And, the day was fantastic. We got there around 1030 and immediately began the outdoor activities. The first was a ropes course. None of us have ever done one and we didn't really know what to expect. It has three levels, the first 12 feet above the ground, the second was 24 and the third was 40. I got out on the first level and wanted to quit. I was afraid if I fell, I would hurt myself. I knew I wouldn't fall to the ground and I trusted the harness could support me, but it was disconcerting. However, after a few minutes, I was okay and completed levels 1 and 2. Anna was very nervous, but she pressed on and did the first two levels. Jack got up to level 3 and decided he had done enough. Kara, Thomas and Luke completed the entire course. Luke was completely fearless. Of course, he also weighs 44 pounds (important later) and is less than 4 feet tall, I saw him slip off the course a couple of times and he just picked his feet up and kept moving.
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| Can you see them up there? |
We all enjoyed the experience. From there, we went to the rock climbing wall. Thomas, Jack and Kara all tried it. Luke really wanted to go, but there was a minimum weight of 45 pounds. This is where we learned he weighs 44 pounds. He was extremely disappointed. Anna agreed to run around with him on the tiny ropes course. For a few minutes he would tell anyone who would listen that he wasn't big enough to go on the rock climbing wall, but fortunately, he has a pretty easy personality and quickly recovered. Thomas did the most difficult course and reached the top. Kara and Jack started on the easier end and both rang the bell. Since there was no line, they just kept moving up, ringing the bell each time. Then, Anna joined in. I think Kara and Jack climbed 3 times before a line built up.
Next, we headed to the sky tram. It is a 3ish minute ride to the top of the mountain. It was pretty neat. We were able to get off at the top and explore. The view was amazing! You can also hike up, but it is very steep and we weren't prepared (would need better shoes and water). But, it's on our list of things to come back and do!
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| The controversial carving |
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| Slightly zoomed in. It is hard to tell scale, but two school buses are the size of the middle horse and a six foot man would fit in the mouth of one of the horses. |
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| Stock photo of the tram, since I couldn't get a good picture |
After exploring for a bit, we rode back down the mountain and made our way to the museum. We watched a short film about the men who carved the mountain (interesting) and then walked around the museum. They had replicas of some of the carving so you could really see the scale. By now it was almost 2 so we went in search of lunch. Everyone was having so much fun, no one realized how late it was. Luke asked, is it even time for lunch? After lunch, Anna and Kara wanted to go back to the ropes course. The rest of us decided to play miniature golf. I almost won! I had two holes in one, but Thomas still go the victory. It was really fun. We played all eighteen holes and then went and found Anna and Kara. They had done the ropes course several times and Anna even worked her way through level 3! She had been so nervous when she started, but with time and patience she accomplished the whole thing. She and Kara had a great time together and were even commenting on how nice it was that they had a sister for a best friend. Those moments are often short-lived, so we enjoy them when they happen.
Unfortunately, the sky was starting to look ominous, so we quickly made our way to the historic site. They have transplanted several houses from the 18th century and decorated them with period furniture. It was interesting to walk through and see similarities to other historic homes we've visited (Mount Vernon, Stratford Hall, Pope's Creek, Sotterley, etc.). They had a kid's scavenger hunt, which kept Luke and Kara happy. It asked them to do things like count how many instruments they saw and find the house that had a sewing machine. The historic area also had a farm, but it was closed, likely due to the weather. After we had gone to a couple of the houses, it started to rain. Then, it started to pour. Thomas ran and got the car and we headed back to the main ticket area. They have a rainy day guarantee and since there was more we wanted to see and do, including trails and a train ride, we decided to take advantage. It was a super easy process and we are able to go back anytime within a year. It was an amazing place to visit and I was happy to see people of many different races enjoying all that it had to offer.
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| The rain turned into waterfalls on the mountain |
We went back to the hotel and were hoping to find someplace within walking distance for dinner. Even though our hotel was right next to the Georgia Aquarium and some other tourist attractions, nothing was open. We settled for t.v. dinners from the hotel lobby. Kara was excited to see Descendants 3. She watched the countdown and was thrilled when we said everyone could stay up and watch the entire movie. I thought they would fall asleep, but everyone stayed awake. It was a fun day.
Saturday was our last day. We had our hotel breakfast and then went to the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library. It was interesting to learn more about President Carter. He and Mrs. Carter are amazing humanitarians and powerful examples of people who have truly made a difference. The museum stated that hundreds of millions of lives have been improved thanks to their foundation. They have helped people in poverty-stricken countries have access to clean water and the tools necessary to eliminate diseases that have been eradicated in the United States and other wealthy countries. There were interactive exhibits for the kids and it was a good conclusion to our trip.
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| The girls and especially Luke LOVED this exhibit. We had to pry him away. |
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| Such simple ideas, we could use that attitude in the White House today. |
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