Blue Ridge Day 3

On day three, we decided to get up early and beat the crowd to the apple house, Mercier's, which we later learned is the largest apple orchard in Georgia. We got up a little after 5, but of course on this morning when we wanted to leave early, Graham was still asleep at 7. We ended up getting him up and ready quickly and were at Mercier's around 8. There was no crowd yet! We ate breakfast in their cafe which was good, shopped, and tasted apples while waiting on the orchard tours to begin. (Graham and Daddy got matching camo John Deere caps). Most of the people on the tractor ride were doing "U Pick" but we just went along for the ride. Our guide, TJ was very enthusiastic and loved his job. (That is not sarcasm. He really was a good guide.) The orchard was very pretty and Graham fell asleep on the ride. It was our kind of tractor ride...no hay!







Since Graham was sleeping peacefully, we decided to go for a drive. We drove to Blairsville. The old court house is pretty but we didn't see much else and avoided the sorgum festival crowd. I then realized I had a driving tour printed off of the Blue Ridge website with me in the car. All I have to say is, we were not impressed. I told Brian that I think it is because we grew up in the country and we've seen prettier things in Blount County, AL. (I'm telling you, if Blount County hired Blue Ridge's marketing group, they could pull this off.) After that drive, we went back downtown and ate at one of the finer dining establishments, Harvest on Main. I decided to take their kids menu as an invitation for children and babies. There were several other small children there and while we did not have to wait on a table, we did have to wait on a high chair. The food was excellent! (finally, the kind of food we like to try on vacation). We took a nap at the cabin and went on another uneventful drive to McCaysville. Then we settled in for a relaxing night in the cabin.

The next day it was time to come home. We got back to Birmingham around 2 pm and watched the movie Cars on the Disney channel. Graham lost interest quickly but Mommy and Daddy enjoyed it. That brings us to the end of the vacation. The biggest lesson learned on the trip: Don't believe everything you read on a website! ;) Even though it wasn't everything we hoped for, we still enjoyed our time together as a family and making memories.