Day 5 - We left our first airbnb and headed east into blue ridge today.
We stopped at a moonshine distillery, had lunch by the water at Praters mill, took a hike at Fort Mountain Outlook, and then got to our new place.
Poor diesel didn't want to walk on the metal stairs, so Ron carried the 80 pound dog up and down all the stairs.
It's TOTALLY in the mountain, so a good 30 minute drive to the grocery store. But the girls are already playing the creek behind the house.
All I need now is a bottle of wine to drink down by the creek, dang it! Totally forgot to buy some at my grocery stop before we got here lol
Caroline drew this picture, and it is just melts my heart. I love this family picture!
Day 6
Today we ventured over to Helen.
In all honesty, it was meh.
Most of the shops are touristy shops (and bad ones) and it's not very big.
We did have lunch with a great view though, and Autumn and I rode the Georgia Mountain Coaster. That was fun.
I bet it'd a lot of fun in October though! If you like big crowds...which I don't. Lol. Soo....
Then we left and found a winery down the street...and there HAPPENED to be an antiques store right next door. So Ron went antiquing, while I did a wine tasting 
And the Old Mill across the street was pretty cool too
Then we found the Babyland Cabbage Patch Nursery!! Haha... the girls were unimpressed, but I was excited to see it.
Topped off the day with yoga on the back porch of our airbnb which has a running creek next to it. That brought my yoga time to all new level of relaxing!
Day 7 -
We hiked Woody Gap trail to Preachers Rock. This was part of the Appalachian trail and we saw some people that had their packs on that were actually hiking the trail. I kind of want to do that one day! Not with kids though lol
The view at the rock was pretty amazing, and it was pretty easy 2 mile hike in and back.
Be still, my heart.
Then, after lunch, we headed to a tubing place down the road a bit. Since we waited to do it on a week day and we didn't do it in Helen, we pretty much had the river to ourselves. It was lovely.
Then we headed to downtown Blue Ridge. MUCH better than Helen, as far as downtowns go. We got there pretty late, and half the stores were closing, so maybe we'll go back earlier and then have dinner there.
Also, the Temps here are amazing and I may be falling in more love with the Georgia mountains. Lol
The mountains are in my blood, but the ocean is in my heart. I want them both!
Using his sandals as oars.
Ron got stuck on a rock - lol It was SO shallow. We knew someone was going to get stuck.
Day 8 -
Wow, this cabin in the mountain life is good for sleeping. Lol. I've been sleeping in until 730 and the girls didn't wake up until 830! I'm so not used to "late" mornings. Lol
Today we ventured up to Tennessee (were on the border again) to Clemmer Trail. It was a pretty easy 4.5 in and back with a waterfall for the girls to play. We love when hikes reward us with waterfalls or beautiful views!
I feel a little Dirty Dancing motif going on here. Lol
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We love finding hear rocks, leaves, shells, wherever we go
Why did the Ross family cross the waterfall?? To get to the swimming area!
On the way home we stopped at the Ocoee Dam/picnic area...and you guessed it. Where there's water and rocks, that's where you'll find the girls. They would play on rocks and in water all day. We had to "force" them to leave lol
Can you spy Ron?? Lol
Day 9
Today we went to Dahlonega. The girls and I came here last year with my parents, and they wanted to go back to the creek to jump in the water. It looked just the same and we were able to refer back to last year's pictures to see where they jumped
Then, after lunch, we went on a 2.5 hour kayak trip. It started off strong, but you can see how it ended...with Ron doing most of the work, and Caroline enjoying the ride lol. We did see TONS of turtles and we even saw some deer crossing the river.
Day 10....
Today was our last day.
We just kind of shopped around...went to the same apple orchard we went to last time we were here a few years ago, then went to downtown Ellijay, had lunch at a park, went to a winery, shopped at downtown Blue Ridge, then had dinner at a marina.
Sad to go home, but I can't wait for a beach day, actually!
