Mini-vacation down south ...

I finally met a super guy.  YAY!!!  We are very compatible.  We are both history buffs and enjoy all types of travel.  We decided to get out of cold Ohio and take a little drive down south.   Originally we were going to go to Key West, FL, but since he is a semi-retired consultant, he had to get back to head out to San Diego, CA for a month of work.  .  I finally meet someone I want to spend time with and he is leaving me already.    We are hoping to do another trip when he gets back from CA. 



Day 1, we drove through OH, WV, VA,  and NC.  We stayed in beautiful Charlotte, NC overnight.   We so enjoyed the drive through the mountains.  Just awesome!



Day 2,  we drove to Charleston SC.  Since we are both in to history we of course wanted to see Ft. Sumter, old Charleston, and the Yorktown (WWII era aircraft carrier) memorial park.  Our hotel in Charleston was absolutely gorgeous!  We got gussied up and went to the old city for dinner.  We had made reservations for Poogin's Porch (a real hot spot there) but as we walked through the city we spotted this cute little bar and decided to have a ****tail.  The bartender gave us menus and we made the mistake of looking ... haha.  We cancelled our reservations and decided to have dinner there.  They had this beautiful courtyard restaurant full of trees, plants, statuary, wrought iron, candlelight and mini-lights in the trees.  Of course it was all old brickwork patio.  It was soooooo romantic!!!     And the food was fantastic (and expensive).  My guy had this pesto encrusted grouper (fish), with fried green tomatoes served on a bed of specialty grits.  He said it was the best dish he has ever had (and he has eaten in many fine restaurants).  We both fell in love with Charleston and just hated to leave. 



Day 3, we drove to Asheville NC.  Of course it is hard to beat the Appalachian mountains!  We found a really good family operated NC BBQ joint and pigged out!  haha  Well HE did ... and I wish I could have!  He had never had good old NC BBQ and the hush puppies really knocked his socks off!  This hotel was set way back from the road (quiet) and we slept sooooooo well!  I always sleep well in the mountains.    Unfortunately his foot was acting up so we didn't get to go to the Biltmore. 



Day 4, we headed west to Nashville TN.  I am not a big country music  fan but he is and we went to the grand ole opry and I really enjoyed it!   We went shopping in the mall next door to the opry house.  I got a couple tops at Ann Talor Loft outlet store (super cheap for there).  We had dinner in a restaurant there called "The Aquarium".  It was very nice.  In the center of the dining area is a huge sal****er tank full of sharks, tuna, sting rays, and various other fish.  We both felt guilty about eating seafood with them watching us so we got chicken dishes ... haha.  The entrance is an arched aquarium full of brightly colored fancy tropical fish.  It was really cool.



Day 5, we had to head back to Ohio.    The farther north we headed the temperature kept falling.  We were both ready to turn around and head back south!!! 



Of course I had to introduce him to Cracker Barrel restaurants    haha.   Needless to say, he is no longer a fan of Bob Evans.  Sorry Bob!!!

Wow, you have not mentioned this friend before and here you are going on trips with him.  Where did you meet him and how long ago?  He sounds wonderful.

I met him a few weeks ago.  We hit it off immediately.  It's not a sex thing ... haha.  We just plain like each other and are very compatible.  We were both looking for companionship.  He is a total gentleman.

You go!! You sexy wench!!
  

Sexy wench ... Linda you crack me up!!!!! 

Susan - I was right when I asked you who did you do in your *goal* post... LOL

Good for you.  And you were so close to where I live.  I am between Asheville and Charlotte.  I absolutely love Charleston and I know what you mean about being into the history and the romance of Charleston.  It is the best... and the weather has been so nice for a trip this way.

I am tickled that you have found someone so compatible - I know you were missing that in your life.  Congratulations!

Sorry he has to work and go away to Ca.  maybe you will join him???

Shelia

Hey Sheila ... my Dad's family is from Boone, NC.  Our ancestors migrated to that area of NC following the Revolutionary War.  They were originally in Augusta County, VA (on record there in the 1740s).  My ggg-grandfather cofounded the town of Boone (donated 1/2 the land to form the town).  I have lots of relatives in Boone, Vilas, Sugar Grove, Conover, Lenoir, and Hudson and Hickory.  My friend and I plan to take the Blue Ridge Parkway this Spring when the rhododendrons  are blooming!!!   I want to go to see the Biltmore of course!  haha  In all the trips down there I have never gone to the Biltmore!  Maybe we can get together? 

Who knows how this will all turn out?  He is nearly 13 years older.  I just enjoy his company.    It's nice to have someone to talk to and do things with.

Susan - You will have to let me know when you get back this direction - would like to meet up with you.  And I have never been to Biltmore either - a day trip in our future??

I am so very happy fo you and this new friendship.  It would be nice to have someone to talk to and do things with... I just never seem to find that type of guy, so I quit looking.

It is a small world after all, huh? 

Shelia

You go girl!!!  Sounds like a keeper to me. 

And you are right you can't beat North Carolina any way you slice it. We have the mountains, the foothills, the piedmont and the coast.  Not bad for one state!!! (Can you tell I'm a native? LOL)

Hugs

I love NC. It is great! Yes I have "tarheel" in my blood. haha Grandma was never happy up here in Ohio. They came here in 1926 with 10 little kids and my Dad came along a year later. So he is the only one of the 11 kids not born in Boone, NC. Grandma made the best biscuits!!!

I don't know if he is a keeper but he sure is a nice man.