts. We wanted to camp, but we were definitely disappointed to find little or no places for camping. Also, the state doesn't have nearly the state park system that Texas does. But the city had a lot to offer. We walked around an outdoor market where they had a lot to see and peruse. They even have a Teavana, which was one place Megan and I loved when we happened upon it in the Galleria in Houston. Folly beach was very nice, and we really enjoyed the couple of hours we spent there. We ate at a place called Blossom, and it turned out to be a very nice meal and conveniently located. The history of the city is what really strikes you. Despite Sherman's march and some natural disasters in its history, it still seems rife with antebellum architecture and southern charm. Overall, it was lovely place for an overnight getaway.

First Time in Charleston

Birthday Fun

Megan and I were able to enjoy a wonderful evening at a nice restaurant in town called Saluda's. We hadn't eaten out since our anniversary, so it was nice to finally have someone else do the cooking & cleaning.

It was such a nice evening that we ate out on the balcony of the restaurant, which is on the second story overlooking a nice area of town called "Five Points". Then, across the street our friend from Sunday school was competing in a "strong man" competition, so we got to watch him squat a car like seventeen times. No kidding. The guy looks quite intimidating, but he's so nice and friendly that you don't expect him to be one of the strongest men in South Carolina. Needless to say, the evening was great, and if you're ever in the area, I'd recommend the quail :)

Sorry, no photos (I forgot the camera).

http://www.saludas.com/

Backpacking in Montreat, NC (Black Mountains)

We had a great adventure in NC, with no hiccups to speak of, with the small exception of Aaron putting his hiking staff through a beehive. Luckily, they didn't mind so much and I got away with only one sting. Megan stayed hydrated, and we both managed to stay warm and dry even though there was some fairly torrential rain.

The scenery was fantastic, and there is much greater diversity in wildlife compared to Texas. The craziest thing were the red geckos. They looked like geckos that had been let loose in a bag of those flamin' hot Cheetos--they were spectacular. Oh, and the wild blueberries were in fact edible, which was a relief for me as I thought they were quite tasty =) Hope these pictures can convey the beauty we witnessed.

Backpacking in Montreat, NC

Anniversary

We had a great time on our cruise to Key West and Cozumel. We also saw Orlando and De Leon Springs State Park. We didn't get to take any photos of our canoe trip, but it was a blast too. Very tiring though. Enjoy!

Anniversary Cruise