Where in the World?

Did Lucie go for her surprise weekend birthday trip?

David and I don't exchange birthday gifts. Instead, we plan surprise weekend birthday trips for each other.

I wasn't sure what he was going to do to top last year's adventure to the Corn Palace in Mitchell, SD. All I knew was it was within driving distance.

He totally had me faked out thinking we were going to Gatlinburg. We left Friday after work and drove to Knoxville and spent the night there. Since we got there late and were leaving early the next morning he picked a place that was cheap...and it turns, out a bit skanky (he said he didn't think it would be that bad). We stayed @ a Scottish Inn (and our running joke was "it's krrrap!" ala Mike Myers). Fortunately, there wasn't a dead hooker under the bed, because that cost extra.

Saturday morning we drove around Knoxville for a bit - neat place, we can't wait to go back. I'm dying to go to the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame! I still had no clue on our final destination - I did figure we were going to NC when we crossed the border, LOL. We had lunch in Maggie Valley, NC and then drove along the Blue Ridge Parkway. The mountains are beautiful! I had never been to NC before; it's a GORGEOUS state.

He had planned to go to the Biltmore Estate but we got there too late in the day to make the admission fee worthwhile. We went to the gift shop and bought 6 bottles of Biltmore wine instead (+ 3 more the next day, holy cow).

Saturday night we stayed @ a B&B just outside of Asheville, called the Madison Inn. It had themed rooms - ours was the "Safari Room" with an African theme and leopard print bedding. It was VERY nice. Breakfast the next day was awesome. For dinner we went into Asheville and had dinner at the "Lobster Trap"...mmm lobster. I was born in Maine so a Maine lobster was an appropriate birthday dinner! Then we went out for drinks.

Sunday we drove around Asheville a bit more & then headed home. We are definitely going back there sometime; we had a GREAT time.