2013 marked another big trip I was excited for, even though I’ve already been there. In July, I was North Carolina-bound!

There’s something about North Carolina that thoroughly relaxes me. Standing outside, breathing in the fresh air and gazing at the scenic mountains surrounding me is one of my happy places.

I’ve been to North Carolina several times now, since my aunt and uncle have a vacation house there, but this was by far my favorite time. This time, 18 family members and 2 dogs were making the trek for a family reunion! Considering my mom has five brothers and sisters who each have at least 2 children, this was hardly all of my family, but certainly a good chunk of it. It was such a big event we even had shirts made.

On previous trips I’ve driven along the Blue Ridge Parkway (it’s seriously gorgeous and has plenty of interesting stops along the way), gone up Grandfather Mountain (which is definitely a very fun day trip idea if you live close enough), and spent a day attending some Highland Games events. Their house is on Sugar Mountain in Banner Elk, so if you’re ever in the area, I recommend checking out the adorable little town of Banner Elk. If you’re staying on or around Sugar Mountain, definitely check out the incredibly picturesque golf course.

On one of our last days, several of us ventured to the nearby man-made Wildcat Lake. It boasts not only the lake – complete with options for water-related activities such as fishing and kayaking – but picnic tables, volleyball courts, playgrounds, and more. We spent several hours there and had a blast.

How can you not when this is your view?

Stay tuned for a few more posts from my North Carolina trip!

Have you been to North Carolina? Do you find it relaxing?