Thanksgiving Trip - Day 5

Somehow, I slept until almost 0730 this morning!  After getting ready, I went down to breakfast and then drove to the nearby Enmarket for a gas fill-up (0840). Back in the room, I waited while the girls got ready for the day's excursions.  We finally left the hotel at 0945 and drove to The Albemarle.  Since we arrived on Wednesday, I've been exploring around (and inside) the old home (now a B&B) on the northeast edge of town. From this strategic location, the family is easily able to easily sortie for drinks, food and fun to multiple locations in the historic old mountain town.  Case in point, this morning we met up with Mary, Leo, Shannon and Sean and made plans to go hiking along the Blue Ridge Parkway (south of town).  Mollie, meanwhile, planned her own excursion to a chocolate factory with Kathy, Bonnie, Kelly, Ellen and Robert.  Brenna, Sean and I (Leo, Mary and Shannon were in the other car) drove back towards our hotel (US-70) and then took a scenic drive to the west.  Near the crossing of US-25, we stopped and walked on the Mountains to the Sea Trail for about an hour.  We never did find a waterfall (our intended plan) but we got some exercise and had some fun.  Afterwards, we continued west on the Blue Ridge Parkway until we approached I-26.  I'd been following Leo and got confused when he started driving on some nearby surface streets.  Eventually, Mary called to explain that we were headed to the Thirsty Monk Brewery in Ashville (Biltmore Park).  We arrived at around 1230 and ordered some beers (I got a flight of four).  Brenna tried some new stuff and we ordered a light lunch.  The kids played Connect Four while we relaxed.  Leo wanted to get some BBQ nearby but Mollie started texting and calling about wanting to join us for a visit to a Cidery in town.  We therefore headed back to The Albemarle and met up with more members of the family. Kevin and Deborah (who had planned the Cidery trip) then told us they wouldn't be ready until almost 1600 so Brenna and I (along with Leo, Mary and Shannon) drove back to the College Street Parking Deck (1440).  We walked around in the downtown area, going in an out of shops (my favorite place was called the Bee Charmer).  Mollie and Ellen, meanwhile, had made a trip to a butcher shop (closed) and plant store (they got some greenery).  We all converged at the Noble Cider Downtown Tap by 1500 and set up for some more flights and tasters.  Everyone had fun and we enjoyed learning about the tastes and production of the ciders and meads there.  Kevin and Deborah arrived a bit later and visited with us too.  By the end, we also saw Chad and Terry.  Still in search of BBQ, Leo led us across town to the Bear's Smoke House, where we ate dinner (ordered at 1755).  The food was very good and it was great to wrap up our visit to Asheville with some genuine North Carolina BBQ.  Afterwards, we walked around town and watched street performers and other evening activities (including the "pedal beer carts").  We were back at the parking garage by 1900 and headed back to The Albemarle (we saw Chad, Meghan, Theo and Erin on the way). For the rest of the evening, we visited, had drinks and snacks and the kids played games.  We stayed until everyone started to leave for the evening.  Our own family departed at 2200 and headed back to the hotel.  Once there, we got packed up and talked until bed time (2300).  Another great day!