Vacation Day 3: Turner Falls

Normal people would put on their tennis shoes if they knew they were going to go hiking--especially if they knew they were going hiking in the mountains.

Not me.

I prefer to hike in my flip flops. I know, how gallant (or stupid?!), right?! In fact, I didn't even pack tennis shoes! However, I didn't fall or get injured, so we'll just say I was gallant.

 Moving on!

Like most great adventurers, we began our hike knowing where we wanted to go, but not exactly sure how to get there. Before swimming in the falls, we wanted to make it to the castle.

We started down the mountain and soon came to a cave:

Right behind Ali is where we came in. I know, I know...gallant!

              

The men folk got to do some extra exploring down in this rocky area.

I was a bit jealous, but I had my motherly duties to tend to--

Like hiking down a steep, very rocky part of the mountain with 3 children

(plus my Mom and siblings) in search of my manly, rugged husband.
Which really was ok with me--I want him to keep his spirit of adventure!

At last, we found the castle (nevermind that we found out it would have been MUCH easier to go a different way):

After hiking back up to our vehicles, we had a quick lunch and went back down to the falls, where we spent the afternoon--

Swimming in the freezing, but gorgeous falls,

 Relaxing beside the cool, clear streams,

and napping in the Mommy-made shade.