Eastern NC: Spring Break Trip 2010

Back in the Spring, we explored the coast of North Carolina, particularly New Bern, the 2nd town in North Carolina. Around New Bern, we visited several areas within a short driving distance: Atlantic Beach, Bath, Beaufort, and Pine Knoll Shores. New Bern was the 2nd town in North Carolina and the original State Capitol of North Carolina, after Governor Tryon chose this location for his mansion. Bath, the 1st NC Town, is only an hour away.

New Bern means New Bear, so all over town, artists have designed and decorated several different bears to decorate the streets of the town. This is also part of the 2010 Celebration that commemorates 300 years since New Bern was founded.

For more photos of our Eastern NC Adventures,

visit my Picasa Web Gallery here.

Charlottesville, VA

For a 4-day weekend in July, Scott and I visited the Charlottesville, VA area with two friends. Our friend, Dean, is finishing up licensure to be a history teacher, so we took him and his wife on a tour of historical places, particularly 4 homes of previous presidents. We visited Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's home, Poplar Forest, Thomas Jefferson's country home, Ashlawn-Highland, the home of James Monroe, and Montpelier, James Madison's home. We also explored the Rotunda of UVA, the University of Virginia, and took a detour through Schuyler, VA to see the Walton's Mountain Exhibit and real-life home of the Hamner Family, the inspiration for The Walton's TV Series.

Monticello

Poplar Forest

Ashlawn-Highland

Montpelier

UVA Rotunda

I'm volunteering for some street entertainment in Downtown Charlottesville.

Schuyler, VA... Home of the Hamner Family aka The Walton's

Our trip was fun and very informative. The summer weekend was bright and beautiful with great weather, but it was very hot. One day, the temperature was over 100 degrees with high humidity.

Cone Mansion

In May, Scott and I stopped off on the Blueridge Parkway, near Blowing Rock, to visit the Cone Mansion. It is a breath-taking landscape, and the house is now used as a finecraft outlet.

3rd Annual Laurel Hill Highland Games

Saturday, April 24, 2010

Ferris Park: A Birthday Picnic

For Scott's birthday back in April, we began festivities with a relaxing, Saturday afternoon at Ferris Park. The weather was great and the view gorgeous, especially overlooking the lake and watching ducks.

Mayfest 2010

Annually, we attend a festival in May, held in Pilot Mtn, NC. We enjoy food, music, performances, arts and crafts.

Here are views from around Main Street during the event.