Mountain Getaway 2019- Hiawassee
Growing up, my grandparents and great-grandparents lived in the mountains of NC and every Christmas my family would make the trek up there to spend some time with them. After my great-grandparents passed away, my grandparents moved to SC to be closer to family and the trips, obviously, stopped.
Four years ago, we started the tradition again and have taken a mountain getaway with my family each Christmas. We set aside time to head back to the mountains, to end our year with some quality family time. As each year passes, I am more thankful for the time with my grandparents. This year, my mom’s parents joined in on the fun and after a year of multiple grandparents battling diseases, I will cherish the memories made.
This year, we headed to Hiawassee, GA. We’ve gone somewhere different every year (Lake Lure, Dillard, Franklin) and we’ve liked each place we’ve gone. On the way up, we stopped in Clayton, GA and ate at the Rusty Bike Cafe.
Day 1- Brasstown Bald
After lunch in Clayton, we headed to Brasstown Bald to wait for our house to be ready. My mom’s parents being all sweet.
They had a shuttle to the top of Brasstown Bald so we opted to ride up since both set of grandparents were with us. It was a short ride and even though the gain was steep, it would have been a short hike as well.
Once at the top, you climbed a few flights of stairs for the view.
Even though it wasn’t a full-on hike like we normally like to take, we had a gorgeous view that everyone was able to enjoy.
They had a small museum that we checked out before heading back to our cars.
About half our crew decided to walk back down while the rest of use rode the shuttle. Both the walk and the ride were short.
After leaving Brasstown Bald, we headed to the house to get settled in. The house had a big backyard with a jungle gym, swings, a pond, and a row boat. Unfortunately, rain stopped us from using it most of the trip but we bundled up the kids and let them get out some energy since it wasn’t raining. While the kids played, my parents headed to the grocery store.
After a delicious steak dinner (and Cory about searing his eyebrows off on the grill), we played a few rounds of Uno before calling it a night. Also, please note Gracie’s despair over losing.
Day 2
On Sunday, we got up and all headed to McConnell Baptist Church in Hiawassee.
They had a beautiful Christmas service and the kids had a fun time in the nursery. It’s always fun to 1. go to church together as a family and 2. visit new churches and see how things are done.
It was rainy and cold that afternoon, so we headed back to the house for lunch.
These moments are always my favorite. The kids were playing and we got to have a few minutes to sit and have conversations with my grandparents and listen to some of their stories and hear their laughter. Life is busy for all of us so I appreciate the slowness in these kinds of moments and wish I could record times like this so I’m able to replay them. We also planted “candy cane seeds” (tic tacs in marshmallows) and hoped they would grow candy canes that night.
Cory and I had to head back to Westminster for Christmas with his Granny that evening so we missed dinner, but came back after we finished his family’s celebrations.
We thought Baker would fall asleep on the hour drive back to the mountains but she sang Christmas songs the entire way; when we got back, most everyone was asleep except my mom’s parents. Baker enjoyed a few minutes of drawing with them before we put her to bed.
Day 3
On Monday morning, the kids woke up to candy canes that had sprouted and were so excited about it!
We had a slow morning at the house while the kids played outside for a little bit and my mom’s parents packed up to head home for a dinner they already had planned with my aunt.
We always do a generation photo with my dad and his father so before my Nana left, we did one with my mom and her mother!
These pictures make my heart so, so full.
After saying goodbye to my grandparents, I headed up to get ready for the day while Cory took the kids outside.
Gracie adores her Gaga!
I hate this photo is blurry but it shows the incredible back yard of the house. We all talked about how incredible this house would be in the spring. There was so much to do outside and we would all love to go back.
Daddy took Baker on the boat (without a life jacket, I know) but the pond was only a few feet deep. She clearly had a ball, judging by the smile on her face.
That afternoon, we headed to Dahlonega, GA. I had mentioned I wanted to see the Christmas lights so my dad planned an afternoon there panning for gold, touring the gold mine, and visiting the square.
Baker really loved the gold she got from mining but the coolest part was definitely touring the gold mine.
The guide we had was funny and very knowledgable. I really think the little kids even enjoyed it!
They had old mining equipment still set up in the mine and some of it still worked even though the mine had been underwater for many years.
The Lunsford gang in the mine!
These two…they are so sweet together. Brantley almost always refers to Baker as “Baker Bea” (her full name) and they did so well walking together, holding hands.
After we finished at the gold mine, we headed to downtown Dahlonega to eat an early dinner and see the Christmas lights.
Again, with the hand holding!
The town of Dahlonega was soooo dreamy. It was like something you would see in a Hallmark movie (literally- one was filmed there). We ate pizza for dinner at Gustavo’s, which is on the square. With the whole family there, we only stopped in a few stores afterwards but I could definitely go back and spend much more time exploring the shops.
Pictures just don’t do this little downtown area justice.
All I wanted was one decent family photo but Baker had to make some silly face in almost every one. I have no idea where she gets that from. Ahem.
There were sweet shops and an ice cream parlor and they all looked delicious but we were all too full for dessert.
After snapping a few more family photos, we loaded up and headed back to the house which was about an hour away from Dahlonega.
We spent the evening watching the Grinch, eating popcorn, and trying to make Gingerbread houses. We aren’t very experienced at making Gingerbread houses and man, they’re hard!
Day 4
On Christmas eve, we packed up to head home from our mountain getaway. We did our annual generations photo with my dad and his father. While my dad and papa both have a little more facial hair than 2016, Baker’s the only one who has really changed. Boy, is it a crazy difference- even year to year.
And with one more group picture, our 2019 mountain getaway to Hiawassee, GA was in the books! While we always miss my siblings and niece and nephew that can’t come, this is always one of the highlights of the Sloans’ year. Is the time together perfect? No, we’re family and there will be spats. Does it get chaotic with the little kids? Absolutely. But growing up with my grandparents in the mountains are some of my fondest memories and I pray Baker’s experience is the same!
I thought I had a group picture from each year but I couldn’t find one anywhere of 2016 so the past 3 years will have to do.
