All Aboard.

All aboard the Great Smoky Mountain Railway! This trip has been on our bucket list for a while now and we finally got to cross it off! There is something magical to me about riding in a train.. it can transport you back in time and reminds us of some of our favorite movies.. HP and Polar Express... love it :) 

We chose the Nantahala Gorge excursion so we could see beautiful fall foliage and Fontana Lake. Our train departed from Bryson City, NC around 9am and lasted until about 1:30pm with a layover at the Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC) where tons of rafters brave the class III rapids! HOWEVER.. when we departed it was legit 32 degrees, so there weren't many kayakers (there were still some crazy people who braved the below freezing temps!). We just about froze since we chose the open-air gondola cart, but it was so fun! On our way back it was a comfortable 65-70 degrees. Here are some photos from our fun-filled day! I highly recommend taking a trip up to the mountains of NC - you won't be disappointed!

xoxo, ab

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Bean boots and Barbour in Wicklow Woods.

A lovely mountain getaway to the foothills of the Smokies. Adam and I were in need of a getaway, so off to the mountains we went! We had perfect weather and got to stay at the cutest cottage in Andrews, NC. The owner's property was beautiful and I just had to snap a few photos! The property backs up to the Nantahala National Forest. These photos take me to my happy place; where nature's beauty surrounds us in every corner, the crunching of leaves beneath your feet and the crisp, cool breeze biting at your hands and face. 

I. Love. Fall. 

We had so much fun. We also made some new friends ;) I hope you, too, can escape to your happy place when you read this post.

xoxo, ab

A special thank you to the man behind the lens.

Gold Rush Days.

College town. Festival on the square. Arts. Parade. Crafts. Funnel cakes. Antiques. Hand-made. Kettle corn. Autumn colors. Leaves. Crowds. Bluegrass. Clogging. Ginny's Fudge. Gold mining. Family. Friends. Fun. 

Now that, folks, is what comes to my mind when we celebrate the annual Dahlonega Gold Rush! Easily one of my favorite fall festivals of the entire year. We make the trek over the mountain nearly every year to take part in the most picture perfect fall festival of all. I love this town. I'm so thankful that I got to attend college here as an undergraduate and got to partake in all the little mountain town glory. The views are just incredible! Something about this place just seems magical. 

Heartfelt moment of the day: my sister crying tears of joy when she found out my brother and his girlfriend adopted a sweet baby beagle puppy!

Enjoy some of the memories we captured this weekend! Happy Sunday!

xoxo, ab