I took an unintended break from blogging the back half of this week because getting my half marathon training plans finished and the group organized has been a time consuming (but fun!) endeavor. I also had a few other projects due and vacation was so wonderful that I wanted to soak it up while I was there.
I have quite a few photos to share with you today from our trip to Grandfather Mountain Golf & Country Club. As I shared earlier this week, one of our clients and friends has a condo there that she so kindly invited us to use. It was my first trip to Grandfather and it’s a very special place. This was one of my favorite vacations that I’ve ever taken.
Grandfather Golf & Country Club is a 1,900 acre mountain resort that’s located at the base of Grandfather Mountain in Linville, NC. Though it’s an easy 2-hour drive from Charlotte, it feels like you’ve escaped to somewhere far away. It’s extremely quiet, peaceful and serene. We had wifi at the condo but cell service was hard to come by…which I loved! The development features a mix of condos and custom-built homes but they are all very well spaced out and nothing ever felt crowded. Our condo was in a great location and opened right up to the lake and a bridge that crossed the lake and took you over to the club.
We loved our spot and GGCC so much that we only left the resort a handful of times to go hiking, to the grocery and to visit a friend.
We didn’t golf but the course is gorgeous and I’ve heard it’s one of the best in the state. The landscaping all over GGCC is this lovely.
There’s also a little beach on the lake. We didn’t get to visit because of storms that rolled in every afternoon but it’s a nice spot for some sun bathing and lake swimming.
We enjoyed the gym complex very much. It features a huge athletic field with a walking track around it.
Check out this view for cardio. Can’t beat it. I did run outside one day and HOLY HILLS! It was quite a cardio workout!
The gym was well equipped, clean and never too crowded.
It also had a nice yoga/barre studio space.
On our last evening of vacation Tanner asked what my favorite part of the trip was and I said, “this.” We were outside throwing the ball to the girls and watching them enjoy running free and swimming.
I can honestly say that I don’t know if I’ve ever seen Sullie so happy. We couldn’t keep her out of the water. We nicknamed her “Sullie Phelps” because every time we’d go outside she’d beeline to the water and stand there waiting for us to throw the ball.
She’s a smart cookie and quickly figured out a system where she waited in the water for us to throw the ball while Zoey brought us the ball on the banks. That gave Sullie a head start to go after it and swim it back.
She’d then give it back to Zoey and the whole process would begin again. Sullie swam and swam and swam some more. She’s our little fish!
When they weren’t swimming they were drying off and sunbathing.
We took an awesome hike up the Profile Trail on Grandfather Mountain on Tuesday. I’ll share all the details of the hike in a separate post. I get asked about NC hikes a lot and this one deserves lots of detail!
On Wednesday it was rainy so we had a lazy day. We worked most of the morning and then watched a movie, took a nap, went to the gym and then walked across the bridge for dinner at the clubhouse.
We cooked in every night except for this one. I’ll share a separate post with vacation week eats tomorrow!
On Thursday we went to visit some friends who have a mountain house just down the road from Grandfather. Tanner got to go fly fishing.
And I got to hang out with my girlfriend and her three adorable kiddos. This cutie put on her mom’s sunglasses and said to me, “take my picture.” Ha!
We had a champagne toast and one final ball throwing and swim session on Thursday night.
And then packed up the car and the girls and headed home on Friday. Zoey was passed out for most of the trip although I have to share this story. We were stopped at a red light and there was a cement truck next to us. Zoey was majorly freaked out by the spinning truck and sat there growling and barking at it until the light changed. {insert cry-face emoji here} It was hysterical. She’s a nut.
We’re back in Charlotte feeling about a million times lighter, recharged, rested and connected. There’s something so special about the mountains and this trip was just what we needed. I’m so grateful that we could enjoy it together and with the pups.
Do you travel with your dogs?
Favorite mountain activity?
