Day 6 - Pack Up, Visit Gap One More Time, Asheville

We got up and had breakfast (Luckily without rain today).  We unpacked the van to reorganize and put our camping equipment in the hard to store places.  There were many times we were grateful Maddie was on the trip for parenting purposes (and she's a ton of fun and we love sharing experiences with her).  This was a major one.  Unpacking a van, tearing down a campsite and packing a van (not to leave, but to unpack again for a hotel visit) took forever! Maddie did a great job with the kiddos so Kerry and Isaac could work.

Lucy was pleased to get a pink lemonade at the brewery. 

We heading up to the Newfound Gap for one more visit.  We drove the Blue Ridge Parkway over to Asheville.  We worked up an appetite so Kerry found Sunny Point Cafe featuring a lot of bacon products from local farms.  Kerry ordered some amazing grits (when in the south...) and we finished with chocolate lava cake.

We arrived at the hotel and checked in to room 716.  Kerry got Charlie down for a nap (and got interrupted by someone also going to room 716 - management apologized but didn't offer any drinks from their starbucks or rooftop bar... booo!).  Isaac, Maddie and Lucy played in the pool.  Lucy was especially proud of putting her whole face in the water.  She'd walk down the steps into the pool and then walk back up and out.  Then walk over to the ladder on the other side of the pool and climb down and up, then walk back over to the steps.  Isaac and Maddie decided to split up instead of running through the pool over and over (geniuses).

We headed to downtown Asheville.  Maddie used her smarty box to navigate us there.  She took the

Charlie looks happy to get out of the backpack. 
Poor guy had to be contained as much as possible on this trip.

unbeaten path.  Contrary to what we'd see in on the hip streets, there was a rougher looking crowd.  When taking young children here, nerves can rise.  Each person was friendly, cordial and smiled at our kids. That's the beauty of getting out of your box/little world.

We ate dinner at the Wicked Weed, a brewery outdoor seating.  Asheville is known for their plethora of breweries, so it was nice to make it to one.

We walked the downtown district and got some ice cream along with catching some street performing as we walked by.  The balancing juggler with a dog on his shoulders was unique!

Maddie watched the sleeping kids as Kerry and Isaac had a drink up on the hotel's rooftop bar to finalize the day.  Asheville is a beautiful sitting with a picturesque setting within the Blue Ridge Mountains...but we both agreed that it doesn't beat the hidden gem of the midwest (La Crosse) for us.