We had a wonderful getaway to the mountains over spring break, staying in a cozy cabin in Lake Lure. The cabin was perfect, equipped with all our needs and offering a stunning view of Hickory Nut Upper Lake.
We made the drive on a Sunday afternoon, picking up a few essentials at the local Ingles before heading to our cabin. Once we arrived, we unpacked and let the boys pick their rooms. To our surprise, they opted for separate rooms—a new adventure for them, given that they usually share a bedroom at home. We spent the rest of the evening relaxing after the 3.5-hour drive, enjoying a hearty spaghetti dinner and unwinding.
On Monday, we set out to explore Chimney Rock. Along the way, we stopped at the Lake Lure Flowering Bridge, where the boys participated in a fun scavenger hunt. Boy2 impressed us with his ability to remember and locate the items he had seen. We also made a mental note to return with one of Daisy’s collars to honor her on the Rainbow Bridge.
Chimney Rock has a quaint, tourist-town charm nestled right along the Broad River, which interestingly flows down to Columbia, South Carolina’s state capital. We arrived around 11 a.m., parked, and began to explore. The riverwalk, accessible by a set of stairs from the road, features a picturesque rock and sand area right by the river. It was serene and beautiful. We spent some time shopping and then enjoyed a delightful lunch at Riverwatch Bar & Grill, which offered great views of both the river and Chimney Rock.
After wrapping up our shopping spree, we made our way to Chimney Rock State Park, where the photo above was snapped. The boys and I decided to tackle the climb to the top of Chimney Rock, where the flag proudly waves. But let me be honest—I lasted less than a minute up there before I had to call an audible and head back down.
I’m usually not bothered by heights, but something about having Boy1 and Boy2 perched over 2,700 feet in the air made my nerves fray. Let’s just say it wasn’t my finest moment, but we made it back down safely and with a great story to tell!
On our way down the mountain, we made a fun detour at an animal viewing area. We spotted turtles, snakes, possums, and groundhogs. Did you know groundhogs are actually woodchucks? I had no idea until today—I was today years old (at 42) when I learned that little tidbit. Mind blown!
Our next adventure was gem mining, which the kids absolutely adored, and Hubs got into it too. We enjoyed it so much that we decided to try it twice. You start by choosing a bucket of sand (they come in various sizes), then scoop some into screens, sift through it, and discover hidden gems. It’s pure fun, even though it’s more for entertainment than serious mining. If you’re traveling this way, it’s a fantastic activity for kids!
After leaving Chimney Rock, we headed to Ingles to pick up some groceries for dinner. We considered dining out or grabbing takeout on the way back to the cabin, but indecision led us to the grocery store. It turned out to be a great choice, satisfying all our cravings!
We had planned a scenic drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway for Tuesday, but with the weather being less than ideal, we decided to enjoy a relaxing day at the cabin and do more gem mining. This time, we opted for the “super mega” bucket and spent a couple of hours sifting through sand. We unearthed so many cool finds!
The goal of our trip was to unwind and take things slow, and we definitely succeeded. It was a wonderfully relaxing adventure.
Here are some places you might want to check out:
- Riverwatch Bar & Grill and their gift shop next door
- Willow Creek Gifts (don’t miss the delicious truffles!)
- Christmas Cottage
- Bubba O’Leary’s General Store
- Chimney Rock Gem Mine (and their gift shop upstairs)
- Chimney Sweeps
- Mountain Traders
And more! Enjoy your trip!
Featured image, and all others, courtesy of mom mommy bwuh.
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