Each spring we make it a point to travel to this magical place.
Which might very well be my favorite place in the world.
(I'm debating about which photo - the one above or the one below - to blow up and hang above the bed in my bedroom. Care to weigh in?)
We drive the loop through this park by car and by bicycle as many times as we can.
On our most recent trip we were able to see such abundant wildlife that it almost didn't feel real. Like this stealthy coyote or the three baby bear cubs and their momma.
We even spotted bear cubs in trees. I think I could die from the cuteness. But not really.
It seemed everyone was out shaking their tail feathers.
What made the trip even more special was that our daughters were totally into it. More than once Razor and I locked eyes, smiled simultaneously, and swelled with pride that our kids were as excited about it all as we were.
Those moments make all of the less glorious bits of motherhood completely and utterly worth it.
-dana
I want that trail picture over my bed too! So where is this place? No, don't tell, don't want it overun...just name the state please.
ReplyDeleteHow cropped is the 2nd photo? ie, can you show more of the mountains on the left side? Because I like both photos, for different reasons - I like the blueness of the mountains, and those trees look almost haunting. Dana, you do wonderful things with your camera, but I'm sure it's a lot easier when surrounded by such beauty. :)
ReplyDeleteThe below photo. Your lines and balance are fantastic in that one.
ReplyDeleteLiking the road shot! Love all the bear cubs:)
ReplyDeleteWow, what a magical place! I can see why this is a favorite. Amazing to see so many fabulous wildlife sights. Those are rare moments!
ReplyDeleteI say use both
ReplyDeleteWow - what a beautiful part of the country! Nothing like that in Texas I can assure you - not that I've ever seen. So glad your daughters appreciate it - that's some good parenting on ya'lls part. Jenn
ReplyDeleteYou were really lucky to get a picture of the 3 cubs. Very cool! All of your pictures are great! I think I would blow up the below picture with the road.
ReplyDeleteI love the photo of the lane with the huge tree.
ReplyDeleteWhere IS this magical place???
the top photo is amazing!
ReplyDeleteAt first I thought for sure the first one, then as I scrolled down the second one took my breath away. And I'm such a city girl that it totally freaks me out to see a "stealthy coyote" and a momma bear with cubs. It must have been so cool, but I would've peed in my pants!
ReplyDeleteI can see why it is your favorite place. GORGEOUS!!
ReplyDeleteFrom a Photographer's stand point, I would go with the second photo. The slight breeze thru the trees makes it more serene, and the wood-post fence adds a nice repetition to the windy road.
The top photo is nice too, but the trees seem to blend with the background, making the foreground hard to see at first. I love the blue in the mountains, It's almost unreal.
What beautiful photos! I like the top photo the best. The colors are so rich!
ReplyDeleteThe feeling of your children enjoy the trip like that is priceless.
ReplyDeleteI think the first picture screams to be interpreted as a landscape quilt! :) All those different blues and greens are breathtaking!
Which photo? Depends on where it will hang. Will a vertical or horizontal fit better? You would never catch me riding a bike through bear infested woods!
ReplyDeleteLooks like Cade's Cove so I like the top one because I love the mountains that's why I live near them:)
ReplyDeletetake care
Kim
Wow! fabulous pics :) It's the second one for me,just so inviting to go see what's at the end of the lane :) Happy Days Dana!
ReplyDeleteI cannot choose... Those blue mountains are a.maz.ing! =-) And I want to meander down that road in the 2nd one... OMGOSH, those cubs!!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous - and I LOVE that second pic!
ReplyDeleteHow beautiful! Is it Cades Cove? I really like the second pic, but the first may "need" to be framed and hung somewhere else in the room.
ReplyDeleteLucky you to catch all that beautiful wildlife...so where is this heavenly place? you never did say...
ReplyDeleteThis farm looks like a piece of heaven. I love all of your captions that go with every photo. Thank you so much.
ReplyDeletei say pic # 1
ReplyDeletemy hubby says pic #2
i'm thinkin...both of them...different walls???
xo
eva
Both. You should make it happen.
ReplyDeleteSeen the first shot and loved it...scrolled down to #2 and really loved it, so my vote is for #2.
ReplyDeleteabsolutely the second photo.
ReplyDeleteThe second one ~ love, love, love it!!
ReplyDeleteI too love Cade's Cove! I had the chance to visit there in 2008 and desperately want to go back for another visit. For me being in the cove felt like a step back in time when you can relax and enjoy what is really important in life....family being one of them. I love the first picture you posted. I have a similar picture that I took there framed in my bedroom as well. I'll always rememeber that trip. Thanks for sharing your pictures!
ReplyDeleteKim
Love the first picture and funny thing these are the colors I am working with right now.
ReplyDeleteLovely hike thanks for taking us along :0).
I love that you know how blessed you are Dana.
Happy sewing
oh, i don't think i could choose between those two pics. i could stare at either one of them endlessly.
ReplyDeletealthough, there IS something about the one with the road that draws me in...
I'd hang both photos. Absolutely beautiful.
ReplyDeleteOMG-These are fantastic photo's. I even called my hubby over to look. We both like the one where you are looking down the path. But really any of them are worth framing for different reasons. So our suggestion is to frame both.
ReplyDeleteI'm afraid to see a bear when I walk and they have become more common around here. I just think I could be alright not seeing one. I wonder if they would care if I was walking by...
ReplyDeleteBoth of the photos are fantastic!! If I had to choose I would pick the second one. Makes me wonder where the road leads.
ReplyDeleteI would go with both.
ReplyDeletesounds ohh so cool....love family times like that! I love the second picture. I love the road in the middle, I have always loved pictures like that!! :)
ReplyDeletewow! So cool to see all those animals! It looks like a smokey mountain safari!
ReplyDeleteI love both of those pictures. I think I would put the landscape mountain one up. One, it's landscape so would probably center over your bed nicely, two, it's all blues and greens and grays which are gorgeous. 3. just because.
love them both for different reasons. I too thought of Cade's Cove when I SAW THEM. We went there with our daughter and 4 year old grandson last year and he loved it as much as we do. Beautiful pictures all around.
ReplyDelete