Asheville for the 4th of July
Over the 4th of July weekend, I visited Asheville, North Carolina. I've been a few times, and have always enjoyed the city, but I have always been more interested in getting away from the city. The trip was supposed to be one filled with hiking and exploring, maybe a bit of city exploration too, but mostly to get out and enjoy some fresh air in the countryside. All that changed on the night I arrived, I stubbed my pinky toe. Within 30 minutes, it turned blue and was painful to walk on. I could walk, but I worried a hike would not be wise, so any plans of a hike was scratched off the to-do list.
The three full days turned into a trek on the Blue Ridge Parkway, stopping at every viewpoint, another trek to the Pisgah Forest, a day of exploring the city, and then a day at the Biltmore. But most importantly, I did something I do not normally do a lot of on vacations, relax. The house I rented for the trip was on a heavily wooded lot on the side of a hill. It had a covered deck and a hot tub, and I enjoyed it twice a day. I'm now considering one for my house!
Anyway, while there at the house, I saw a family of deer, wild turkeys, squirrels, and for the first time ever, I saw a black bear. It was almost dark, so no pictures exist, but I saw my first bear in the wild. Funny to me considering I spent close to two weeks in Alaska and never saw a bear.
Here are some of my favorite photos from the trip.
