Growing up, we spent a lot of time in the mountains of Western NC, in Franklin, Bryson City and beyond. It was full of adventures like Sliding Rock, tubing down Deep Creek, and browsing the touristy gem shops all over the region. Some of my fondest memories are of going with my family up to the mountains and escaping the heat of Atlanta during the summer months. It was at least 10 degrees cooler up there. My mother’s relatives were numerous in Florida and they all came up during various times over the summer so we always ran into family when we were up there and had all sorts of day trips that we enjoyed. Those were the sweet and simple days of childhood! Not costly vacations, but sweet times spent with extended family.
Lauren grew up going up there too and spent a lot of time with my parents when they built their mountain house in Murphy back in the 80’s and also camping on Deep Creek, enjoying tubing and those mountain streams that are so prolific in NC. She wants her girls to experience some of the same things she did as a child and so this year she took them to Deep Creek and they rented a cabin by the creek with lots of tubing and other adventures happening all week. My sister and brother-in-law, Renee and Bruce, went up for 4 nights and Mark and I joined them for 2 nights. It was so enjoyable all over again to experience Deep Creek for the first time in years. I’m 63, but not too old for tubing apparently and there were 6 of us in the water this hot July afternoon. Me, Lauren, Philip, Bruce, Parker and Iris all tubed together and it was so much fun! Took me right back to my childhood. The tubes have improved a lot. Back then, it was black truck innertubes with plywood seats strapped on with rope if you wanted to upgrade to a seat for an extra $2!. Worth it to keep your hiney from hitting those mountain creek rocks.
Let me give you a little history of our family’s connection to NC and this area in particular. I think I’ve shared it before but it’s worth a revisit. My grandaddy Blount, my mama’s daddy, had 4 siblings and they all grew up in Florida near Plant City, Durant to be exact. They all discovered the mountains of NC in their retirement years and so when one of them found mountain property in Franklin, NC and decided to build a cabin, the siblings all built cabins and our extended family all came up to visit during the summer months all during the 70’s and beyond. It was so fun to hang out with our 2nd, 3rd and probably 4th cousins who we barely knew, but we were all family. Going on day trips was the highlight and once we found Deep Creek in Bryson City, NC, we spent many summer days floating down that creek in innertubes, cooling off and having lots of fun. Picnics were plentiful and there was an abundance of food to feed the hungry kids coming off the creek. So many great memories!
{mom, Aunt Evelyn, Uncle Roland, who is blind and was a missionary and pastor for many years (one of two brothers left) and Uncle Eugene in front}
I have to pause here and let you know that we lost our Uncle Eugene (my mom’s younger brother) two weeks ago. We took mom down to visit him in January when this pic was taken and knew that his days were numbered, we just didn’t know how many were left. I’m so glad we got in that last visit. He will be greatly missed, him and his wife, our sweet Aunt Mary who passed away from cancer 4 years ago. It’s so hard to lose these seniors in our family. Mom has outlived 4 of 6 siblings now.
Back to NC, let me share a few pics from the 60’s and 70’s for your enjoyment. The cameras were not great back then, but the memories are still intact.
My Grandaddy Blount and his 4 siblings {Clarence, Eva, Lovic, Myra, and Lenora} I love this picture with the women in their dresses and sensible shoes.
My grandaddy had a Brownie camera, remember those shaped like a box, that he carried around all the time taking pics so all of these pics are probably his. This is all of them in the mountains of NC. They all fell in love with those mountains and escaped Florida during the summer months.
Three Blounts married 3 Porters (the 3 on the right) and let me tell you that made for some confusing family tree history. I never figured it all out and when you throw in the Hinsons that married into the family, it really got confusing. I used to ask my mama all the time, how are we related to them?
Here’s one of those day trips we took on one of the Smoky Mountain parkways. My sister on the left, me, mom’s Aunt Eva, and my mama. Not sure where daddy was, but I’m sure he was there. I think I was about 12 in this picture and it looks like I’m eating something. We were lanky kids back then and I’m right back in those Bermuda shorts now.
Grandaddy Blount added this caption “The Slides” on this picture. We all loved Sliding Rock, it’s still there and I’m sure it’s a bit fancier than it was back then. We wore our old cut off jeans and sometimes slid right on the rock, although this looks like an innertube was involved. That might be me in this pic, not sure.
Moving on to Deep Creek, we don’t have a lot of pictures of us tubing on Deep Creek because we didn’t have a lot of cameras handy back then, but here are a couple. Pretty sure that’s me in the front with some of my cousins.
And that’s me to the right in this pic. We wore old tennis shoes and old shorts and t-shirts in the creek. Deep Creek hasn’t changed much at all except more and more people have discovered it and now it’s a big destination for camping and tubing. It was pretty packed last week with lots of people there for the 4th of July. Great place to cool off and enjoy a summer day beating the heat. I always liked it when it was really hot and not cloudy since that water was so cold. I didn’t get cold at all this time either since we had a nice hot day.
My cousin, Howard, the Backroad Planet travel blogger just shared more pics with me of Deep Creek and these are circa late 80’s. Lauren is about the same age as Parker in these pics. I don’t remember ever seeing these pics before, so it’s been fun to reminisce.
On the left is a family we grew up in church with, Tony and Sue Brown and their kids. That’s me, my sister, Renee, Howard and Lauren on the right. I can tell by the hairstyles about what year this was too. There’s a good shot of those black truck innertubes we had back then complete with plywood seats and ropes.
Me watching Lauren and making sure she didn’t fall in the creek. She loved this creek too.
Me, Howard, Renee and Lauren. Lauren definitely reminds me of Parker in these pics. They both had a great time at Deep Creek.
Floating down the river, it was crowded that day. You can see Lauren with me in my tube on the left side of the pic.
{Renee, mom and dad on the left, me with Aunt Evelyn and Uncle Roland on the right}. They are Howard’s parents and the same people in that very first pic up top}
Mom and dad had an old camper and they took it to Deep Creek for years. I was in my early 30’s here and we would go up and hang out with them. We had such fun and yum at the food my mom could cook in that camper. So good! This might have been a fish fry not sure. They would always have plenty of vegetables to cook up from the garden too.
I’m so glad he dug out these old pics!
And here we are after tubing, Lauren, Parker and me. We got in and posed on our innertubes after we finished floating down the creek that day, since no one would risk taking their phone. That’s why it’s hard to get photos, but it sure is fun to do! See how fancy those innertubes are now? Even headrests and handles to carry them. I’ll share a little video too of us tubing in some rapids at the very end. This creek is not that deep in spite of its name and has plenty of rapids but nothing too scary. I ended up losing one of my Croc shoes I was wearing that last time getting out. Oh well, they were mainly my garden shoes and I should have known better than wearing them in the creek since they were slip ons. Parker kept say, Rhody I’m sorry you lost your shoe.
Here we are in a little video:
Renee and Mark didn’t tube so they drove cars up and dropped us off at the top of the creek with our tubes and we floated down, about an hour on the water. So much fun!
Lauren was sharing pics with us before we got up there, so here are a few from her of their tubing adventures. In spite of Iris’s big smile here, she wasn’t exactly a fan of tubing. Parker loved it but after tubing one day, when Lauren asked Iris again about going tubing, she said “I never want to tube again”. But we talked her into going with us when we all went that day.
Parker is the more adventurous of the two girls. I was always the adventurous one with me and my sister. Aren’t they cute (ages 6 and 4)? They will soon have a new baby sister in early September and we can’t wait to meet her!
Lauren and the girls. Even being pregnant didn’t stop Lauren from tubing.
Philip and the girls.See how pretty Deep Creek is, those woods haven’t changed a bit in all these years.
Iris gets tired of walking, so she had help from dad one day. They were probably going to look at a waterfall this day.
Lauren and Parker.
They even went horseback riding one day. Of course, Parker loved that.
There were even goats nearby for petting.
Parker and me on the water. My hair was in vacation mode after tubing the day before, but that’s OK. We don’t worry about being glamorous in the mountains.
Took these pics right outside their cabin on the creek. We tubed all the way down to their cabin that day.
See how pretty it is? The rapids are so much fun.
I forgot to take a picture of their cabin, but it’s right above the creek and there are lots of cabins to rent there. You can check out the Deep Creek Campground site for all the information on camping here and the cabins. They stayed in Mountain Goat cabin and it was perfect for them, with a bedroom and bunkbeds for the girls.
Coming back from tubing that day, you can see how fancy these new tubes are, they were very comfy with solid seats in the bottom.
Iris on the porch.
Fun with sparklers, what childhood dreams are made of! I loved them as a child too.
We stayed in town at a little motel, the Relax Inn. It was fine for a couple of nights, nothing fancy but clean and we could walk to downtown.
That man of mine!
Mark and I walked downtown one afternoon and I took lots of pics so enjoy these. Bryson City is a quaint and cute little town and they have plenty of water activities and train rides going on all year long. We did the Polar Express out of here a couple of years ago.
I shared the High Test Deli in that post when we ate there last time, but we stopped and picked up food again this year and it was good. We took it to their cabin and ate on the porch. Their homemade ice cream sandwiches are delicious!
The flowers blooming around town were just gorgeous! Picture perfect summer day.
We always liked going in the hardware store when we were in town. Mom used to buy these big speckled melamine mixing bowls in there years ago, but they aren’t there any longer. I think she still has them.
Mark and I were going back to the High Test deli for another ice cream sandwich, but we didn’t get there before they closed, so we went in Soda Pop’s ice cream shop for treats.
So cute and retro!
Mark got a peach milkshake and I got a root beer float.
One day we drove over to Highlands, NC, a popular getaway town for tolks in Atlanta. I didn’t grow up going there a lot, but I know it’s a cute town with lots of shops and restaurants and expensive real estate. There and Cashiers are both cute towns that get a lot of visitors from Atlanta.
We drove across the mountain and it was such a pretty scenic drive, those winding roads hugging the edge of the cliff with sheer drops straight down the mountain can feel scary.
Lauren had told us to stop at Dry Falls and we found it just in time before we passed the entrance. Definitely worth a stop to see. You park and then walk down stairs to a nice walkway and you can walk all the way under the falls.
Had to take a pic here too.
Isn’t that pretty?!
You can see how tiny those people look down there.
We also drove by Bridal Veil falls but didn’t stop. We remembered driving under those falls when we were kids, but they had it blocked off so it was only pedestrians now. It wasn’t nearly as big as we remembered! But Dry Falls was gorgeous to see in person again!
A shot of hydrangeas driving through Highlands.
We only drove through Highlands and then on to Cashiers in the car. We did stop and pick up food to eat at picnic tables, but decided the town of Highlands was just too crowded to get out and walk. All the parking lots looked full and there were a lot of people on the streets. Masks are required in NC now to go inside any shops or restaurants. Some people were wearing their masks on the streets, but we only wore them inside when we went in.
Being on Deep Creek almost made us forget there is still a pandemic going on. It sure was a nice respite from all that’s going on in the world right now and I’m so glad we took a couple of days to enjoy being there again and remember those days of youth. It was fun to see Parker and Iris experience it all for the first time. They loved it!
I hope you enjoyed my recap of our family adventures, past and present! Thanks as always for stopping by to see me and I hope you all are enjoying your 4th of July holiday this year.
Here’s another family post about Franklin, NC that you might enjoy too, I wrote it a couple of years ago.
Barbara Moore says
Precious pictures, Rhoda, both old and new!
Karen says
Thank you for letting me live vicariously through you! My husband and I had our vacation planned this year to NC for the longest vacation we’ve ever been able to take. Then my father in law died unexpectedly and soon after the Corona virus. As a result we had to cancel our trip. Now with my mother in law living with us I don’t think a trip is in our future. So thank you for letting me live the experience through you.❤️
Marjorie J Lavender says
Blogger Ashley Hacksaw lives in Bryson City and she and her husband are renovating houses and businesses there. She’s also an artist………
Rhoda says
I do follow her, but haven’t in awhile. I’ll have to see what she’s up to now. I just looked at her blog and she painted a trout so now I’m wondering if she did the one I took a picture of. She’s got a new one of a quilt trout that she said will be hanging up soon.
Nancy Sharp says
Thank you for all the pictures. We weren’t able to travel to our condo up there this year. I am 74 with a chronic lung disease. There has been an uptick of Covid-19 cases in our area here in Florida. I feel like I’m going to be quarantined forever!😀 So it was fun to see all those familiar places.
Rhoda says
Nancy, hoping this virus will calm down eventually so that we all can go out and do more.
Mary Sturgeon says
Awww, so sweet. Thank you for sharing your family and vacation ❤️ My daughters and I went with a friend to see her family in Hickory, NC. Such a beautiful area. We went gem stone mining one day, up to Blowing Rock, up to Boone and also Montreat. We went rock hopping in Montreat. All were so beautiful. I can not wait until I am are able to go back and show the area to my husband. So enjoyed you sharing ❤️.
Rhoda says
That sounds fun too. I’ve never been to Montreat but heard it’s so nice up there.
Tee says
Loved all the photos. Those old ones look like they came out of my grandmother’s picture box. My grandmother grew up in Murphy, actually the Peachtree community, so western NC is a really special place for my family. Your mom was really sporty with the red tennis shoes.
Rhoda says
Same area for sure. That picture of us is one I had never seen until recently. It’s been hidden away in photo albums and my cousin is scanning and restoring some of the old pictures, so it was fun to see that one.
Susan says
Oh, Rhoda, this post was so wonderful….you brought back so many fun memories of my childhood family trips to the NC mountains. We lived in Spartanburg, SC, so we made a lot of day trips to Sliding Rock, Cashiers and Highlands, and visited the waterfalls. Now I want to check out Deep Creek! Last year we went tubing with four friends diwn the New River near Boone…I agree, the modern tubes are so nice….we always used black truck tubes when I was a child…you always had to be careful of the long metal air valve! Thanks for sharing your family’s trip….I felt like I was there with you…thanks for triggering my own wonderful memories.
Susan says
I’m very sorry about your Uncle Eugene’s passing. He looks like such a sweet man! I know Heaven was rejoicing in his Honecoming! Prayers are with your mom and her siblings, and all of your family.🙏🙏🙏
Rhoda says
Thank you Susan, we will miss him so much. That generation is a force and are the backbone of our family.
Rhoda says
That sounds so fun and we had many of the same memories. Yes, I remember those big air valves too, they could scratch you up! What fun it was!
Eve says
Thank you for sharing. What beautiful memories you have of growing up. Family is everything! Continue to make new memories with your beautiful family.
Sorry for the loss of your Uncle.
Sharon says
Any chance we’re related? My maiden name was Hinson and that side of the family all came from northern Florida (Grandin, Florahome) and before that Georgia and the Carolinas I believe.
Rhoda says
Could be, Sharon, I do not know all the connections but the Hinson family definitely married in there somewhere.
Teresa says
Rhonda,
I just love seeing all your pics! My late father in law who was passed away last September at age 90 loved this area. I have a treasured picture of him, my husband and myself in the mountains of Bryson City in 2012 when we rented a cabin there. We went to a big dam (I think it was Fontana Dam) and he loved seeing that and we went on the Smoky Mtn. Train ride as well.
Its so nice that Lauren is letting the girls experience some of the places and things she did as a young girl. I just love seeing all the old pics from the 50/60’s when all men wore a hat no matter where they were going and most women all wore shift dresses rarely pants.
Also, I am sorry to hear of your Uncle Eugene’s passing. I remember when you and your sister took your Mom to visit him back in the first part of the year. Its hard I know on siblings when they see their siblings pass away. My husbands granny was the last living of 8 siblings and she had a hard time with being the last.
Teresa says
Sorry meant Rhoda not Rhonda! T
Teresa says
This is probably my favorite post you’ve ever done about your sweet family. I remember family vacations like that. Thank you for sharing.
(May I ask where you got your swimsuit?)
Rhoda says
Hi, Teresa, I’m so glad you enjoyed it. Family posts seem to resonate with so many of you. That swimsuit is two pieces from two places. Bottoms with the skirt are from Kohls and the top is from Target. I love having black bottoms that can go with a lot of different tops. I have several I wear with this one.
Elaine says
Thank you for sharing these memories with us! It truly gives us more of an on-site into who are and we all know you’re special. I’ve never met you and probably never will but I feel like you’re a friend! Blessings to you and your fam!
Rhoda says
Thank you, Elaine, that’s so sweet and yes, this does give a glimpse into how I grew up. It was a wonderful childhood!
Kathy says
Such a sweet post! I live in Sylva which is between Bryson City and Cashiers. You would love our little town too!
Rhoda says
Kathy, I’ve been to Sylva too a few years ago and love it!
Pat says
That was fun! Thanks for sharing.
Brenda says
Oh Rhoda, thank you for sharing. Brings back memories for me. My daddy’s youngest brother, (after ,daddy) was Singer Sewing Machine Regional manager TN, GA, AL not sure other states in 70’s lived in Knoxville. His son just moved in to their dream home in Bryson City. from Conyers, GA. hoping to visit when my health improves. This uncle had a movie camera he would take movies of us swimming and run it backwards we laughed so hard when he did that.
So Happy y’all had this family time and that your niece shared her childhood memories with her husband and daughters.
You sound like me, I have 1 sister, I was always the more adventurous, LOVE the water, skiing, hiking being outdoors. My 3 children love the water and all my grandchildren. Got it from their Mimi.
Love that Parker calls you Rhody.
Thanks for memories made me smile. We lost a friend yesterday to Covid 19. Trusting God to see us through. Earthly home or Heavenly Home.
Stay safe and healthy we pray.
Rhoda says
HI, Brenda, that’s great, we all have good family memories. I love those old home movies, they should be treasured. Lauren started calling me Rhody when she was young and passed it onto her girls.
So sorry about your friend, these are some sad times.
Karen says
Glad you all had so much fun and got to visit with the girls!! Loved the pictures! You should frame the one of you, Parker and Iris! It is the best!
Susan says
Thank you for sharing your memories. Great stories for sure. I’m from Wisconsin and my husband and I have done a couple of motorcycle trips in that area. Beautiful scenery and great roads for motorcycling. We also visited those waterfalls and hiked underneath. Just gorgeous!
Monna Kracker says
Rhoda,
Beautiful pictures and looks like a wonderful relaxing fun mini vacation. Always love the family history and pictures. We were in Franklin, N>C> several years ago and then drove the winding road to Highlands and got to see all the waterfalls. It was a rainy weekday in the fall so nothing was crowded. If you ever get back to Franklin I have a cousin who has an antique store called Attic Antiques. It is quite charming and had been voted the best fro several years. So glad everyone enjoyed the mountains.
Rhoda says
That’s a beautiful drive for sure. The good thing about NC is it doesn’t change much over the years. Those natural treasures are there for the next generations to enjoy. Thanks for the antique store recommendation.
Donna+Ingalls says
What wonderful family pictures! How great that Lauren is making such wonderful memories with the girls. This looks like such a fun place to visit. I’ll bet it’s spectacular in the fall when the leaves change colors.
I do think this was my very favorite post of yours so far! Thank you.