Let me start off by saying that Nantahala, NC is BEAUTIFUL!
ALL of the family met at my dad's house at 11AM on Friday morning. We then were on our way! We stopped about halfway (the trip is only 3 hrs) at a McDonalds because my cousins (they are 7 and 5) were hungry.
We finally arrived in Nantahala around 2:30 and checked in and got settled into our BEAUITFUL cabin! After of about an hour of getting settled in, we all ventured out to Ingles, the only grocery store that was close! And it was 15 minutes away!
The view driving into Nantahala
My bed on the right and my step-sister's bed on the left.
Looking out from my and Sarah's bedroom.
The view from our balcony!
Our back porch! There was tons of games! Darts, foosball, and a pinball machine inside!
From left to right: My brother, me, step-sis (Sarah0, step-bro (Tayler). And my brother is leaning on the hot tub!
Pinball machine that was played 24/7 by all of us!
Our gravel driveway!
So when we got settled in, we got ready and headed over to my Uncle's cabin for Mexican food! He made tacos and had chips and salsa! His cabin was about half a mile away from ours!
Me and Sarah on the way over there.
Me and my brother on the way over.
The view from my uncle's cabin!
Two of my cousins, Alicia and Tony.
My brother and my cousin, Bianca. Can you beleive she's only 13?!?
My adorable cousin, Alex.
My nana and uncle salsa dancing :)
From left to right: Sarah, me, my nana, Bianca, Alicia.
The next morning we woke up and got ready because we were going White Water Rafting! So the whole enitre family met up around 12:30 and we rafted and had tons of fun! We got our pictures taken but my stepmom has those! It was tons of fun!
After that, we got back to the cabin, and got ready for dinner over at my aunt and uncle's cabin!
They made bbq chicken and beans and rice!
Here's some pics from that night!
We celebrated my papa's 75th bday, too!
My cousin, Chase, and his blue mouth from the icing of the cake!
On Sunday morning we headed back to Ingles to get more food since we were running out quick! After that, we returned to the cabin to get ready to go HORSEBACK RIDING! My favorite part of the whole trip!
My cousin, Alicia. She's 16! She looks more like 19!
Where the horses were kept.
My beautiful 20 year old horse, Raven. I got the oldest horse, but she sure had personality!
The family.
There were two guides, one in the front and one in the back, and I was the last horse before the guide in the back so he just kept talking and talking and had a really strong southern accent and was about 50 years old. He kept telling me all these stories, he was definitely an interesting dude.
My horse, Raven, was so cute and well behaved. She would trot every once in a while and I loved it! I wanted her to keep trotting! Everytime the guide behind me called out of the horses names, it would start trotting and it was so hilarious!
Sunday night it was our turn to make dinner! We had hamburgers and hotdogs along with baked beans, coleslaw, and potato salad!
We had sparklers too for the 4th!
Monday was our last full day there, so we wanted to make the best of it!
The whole family decided to go hiking up this beautiful mountain! Oh, and I also carried my 40 lb 5 year old cousin halfway up! He was complaining of how he was tired, so I offered to give him a piggy back ride and plus it was a great workout!
My uncle and my cousin. I'm so jealous of him because he's 37 and looks like he's 27!
After the hike, we all went back to our cabins. Sarah and I took a 45 minute nap because we were exhausted!
We then woke up and started getting ready for dinner. Everyone came to our cabin for dinner this night, but my uncle and papa brought the food!
They stopped by Bojangles and picked up fried chicken, mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, coleslaw, and biscuits! It was soo good!
Here is a video of my dad and nana salsa dancing! Well, my dad is TRYING to salsa dance! Haha!
Baking browines for dessert! Mmm! Licking the bowl after is the best part! ;)
Our cabin from the front!
Tuesday we left around 10:30 and got brunch before heading out!
It was bittersweet that's for sure.
This trip was SO much fun and I wish I could go back every weekend!
Nantahala is GORGEOUS and I'd go back in a heartbeat!
Family trips are by far my favorite kind of trips!
I missed Tony a lot though!
But next time I go there, I want it to just be me and Tony. It's so beautiful.
I was so glad to have all of my family together! The last time the whole family was together was Dec '05 for my grandparent's 50th anniversary, and that was the best trip I've ever been on.
This is my 2nd favortie trip.
If y'all get a chance to go to NC, please stop by Nantahala!
P.S. Here's a video of my cute cousin, Chase, singing.
