We then headed to Boone, NC and checked out the Mast General store per Kelsey's mom's recommendation. It's a chain of outfitter stores and it was awesome! The kind of store where you want to have a spending spree before hiking the AT or something.
While we were in the store we talked to some employees about places to go hiking (after getting our free stickers) and they recommended we go to Grandfather Mountain. But first I got some goodies!
We didn't actually know if we wanted to go to Grandfather Mountain, but I pulled up to the window to discover it was $20 per adult and then there were five cars behind me so we didn't have much of a choice... But that's okay! We went to their nature museum, saw split rock, and went up the mile high swinging bridge.
This is Split Rock. In case you couldn't tell.
I was a little nervous, but I kept it together.
See those tiny dots on the right? That's where you go after crossing the bridge!
Ominous clouds look ominous.
We decided that if we wanted to do a trail we needed to get a move on because it looked like it might rain. Our car was at a lower parking lot (we did a small hike up to the bridge) and Esther figured out there was a trail leading right to the parking lot.
I'm always a few steps behind, but that's okay!
We made it to the parking lot faster than anticipated so we decided to do the Black rock trail! We figured we'd have plenty of time before 6:00 hit. That was when you were meant to be by your car otherwise they would send search parties out.
There was a clearing of trees on the trail and this was the view!
Esther loved this small rock bridge.
We got to the end of the trail and had to climb up this huge boulder to get to the top. There was a ladder and then a rope line built into the Rock so you could get up it. I've never done anything like it!
Esther being a total boss at the outdoors.
We took a few minutes to enjoy the view.
That was probably my favorite part of Grandfather Mountain park. We were by ourselves and I had pushed myself to even get up to the top. I kept saying I didn't know if I could do it, but Esther was always quick to encourage me. And the gorgeous view that only a few see didn't hurt:
"The rain came pouring down..."
Yeah, we saw the rain and the fact that we only had an hour to get back to the car and booked it! We made it with time to spare, which I then used for a Nalgene photo shoot because my first Nalgene! In the mountains!
We headed back to Boone because I wanted Esther to try Cookout. We got some cheap sandwiches with the intention of getting milkshakes after we hit the local brewery. Esther found out that the Appalachian Mountain Brewery was a five minute walk from Cookout so we strolled over knowing everyone thought we were Appalachian State University freshman getting ready for move in weekend.
We got these delicious ciders. I got Cinnful Plum and Esther got the Green Dragon. Hers had strawberry, rhubarb, and green tea flavors. Hers was sweeter and mine tasted more like cinnamon so, of course, we happily switched. I really wanted to sit outside as the sun was starting to set. Esther willingly obliged.
Pretty nice views in Boone.
After we finished our ciders we weren't really up for milkshakes. It was time to head back to Charlotte. It was about a two hour drive. Through the mountains. In the dark. But we blasted music and made it around 10:00. We promptly got ready for bed ready to sleep in Friday morning.
I can't actually believe we did all of that in one day.
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