Rock City at Lookout Mountain, Georgia

After we left Mt. Airy, the next stop was Rock City, at Lookout Mountain in Georgia.  It's literally right on the TN line in the farthest northwest corner of GA, with Chattanooga down below.  I'd seen this the first time we went to Mississippi in 2021 and was bummed that I didn't think to stop.  This place is really, really cool.  Quite the hike through these amazing stone paths and bridges.  It was also decorated for the holidays. 

 

Suspension Bridge to get to the other side.  There's a regular path on the side for people that don't like swinging bridges.  

I was so grateful for the beautiful, clear afternoon!  What a view!!! 

Follow the path from the summit view point to see the ret of the Rock Gardens.  

This extremely narrow passage is called The Fat Man's Squeeze.  Everyone, including myself, had to slide through sideways, and I had to hold my purse above my head!  It was crazy!! 

A lot of this gorgeous glass embedded in doors, railings and other things. 

Looking up at the suspension bridge, and the regular path on the stone bridge. 

View of Lover's Leap.  This must look amazing at night with the Christmas star lit up. It was so cold that the waterfall areas were very icy.

This was a swirling light.  I could've watched it all day.

Mt. Airy 'Mayberry', NC at Christmas

Back in December we took off for what's become a kind of annual December road trip.  This year we headed back to Biloxi, Mississippi.  In order to get the most out of the trip, I researched everything to see along the way.  As it turned out, Mt Airy NC wasn't all that far off the main highway we needed and I thought it would be pretty to see at Christmas.  We went in the fall of 2021 and it was fantastic.  I knew Christmas would be great.  Andy Griffith was born in Mt Airy and this is the REAL 'Mayberry' and it's so, so worth seeing no matter what time of year.  

No matter how many times I uploaded the pics, they continue to load last to first and I just don't have the motivation to fix them.  So they are in the order of 'after dinner to mid afternoon'.

This is in the park downtown.

It was ICE COLD the night we were here.  In the teens.  The crescent moon was so crisp!

Store windows downtown were gorgeous.  So festive and homey.  Truly a throwback to a simpler time.

We stayed here.  I try to go with the local 'mom n pop' places whenever possible.  

Andy's office and the jail cells. 

Otis' cell.  Decorated for the holidays.

The Darlins! 

Goober says 'Hey'! 

The Darlins' shack

Country singer Donna Fargo is also from Mt. Airy.  She had a hit in the early 70s, 'Happiest Girl in the Whole USA'. 

Last time we went in 2021 I made Russell pose under the sign and theatre. It was just too cold this time to ask him to get out of the nicely heated truck. 

There are tours around town in the sheriff's car.

We ate breakfast at this cafe the first time we were in Mt Airy in 2021.  Tons of Don Knotts and Barney memorabilia and autographs inside!

Decorated upright basses all over town.

Fans of The Andy Griffith Show will remember their frequent references to Mount Pilot.  That's the real Pilot Mountain, just southeast of Mt. Airy.