If I could “Groundhog Day” this trip, I totally would. <3
The best thing about photographing Christal and Ray’s wedding was that it was in Connecticut. Which meant it was just a stone’s throw away from Sleeping Giant State Park, where Nate and I were married four years ago. We hadn’t been back since we eloped, and it was wonderful on so many levels. We loved the déjà vu feeling of taking the hike to our ceremony spot, and it was magical seeing the same location completely transformed. Instead of “stick trees” and snow, there was so much color!
This hike might not look like much, but when it’s covered in ice, it’s a whole different experience. :)
I should have stood here for size comparison, but this was the last part of our hike to our ceremony spot!
Love it :)
This one wasn’t taken at Sleeping Giant, but another park we went to on the same trip in Rhode Island. My favorite. :)
Around a year ago today. :) Oh, what a difference a year makes- Now two of our best friends, Nick and Jessie, are homeowners and have a little one on the way! We feel like we’re gonna be an aunt and uncle for the first time- April can’t get here soon enough! :)
While cabin hunting with Lorie online a few months ago, we came across “The Castle in the Sky” and knew that it was the place for us! Let me say this again : We found a cabin-turned-cheesy-castle. In Gatlinburg, Tennessee. It was perfect, and before you could say “Cinderella,” we booked it! Did I mention our trip was over Halloween? Perfection!
Despite a depressing start to our vacation (While driving in the rain, we got in a scary accident on the freeway about an hour away from our destination… Everyone’s fine, thank goodness, but I won’t be driving for a while!) Anyway, after a less than perfect start to the trip, we made it through the mountains and arrived at… *trumpets blowing*… Our castle!
If you’re planning a trip to Gatlinburg and are interested in staying in the castle, you can book it here. Despite the quirky appeal and affordable price, I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone and we won’t ever be returning… I love the theme, but the place was disgusting and not kept up… I’m talking cobwebs in the stairwells, corners of the windows, along the walls… It was so gross. I was so thankful we came to stay in the fall when most of the TN bugs are dead- I can’t imagine this place crawling with insects in the summer! *shudders*
One of the bedrooms didn’t have power, in another, the king size mattress was balancing on a single support beam in the middle of the bed, which meant any slight movement and the whole mattress would rock about 4 inches up and down. The showers were so tiny with almost no water pressure, and the front door was so flimsy I felt like even little Huckleberry could have kicked it open…
… But the view was nice! :)
It’s such a shame the place was so poorly cared for, because it really is a cute thought, especially with kids. I should also mention that Lorie and I had near-tumbles down these stairs.
The decor was awful- Part castle, part American Indian, with random paintings of women throughout. Yes, those are three Indian heads hanging on the wall… There was an air vent below them that moved their hair in the breeze… Creepy!
A cabin must- Puzzles!
What do you do when the place you’re staying doesn’t have a wine key? Watch this video… Yes, it worked- On three bottles!
On the boys’ hike, they came across this abandoned cabin, complete with empty bunks and an outhouse.
For our friends and family that don’t “get” our move to Tennessee- See? :)
Beautiful as the scenery is, I could spend a weekend in an empty room with this guy and have just as good a time! :)
And because I know Huck hasn’t had as much face time on the blog as I like, here are some recent photos of him in leaves! I also have to say here that leaves have officially been added to Huck’s “hate list.” He growls at them when they fall, refuses to sit on them, and doesn’t seem to find the tiny crunching under his paws as endearing as the rest of us. :)
More Tennessee Posts!
For the past few years, New York City was our favorite city to visit. But last year when we shot Rebecca and Matias’ wedding, we quickly fell in love with Chicago. It was like a tiny bite of NYC, but with a gorgeous water view and a little more space to breathe. It also doesn’t hurt that it’s a quick four hour drive away from our favorite grandparents, and we get to drive through sites like this to get there. :)
I know there’s no sense of scale here, but these babies were HUGE! They make me think of Ellen’s Energy Adventure. :)
We met these two while exploring the north side and talked for about 15 minutes! After meeting this little guy, I’m thinking his breed could be a good sibling for Huck. ;)
Of course, a favorite thing to photograph in the city is the Bean!
Favorite!
We ended our day with a trip to the Sears Tower, where we stood in a glass box overlooking the city. Gorgeous! :)
More Travel Posts!
