We Are Finally There {a scrapbook layout}

For those that have been following this blog, you know that we recently completed a cross country adventure from San Diego, California to Newport, Rhode Island with a two week stop over in Dahlgren, Virginia.  The photo in this layout was shot minutes after we unloaded our car and checked into our hotel.  This hotel room would be our home for two weeks and we were so excited to finally be done (for at least a little bit).  Just like the little sticker says, "Smiles All Around!"

Since this layout commemorates our trip across the United States, it's my play on stars (see that blue star paper) and {chevron} stripes.  But I do know that there is a lot going on that probably needs some explanation (for better or for worse). 

First, I used this amazing sketch from the 10.27 Sketch Thursday Challenge as my starting point.  I've watched a LOT of amazing scrapbookers play along each week.  I finally took the plunge and decided to play along too.

Second, the title.  "...we are finally there."  I swear I speak good English.  :)  

It's a response on the age-old whiny road trip question: "are we there yet?"  Every time Charlotte got fussy or angry during our drive, I imagined that if she could talk, she would be screaming:  "GET ME THERE ALREADY!" 

Third, check out this banner. 

I used map paper from the American Crafts Amy Tangerine collection.  Amazingly enough, the paper actually includes a large chunk of the route we drove through Arizona to Virginia.  The little blue brads are actually placed to mark some of the cities we stopped to visit (like Albuquerque, Amarillo, Memphis...)

The bottom of the layout includes another portion of the map tracking some additional cities we visited through Virginia (highlighted in the orange brads). 

What I initially hoped was to create a layered look of banner pennants.  However, the map pennants effectively covered the bottom layer of kraft pennats that I stamped with Lawn Fawn Teeny Tiny Backdrops.  Since they were so cute, I wanted to show you anyways.

Fourth, I added some hand stitching to incorporate more of that orange color.

And finally, for the journaling, I used Cosmo Cricket Tiny Type to write out the following along the perimeter of the layout: 

"We left San Diego bright and early on September 20.  After 9 states, 14 days of travelling, over 2800 miles of driving and only 1 mommy meltdown...we are finally there."

As always, thanks for stopping by!

Update 11/3:  Thanks for all the lovely comments!   Happy to say that this layout was chosen as a Sketchy Thursday Fave!  Aw...it's the little things that totally make my day.  :)

Cross Country Chronicles - Part 5

So we now (...finally) at a temporary two-week "layover" in Dahlgren, Virginia before heading up to our final destination - Newport, Rhode Island.

In CCC - Part 4, I left you all in Knoxville, Tennessee.  This is how we drove from Knoxville to Dahlgren.


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Day Ten.  Mile 2170.  Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee.  Great Smoky Mountains National Park is known for its biological diversity.  Over 100 species of native trees.  Over 1,500 other flowering plants.  200 species of birds, 66 types of mammals, 50 native fish species, 39 varieties of reptiles, and 43 species of amphibians.  This vast diversity also won the park international recognition from UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

We unfortunately didn't have too much time to enjoy the park.  But here are some photos from our stop at the state line and along the Appalachian Trail. 

The leaves are just starting to turn.

As you can see, it was FREEZING!  I don't think any of us were prepared for this type of weather!

Day Ten (Continued).  Mile 2240.  Asheville, North Carolina.  Seeing the Bilmore mansion for the first time literally made me gasp.  This house is HUGE.  The grounds are stunning.  But I was glad that the estate tour exceeded my expectations because the tickets were so ridiculously expensive!

No photos were allowed inside the mansion.  But this is Charlotte on the back balcony.  She cracks me up.  Here she is peering through the railing.

Justin and Charlotte walking along the Italian gardens.

A close up of Charlotte in the Italian garden.

This photo was from Antler Hill Village.  This is a random Biltmore wagon along the path to the barn.  Charlotte thought it was the coolest thing ever.

Justin and Charlotte in the tractor outside of the barn.

I'm not quite sure why but I found this photo amusing. 

 

This one is funny for more obvious reasons.  :)

Day Eleven.  Mile 2510.  Natural Bridge, Virginia.  We saw signs for the "Natural Bridge" while driving north on Interstate 81.  Justin remembered seeing paintings of a natural bridge at Monticello years ago and wondered if this was the same bridge.  So we pulled over and took a look.  I'm glad we did.

The Natural Bridge is almost 20 stories high and was formed when a cavern collapsed and left the span that stands today (or so the website says).  George Washington surveyed the site for Lord Fairfax and he allegedly carved his initials into the stone.

Part of the Lee Highway (US-11) even runs across the top of the natural bridge!

A view looking straight up.

George Washington's initials are allegedly inside that white box...

In the background are the Lace Falls, named so because they delicately fall over the rocks.  Justin says that is a euphemism for Lame Falls. 

Charlotte was so exhausted that Justin and I had to carry her back to the car.

Day Thirteen.  Mile 2710.  Falls Church, Virginia. Our final stop before Dahlgren was Falls Church, Virginia to visit some friends who moved back east about two years ago from San Diego.  Wait, that's not true.  We actually drove through Shenandoah National Park en route to Fall Church.  But since Charlotte was having an epic meltdown, there are no photos to share...  But anyways, as I was saying...

They have the most adorable five-month-old baby boy.  We did nothing but eat, drink and talk.  It was the perfect end to our very long road trip.  To Patrick, Sandi and Grant - a million and one thank yous!!

  
Day Fourteen.  Mile 2770.  Dahlgren, Virginia.  And after fourteen days and over 2770 miles, we finally made it to Dahlgren, Virginia.  Jusitn and Charlotte are clearly relieved...

So in Dahlgren, Virginia we will stay for another two weeks.  And then...Newport, Rhode Island!!  Stay tuned!

Cross Country Chronicles - Part 4

Here is an update on our travels through Tennessee.


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Day Seven Continued (from CCC - Part 3) / Day Eight.  Mile 1700.  Memphis, Tennessee.  After checking into our hotel in Memphis, we drove to the National Civil Rights Museum.  The museum was built around the Lorraine Motel, which is where Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated. It was so seamless how the exterior of the motel integrated into the museum facade.  No photography was allowed inside the museum but here are some photographs of the exterior.

Just behind the flower wreath is where Martin Luther King Jr. was shot while standing outside the balcony of the Lorraine Hotel.  He was staying in room 306.

Charlotte sitting outside the Lorraine Motel.

We then walked down Beale Street, which is a hub for all things blues, for a taste of the music scene.

And for dinner, we dined at Central BBQ.  Awesome pulled pork sandwiches!  While sitting there, I started to get food envy watching other diners eat BBQ nachos.  So Justin, being the oh so supportive husband that he is, ordered some for us to munch over while Charlotte played at the park.  Bad idea.  I think I was on BBQ overload at that point (and carne asada chips are just so much better).

Justin and his brisket plate.  I must say that the potato salad was also delicious. 

Charlotte and I with her mac 'n cheese and green beans.

The next morning, we headed down to Graceland.  We had no idea what to expect and were pleasantly surprised at how seemingly normal the experience was (i.e., no Elvis impersonators). 

Here are a few photos from the mansion tour to peak your interest.  :)

The front of the mansion.  The tour didn't include the top floor, which was where Elvis had his room.

Formal living room.  This is at the front of the house.  The peacock stained glass was pretty cool.  And the white couch on the right was ridiculously long.

The stairway near the front entryway.  Like I mentioned before, the upstairs living area is closed off.

This is actually the racquetball court.  Check out the all of gold records.  Ridiculous.

 

The Meditation Garden.  This is also Elvis' grave site.

Day Eight Continued/ Day Nine.  Mile 1930.  Nashville, Tennessee.  We didn't have any concrete plans for Nashville.  We found a parking spot downtown and just wandered around. 

The original Grand Ol' Opry.

Charlotte on the Country Music Walk of Fame.  Sadly, Justin and I didn't recognize too many names but Keith Urban is certainly one of my favorites.

The Country Music Hall of Fame.  Notice how the building looks like a piano keyboard.  We actually got to the museum just as it was closing.  Oh well, next time. 

I actually think the highlight of Nashville was walking across the Shelby Street Pedestrian Bridge.  It's apparently one of the longest pedestrian bridges in the world and on the National Registrar of Historic Places.  We got some fantastic views of downtown Nashville from the top and Charlotte tired herself out running around.  :)

The next morning, we made our way just outside of Nashville to visit The Hermitage, the home of President Andrew Jackson.  What an amazingly beautiful and well preserved mansion.  Almost all of the furniture, artifacts, and wall coverings were original to the home.  The tour guides, dressed in period attire mind you, were so patient and full of information.

For a tour of the grounds, a free audio tour was included (which was excellent).  Charlotte was fascinated with the little audio machine.  I still can't figure out what she was doing with it.  At times, she was using it like a magnifying glass.  A second later, she was talking into it like a phone.  Regardless, it kept her occupied so that Justin and I could enjoy the audio tour.

The most touching thing I learned about President Jackson was how devoted he was to his wife, Rachel.  She died before Andrew Jackson became president and is buried at the Hermitage (along with Jackson).  While listening to the audio description of how President Jackson would take solitary walks through the garden to visit his wife's grave, I started tearing up.  He never remarried.  I'm such a sucker for love stories.

Day Nine.  Mile 2110.  Knoxville, Tennessee.  I think our evening in Knoxville was as close to perfect as we could wish for.  The hotel had coin laundry facilities.  The hotel was also located right in downtown so there was no need for the car once we checked in.  Charlotte had a great time playing in the water fountain and playground at the World's Fair Park.  Our stop at the water fountain was unexpected so Justin had to actually run back to the hotel to get her a change of clothes.

The water fountain at the World's Fair Park.  You can also pay to go up to the observation deck in the Sunsphere (the giant gold ball in the background).

We then walked up to Market Square, an adorable pedestrian only area filled with resturants and coffee shops.  The square was buzzing with activity and was so family friendly.  We ordered some pizza and sandwiches from The Tomato Head, found a table in the square, and enjoyed a lovely resturant meal without the drama of dining out with a toddler.  Charlotte ran all around the square and could squeal as much as she wanted.

Since we were in such high spirits, we even let Charlotte eat some ice cream.  Happy girl.

Stay tuned for the next part of the Cross Country Chronicles.  I'll update everyone on our travels through the Great Smoky Mountains, Asheville and Virginia!!