A while back, Garrett and I had mutually decided that we would not be able to do a trip for our first anniversary like we had hoped. It just wasn’t going to be in the cards for us, but that was okay, all we needed was each other! Those of you who know me well enough though know that this wasn’t going to suffice for me…I was going to find a way to celebrate our very first anniversary (and his birthday!) in an adventurous way, and most likely as a surprise to him. I cannot begin to tell you how much I LOVE the fact that I married a man who enjoys not only surprises, but sitting back and letting me plan adventures to my heart’s content!
We started the day bright and early, making sure to depart at the stroke of 9am. Okay okay…it wasn’t on the dot, but we got close enough! We had packed an overnight bag on the off chance that there was a hotel room available that we could snag and turn this day trip into a weekend trip and hopped into the car. Garrett opened up the GPS, turned his head to look out the drivers side window, and told me “Alright, enter in the address!” We were off!
It was a beautiful drive as we headed to our first destination and my sweet husband tossed out ideas of where he thought my plotting would land us this time. Helen? Dahlonega? Unfortunately for me, the GPS decided to share a “quicker route” which showed the pinned destination on the map…The gig was up as he accurately stated with semi-confidence: Blue Ridge! The events for the day, however, would still remain a secret, though he certainly made a few inquires.
One event we have both done before, the other we have not. One was expensive, the other is not. One is scheduled, the other is not. That’s the best he’d get!
We finally made our way to the parking garage in the heart of downtown Blue Ridge and made our way over to the hotel to find out, much to my heart’s dismay, that there were no last minute cancellations yet and thus no rooms. A day trip it was then!
Making our way downtown (did you sing that in your head? No? Just me? Alright then…) we were on our way to our first stop, but not before noting that this weekend happened to be the Paws in the Park weekend. Oh boy…would we be getting an anniversary puppy?? Stay tuned to find out!
Under a bright blue and cloudless sky we approached the hanging sign for Vertigo, our first planned stop for the day. Crossing the threshold, I turned to watch Garrett’s reaction and I could see his inner child making an appearance as the quiet buzz of the downtown street promptly shifted to mechanical clacks and dings. I was elated to note a large smile that caused those crinkles by his eyes I adore so much and a twinkle in his eyes as he took in the wall of assorted pinball machines before him. We bounced from one machine to another, indulging in 60 minutes of all you can play pinball. As we approached the end of our allotted hour, he proposed a deal; whoever scores the lowest on a certain machine would buy dinner. Game. On. Two words I’d regret in about 3 minutes and 13,000 points. I got gypped, my ball kept going straight down the center! He, however, would not accept this excuse and I was forced to accept defeat.
Off to the next stop! Since we were a bit ahead of schedule, we decided to stroll down Main Street and poke into whatever stores caught our eyes, one of which sold all things crystals. We browsed the wares before coming across an offer that just could not be passed up: crack your own geode! Picking up and evaluating each available geode, we decided we wanted to try our luck with one that did not have a hole in it, making what type of geode we selected yet one more surprise for the day. With four options before us, Garrett confidently made the decision, the purchase was made, and we followed the cashier outside where he strapped the crystal filled geode into the machine and a small crowd began to form around us. Excitement fill the air as we all watched him crank the machine until a crack was heard and our reward was revealed. Garrett had selected a gorgeous one for sure!
Wandering further down the street we decided to fill our rumbling tummies with some delicious hot dogs before popping over to peruse precious potential new Perry puppers at Paws in the Park. Say that five times fast! Here’s where I have to make a confession…If sweet, adorable, cuddly, kissy Bach had not already been adopted, we likely would have had a new addition to the family to announce! However, Carolina and Sterling can rest easy knowing that they do not have a new family member to compete with for attention as they compete with each other more than enough!
Prying ourselves away before we walked out with five new family members, we strolled to the final planned adventure for the day; the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway. As we made our way onto the car we were assigned, we were advised to snag a seat on our left side facing north to get the best view of the river during the first half of the ride. Much to my delight, there was ONE single seat left, so we plopped down and snapped a quick selfie, which the lady behind us photobombed and incited a goofy exchange!
Eventually another lady approached us, apologizing for interrupting and politely requesting that we switch seats with her friends currently seated on the mountain side of the train so that the trio could all sit together. The seat they were in would lead to us facing south on the river side on the return half of the ride, so it wasn’t a huge loss when we obliged. I know not everyone will agree with me here, but I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason, and this situation was no exception. Switching seats paired us with another couple who, like us, were celebrating their anniversary. Unlike us, they were celebrating their 20th! Even crazier? They were from the same area that we live in now! Though they did recently move, they return frequently which opened the door to what this train ride would ultimate suggest could be the beginning of a new and beautiful friendship.
We enjoyed their company, the striking colors of the leaves, and the leisurely river throughout the ride. Many topics were discussed, but my favorite perhaps was when we got into the deep and incredibly valuable topic of entrepreneurship, of which I am new to and exploring. With experience behind them, they graciously shared their contact information and offered to assist me on this journey through advice and suggestions (such as a book I am now waiting on). I began this trip already excited about my upcoming plans for my professional organizing business, but I left that train positively elated! I look forward to developing this newfound friendship in the near future. So thank you random lady on the train that wanted us to switch seats with her so she could sit by her friends but spent the whole train ride engrossed in her phone instead of taking a page from our book and enjoying both the scenery and the company, you allowed a door to swing wide open for me and our future! We were not the only duo with an empty seat available on that side of the train, so I will never know why it was us she chose to present her request to, but I am glad she did and it further supports my belief that everything happens for a reason.
Despite crossing all of our fingers and toes, the multiple attempts to land a last minute cancelled room at the hotel failed, which led us to one final location on this trip; dinner. I had browsed multiple restaurants around the downtown area, but the one that stood out the most to us was a pizzeria just down the road. We had high expectations as the reviews were really good, especially regarding their gluten free options, and I can confidently say that it did not disappoint.
Halloween being right around the corner, this restaurant was decked out and even sported a quaint arcade in the back that we ultimately neglected to investigate. The best part was the live band that performed the whole time we were there, which was a long time because boy was this place slammed! The poor waitress was answering calls, taking to-go orders, hosting, serving, and bussing tables pretty much by herself since 10am and you could read her stress levels on her face. The wait was well worth it and definitely explained the number of what appeared to be regulars that funneled in and why a table didn’t remain empty for longer than the time it took for her to begin bussing it. One regular patron even grabbed a rag and the spray bottle and set to work bussing his group’s table for her!
When it came time for us to order our drinks, Garrett decided to order a root beer float, which I can only assume he thoroughly enjoyed as he completely devoured it within minutes! We were finally served our delectable dinner choices (pepperoni for him and buffalo chicken for me) and enjoyed every bite as we listened to Rusted Melody play and sing various tunes followed by applause from the patrons. It was a wonderful way to end a wonderful day for sure!
Though the trip was too short for my taste, it definitely was one filled with great memories and enjoyment! I can’t wait to plan the next adventure!! Until then…
