What a perfect day. We got up around 8:30 and decided that hiking at Amicalola would be our adventure for the day.
It’s funny – so many of our friends and family back in NY think that Georgia is this hot, miserable, blistering-sun, flat place, but that’s *so* not true. Just an hour or so up 575 past Ellijay and you’re in the foothills of the Appalachians. And I daresay you’d be hard-pressed to not find it exactly like our beloved Adirondacks. Vic and I are outdoorsy people, and it’s so great to expose the kids to the stuff we love. Mountain biking will have to wait, but hiking was doable.
Disclaimer: I documented our trip today with my Canon SD870 IS Elph. I didn’t want to lug the big guy up there, but I sorta wish now that I had. The Elph is “ok,” but not quite the same.
We started at the bottom, and hiked up to the ‘base of the falls’ – it’s all a paved trail for this part.
Notice the posing. Sheesh!
The falls are so beautiful…
We had to climb 178 steps to get to the bridge across the base of the falls. Ava had *no* problem whatsoever. No surprise there, though.
We found a little fuzzy friend on the railing.
Me and my girly…(aidan had run off ahead)
Walking with Daddy…
After we got down, we drove up to the top of the falls – here’s the crew looking down.
Then we took off for a hike into the deep woods – on the trailhead that leads to the Appalachian Trail. I think we went about 3/4 of a mile up, then turned around and came back. It was wonderful.
The whole time, Ava kept asking for (and calling out to) reindeer.
We found some funky mushrooms along the way…
And a millipede, which I had to photograph for Aidan to take in to show his Target class…
We wrapped up the day with BBQ for lunch at Captain Poole’s in Ellijay (the place with the hill covered in pigs). It was the perfect family day. If you live here and haven’t been – you must go! The entrance to Amicalola is about a mile past Burt’s Pumpkin Farm, where we’ll be in – oh, about a month from now!
And the best part? On our way back down the mountain…almost before we got to the trailhead…I heard a noise and looked up. And a pretty doe crossed the trail in front of us. Ava’s “reindeer” wishes came true.
show hide 3 comments
Steph - that might be the craziest mushroom I’ve ever seen! And I’m glad Ava got to see her reindeer…this time of year they’re normally training at the North Pole
Jana - I’d say your Elph did a mighty fine job! Great pics. Looks like such a fun day. And you’re looking mighty fine, you skinny thing!
Molly - I know you don’t know me at all, but I read your blog regularly and just have to say that you look great! All your WW is paying off. Good for you!