Surprise visit to Mary Jo and Tim’s was next on our agenda. While there we not only hit several flea markets and antique stores, we also kayaked on Lake Keowee after climbing down their steep hill to the dock. What a gorgeous place to live. We also did some serious searching in corner of NC, SC, and GA for an RV lot for future retirement. We did find one but still searching before making that final decision. No we are not ready to stop traveling, just looking for the place for when we do slow down.

We finally made it to Asheville, GA to see the Biltmore during their fall season which was fabulous but want to one day come back during the Christmas season. The Biltmore Estate, home to George Washington Vanderbilt III, opened its doors to family and friends on Christmas Eve in 1895 and is still owned by the family. It is a 250-room mansion featuring 33 family and guest bedrooms, 43 bathrooms, 65 fireplaces, three kitchens and an indoor swimming pool. The surrounding grounds encompass 125,000 acres of forest, farms, dairy, 250-acre wooded park, and five unbelievable gardens. To step back in time and see the various rooms of the home is amazing. To walk the grounds and think of all the places you could play as a child is intriguing. They are in the process of refurbishing several more rooms and you see the steps taken to return these rooms to their original splendor. As an example the velveteen wallpaper in one of the bedrooms is weaved by hand in France. The grounds are manicured and the flowers are changed each season. (Unfortunately you cannot take pictures inside, only outside)

We ended our stay in South Carolina by going to Oktoberfest in Walhalla, SC, a treat that was definitely different but will not be on our annual calendar. The German Polka Band from Raleigh NC did liven up the festival.

After a few days at North Shore ROD Park in Greensboro, GA, we headed to our favorite camp – Camp Monaco in Wildwood, FL. While the coach was having its annual maintenance, we were able to see Ruth Ann’s Aunt and Uncle who live in the Villages – great place to live and stay young. We also traveled down to see nephew Chad, Katy and baby Wyatt in Tampa.

We then turned north and headed to St. Augustine, FL, the oldest city in the nation and they say the most charismatic. If you are a history buff you will absolutely love this town – and if not you will still enjoy all the various tours offered.

The best place to visit is Flagler College. Henry Morrison Flagler built three hotels in the town, the first one being Ponce de Leon Hotel which opened to the public in 1888. The hotel was known as the world’s finest hotel and you see why as you view the entrance, ballroom and other rooms decorated with Tiffany windows, murals by George Maynard, ornate 24 carat gold leaf overlay lions lighting the ballroom and main entry rotunda, Mosaic tile floors, and hand carved furniture and columns. The hotel is now Flagler College which is a 4 year liberal arts college where you can attend for $19,000 a year which covers tuition, room and board. The dinning room of the hotel is now the dining room for the college and has some of the old chairs from the 1800s still in use (these chairs are valued at $15,000 a piece).

Another hotel Flagler built at the same time is the Alcazar Hotel, built across the street. The hotel was closed during the depression. Mr. Otto C. Lightner was in town staying at the Ponce de Leon when he saw the Alcazar Hotel. He was looking for a place to show his Victorian collection of artwork and purchased the Alcazar in 1946. It is now known at the Lightner Museum and houses elegant displays of Victorian-era treasurer, Tiffany glass, and antique mechanical instruments. Twice a day you can learn about the history of these musical instruments and hear some of them play. It is another amazing place to see.

There are several other tours you can enjoy but we only chose a few: the Oldest House which was built in the early 1700s; the Old St. Augustine Village which possesses a collection of nine historic homes dating from 1790 to 1910; and Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, a fortress that has served six different nations and was built in 1672 by the Spanish to protect their empire in America. Along the trolley route, be sure to stop at the Old Drugstore and then walk over to St. George Street where you find many unique shops and restaurants. Along the trolley route you are also “introduced” to the Old Senator, a 600 year old Live Oak Tree.