Our annual anniversary trip in November was another one for the photo album. This year we chose Johnson City, Tennessee, as our destination. It’s just over our western border, on the other side of the Blue Ridge Mountains. We had a few different routes to choose from but we settled on taking the interstate as far as Morganton and then following two-lane county and state roads across the mountains.

The three-hour drive was filled with beautiful autumn leaves and small mountain towns. Even in spite of getting stuck behind slow drivers a couple times it was a peaceful trip.

We arrived in town just in time for lunch so we headed straight for Holy Taco Cantina in downtown. There’s nothing like a couple tacos to make you feel like a human again after a long trip.

Feeling refreshed we walked back to the car and went shopping at a couple used bookstores. Book Lover’s Warehouse was our first stop. It’s a small but fully stocked store but specializes in paperbacks. The largest section was romance but we still walked out with a couple treasures.

Next we walked into book lover’s heaven at the two-story Mr. K’s Used Books. It’s a chain of four stores – the one in Asheville is a frequent stop of ours. This one has become our favorite, though! We spent quite a while browsing the aisles and managed to keep our purchases to only a few books. It was so tough!

With tired feet and new books to read we checked into our hotel. Occasionally we’ll stay at local hotels but our usual go-to is Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express. We prefer to spend our money on experiences, shopping, and eating out.

After unpacking and settling in to our room we napped and read books until it was time to get ready for dinner. Our first day there was our actual anniversary so Cecil found us a wonderful, local restaurant. Dinner at Label Restaurant was absolutely amazing. Located downtown it has a great ambience with a bar along one wall, exposed beams, bookshelves, and wood paneling. For our meal I had the best shrimp & grits I have ever tasted and Cecil had the Angry Bird turkey burger. So yummy! For dessert Cecil took advantage of their Thursday drink special and ordered a scotch. We shared the cinnamon roll with ice cream. If you’re ever in the area we highly recommend Label!

Usually I am the early riser but on Friday morning Cecil was up and ready to go before I was. We had breakfast at Maple Street Biscuit Company and then came back to the hotel so I could get ready for the day. If you love fried chicken at breakfast then Maple Street is a must for you.

Once I was finally ready for the day we set out to explore. Our first stop, of course, was at the local coffee shop Open Doors Coffeehouse. You know how you walk into a business and it immediately feels warm and welcoming? Open Doors is one of those places. I ordered my usual mocha latte to go (very good – 5 out of 5 beans!) and enjoyed looking around at the decor. For a Friday morning it was very busy but the staff was friendly and efficient. I learned that most of their profit goes to a local non-profit called Rise Up!, which “strives to inspire, impact, and influence kids for life!” I love any business that makes giving back to the community a priority of their business plan.

Next we drove to Elizabethton – a town east of Johnson City on the Doe River. There was a cute downtown but because we were early most shops weren’t open yet so instead we walked around the Covered Bridge Park. The bridge was constructed in 1882 and has survived countless floods. Today it is a pedestrian bridge and a lovely place to visit. Our favorite part, though, was watching and listening to a flock of ducks that had set up residence on the bank. We couldn’t stop giggling because every once in a while one would quack in a way that sounded like they were laughing!

We tore ourselves away from the duck convention and went in search of an attraction that Cecil had found. He kept it a surprise and boy was I surprised! He pulled up at the Backyard Terror’s Dinosaur Park and neither of us knew what to think. The entrance and small gravel parking lot is next to someone’s house but the nondescript entrance does not prepare you for the coming experience. You quickly realize that this park is a labor of love. The owner, Chris Kastner, had dreams of owning a life-size dinosaur so in 2007 he built his first one. Today the park is filled with over 50! I’m not sure how long the winding, gravel trail is but it takes you through the woods and allows you to see each of the dinosaurs up close and personal. On a weekday Cecil and I pretty much had the place to ourselves. Admission is free and if you’re looking for a truly unique attraction then you won’t want to miss the dinosaur park. I mean, who doesn’t want to hang out with dinosaurs?

After all that excitement we decided it was time for lunch so we headed back to Johnson City. We settled on Scratch Brick Oven and were not disappointed. First, it’s located in a restored 1900 house (super cool!) and secondly, the pizza is cooked in a brick and riverstone oven (so delicious). You fill out an order card with what you want on your pizza and then they make it fresh. Cecil and I each ordered a 10″ pizza so we could personalize our toppings. Mine had peperone, red sauce, red onions, basil, and cheese. YUMMY.

With full bellies and tired legs we went back to the hotel and crashed. Vacation naps are the best! The weather was quite chilly so once we woke up from our nap comas we decided to take a lap around the local mall. The Sears store was closing for good so I bought the cutest Christmas scarf and a new purse on major markdown. From there we wandered Books-A-Million and then back to the hotel to freshen up.

We love supporting local restaurants and businesses as much as possible on our trips so for dinner we ventured out to Cootie Brown’s. It was very busy but we were seated pretty quickly and service was excellent. Their entrees vary from Jamaican, New Orleans, Mexican, Italian, to American. I had a salad and Cecil had a variety of tamales.

We rounded out a wonderful day with dessert at Mona Lisa’s Gelato & Cafe. It doesn’t matter how cold it is outside – I am always in the mood for ice cream! Gelato is by far my favorite, though. We both did combos – I had blueberry and chocolate, Cecil had blueberry and lemon Oreo. So smooth and delicious.

We slept hard that night and woke up Saturday morning ready to get home. After a stop for a fast food drive-thru breakfast, we got back on the road. We chose a different route home, one that took us past the gorgeous Watauga Reservoir and through Wilkesboro and Boone.

Our trip to Johnson City was exactly what we needed. Next time we want to visit during warmer weather so we can enjoy more of the outdoor activities. Until then we’ll keep on traveling!