Every time we travel to southwest Virginia we find ourselves falling more in love with the state. We've been to some pretty awesome places in the USA but there is just something about a quaint Appalachian town with blue-ridged mountains that gets our heart a flutter. This past weekend we took our family of 5 to Damascus to meet up with Jacob's family for our 2nd annual trip with them. Our last trip with the whole gang was in April 2012 (I never blogged about it). We had such an amazing time we decided it would become an annual tradition but in order to avoid sniffling and sneezing for the pollen afflicted, we made it a fall trip this year - and the weather was PERFECT. Jacob and I took Dakota to this area in
2007 and
2008 and then in
2011 we took the puppies and Corban. Damascus, Virginia is a tourist town with the Appalachian Trail walking through it's main street but it's most popular attraction is probably the Virginia Creeper Trail, a former railroad turned bike path that any level of skill can enjoy. We get a shuttle to the top and then bike the 17 miles into town but since Sage was a little small this year to be in a bike trailer and I am training for a marathon, I decided to run into town while the rest of the family rode along. This year Dakota also rode her own bike rather than a tag-along. I was so proud of her. She got pretty tired and swapped with Oliver some and hitched a ride in the stroller for the last 2 miles but I was still impressed with the miles she put behind her as a 6 year old. We are already looking forward to next years trip and the rest of the excitement that fall has to offer!
Gigi's Girls
Green Cove is about 3 miles from the beginning. Still smiling.
Georgia is in love with baby Sage. She wanted to hold her and love on her the whole trip. They are going to be such good buddies when they get a little older since they are only a year apart.
We visited the Grayson Highlands Fall Festival and let me tell you, this was the place to be! It was packed with artisans, yummy food, bluegrass music and a few hillbillies.
Making molasses.
